MARY SHANAHA
La Bella Rossa's staff don't need caffeine for their high. They are all buzzing, after their cafe was judged Hawke's Bay's best in Cafe magazine's annual awards this week.
Convenor Michael Guy says cafes were appraised anonymously for everything in the national competition - from the standard of preparation and
presentation of their coffee to surroundings, service and food.
Cafe manager Duane Parker suspects La Bella Rossa's service may have been what finally won the judges' vote.
Operating from a stylishly upgraded Art Deco building, the Napier design store and cafe prides itself on its authentic European flair.
An Italian would be right at home with a coffee list that includes affogato, macchiato, ristretto, espresso, cappuccino, mochaccino and latte.
Even the chairs have a Continental provenance, starting life in the south of France. "I like to think a lot of French bottoms sat on them," says owner Melanie Fitzsimons who opened La Bella Rossa at Labour weekend last year.
Duane, also the barista, says it hasn't been easy establishing a cafe in a cafe city but providing a welcoming ambience has helped.
"We are friends with all our customers," he says. "People can sit and relax for hours if they want to." Melanie agrees. From the start, the cafe has attracted a regular following, boosted by shoppers who patronise the many boutiques springing up around town.
"It is so exciting what is happening in Hawke's Bay," she says, "especially in Tennyson Street."
With so many excellent cafes in the region, winning the top award for the region was quite a compliment.
Dishes, prepared by Jenny Parton, formerly chef at Clearview Estate and Sileni Estates, are one of the cafe's drawcards.
The braised beef, kalamata olive and merlot pie is seriously good comfort food this time of year "though thyme-scented chicken, spice onion and dijon tart remains the most popular choice".
Melanie vouches for the granache cake with three layers of chocolate and served with mascarpone and toffee spikes - "it's outstanding".
As well as the coffee, the service and the food, she says Duane is himself a great asset for the cafe.
"He's got such a lovely way with him, a huge smile and genuine joie de vivre (joy of living."
Thorps Coffee House, also in Napier, was Hawke's Bay runner up in Cafe magazine's NZ Best Cafe Awards.
