The cheeses! The fresh vegetable and fruit selection! The pastas! The dips! The seafood! The meats! The chocolate! The Bakery! There are a lot of things at Moore Wilsons that make me want to yell "The insert specific word here!" at the top of my lungs.

Best sugar free chocolate bars ever! No seriously, the best sugar free chocolate bars ever. And if the sugar free chocolate is that good, just think about how good the sugary chocolate is?! You can put together a pretty incredible chocolate hamper here.

So there is this alternative supermarket called Commonsense Organics, and they have Hemp Milk, and Almond Milk, and Oat Milk!!! So if you’re looking for a non dairy milk substitute that isn’t soy, you just died and went to heaven! Then you get to the cereal and museli section, and it’s all so good you get kinda emotionally overwhelmed - and then you come past the meat alternatives, and if you’re vegetarian it’s like, damn, I have no money to pay my rent now.

The first time I headed past City Market on a Sunday I nearly died and went to heaven, actually, maybe I did. Anyway, I spent around $40 on breakfast, which is really too much to spend on Breakfast, but I just didn’t care - so much deliciousness, so little time.

Upsettingly good dairy products lurk here. I want to draw an old medieval map, and as opposed to "Here be Dragons", I want to put "Here be Zany Zeus Feta". I’d have to include Cafe Polo and NIkau on the map as well. Local cafes really need to jump onto this Wondrous product range. Sublime.

No one can make cookies like Ma Higgins can. It’s a strong-willed person – or one without a sense of smell - who can walk past their Lambton Quay shop without at least slowing down, but when it’s comfort food you’re after, their three-cookie deal is hard to beat. My personal favourite is the raspberry and white chocolate cookie, but if you’d rather, there are cupcakes

Sweet Mother’s Kitchen is a go-to for Wellingtonians on the hunt for southern, Cajun cooking, like chicken gumbo, po-boys and quesadillas. The food is consistently excellent, and reasonably priced for the generous portions – and you can’t go past its wide selection of sweet pies, including pumpkin, apple, pecan and Key lime, for dessert.

Pizza Pomodoro is an institution in Wellington, and as such, it tastes like home. It’s my go-to on Wednesday nights when margaritas are $10, and you can’t get a better pizza for better value in the city. But you can’t go wrong with Pizza Pomodoro on any night of the week, it’s that delicious.

When I’m in the mood for comfort food I can’t go past an almond croissant and a flat white, and Pandoro Panetteria does one of the best in Wellington. Be sure to try their other selection of baked goods – savoury and sweet – as well.

When the weather’s good, there’s nothing like a walk along Oriental Parade – sometimes, it seems all of Wellington has the same idea. Set your sights on a scoop or two (or three) of Kaffee Eis’ award-winning ice cream for the perfect Sunday afternoon date.

You can't beat Burger Wisconsin for delicious burgers made from the freshest New Zealand ingredients. They have it all: tender meats, fish, falafel, haloumi, salads, sauces to die for and a range of sides and drinks. The staff at the Hataitai local are friendly and quick - and there's even a lolly jar on the counter for you to stave off hunger while waiting for your big feed.

Calvin the Pharmacist at Hataitai Pharmacy is one of a kind - friendly, organised and efficient, he always fills scripts in short turn-around time and is always free to answer any queries on the phone. The pharmacy has good opening hours and even has a postal service. Excellent customer service and a pleasure to be a customer of his.

Service with a smile - and they’re handing you a big box of pizza, what more could you want? Dinky wee shop just off the main street in Hataitai and they’re quick with orders. I recommend the Damned as the best vegetarian pizza - make sure you order it with pineapple and jalapenos as extras. Delicioso!

Best bakery around. I recommend the delicious coffee buns. Also recently they’ve started a new range of healthy wholemeal sandwiches for just $4. Pick up a drink and be on your way with a cheap and delicious lunch.

Divine handmade chocolates - go on, treat yourself! I dare you to try the seasalt caramel…

Everything from legumes to lego, and the only source of freshly squeezed orange juice in the lower North Island.

For gourmet cream donuts, and pies.

Awesome butchery outlet for a special meal. Also has a great deli counter.

The only place in town for fresh fish.

Every time I step into Arobake for a vegetarian sandwich or a pastry, I'm tempted by the fresh array of bread lining the back wall of the shop. Opening at 7 am daily (except Sunday, when sadly they're closed all day), by mid-afternoon some of their most popular breads have been snatched up, but a hefty sourdough beckons. If you're as much of a sucker for choice pastries as I am, you'll need to know Arobake easily makes the best pain au chocolat in the city!

When I first arrived in Wellington, my new friends raved about the vege nachos at Midnight. They weren't kidding! This plate is so loaded--hummus, chilli sauce, avo slices, and sometimes even green olives complement the more traditional beans, salsa, cheese, and jalapenos no respectable plate of nachos could go without--but it has a surprisingly decent corn chip-to-topping ratio, given the epic proportions of the latter. If you ever get past your craving for these nachos, Midnight actually has a ton of other great vege and vegan options (as well as tasty looking treats for the carnivores in your life), some killer juices and smoothies, and one of the best caramel slices in town. A bite of their gigantic chocolate cake (with yogurt) can also be pretty hard to pass up.

Sweet Mother's Kitchen is kind of the trifecta: great food, good vibes, and perfect location. And while their dinner menu isn't too shabby either, nothing cures the 'mother' of all hangovers like brunch-- especially when that brunch is served all day (on weekends) and you're free to pull yourself from the depths of your bed as late into the afternoon as you want for as much eggs and potato hash as your stomach can handle. My go-to dish is Flossy's Favorite, which has a little of everything: potato, black beans, mushroom, eggs (poached is recommended), and hollandaise, plus two sturdy baguette halves. The berry waffles have also been known to go down nicely. But a word to the wise-- the slightly chaotic nature of the decor in Mother's extends to their style of seating tables. If a game of musical chairs might set your head aflame, skip the food and grab a Snickers shake to go.

Centrally located near Wellington Harbour (and thus only a 5 minute walk from my home), New World's supermarket in the heart of the city is perfect for my shopping needs. Well stocked and boasting ample 'super saver' discounts, I try to time my weekly trip to match up with the Harbourside Market each Sunday morning. But with late night hours (open 'til midnight every night), you might just find yourself surreptitiously buying a bar of chocolate and a bottle of Coopers sparkling ale on your way home, too.

A great little spot to grab a coffee or tea, this cafe has all the charm and a lot more elbow room than some of its counterparts on Cuba St. Whether you’re bringing your laptop or a friend, Dixon Street Deli has you covered with plenty of seats and their own wi-fi hotspot. Even if you’re just cruising down Dixon, be sure to check their chalk board out front, inscribed with a new motivational message every day.

A must-discover for every Wellingtonian - grab a bargain on fresh (and some unusual) produce, from fruit and veg to meat, cheese and bread, explore the bulk food section and home solutions, or stock up on wine, beer and liquor from the massive selection on offer

Urban Harvest stocks heaps of locally grown and produced fruit and veges, meat, artisan cheese, dairy, spreads and deli products, breads and sweet treats, along with pantry staples. You can also shop online and either get fresh, tasty ingredients, meals and treats delivered to your door or someone else's (ideal birthday/Christmas present!). They also offer recipes and host chefs to teach you how to cook with their latest additions. Their artisan cheese section is outstanding and gives suggestions for how you should best accompany your cheesy feast.

This deli of all things desirable is worth a trip to Petone. Choose from a massive selection of imported and local products, sample the meats and cheeses behind the counter and stock up on favourites, well-known names or quirky items (ostrich sausage, anyone?) you haven’t tried before.

While the waterfront market on Sundays is always full of low-cost veges and gourmet delights, the City Market in the Chaffers Dock Building offers freshly-made or cooked treats from the likes of La Boca Loca, Martin Bosley, Yellow Brick Road and House of Dumplings, plus a different local restaurant/cafe/brewery/winery or cooking class each week!

Hoon over to Newtown for a visit to this massive space packed full of imported Mediterranean treats - including pasta, cans and jars of all things tasty, oils, sweet treats and packages of herbs and spices. Pick up some fresh food from the deli and complete your visit with a stop in at the pizzeria and cafe for pizza, salad, dessert and more!

Where else can you buy a bamboo toothbrush, organic grains, kombucha and vegan wine. I mean, does everyone not live like this? No. They don't because Commonsense is pretty expensive actually. But also, It's a great place to buy staples, and they do have almost everything under one roof.

Organic Boxes is a delivery service that brings fresh, wholesome, high quality organic produce right to your door. The boxes range in size, and each contain a selection of fruit and vegetables. You order which size box you would like, as well as any additional dairy products, eggs, or coffee, pay for it online, and it appears magically to your doorstep! What a dream.

Though you wouldn’t necessarily expect it, Yan’s is a treasure trove of cheap, organic finds, from exotic rices and grains to teas and medicinal mushrooms (most mushrooms are inherently organic due to their sensitivity to pesticides). Yan’s is always a treat to visit, regardless of your reason for being there; you’ll always find something interesting and delicious.

People’s coffee offers a wholesome, feel good coffee experience, right down to the friendly, knowledgable staff. Specialising in fair trade organic coffee, made with Zany Zeus organic milk to boot, People’s is just a great business. The flagship store is tucked up on Constable street in Newtown, but you can find the delicious coffee at numerous cafes around the Wellington region, such as Milkcrate, and Vicbooks cafe.

Little Bird Organics is coming to Wellington! Ok, don't get too excited, it's just for on weekend, for the merrymaking that is Wellington on a Plate. Disappointingly short though their stay is, you can get in on the deliciousness via ticketek, for one of the multicourse, undoubtedly amazing showcases at Prefab Hall on the 15th-16th of August.

They do the best curly fries and the aioli sauce is absolutely delicious. Choose to eat in or take out!

The folks here do the best garlic naan! I can’t rave about it enough. It’s my absolute favourite! Go and get 5!

Just as delicious at dinner time as it is at 2am. They have an awesome range of pizza flavours (I recommend the Porker) and at $5 a slice, a real good deal!

Choose from their wide range of bready goodness, brezels, fitness rolls, cakes and muffins. Fresh and delicious. Their hot cross buns during Easter are pretty excellent too.

Not only do they go great fish (duh) the team here do a fantastic selection of chips. I recommend their hand cut fries with a bit of rocket fuel, delicious!

Charcoal Chicken goooood!

Best value-for-money Asian dishes for big appetites

Best Fish’n’chips in Wellington

The biggest pies you have ever seen. Well worth stopping in here for a feed.

Aro Bake will always hold fond memories of my time in Wellington. Scaling the impossible peak of Aro Valley was always a hardship, although such a feat was invariably made easier with an Arobake in hand. Freshly baked, artisan bread as well as more patisserie than you can shake a stick at is at your disposable. This lovely little bakery catches some awesome early summer, afternoon sun; perfect for a lazy few hours.

Shuffle along the counter, school dinner canteen style, and check out the goodies on offer here. Not to be missed are the $7 soups, served in big cauldrons and ladels, an ideal candidate to stave off the cold.   Also home to the biggest milkshake I have ever laid my eyes on. 

Go-to place when I’m in Newtown for an inexpensive, tasty bite to eat. Delicious home made sandwiches on the go.

A carnivore’s dream. An ode to the lesser fancied animals and cuts, Big Bad Wolf is Wellington’s only dedicated Charcuterie restaurant. Find an incomparable selection of cured, smoked and salted meats in this truly gourmet eatery.

This is the place to go if you’re after some great local made chocolate, down the ever-giving Leeds Street. They create organic, ethically sourced chocolate. With single origin chocolates and specialty creations plentiful you’re sure to find a flavor you love in amongst it all. Their easter eggs also look pretty awesome.

After starting out in Hataitai, Bohemian has just gone from strength to strength serving great pieces of chocolate and fantastic hot chocolates as well! With some award winning creations, Bohemian is definitely a place to go check out if you crave a delectable chocolate kick.

Their hot chocolate is something else, made from imported Italian chocolate it’s definitely a treat. It’s common to see people going in just to get one, meaning it must be pretty good if you’re going to avoid all the great food on offer. Definitely the fix if you’re after warm chocolate goodness and around the Cuba Street area.

If you ever have a party and need some great vegan treats, this is the one, from Pandoro, the vegan raspberry chocolate cake. It’s rich and moist, and tastes amazing! Highly advised especially considering it’s not even that pricey

For you’re more ‘traditional’ American imported chocolates, Nic Nacs is the place. With seemingly everything on the shops shelves, you’ll probably find something that looks tasty, or old favourites you haven’t had in a while. Best confectionary store in Wellington.

Two words - Gingerbread pancakes! Who knew they existed, but you won’t be able to think of anything else once you’ve tried them.

On a lazy Sunday morning, I love stuffing my face with Sweet Mother’s enormous breakfast burrito.

Fries? Hardly. More like potato bricks. The chips from the Mount Vic Chippery are divine. The fresh spuds are thick handcut beauties which are lovingly fried so they’re crisp and delish. Oh and try the kumara chips, the best in town.

This innocuous little diner down Bond Street is one of Wellington’s gems. The Fisherman’s Plate serves up some of the best chips in Wellington as well as a selection of amazing fresh Vietnamese dishes. All amazing.

Fat hand cut chips and an array of seafood make the fish and chip shop on Aro Street an institution. My fave is the chips. Can’t beat ‘em.