Little cafe served a big accolade

It's a little cafe with big aspirations and was judged Wanganui's best this year by Cafe magazine.

Cracked Pepper, in the Bridge block of Victoria Ave, has been owned and run by Teresa Falk for nine years. She started it with her brother, Derek Allomes, who is now cooking on cruise ships in Europe. Both are chefs trained in Wanganui.

Cafe magazine is no longer stocked in Wanganui and Ms Falk was told about the accolade by her friendly next door cafe neighbour, Mark Dyhrberg.

The Cafe piece said Cracked Pepper was "not your usual trendy affair but an unassuming local cafe with excellent food, well made coffee, and owners and staff who have built up loyal customers by giving value for money".

It gave special praise to Cracked Pepper's eggs benedict, one of Ms Falk's favourite dishes, but said everything was prepared with attention to detail and great presentation.

The Wanganui runner-up was Springvale Garden Centre and Cafe.

Business was brisk at Cracked Pepper yesterday when the Chronicle called. Ms Falk said the Rugby World Cup was making a difference.

"We've had Argentinians, Americans and Italians. They're all just drifting through," she said.

The cafe's biggest number of customers for a day was 156. Its busiest days were Saturdays and Sundays, and it aimed to serve 100 customers on each of them.

Its food style veered toward brunch, with some lunch dishes as well. The brunch trend was a new one.

"Twenty years ago you couldn't go anywhere for brunch. I love the fact that we've got this real brunch culture now," Ms Falk said.

The cafe is open seven days a week but has not opened at night since Mr Allomes left.

Loyal local customers are its mainstay.

Ms Falk enjoys cooking and she likes the diversity of her customers. "We've got to know some really neat people over the years. We wouldn't be here without them, and we know that," she said.

She has two full-time front of house staff and two chefs in the kitchen, plus part-timers where necessary. There is local artwork on the wall and sunshine coming in the window.

"This end of town is great. It's got a more relaxed atmosphere and we work really well with [the cafe next door]," she said.

She has not had a two-week holiday for years and her business is for sale, but she and all the staff are still passionate about it.

"It's a lifestyle choice. While we are doing it, we will enjoy it and make the most of it," she said.