CHEFS’ SNACKS MARKO VELICKOVIC, ALMA EATERY

We asked our chefs for their favourite locals…

JORDAN BAUDECHE, THE TRADING POST

Mount Made is a must for its crème brûlée ice cream – delicious and decadent. Also very good cardamom buns! Mount Made, 262 Maunganui Road, Mount Maunganui

NEIL SAPITULA, SOLERA & SALTWATER SEAFOOD GRILL & OYSTER BAR

Recently, Palace Burger has relocated and given the place a new American burger-bar feel at Palace Tavern. Many of our team will often be found there during breaks or days off having a burger and beer. Best burger in town, great vibe and really good people. Palace Tavern, 1c/217 Maunganui Road, Mount Maunganui

PERRIN YATES, DECKCHAIR CAFÉ & SUNDOWNER BAR

We love to pop in to Sugo for a drink and a snack, plus the Double Hoe Down burger at Palace Tavern is sweet, spicy and meaty delicious. Sugo, 19 Wharf Street, Tauranga Palace Tavern, 1c/217 Maunganui Road, Mount Maunganui

RYAN ALLEN, PICNICKA

I quite like going to Rising Tide. It does some really good dumplings and brews its own beers and ciders. There’s a park adjacent which the kids can run around in so you can enjoy your meal without interruption. Very relaxed vibes. Rising Tide, 107 Newton Street, Mount Maunganui

When you need a great steak it’s Fife

Lane for the variety of cuts and the blue-cheese butter. For our Vietnamese fix we always head to Rice Rice Baby for the pork rolls – consistently a great vibe and as close as it gets to authentic Vietnamese street food in the Bay. Fife Lane, 512 Maunganui Road, Tauranga

Rice Rice Baby, 136 Maunganui Road, Mount Maunganui

BATTLE OF THE SNACK

Join chefs Ian Harrison (Sugo), Perrin Yates (Deckchair Café & Sundowner Bar), Neil Sapitula (Solera & Saltwater) & Cuisine editor Kelli Brett on 26 March at Saltwater Seafood Grill & Oyster Bar for the ultimate battle of the canapé. See page 137 for full event information. flavoursofplentyfestival.com