Maria R.'s
Best caterers
- 11The Inspired PantryDunedin CentralThere is nothing like a home cooked meal right? Handcrafted and cooked to perfection, with a vast and imaginative menu, even the pickiest eaters can find something they like. With delicious flavour combinations yet simple and approachable food, it’s no wonder these ladies are well-known in the Dunedin area.
- 21Goddess CateringDunedin CentralFree range and organic ingredients produce tasty and innovative meals, with the option of choosing buffets, light lunches, canapés and h’ordeuvres, morning and afternoon tea and even a Christmas special, there is something for everyone! Think of it like the catering version of the Warehouse.
- 31Sweet As A Nut CateringDunedin CentralA more commercially directed catering company, they focus on weddings and business functions. The best bit? Their menu can be customized and tailored to your needs so you experience the very best, as well as your very favourite dishes.
- 41Wanaka CateringWanakaSpecializing in weddings and functions, Wanaka Catering ensures a unique and delicious service, with no two menus being exactly the same. Think of them as the snowflake of the catering world, if you will. They are there to smooth over the hassle and stress of ‘doing-it-yourself’ and leave the host able to enjoy their function.
- 51In2FoodQueenstownThese caterers have been around for 10 years in the Queenstown area, and have quickly become a popular household name as one of the top catering companies. Mainly specializing in catering for business functions, whether it be a Christmas party for 20, or a business event for 1000, they are prepared and have experience for whatever you throw their way. Talk about adapting to change!
Maria R.'s
What to do in the weekend
- 12Little River Camp GroundLittle RiverIf you’re looking for a surreal camping experience this weekend where disco balls and lampshades hang from trees, unmade beds sit by a river and old cabins are decked out in retro finishings, then welcome to the Little River Camping Ground. Your experience at this camping ground, a five minute drive from the Little River township, will undoubtedly be fun and unforgettable.
- 21Peninsula General StoreAkaroaThe General Store is housed in the same building as the original general store of 1872. It is the only place to buy your groceries in Akaroa if you want your food natural, preservative-free and organic. Pick up your vegetables, meats, bread and pantry goods and at the same time, a coffee or freshly made juice (try the kiwifruit and apple). There’s even a breakfast bar where you can sit and devour your sandwich and coffee whilst watching the tourists meander by.
- 31White Cat EmporiumCheviotWhether you are searching for a tin bath for your bathroom, or just looking to pick up a curio or two, you’re bound to find something inspiring for your home at The White Cat Emporium in Cheviot, North Canterbury. An extension of their passion for French and Italian antiques, the owners frequently visit Europe gathering furniture and objects d’art and shipping them back to New Zealand.
- 47Stella CafeHokitikaI go to Stella Cafe every time I’m in Hokitika. Love the outdoor dining, cheese room with local and international cheeses and it’s very own indoor beehive
Maria R.'s
What to do in the weekend (Otago and Southland)
- 13Eat Humble PieQueenstownWhile Queenstown is the land of the Ferburger, Eat Humble Pie gives this tourist town a name for great pies. The shop, which is only a few feet wide and full of you guessed it- hot delicious pies. Their chicken pies in particular are truly exquisite. Great value and fill you up!
- 27Remarkables MarketWanakaQueenstown knows a thing or two about markets. Fresh produce and live music, this small area is a place to enjoy a coffee, a fresh juice and some great food. Held on every Saturday, the crowds are always plentiful and the number of stalls grows each week. The Summer markets are a personal favourite- cheap fresh flowers!
- 31Cakes by KimClydeCakes by Kim is located in Clyde, Central Otago. Kim delivers to all over the region, including Alexandra, Queenstown, Wanaka and Roxburgh. These cakes are so much more than cakes. I would call them masterpieces. I first heard of Kim when she made a good friend of mine’s birthday cake last year and it was incredible. Theme cakes with fondant icing seem to be her specialty, and for good reason!
- 42Shanley Studio & GalleryPort ChalmersWhen you are taking a stroll down George Street in Port Chalmers, don’t forget to take a turn into Beach Street, where you may be lucky enough to see Amanda Shanley hard at work in her ceramic studio and gallery. Here she creates delicate pottery bowls and cups which she then colours in with ceramic pencil, felt tip pens or coloured glaze. Keeping her company are her young daughter and her French Bulldog called Sid, who hogs the heater on cold days.
- 52Kiki BewareDunedin CentralKiki Beware is glossy, modern and very continental, with cool dining furniture. The simple yet stunningly effective design of this espresso bar is at odds with the more grungy cafés of Dunedin’s George Street. The Finest Quality, Kiki Beware, Refreshment Room, or just Kiki Beware for short, is famous for its salmon bagels, cupcakes and Coffee Supreme espresso. The hand painted skulls and blushing pink flowers in crystal vases are perfect touches to an already perfect café.
Maria R.'s
Best cafes
- 18Soda CafeFernsideA bit of a hike north from Christchurch, Soda café is a colourful and stylish alternative to the Rangiora status quo. The eclectic interior is bright and open, with teal walls thoughtfully scattered with vintage iconography, and a fine view of a training racetrack (we are in the country, after all).
- 26Shop Eight & RekindleChristchurch CentralSharing a space with Rekindle (the local initiative where reclaimed timber gets turned into beautiful furniture), Shop Eight is an instant classic. You’ll find plenty of reasons to linger over your flat white here. This café is truly lovely with its minimal interior featuring wooden floorboards, beautiful blue espresso machine and white tiled walls
- 38Fat Pipi PizzaHokitikaFat Pipi Pizza is world famous in Hokitika. This is a great place to stop when you’re visiting the town. Shabby chic furniture, an open kitchen, cafe and a cosy backyard area makes Fat Pipi’s a most excellent lunch and dinner stop
- 414Jester HouseTasmanA favourite for both children and adults alike, Jester House is fun and friendly. I must do is feeding the tame eels! Definitely a café that you’ll never forget.
- 51The Fix CafeBlenheimArguably the best cafe in Blenheim town for its fast and friendly service.
Maria R.'s
Family friendly restaurants
- 114Jester HouseTasmanA favourite for both children and adults alike, Jester House is fun and friendly. I must do is feeding the tame eels! Definitely a café / restaurant that you’ll never forget.
- 28Fat Pipi PizzaHokitikaFat Pipi Pizza is world famous in Hokitika. This is a great place to stop when you’re visiting. Shabby chic furniture, an open kitchen and a cosy backyard area makes Fat Pipi’s a most excellent lunch and dinner stop
- 33The Thai KitchenSydenhamThai Kitchen proves that you should never let appearances fool you. This small and modest restaurant situated on Colombo Street doesn’t look like much and you’re very likely to miss it if you don’t keep a look out, but many of its loyal customers will testify that once you’ve had a taste of their dishes, you’ll never want to go any place else.
- 42Ali's Eating and DrinkingGreymouthA family friendly hang out. Enjoy sandwiches and salads all made from scratch. Menu can be adapted to suit most dietary requirements and down sized for kids. Yay!
- 52Freemans Dining RoomLytteltonThere is a cosy space inside where you can flick through cooking and cocktails books and a big deck out back for watching the sunset over the ocean. Culinary highlights include the new-to-menu gourmet pizzas (which are light, fresh and delicious) and chocolate almond torte with a flourish of toffee coated mandarin slices.
Maria R.'s
Great Cake
- 12The Dessert RoomCavershamOne word: YUM. Words cannot describe these sweet, succulent and moist pieces of art; which come in flavours such as raspberry and white chocolate gateaux, carrot cake and the classic chocolate layer cake. They also do cupcakes if you think you cannot stomach a whole cake (but believe me, you can!).
- 21The Dunedin Cupcake CompanyDunedin CentralWho doesn’t love cupcakes? A small sweet treat, which gives you so much happiness in such a small item you don’t understand how they do it. The Dunedin Cupcake Company is no different. These cupcakes are delicious happiness wrapped up in sunshine.
- 33Cup & Cake QueenstownQueenstownWith cupcakes like the Tropical Punch cupcake (a vanilla-bean based cupcake stuffed with freshly made mango curd topped with mango and coconut buttercream and garnished with toasted coconut and a pineapple lump), what’s not to love about Cup & Cake?!
- 47Vudu CafeQueenstownArguably Queenstown’s coolest (and most popular) cafe is Vudu Cafe. The vintage industrial cafe specialises in food that is sourced locally and mainly organic. Oh, and the cakes are pretty fantastic.
- 51Just off the beaten track from Wanaka, Florences’ has delicious pastries and cakes for you to enjoy in the lovely Otago sunshine.