A raw salad from Sunday Cantina packed full of flavour. Photo / Shelley Down
What they don't tell you when you start your own cafe is that as well as doing the parts you love, you also have to become an accountant, banker, stocktaker, lawyer, market guru, social media expert, problem solver, mentor and leader.
This is the position Fi Greig found herself in when she started Sunday Cantina in Kāpiti.
Her first venture into owning a cafe was Marine Parade Deli at Paraparaumu Beach with two business partners, but when she opened Sunday Cantina in Waikanae she was on her own, also taking on a big catering contract at the same time.
Opening the second Sunday Cantina in Raumati South early last year came with much excitement but was quickly followed by the first Covid-19 lockdown.
Suddenly, running two cafes, teaching cooking classes, catering and raising two daughters as a solo mum was becoming too much and becoming a grandma for the first time this year put things into perspective for Fi.
"For years I'd been running around following my dreams, pushing myself to exhaustion in pursuit of something bigger or something more.
"Suddenly I felt an immense desire to spend as much time as I could with my moko, and I began noticing an overwhelming feeling of unfulfillment, despite being in the best financial space ever."
Until then she had viewed running multiple businesses and cooking classes as success, "but I realised none of that made me happy because it was all materialistic.
"When I first started Sunday Cantina no one even knew what raw slices were in Kāpiti."
Normally throwing a little of this and a little of that into her cooking, Fi measured out all the ingredients meticulously so she could share her recipes with others.
"I had to measure everything out properly for the cookbook which I don't normally do, so that was a bit of a challenge.
"I pride myself on making my raw food recipes so enjoyable that anyone would want to eat them.
"I don't think it should matter what dietary requirements you have, you will fall in love with this food."
High on ingredients and with very simple methods, the recipes are for people who don't want to spend ages in the kitchen but just want to chuck it all in one bowl and make something delicious.