Gather & Roam, Whangamatā
Why Simon Wright’s new Whangamatā food truck cafe is worth travelling to
Auckland foodies — there’s a new reason to leave town and it’s to check out a delicious new dining spot in the Coromandel. After running fine dining restaurant The French Cafe for 20 years, Simon Wright and wife Creghan Molloy-Wright have opened up a new food-truck-style eatery in Whangamatā. The vibe is all about serving up quality street food in a casual dining environment — in this case, an industrial area on Lindsay Rd, where the kitchen is a food truck.
“The core essence of everything we’ve always done remains: creating unique experiences centred around the sharing of exceptional food,” they state online.
Expect the same great hospitality as The French Cafe but in a more casual environment. Breakfast and lunch options include folded eggs with spanner crab, smashed pork and fennel sando, a vegetarian Bali bowl for lunch or zucchini fries with curry leaves. But the menu will change throughout the year depending on what’s in season and what local ingredients are available, so you always know you’ll be eating quality locally sourced produce.
Get your caffeine fix with Kōkako coffee brews, herbal teas for the caffeine-free, Six Barrel Soda flavours, and organic Batchwell kombucha to look after your gut. Buy it by the glass or bring your own vessel to refill and take home from the keg.
For those with a sweet tooth, satisfy your cravings with a selection of Duck Island icecream, including Fairy Bread, Boysenberry Cheesecake, Peppermint Slice and Salted Caramel Cacao Crumb, or opt for a hokey pokey sandwich with salted caramel, or sorbet with gingerbread.
They are open Wednesday to Saturday from 8am to 2.30pm so gather your foodie friends to share the dishes with good company. There’s also a pool table among the greenery so you can try sink a few while you wait for lunch, or to relax after dining. gatherandroam.co.nz