Whanganui business Pitter Platter off to a flying start

Simone Geange is the brains and creative flair behind Pitter Platter.

She was her friends' and family's "go to" person to put together food platters.

So Simone Geange thought she'd set up a Facebook page to see if there was any interest in platter catering. That was three months ago and since then the Whanganui woman has been run off her feet with her business Pitter Platter.

The Chronicle was scheduled to catch up with Ms Geange in late 2017 but she was so overwhelmed with bookings in the lead-up to Christmas she had to postpone until the New Year.

Now, with time to catch her breath, we find out what the Pitter Platter excitement is about.

Ms Geange creates a "platter" on a table or benchtop, using a wide range of food products that she sources locally. A one metre platter takes about an hour to put together.

"I don't plan it before I start, I just do it as I go," Ms Geange said.

"It helps if people tell me what food they like but most people don't mind what's on it. I think people like how colourful they are and I use beautiful seasonal produce.

"I've done lots of work meetings and birthdays and I did my first wedding platter on New Year's Eve. Since then I've had heaps of brides messaging me. I hope to expand and get into things like hen's nights and baby showers."

Ms Geange has no formal food-related qualifications but her business is about presenting products creatively, not making food.

"I've always liked food but had never wanted to do it as a job. I like creative, arty things so I decided to put it together with my love of food. I go to about seven different places around Whanganui to get products because I want to get things that people don't usually have."

The business has been a real juggling act with good time management essential as she has 3-year-old daughter Oakley to take care of as well.

"The name Pitter Platter came from a television programme she likes which is Pitter Patter. I thought 'that sounds like platter' and decided it was a good name for my business."

Ms Geange takes bookings via Facebook and email and prefers a two-week lead-in time for a booking "though most of the time I've only been getting a few days".

Table and benchtop platters can be done in 2m, 1m and half metre sizes and Ms Geange is now also making smaller platter boxes that can be taken on picnics.