The Roaming Dive

A couple of guys called Pete and Mo are running the coolest, slickest food truck in town. You've probably seen it around- you know, the blue and white one with the yellow signs and delicious food. The one with sliders and po-boys to die for.

In case you haven't already cottoned on, it's called The Roaming Dive, and it hangs out at Silo park most weekends. A few weeks ago the girls and I (and Allie's beautiful dog Maggie) strolled down there to visit them and make the most of a beautiful sunny day. This was the third time I had tried The Roaming Dive, so I knew it was good, and knew it was time I shared this place with all of you.

Pete wasn't around this time, but Mo was manning the fort, and served us up a huge array of food. Chicken sliders and fries for Alice and Jamie, a prawn po-boy for Allie, and a beef slider and buffalo wings for me. All of the food is amazing - the girls like the spicy sweet chicken sliders the most, but I've decided that the pulled beef dunked slider is a winner for me (although I might have to go back a few more times ... just to be sure).

The food at The Roaming Dive really is exceptionally good, and in an increasingly competitive market of food trucks they are definitely standing out. As you would expect for a food truck the menu is small, but executed well - these guys know their stuff!

After a big feast we bumped into our friend Richie (who had about six dogs in tow), and we all sat in the sun contentedly full, laughing at the dogs making friends, and chatting the afternoon away.

If you haven't been to check out the markets at Silo Park please go this weekend. It is AWESOME. My favourite time to visit is Friday nights, when they screen open air movies and the place is bustling with busy food vendors and hungry patrons.

Baduzzi

Last Sunday we took Mumma down to Wynyard Quarter for her birthday lunch. Being a big fan of Italian food (well, a fan of most types of food actually), and a HUGE fan of meatballs I was pretty excited to head to the snazzy new Italian meatball restaurant Baduzzi.

The decor is fantastic and subtly retro, however, the outside seating feels a bit slapped together, so if I were you I'd head there for dinner, when you can sit inside and enjoy the atmosphere.

The menu is a fascinating blend of New Zealand and Italy, which we made the most of by starting off the Coromandel crayfish meatballs. Both these, and the wagyu meatballs that followed were incredible. And while I ever so slightly favoured the crayfish, the wagyu was amazing and cooked perfectly pink.

We followed the meatballs with the veal melanzane, the beetroot and paua tagiatelle, and the pulled milk fed goat. The melanzane was from the smaller 'picollo' menu (although all dishes seemed to be the same size), and it was one of my favourites. The beetroot tagiatelle definitely got the prize for being the prettiest, but after the intensity of the other dishes seemed somewhat underwhelming. Last of all was the goat, which was beautifully tender - yes goat can be tender, and sitting on a bed of creamy polenta.

To be honest, the food wasn't quite what I expected- I was imagining rustic, hearty, Italian food; slabs of bread and tables laid with checkered tablecloths, when instead, out comes dish after dish of beautifully refined and intricate dishes.

With a stomach full of meatballs, and a few wines deep, we weren't so keen on walking home. So, in true Auckland style, we put Sammy in Mum's bag and snuck into a taxi, just hoping he wouldn't bark and give himself away.

Baduzzi completely exceeded my expectations; the food is of an incredibly high standard, and the prices are very affordable. If you haven't been already, put Baduzzi at the top of your hit list, and head down there for dinner.

And remember to order the crayfish meatballs!

Miss Clawdy

On Friday night the girls and I went down to Wynyard Quarter to check out one of Auckland's newest restaurants. Being big fans of American food we were pretty excited when we heard that Miss Clawdy, a restaurant inspired by the southern states, was gracing our shores.

First things first, we needed to order a few cocktails- it was a Friday night after all. We chose a couple but my favourite was the green tea mojito;  a deliciously refreshing mixture that was a bit more Japanese than American- Americanese? Works for me.

Everything on the menu looked amazing, and we had serious issues trying to cull it down, but in the end went with the snapper ceviche, braised beef cheek po' boys, skirt steak, iceberg wedge with blue cheese, and the ya ya gumbo.

I'd never tried gumbo before, and didn't even know what it was for that matter, but I was sold. It's a flavourful soupy stock packed with prawns, crab and sausage, and it packs a punch.  Close second was the ceviche which lasted on the plate about 20 seconds before we gobbled it up, the poor waiters probably thought we hadn't eaten all week.

Full of cocktails, champagne and the best of American food we were very satisfied, and promised each other we would come back to work through the rest of the menu.

This one's a good 'un, so go on down to Miss Clawdy and have yourself a big ol' American meal in style.