The best of Kirikiriroa spesh

Best of Facebook Eats

The Facebook marketplace is a strange ecosystem all to itself - and in some parts of the world, was the hospo underground during lockdowns.

Best Malaysian Uni Sally kitchen on facebook. This sacred writ was passed on to our friend from her Malaysian boss. A different menu is released each week - preorders need to be made by Tuesday, and are picked up on the relevant day.

Have you tried a Cambodian donut, or noun kong? Chewier and crisper than the American style, they feature a lot of sesame and poppy seeds, with fillings of mung or yellow bean with coconut cream. Srena Sok, in Te Awamutu, makes to order via facebook, or text her on 021 029 35381.

The usual hospo stuff

Best Burger hands down the smash burger at Last Place. Best cocktail the gummy sour cocktail at Mr Pickles: delivers just the right amount of novelty on the classic sour flavour profile. Best kebab Turkish Express on Heaphy Terrace - our only beef is that unless you live in Fairfield it’s probably not on your way home from town. Special mention, also, to Sumac Turkish Kebab at Five Cross Roads. Best pizza we’ve mentioned The Crust before, but let us single out the quattro formaggi with provolone, parmesan, gorgonzola and mozzarella. Best ice cream I mean doy, it’s Duck Island, but a string of flavours have really knocked it out of the park recently - beginning with their feijoa yohgurt and lime in autumn, followed by their apricot, rosemary and labneh over winter, and now their marmalade and earl grey favour, which will bring your British friends to actual tears. Best vegetarian dish A special mention from our music editor Adam - the best fried cauliflower dish in the city is at Rice Noodle Master on Victoria street. Best korean fried chicken K kitchen in Dinsdale. They also nail a delicately diced coleslaw with a big fat dollop of mayo on top. Also in the Dinsdale takeaway precinct is Ciao Ceylon; the best authentic Sri Lankan food in Hamilton.

Upkeep

Best shoe repair space Merv, from McCammon and Co shoe repairs on Galloway street, is, sadly for him, a Christchurch Earthquake refugee - but we’re lucky to have him. Down a little driveway, he has a little studio outback - where mountains of leather and trimmings sit behind the counter. In a recession, in hard times, he reminds us, people get stuff fixed - and currently he is busy. If he can’t save a pair of boots, a handbag, or whatever - he strips it for their parts in case he can graft it onto another repair job (thus, the mountains). He also carries a small collection of knitting and leather booties for babies, dog neckerchiefs, and does key cutting too.

Best dry cleaner Vogue Dry Cleaners in Frankton.

Best clothing alterations Several recommendations came in (including from high-end fashion boutique True) for Susan Rowland, on Victoria street right next door and upstairs to the Time Out. Many people in the city only trust her for their alternations.

Best graphic designer You already know the work of Alan Deare of Area design - he’s behind Lucy’s bread marketing, and Duck Island’s branding (which has scooped him more than one design award). He works on small business and high-end art projects alike.

Best framing place Friend of the pod Laree Payne, of the eponymous gallery in Riverbank Lane complex, uses both Framing House in Hamilton East (in Lovegrove Lane), as well as Sarah Marston of Framing Workshop, in Silverdale. If you’re ever couriering art, or anything fragile or urgent, Laree uses Pack and Send and says asks for Kurt.

Best Hairdresser Of course Fabrik, again in the Riverbank Lane complex, do excellent cuts and colour - we all know this. I don’t know about you, but a good home salon always feels like a true find to me - and it was a shame when Poppies, in Melville (we found them via a rec' from the Farmers MAC counter) closed as those involved pursued other projects. Dede and Daph, in Frankton, fills this niche, excellently.

Best post shop - we had definite criteria for this one: ample parking, low wait times, best magazine wrack. The NZ Post Shop Glenview Centre fill all the criteria - and with the new bus hub (now! more disability friendly! after a total fuck up!) all the more accessible via a number of means.

Best daycare The Park on Naylor Street, which came to us via a friend who specialises in early education.

Best insurance broker Steve Freeman, of Financial Independence, is actually based in Tauranga - but qualifies for our list in this po-co, virtual-friendly world. As he nears retirement, increasingly he refers business to his colleague James Jenkin, at the same firm.

Best panel beater: Again, a recommendation from our music-writer-at-large, Adam, who says he sent more people to Restoration Panel Works in Frankton than anywhere else, for anything else, in Hamilton.

Best gym and swimming pool Across the road from the prison-yard of Les Mills, Fastlane fitness is like it’s grown up, more sophistocated cousin. The pool, certainly, avoids all the fuss (and generally children) of Te Rapa or Melville, and their strict swimming cap rule keeps the water pristine.

You seldom have to wait for a lane.