When I think of food heaven, I think of doughnuts oozing with jam and cream, decadent slices filled with a thick layer of caramel, dense and fudgy chocolate brownies, freshly baked cookies, cakes piped with meringue, white chocolate truffles, fresh salads, Ciabatta sandwiches with salmon and avocado, breakfast baps, and last but not least, beautifully presented plates of brunch fare, my favourites being French toast, pancakes and eggs done various ways.

If Parnell no longer strikes you as a thriving hot-spot with bountiful brunch options, you’re not alone. Once the proud host to a glittering line-up of popular city-fringe eateries, somewhere along the line, Parnell’s main drag got left behind. Enter, Winona Forever.

Parnell, you ought to be excited: You’ve got a shiny new all-day eatery on your doorstep and it is set to churn out some seriously good eats. Winona Forever — the new resident of the glass-fronted space at the bottom of the Geyser building on Parnell Road — is opening its doors for the first (official) time today and its offering is anything but banal.

Parnell need feign nonchalance no more over Ponsonby’s rep as the only brunch location worth visiting. Winona Forever— offering breakfast, brunch, coffee and cake— has erupted onto the scene placing the sleepy rise firmly back on the map.

Over the last wee while Parnell has had some life injected into it with a flurry of night-time eateries and bars opening up. What’s been lacking, however, is a good café to caffeinate and feed the locals so trust us when we say this new beauty fits that bill perfectly.