Feasting in the festive season

Cristina Orcy serves up her Pure Jungle Acai smoothie.

If you're hungover or in high spirits tomorrow afternoon have I got the event for you! The best way to spend New Year's Day in the Bay is setting up camp in Coronation Park.

A kaleidoscope of mouth-watering morsels, delicious delicacies, a feast of food heaven proportions, is on offer.

Yes – that's right people – the Gourmet Night Markets is having a market tomorrow from 3pm to 9pm.

And The Weekend Sun picks this as the place to be – we went along for a special tasting at the market a few weeks back and here is what we think.

This reporter arrived at the market early and found the park chocka full of food and flavours for the whole family.

You see it doesn't matter if you're vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, lactose-intolerant, a paleo follower, a pescatarian – if you're a see-it-eat-it type or a health food-freak – this market has something for you packed with punchy flavours.

The photographer attends the market weekly, and stampeded towards the Raw Organic foods stall first.

She loves their cheesecakes and slices which are made from nuts and natural sweeteners instead of sugar.

I see why – despite being made of ingredients I've never heard of before the salted caramel cheesecake was amazing! It was wheat-free, dairy-free and gluten-free – but it wasn't flavour-free. Tasty but light – no stodgy cream or sugar-sweet toppings.

Another delight is Pure Jungle's blended Açai bowls and smoothies.

Brazilians Cristina Orcy and Gustavo Pereira have brought the indigenous super berry commonly found in the rainforests of the Amazon to the Mount.

The bowls are prepared with organic freeze-dried açai powder mixed with other fruits, to form a fruit puree base which is topped with more fresh fruit, granola and other healthy and tasty ingredients.

Think a light smoothie – they are mild, soothing, delicious and fresh. The photographer calls them 'crazy good”. Plus, they're healthy so you can redeem yourself this New Year's Day after the festive eating and drinking of the night before.

Another sweet delight on offer will transport you to America – and you might not want to come back. Ever heard of a whoopie pie? I had – but Teresa Valentine's whoopie pies outlived the reputation.

The whoopie pie is a US baked good that's considered either a cookie, pie or cake – or all three-in-one.

It's made two round mound-shaped pieces of chocolate cake – in our case pumpkin-ginger flavoured cake – with a sweet, creamy filling or frosting sandwiched between them.

It's dense, creamy, rich – everything you want in a sweet treat! It's sinful but well worth it.

Then the carnivore in me was unleashed. I saw a huge piece of meat sizzling up a storm on a hotplate and I had to try the Elizabeth Cafe and Larder's contribution to the market.

There was a sirloin steak dish and a sticky pork rib offering. I took the pork home for my partner. It was gone in less than 60 seconds. Say no more!

Elizabeth Cafe and Larder owner Andrew Targett told me he loves being able to enjoy the atmosphere of the market – as usually a chef is looked away in the kitchen. We loved being able to see the cooking happening too!

But overall, what really tickled and tantalised my tastebuds was the seafood offerings at Delissi.

Helen Thorton Gussy and her chef husband Darren serve up entree sized dishes at their restaurant to offer a unique and exciting dining experience where you can pick multiple dishes without over-ordering.

Straight from their restaurant menu, at the market they offer bacon-wrapped scallops, tomato salsa and tangy margarita dressing. One word – heaven. Actually – heaven on a plate. This was my favourite dish. My mouth waters writing about it.

But it's not all about the food – the atmosphere is amazing. Coronation Park fills with locals, visitors and cruise ship passengers; there's music playing and the event tries to be as waste-free as possible.

And this is just a snapshot of what you can find – there's also mussels and calamari, Dutch stroopwaffels and French crepes, woodfire pizza and gourmet burgers, pita breads and po-boy sandwiches, fried chicken, barbecue and slow roasted meats, juices and smoothies, frozen yoghurt and gelato, cheesecake and brownies, freshly made salads and much more, including a boutique farmers' market.

To learn more about the alcohol-free, zero-waste, dog-friendly Gourmet Night Markets, see gourmetnightmarket.co.nz

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