Food news: What to eat this weekend - Augustus, the best Christmas market and drinks that elude hangovers

GLO's green smoothies, bagels from the Tannery in New Lynn and Augustus' rhubarb tarte tartin are amongst our foodie picks for this weekend.

From foodie events to the best restaurants, recipes and diet tips, here are the best bites of food news this week.

DINING OUT:

• THE CORNER, Remuera

The Corner, 604 Remuera Rd, Auckland. Photo / Getty Images

Kim Knight drives into the depths of Remuera to try a new local and finds it a safe alternative to heading to the city for dinner.

"There was nothing really dreadful about The Corner. My chilli prawns in fact, were delicious - buttery, with just enough heat, and served on a spoonful of cauliflower cheese; Megan's $12 baby tomato and compressed watermelon side salad (ordered as an entree, with warm ciabatta bread - another $7) was light and tasty. But, overall, this is a menu that plays it extremely safe."

Read her full review here.

• THE TANNERY, New Lynn

One of the bagel options at The Tannery in New Lynn. Photo / Michael Craig

Greg Bruce tries an all-bagel brunch menu in the new Kohu Road ice-cream café and finds it provides everything one could want in a brunch, unless you like your traditional eggs on toast.

"The trouble with a bagel is that, unless you've already eaten a light breakfast, it's probably not quite enough, so you're left with the question of how to fill up, having already spent up to $15.90 (for the pea and feta mash with ham and parmesan). It was a problem we didn't solve. The bagels were, however, good."

Find out more about this new restaurant here.

• AUGUSTUS, Ponsonby

Jessie Mulligan discovers a menu he never knew he needed at Augustus. Photo / Babiche Martens

Jesse Mulligan tries hyped new Ponsonby bistro Augustus. He discovers a menu he never knew he needed and a much more private spot than its sister restaurant SPQR.

"As previously noted in these pages, this style of cooking is not exactly on trend - butter and flour, cream and cognac - but when it's done well, it is superb, and there's nothing here that isn't done well. I don't think I've ordered or even been offered crab bisque in the past five years, but this one was a masterpiece."

Find out more about Jessie's experience here.

DINING IN:

• Green smoothie and a tofu scramble

GLO From Within Smoothie; Medicinal Tofu Scramble. Pictures / Supplied

Straight from the pages of her new GLO cookbook, wellness expert and co-owner of Greenleaf Organics Café, Sarah Tanner, shares a healthy and fuss-free breakfast meal.

"GLO from within smoothie: I was in two minds whether to include this blend in here, as I realise it will seem like some crazy witches' brew to many people. But, I really don't like to keep secrets, and the benefits I get from starting my day with this glass of pure sparkle is quite stunning."

Find both recipes at Viva.co.nz.

• Petite Kitchen's One-Pot Pasta With Asparagus, Lemon and Basil

The charming Eleanor Ozich of Petite Kitchen shares a full-proof one-pot meal with Viva.

"In this simple recipe, there's delicately stemmed asparagus, a few handfuls of sweet basil, a large pat of unsalted butter, and the juice of a large lemon. The dried pasta is cooked alongside the other ingredients, allowing the starch to help thicken to a meltingly delicious sauce. It's probably one of the easiest dinners I've ever made, and the variations can be endless, too."

Try it out for yourself here.

• Kathy Paterson's Christmas fruit balls

Bite's Kathy Paterson shares a recipe for decadent but healthy Christmas snacks that can make for tasty treats and thoughtful presents.

"A great little touch when giving these Christmas fruit balls is to include a hand-written card with the recipe."

Find the recipe here.

HEALTH FIX:

• "Unhealthy" foods that are good for you

Bread, beer and bananas have all been flagged as unhealthy choices. Photos / Getty

If you're shredding for summer you may have already cut down on carbs or be avoiding fatty foods, but what if we were to tell you that some of our guilty pleasures should be taken off the naughty foods list?

"It is true that alcohol is packed with sugar that can make it hard to rein in an expanding waist line. But there is also some benefit to indulging in the occasional tipple now and then.

"Beer is laden with vitamins and minerals such as potassium, magnesium and selenium and wine contains Vitamin B6, Vitamin B2 and niacin."

See what other foods shouldn't be shunned here.

• The drinks that cause the worst hangovers

As the end-of season parties hit high voltage, study up on the drinks to order, and not order, if you want to make it out again the next night.

"'Cheaper wines often have all sorts of rubbish in them and give terrible hangovers,' Professor Roger Corder of Barts and the London School of Medicine told The Guardian."

Find the full lists of good and bad drinks for hangovers here.

• Simple food swaps that boost your health

Nutritionist Cassandra Barns shares some food swap ideas to help you steadily improve your health.

"Whereas most cereals and granola will contain copious amounts of sugar, porridge is full of wholegrain goodness that will set you up for the day.

A US study last year found a small bowl of porridge each day could be the key to a long and healthy life."

Find Barns full recommendations here.

EVENTS:

• BRITOMART DAY OUT, Britomart

Head to Takutai Square at Britomart this Saturday to tick speciality foods and gifts off your shopping list. Now in its fourth year, the Britomart Day Out offers a range of activities alongside a La Cigale market. Little Bird Unbakery gift hampers and Café Hanoi's oysters and pork spare ribs will also be available on the spot.

For more information, head to the event's Facebook page.