Eateries a hallmark of Tauranga's broad horizons

By COLIN MOORE

Armies may march on their stomachs but so do tourists. And it is a sign of a town or region serious about attracting them that it's welcome mat includes some foodie delights.

Restaurants are also a good indicator of a town that is proudly expanding its horizons beyond steak and eggs. The revitalised Tauranga is a case in point.

In downtown Tauranga and Mt Maunganui you will find pavement cafes and boutique restaurants of almost every ethnic variation. They are chic, without being guilty of pretension.

I hadn't intended to lunch in Tauranga but the food on offer in the city's cobbled streets became too tempting and the Indian cuisine at the New Delhi Cafe in Wharf St proved irresistible.

The New Delhi has condensed an extensive evening menu into a simple and inexpensive lunchtime selection.

I chose one of my favourites from the curry selection, butter chicken served with basmati rice, seasonal salad and poppadoms. The cost, $8. A large portion of plain naan bread was an extra $2.50, washed down with a light beer for $3.

In the evening I dined at Rogues Brasserie, Cafe and Bar on the corner of Maunganui Rd and Pacific Ave in Mt Maunganui.

Brasserie can be a fancy name for eateries of the greasy spoon variety but not Rogues, nor I suspect others at Mt Maunganui.

One difference between a good brasserie and a greasy spoon cafe is that brasserie meals tend to feature some degree of simplicity and crispness, rather than a muddled hotchpotch of grilled food.

Rogues produced a Scotch fillet with mustard seed, garlic and bacon cream sauce, served with salad and potato ($20.50) just as I had requested. They also offer a range of pasta dishes, a fish selection and some Mexican dishes.

Rogues is open all day until late in the evening.

* Contact: New Delhi Cafe, Wharf St, Tauranga, ph (07) 578 5533; Rogues Brasserie, Cafe and Bar, Mt Maunganui, ph (07) 575 2686.

An extensive list of Tauranga eateries is available at the city information centre.