Coromandel Life Spring/Holiday 2013 - page 14

12
COROMANDEL LIFE
SPRING 2013
Ruth Andy Pettitt...
The Heart of COLENSO CAFE
This is more than the celebration of 25 successful years for this
favourite local café – this celebrates a special couple, Ruth and
Andy Pettitt. This is a love story – for each other, their orchards and
gardens, their animals and a staff that is really more of a family.
The Pettitts bought the land 40 years ago and immediately poured their
heart and soul into the 65 acre parcel. They augmented their income by
planting some of the land with orchard trees, the fruit slated for export,
citrus, plum, peach and tamarillo (unfortunately frosted out one year).
They soon expanded into selling their own, freshly squeezed orange
juice. This required a commercial kitchen and license which led to the
opening of a café. Ruth started baking scones (she still uses the same
recipe) and muffins, served with her unique blends of tea. So, twenty-
five years ago, a little tea shop eventually evolved into the café/kitchen/
gift store/herb farm/gallery/orchard/flower gardens it is today – Colenso
(named in honour of botanist William Colenso).
If you have driven along State Highway 25 near Whenuakite, you’ve
undoubtedly been tempted to stop. If you did, you’re now one of the
legions of loyal local customers, joining fans the world over. People are
attracted like bees to honey.
“Oh, [speaking of] honey!” Ruth notes that they “grow their own”,
with hives right on the property “thanks to hives provided by Paul and
Angela Berry of Sanctuary Honey”.
“I love the customers,” states Ruth. “They feel like good friends who
have come for a visit.” And that’s what Greg and I felt the first time
we stopped shortly after we arrived in NZ five years ago. We were
charmed by the ambiance and peacefulness. I almost forgot about
food, walking in the garden and browsing the displays of art and
jewellery, until I discovered their yummy selection of gourmet sauces,
chutneys, jams and herbal teas. Minky the Cat, curled up by the cosy
fire, was just as friendly as the staff who casually moved about.
After Colenso became an advertiser, I was thrilled to get to know
the exceptional couple who had created this mecca in the middle
of paddocks and bush. I could write a whole story about the café’s
delicious food and tempting gift items, but this is about Ruth and
Andy, Team Colenso, and how together, with the support of longtime
employees, they grew their café business and a huge ‘family’ of friends.
A marriage ... a farm...
an orchard ... a café ...
E
nduring labours of love.
&
BY TOVI DALY
Left: This Oreo
marked eyecatcher
is a Belted Galloway.
Bottom: The
country-cosy
buildings and
lush plantings
all entice the eye.
1...,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13 15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,...64
Powered by FlippingBook