Parnell is proud to welcome Mark Wallbank back to Parnell, with his new restaurant Woodpecker Hill, at 196 Parnell Road.
“In a little under four years, Mark Wallbank and Che Barrington have helped revolutionise Asian dining in Auckland, thanks to their fusion of South-East Asian and Western cooking styles at MooChowChow, The Blue Breeze Inn and Chop Chop Noodle House. Now the restaurateur and chef have opened their first venture outside their usual Ponsonby Rd stomping ground. Woodpecker Hill may be located in unfamiliar territory — Parnell Rd, to be precise — but the menu is easily recognisable as the East-meets-West fusion chef Barrington does so well.
This time around, he’s mixing his favourite ingredients — betel leaves, tamarind, lemongrass, chilli —with Texas-style barbecue. It may sound unlikely, but giving barbecue classics like beef brisket and pulled pork an Asian makeover isn’t as odd as it seems. As Barrington points out, sharp flavours like lime and tamarind work well with barbecue, helping to cut through the fattiness of the meat.” – McGregor, C., Metro, 25 February 2015.
Mark returns to Parnell after a long while. He previously worked Cibo. Its great to have such a presence back in the area. The excitement is palpable.
Visit their listing on this site HERE
Image credits: (main) Denizen, (story) Metro
