Tauranga is such a great place to find something amazing to eat and be social. Since the opening of the bar a few years ago, Mount Brewing Co. (or more informally, ‘Brew Co’) has emerged as a seriously appealing nightlife option, especially if you’re into live music. It was only safe to assume that the food choices would be just as epic, and I wasn’t disappointed.
We met Kris, aka. Chef and full-time controller of Handcrafted Food, the eatery tucked inside Mount Brewing Co. It isn’t a massive bar, but the seating arrangement works so well you wouldn’t notice. The tables aren’t too close together and you can choose between the outside vibes of Mount Main Street or pick a well-lit table inside.
A friend of mine had raved in the past about the Michelin Star quality of the ‘Hot Shots’ on the menu. She was not wrong. Dipped in Chipotle aoli and unlike anything I’ve ever had before, the ‘Hot Shots’ were deliciousness rolled into balls. An easy crowd pleaser if you were ever looking to impress or share food with a group of friends!
We had a mixture of dishes from the ‘Street Food’ menu, and I rated the Pork Sliders rated as a close second. The meat/bun/slaw ratio was just perfect, and yes, there was crackling on the inside too! In my case it was ‘surprise crackling’ as I hadn’t read the menu properly. Made my day! On the other hand, my seafood-loving friend rated the Prawn and Chorizo tacos over the sliders.
The menu is far from your standard hot-chips-and-peanuts ‘bar food’. Whether you’re feeling like Scotch fillet or a vegan Buddha bowl, Handcrafted Food has all of your friends’ preferences taken care of.
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"Because if it's delicious, everyone needs to know about it." BOP Eats is your guide to great eats in the Bay of Plenty, NZ
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