Pukeko proving problematic for St Georges

Francky Godinho is hoping his St Georges Restaurant will be the most self-sufficient restaurant in Hawke's Bay, if the pukeko allow it. Photo / Duncan Brown

Twenty years in a profession and owning your own business are no guarantee of dignity, as St Georges Restaurant and executive chef Francky Godinho found out the hard way. A plague of pukeko were devastating his restaurant garden, one of three growing vegetables and flowers for his Havelock North restaurant, which he hopes to be the most self-sufficient restaurant in Hawke's Bay.

"They are a real nuisance," he scowled.

"I tried to chase them and I slipped and dropped on my bum. It cost me $400 dollars just to net that area - thankfully there were already poles."

It is three winters since the award-winning chef took over the lease of the 30-year-old restaurant, renovating the two-level building room by room.

He said locals are the mainstay of the business, even though they are outnumbered by tourists in summer.

"The locals keep it going in the winter - it's all about the locals," he said.

"In summertime tourists are about 50 per cent but in winter it's 20 per cent."

While the business is a success, it still causes sleepless nights.

"Any business owner that borrows money has some sleepless nights. To get it right does take time - we need to put a lot of energy into it, especially the hospitality."

He has several hundred vegetable plants growing of each variety and several thousand garlic plants.

Self-sufficiency was about more than ensuring quality organic produce.

"We're looking for value-for-money for our diners."