It has been a few years since I visited the Bay of Plenty, and on my last long weekend stay in Mount Maunganui, I enjoyed the mix of surf and beach culture with some great cafés. It has a Byron Bay vibe, an airy healthy feel with locals pounding the streets running and hiking to the top of Mauao for a morning endorphin hit and a stunning view. That’s if they’re not in the water surfing.
This time I was treated to a full foodie immersion as a guest of Tourism Bay of Plenty for the Flavours of Plenty Festival – an annual 11-day-long celebration of chefs, restaurants, cafés, bars and food producers around the broader region. There is a lot to celebrate. The soil in the region is, and always has been, incredibly fertile, the sea is abundant with kai moana, and innovative producers have brought truffles, macadamia nuts, craft beer, cideries, honey, chocolate and so much more than the kiwifruit, avocado, kūmara and berries that the region was previously known for.
Which means there’s so much for chefs to work with. They don’t need to look far for the freshest seasonal produce, they all source as local as possible meaning menus revolve around the seasons keeping the offerings deliciously varied and vibrant.
Solera
165 Maunganui Road, Mount Maunganui
Choose the Chefs’ Pass and you’ll be seated at the bar in full view of the open kitchen where you can watch the chefs prepare the meals. Described as modern hearth cooking, the kitchen features a fire, stoked with oak
