Rotorua cafe named New Zealand's best

Capers owners Gregg and Susan Brown (left) and manager Liz Todd. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Rotorua's Capers has been named the 2017 Meadow Fresh New Zealand Cafe of the Year.

The award was announced at an event in Auckland tonight.

The Eruera St cafe was also presented with the national Tararua Best Metro/CBD award after winning that category award for the Upper North Island region in December.

Judging, tasting and deliberating was conducted by a highly-experienced panel led by Kerry Tyack, who praised Capers.

"The food is fresh, beautifully presented and serves up an enticing menu delivering uncomplicated and innovative cuisine. Capers inspires loyalty from its customers by providing great food and coffee on site, as well as takeaway meals and salads and a retail larder full of local artisan and organic produce. Capers is superbly organised and managed.

"The engaging staff are proactive in determining and meeting customers' needs," he said.
"Capers is a great example of a local cafe that consistently brings passion and integrity to its customers."

Along with the title, Capers won a trip to Melbourne valued at $7500 and a feature in Dish magazine.

"The judging team has been hugely impressed, proving cafe owners around the country know how to dish up a vast range of satisfying food, to accompany some of the best coffee in the world. It has been a real treat for the panel to see first-hand how truly dynamic the Kiwi cafe scene is throughout the nation," said Mr Tyack.

Brian Woodcock, national business manager, foodservice, Goodman Fielder New Zealand Limited congratulated owners Gregg and Susan Brown and their team headed by manager Liz Todd.

NATIONAL CATEGORY AWARD WINNERS:
Tararua Best Metro/CBD | Capers | 1181 Eruera Street, Rotorua
Hellers Classic Kiwi | Rumbly Tums | 213a Rosebery St, Tokoroa
Hellmann's Best Suburban | Sweet Vanilla Kitchen | 49 Pretoria Street, Lower Hutt
Tucker's Ridge Pies Best Rural | Red Shed Palazzo | 64 Jesmond Rd, Karaka, Auckland
Puhoi Valley People's Choice | Surf Shack | 123 Emerton Road, Waihi Beach *as voted by the people
Goodman Fielder and Unilever Food Solutions Award for Innovation | The Sugar Shed | Pukekohe