Giggles Cafe & Grill

I went to the States last year and tried one of the most American things I’ve ever eaten — the Bloomin’ Onion, a battered and deep fried onion that is fanned out onto a plate and served with an array of dipping sauces. The Bloomin’ Onion is apparently an Australian dish (according to The Outback Steakhouse) — go figure! I came back to New Zealand raving about this hilariously fatty dish and told people that we needed to find a place that served this cardiac arrest inducer. After a little searching, we found Giggles! Nestled in the heart of sleepy Howick, this place has been here for years, serving the Bloomin’ Onion under the name Onion Mum… okay, sure! I’m really glad we went there — the place is cute and the staff are really friendly and nice; it’s one of those places in Howick that hasn’t lost its small town charm. And it has the best/​worst dish in the world! We’ll be back (if we don’t have a heart attack and die from all the oily, oniony goodness coursing through our veins).