From 7/11s to supermarchés: The true essence of travel is at the corner store

Summer Journeys: After touring the world with his band The Phoenix Foundation, Samuel Flynn Scott has figured out the real reason we travel – to nosy around where humans buy snacks. The Spinoff Summer Journey series is entirely funded by The Spinoff Members. For more about becoming a member and supporting The Spinoff’s journalism, click … Read more

Kombucha, kava and Coke, oh my! Behind the scenes of my wild Dry July bender

Committed alcohol enthusiast Samuel Flynn Scott investigates whether it’s possible to have fun – and find drinks that hit the spot – when booze is not an option.  Choosing not to drink on a night out has traditionally led to a lot of fizzy water or sugary kids’ drinks. I might enjoy the big red … Read more

There’s an amazing wine bar in Milford and the North Shore might be cool now?

Since this story was published, The Spinoff has learnt Zane Kelsall was the subject of allegations of inappropriate behaviour in Canada. Read more here. Why the hell have a couple of Canadians opened what could be NZ’s best natural wine bar in the heart of Auckland’s suburban North Shore? Samuel Flynn Scott finds out. Milford … Read more

Fresh hops are making the funkiest of beers for just a few winter months

Sam Flynn-Scott gets down with the funk of the fresh hop season. To truly understand beer you have to think of it as a fresh product. Unless you are getting into very specific variants, it is not usually meant to be aged. It’s a weird funky stew that at its peak, when made by the … Read more

Posh instant coffee is now a thing. But how does it compare to Moccona?

Samuel Flynn Scott is a coffee tragic who loves a lightly roasted single-origin bean as much as the next Wellingtonian. But he also has a thing for instant. Now, his two worlds have combined. I’ve drunk a lot of instant coffee. I’m wasted. Is this what it was like for Kerouac when he wrote (or, … Read more

The ‘indie bro’ era is over: Sam Flynn Scott reviews Laneway Festival 2019

The Phoenix Foundation’s Samuel Flynn Scott checks out the food, music and wacky shirts of Laneway Festival 2019 in a review for Radio NZ. I’m pretty sure I used to be the target market for Laneway, but this year I barely know anyone on the lineup. As a joke, my good friend Lukasz sent our … Read more

‘Nothing lives up to my ridiculous standards’: A burger nerd reviews Goldburger

Burger pop-up Goldburger’s foray into Auckland had Samuel Flynn Scott excited – and apprehensive. I have a very difficult relationship with burgers. They kinda make me insane. Nothing lives up to my ridiculous standards and stupid rules. Plus you kinda know they are killing you slowly with each juicy bite. But I soldier on. Chef … Read more

Summer reissue: Meet NZ’s most controversial food blogger

Albert Cho, the 21-year-old student whose sweary Instagram stoush with an Auckland cafe ended in racist abuse and thousands of new followers, opens up to Samuel Flynn Scott over some of Dominion Road’s finest.   This post was originally published 25 September 2018 A few months ago, Albert Cho was just a regular Auckland student, albeit … Read more

Taking intimate dining to new levels: Pasture, the amazing shrinking restaurant

Why would a business owner choose to reduce customer numbers? The couple behind high-end Auckland restaurant Pasture explain their philosophy.  Some key rules for running a successful restaurant are keep your food costs down, keep the average spend high, and maximise your floor space. Get as many customers in and out as possible. A popular … Read more

I wanted to hate it, but Taste of Auckland was a blast

Corn dogs, crayfish and multiple gin tastings convert a cynical ex-Wellingtonian to the joys of Tāmaki Makaurau’s annual food festival.  Arriving at The Cloud (or, as I like to call it, the Great Corporate Sandworm of Arrakis) for Taste of Auckland, my cynical-meter immediately goes into the red zone. Bizarrely, all ticket holders need to … Read more

Bagels, bigots and bad language: Meet NZ’s most controversial food blogger

Albert Cho, the 21-year-old student whose sweary Instagram stoush with an Auckland cafe ended in racist abuse and thousands of new followers, opens up to Samuel Flynn Scott over some of Dominion Road’s finest.   A few months ago, Albert Cho was just a regular Auckland student, albeit one with steady modelling gigs in Korea. Then … Read more

All hail the chicken king

From a Tokoroa fish and chip shop to a spicy chicken empire, via a few stints in the world’s best kitchens and a foray into jet-setting with supermodels, chef Morgan McGlone has a backstory quite like any you’ve heard before.   The third Uber has turned back in fear without us in it. I am cosmically … Read more

Have burgers taken over Wellington On A Plate?

Has our nation’s capital been hijacked by an obsession with buns and patties? Samuel Flynn Scott investigates. Visa Wellington On A Plate (WOAP) erupted into controversy this week as some chefs spoke out about the audacity of hamburgers being more popular than fine dining. It’s true that this year’s event, the biggest in its 10-year … Read more

A delicious foot: the natural wines made in urban Wellington

Samuel Flynn Scott explores the buzzy flavours of the natural wineries of downtown Wellington.  I’m in the Garage Project Taproom with my long term comrade in music Lukasz Buda. We’re entertaining Marlon Williams and his lovely band The Yarra Benders. We find ourselves here because it’s close to the gig, and  we’re trying to impress … Read more

Tommy Millions loves pizza, but not as much as Samuel Flynn Scott

It appears the two biggest pizza nerds in the world are both from Wellington. Samuel Flynn Scott spoke to the capital’s pizza guru, Tommy Millions, about the perfect slice, learning his craft, and his alternative social media style. Tommy Millions started life as a little woodfired pizza trailer that would pop up at farmers’ markets … Read more

Moore Wilson’s: the home and heart of Wellington food

This month legendary Wellington food emporium Moore Wilson’s turned 100. Samuel Flynn Scott meets Julie Moore, the most important and influential person in Wellington food. Sean Clouston, executive chef and co-owner of Logan Brown, was bustling through Moore Wilsons in his cheffy regalia. “Sammy! You come here on Fridays too? Best time mate. All the … Read more

A toast to Wellington’s toast (and its pizza, and Malaysian, and cheese, and beer, and coffee)

You never realise how good you have it until it’s too late. In the first part of a series on Wellington’s flourishing food scene, former resident Samuel Flynn Scott yearns for the capital’s $7 menu.  So long and thanks for all the roti, I don’t miss you at all. When I think of Wellington, until … Read more

Black Caps fans welcome brief return to familiar hell

Samuel Scott takes his mind off the Black Caps’ humiliating defeat by thinking about their uncertain future. Day 1: Black Caps deliver touching reminder of the old days with throwback batting collapse Day 2: A day in hell Day 3: Blood magic now the Black Caps’ only hope As New Zealand’s hopes disappear, so do … Read more

A day in hell

Sam Scott watches Adam Voges score 176* as Australia clinically dismember the Black Caps on a punishingly hot day at the Basin Reserve. Day 1: Black Caps deliver touching reminder of the old days with throwback batting collapse As I peer out from under my giant “ladies hat” the field looks an out of focus … Read more

Black Caps deliver touching reminder of the old days with throwback batting collapse

Samuel Flynn Scott watches the Black Caps, and his newfound high hopes, implode in a nostalgia-soaked first innings at the Basin Reserve. The lead up to this test series against Australia has been intense. For one thing, it’s Australia. Secondly, we have expectations now. This is new for the Black Caps fan, to go into … Read more