SMASH PIPI

About

Casual Cafe in the middle of the main street Whangamata

Story

So who is behind Smash Pipi......
Petra
Cooking and baking have always been a passion of mine, as a kid I had my nose in every cookbook that I could get my hands on, as well as experimenting in the kitchen.........btw green mash potatoes are not a hit!
So, when it was time to decide on a career path it was an easy decision. 25 years ago, I became a qualified chef...1991....feels like forever ago but in a good way....!
I have worked in many kitchens in NZ, from my home town Warkworth (Whangateau) to heading the kitchen team in restaurants like One Tree Grill in Auckland.
My career as a chef has literally taken me around the world, I have worked in Australia, Malaysia, Scotland and South Africa as well as working on luxury motor vessels in locations like up in the Yasawas a group of islands off Fiji.
Travelling as a Kiwi Chef is a fantastic way to get hands on authentic experience of different cuisines…I highly recommend it, I thank the previous Kiwi chefs abroad that pathed the way and I hope I helped to contribute, to that reputation of being a hard, dedicated worker around the world, for the next lot of chefs that follow….
In Scotland, I was part of the team of chefs hired by HM Queen Elizabeth II for her annual Garden Tea Party held at Holyrood Palace, Edinburgh.
My role in South Africa was the most challenging, becoming the Head Chef to a trendy casual restaurant in Capetown that was not even open, hiring kitchen staff and writing and costing a menu - sourcing ingredients can be complicated task here in NZ but in a country where a lot of people speak a different language(s), was somewhat daunting. Ingredients I was used to being unavailable and many I had never heard of made for an interesting time! The restaurant opened and it was a hit....must have been those New Zealand Green lipped Mussels....all I know is I had to have my I can do this attitude hat on constantly.
25 Years in the hospitality industry has also seen me wearing many hats, not only have I been a chef, I have also been a sales representative for one of the largest suppliers into the bakery and restaurant trade, Davis Trading, a role I loved, finding it very easy to communicate, and foresee what my clients would be needing by having a quick browse in a cabinet or looking through their menu. But the one thing that this role lacked for me was the adrenaline of cooking! So, after a couple of months I was working a few nights in a kitchen as well. I also worked as a sales representative for Skellonz foods, Mediterranean Foods and Go Bake (where I taught cake decorating classes as well)
In 2002 I decided I would open my own catering company, which saw me cooking for many high-flying NZ business people, top CEO's (TVNZ, Westpac, Treslie Cooper, NBR, Property Press) not to mention two different Prime Ministers as well.
I am a core teaching chef at the Auckland Seafood School, I will continue to teach after Smash Pipi opens as I absolutely love this job and in the winter months I will be doing some cooking demonstration evening here at the Smash Pipi. I believe passing on knowledge, sharing information is the only way forward.
I love to bake and decorate cakes, playing with cake is my happy place......I say that but many a cake has had me close to tears....it’s a love /hate thing and generally goes with cake decorating, especially when I like nothing better than a 3D gravity defying cake to work on.
To me, nothing is yummier than baking from scratch...you will not find a premix in my kitchen!
The day Mike and I came to Whangamata to look at purchasing Sands Cafe in 2015, saw us walking the length of Port Road, I was pretty excited to see one of the two cookbooks I had cowritten in the window of Whanga books.....just between you and me, a lil squeal of delight may have popped out.
Smash Pipi has been a dream of mine for many, many, many years, I am lucky I have a fantastic partner in life who believes in me so much that he is willing to lay everything on the line to help me achieve my dream........
Lots of people have wanted Smash Pipi to be placed in a box, well and truely labeled …what is it going to be….cafe / restaurant / bakery?
I refuse to place Smash Pipi into a box, the vision of Smash Pipi to me is very clear…..it is….
A casual place to gather, in an inviting space, where soul over rides design
The menu …..to be interesting but not overly complicated, the ingredients fresh and at their best.
The cake stands…..full.... of house baked sweet treats, that will have you addicted.
The coffee…..that not only tastes great, but is made by trained baristas that know the different when it is not. We love our coffee company and believe it to be the best in Whangamata
The staff.....trained and passionate, enjoying their work
The music....easy listening, toe tapping at times…..70’s all the way, just kidding, sort of, kind of, wish I wasn’t….but Mike will make sure it isn’t ….
Beverage, a lil different to everywhere else, and where hot is hot, and cold is cold, simple really.
I welcome you to Smash Pipi......are you ready.....to become addicted