Frankie's Wurstbude, Auckland Central

Have you ever picked up a plate of food, momentarily felt your arm drop slightly with the unexpected weight, and thought for a second "I'm going to be about this much heavier in about 10 minutes". Amazing, slightly worrying at the same time.

I love big food. There's a part of me that really warms to honest, hearty, unapologetic dishes, and the sausage features in many such plates. With mash, in a bun, in batter, in a stew... all good rib-sticking, stout fare. Attacking a serious sausage dish for a working lunch is not for the fainthearted.

And so it was with some trepidation that the salesman and I headed to Frankie's around 1pm. We had no idea what we were in for, and so I foolishly ordered a chilli dog with a Bavarian bratwurst. He, something equally sausagy with mash etc. When the server passed it to me over the counter, all attempts at masculine nonchalance failed me and I think the words 'Good... God...' may have passed my trembling lips. I was about to gain a good few kilos.

This thing was a clear foot long, with a definite... girth. Loaded with a portion of chilli that wouldn't look out of place served on its own. Topped with a generous handful of cheese, if those hands belonged to the BFG. Served atop a hotdog bun which had been literally flattened by the burden. I took a deep breath, rearranged a few internal organs to make space, and got involved.

'Good' doesn't somehow do this brat justice. Anything more expressive would seem somehow... wrong - you know what I mean. I'll settle for 'damn good', and that it was - juicy, densely meaty and remarkably subtly flavoured, covered in a great, rich chilli with a generous capsaicin whack, and cheese. Just cheese. Lots of it. I loved every single mouthful and yes, I managed the lot.

Get hungry, go there, order big and eat it all. If you love food, you'll love Frankie's.

Frankie's Wurstbude

Elliott Stables

Shop 4, 41 Elliott St

Auckland Central

+64 (0) 9 365 2700