The Cafe @ Harrisons front of house Awhi Habib, left, and co-owner Fiona Porteous. Photo / David Haxton
The Cafe @ Harrisons front of house Awhi Habib, left, and co-owner Fiona Porteous. Photo / David Haxton
A winter with not too much rain would be helpful, hopes Fiona Porteous, co-owner of The Cafe at Harrison's.
Fiona and partner Ian Porteous own the Peka Peka-based cafe which is back in business after being shut during the Covid-19 level 4 lockdown and only offering takeaways during level three.
The shutdown meant the cafe had to offload some stock, there was staff nervousness about job retention, and a big question mark about timeframes.
"You think you can manage with four weeks [shutdown] but then it was getting pushed out," Fiona said.
"We're coming into winter which is generally June, July and August, our three quietest months.
"But in saying that last winter wasn't particularly wet.
"So as long as it stays dry, we tick along okay.
"That has the biggest impact on our business.
"And with people not being able to go overseas on holiday, there will be more people sticking around during the year, and possibly other people holidaying around the area too."
The couple also own the Ritual Tea Company, which sources its tea from the oldest organic tea plant in the world — Sri Lanka's Idalgashinna bio garden tea factory.
Ritual Tea Company packets. Photo / David Haxton
They bought the company from the original owner late last year.
"We thought it was a really good complementary business for the cafe, and we sell a lot of tea at the cafe.
"Ian was also looking for a side business we could run with the cafe.
