'Foodies' win cafe award

From the left is The Little White Rabbit owners Anita Lynn and Nigel Lynn with their 5-week-old baby boy Sage.

Foxton Beach cafe The Little White Rabbit has been crowned the lower North Island regional winner for best rural cafe.

Owners Nigel and Anita Lynn say they are true 'foodies', having started the cafe on Seabury Ave with their dream of bringing "big city" culture to the small coastal town.

"We try to give people an experience that they wouldn't get anywhere else," said Nigel.

The hunter-gatherer style cafe is known for its home-made, rustic style cooking, craft beer and Sunday sessions.

Nigel said he wanted to give the town a hub in which to mingle.

"Sunday sessions are popular. We have live music, it's a real community day."

The couple proudly use locally sourced produce and bake their food fresh daily.

Their love of Mediterranean food sees a variety of pizzas available at the cafe, but their most popular product is the famous Sandy Doughnuts.

"We are really stoked with this award," said Anita.

"Hospitality is a hard industry, one that we are devoted to, so to be recognised is really nice."

The cafe caters for all dietary requirements, and only sells fairtrade coffee.

Nigel, a chef who has worked in Wellington and Melbourne, bought his first business in 2011, Palmerston North's Village Inn and four years ago set up Little White Rabbit after meeting and marrying Anita.

The pair sold Village Inn last year and moved to Foxton Beach and recently welcomed the arrival of their five-week-old son, Sage.

The Little White Rabbit, 106 Seabury Ave, Foxton Beach, is open Tuesday to Sunday, late on Friday and Saturday nights.