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Chef Emily Thomas
picks veggies, herbs,
lettuce and other
greens from one
of Colenso’s many
garden beds, bringing
‘farm fresh’ flavours
to those yummy menu
selections.
Since recently returning to the Coromandel from
the UK, I’ve heard many locals recommend
Colenso Café – so I jumped at the opportunity
to meet the faces behind this family-centred
restaurant. I was also keen to find out more
about new menu offerings and the adventurous
background of the present owners’ daughter and
chef, Emily Thomas.
– Shannon Okey
W
hile Emily Thomas was overseas, parents
Judy and Gary Inglis called to tell her
they were buying the iconic Colenso Café and
invited her to come home and be involved.
Now, with their globe-trotting chef securely
back on the Coromandel, the Colenso Café
is truly a ‘family affair’: Judy and Emily share
management of the café, with Emily running
the restaurant and Judy the gift shop. Gary
handles the books, and Emily’s partner Greg
manages the mandarin, fig and plum orchards.
Emily walked me through the café’s impressive
gardens – raised vegetable beds, various herbs
and flowers – now in transition to autumn/
winter mode. Herb lovers will relish a stroll
through lavender, French sorrel, lemon verbena,
basil, parsley, rose geranium, rosemary, sage
and more. Flower gardens boast select roses
and the ever-popular sunflowers that end the
season with eye-popping brilliance.
“Anything we don’t grow, we source from local
growers,” Emily explains. This means all their
ingredients are ‘farm fresh’, complementing
those delicious meals they are famous for.
(Even their water is fabulous, flavoured with
Taggerty – a variety of marigold which gives the
water fragrance and flavour.)
“We now have an ‘all day breakfast’ menu and
an expanded salad selection – both warm and
cold.” Emily’s salad creations have unique
combinations that hit all the senses – such as
pairing tangy sauces with sweet vegetables
on a slightly salty base – a must try if you’re
after something a bit different. Choosing was
Emily spent years
as a chef aboard
luxury yachts.
and often have bookings for small groups,
birthday parties and clubs”.
Last year’s monthly ‘Winter Dinners’ proved so
successful that they plan to do it again. With
menus based on seasonal ingredients and a
roaring fire, this really is the best spot to be
on a chilly winter night. There may even be a
possibility of Emily’s chef brother Eliot Thomas
returning from his travels to cook a dinner or
two this year!
EMILY COOKS HER WAY
AROUND THE WORLD
The last eleven years overseas have been
varied and dynamic for trained chef Emily
as she gained valuable experience in her
profession, ‘feeding’ her passion for travel,
fresh produce and cooking. It all started
working with celebrity chef Bill Grainger in
Sydney, where Emily was introduced to her
next employers at a food festival – Rose Grey
and Ruth Rogers.
Confirming her employment at the renowned
River Café meant Emily could head to London
where she received a profound understanding
of fresh seasonal produce. “And I might still
be there,” she adds, “but the restaurant was
damaged by a fire.”
difficult, but I was totally pleased with my
Smoked Salmon Salad selection.
Inside I was immediately side-tracked by the
many unique bits and pieces in the gift shop –
everything from Colenso’s homemade muesli
and chutneys, to rustic aprons and unique
kitchenware. This is Judy’s domain and she
does a great job of selecting an awesome array
of items. I watched as delighted customers
perused racks full of artistic cards, jewellery,
pottery of beautiful colours-patterns-and-
shapes, scented soaps, hand-crafted candles
and whole rooms worth of other gems.
Judy excitedly announces, “We just learned
we are one of only 3 finalists in the Best Rural
Café section of the ‘NZ Café of the Year’ for the
upper North Island’!” No surprise. Colenso also
won runner-up for best café in NZ in 2011.
Emily incorporates recipes inspired by food she
experienced on her travels, with specials such
as soups like Sri Lankan Spicy Tomato/Coconut
and Vietnamese Chicken Noodle. These soups,
stews and ever-popular pies are sure to warm
you up throughout the upcoming chilly season.
Off-season works well for hosting and catering
weddings, meetings, and private lunches. “We
just hosted a group of ten for a ‘mens lunch’,
G
lobal Chef
drawn back to the Coromandel
After ‘cheffing’ around the world, Emily Thomas returns to help run the family business
18
COROMANDEL LIFE 2016 LATE AUTUMN / WINTER
by Shannon Okey
The award winning Colenso Café is located on SH25 just north of the picturesque beach town
of Tairua on the road to Whitianga. It has long been a favourite stop of ours – as it has been with
both visitors and locals for nearly 30 years.
Current owners Judy and Gary Inglis purchased the café and farm in 2013 from Ruth and Andy
Pettitt, the original owners. These retirees spent over 40 years ‘evolving’ the grounds to include
the café, a unique giftshop, gallery, prolific gardens and a family friendly playground. Colenso
Café became a renown Coromandel destination.
Ironically, Judy and Gary themselves had earlier retired – previously owning Smitty’s in Whitianga
(now called Frankies). But after just six months, they were ready for a new adventure. A country
café? They were in. The Inglis’, along with Emily, continue the legacy – introducing new ideas and
special touches – hopeful of creating an even better Colenso.
– Tovi Daly