Bracu chef Adrian Brett-Chinnery tells Catherine Smith why he and his family love living in rural Auckland.
Chef Adrian Brett-Chinnery began living in Pukekohe in 2004, not long after he moved to New Zealand from Britain. He lives in the rural Auckland suburb with his partner, Telia Kingsford and new baby girl Cerys, along with maltese poodle-cross Leia. Adrian is a chef at Bracu and will be preparing dishes for the Taste of Auckland at Victoria Park from November 18 to 21.
"I arrived from [Britain] and worked first at Hotel du Vin just south of Auckland. I'm from Wales so I'm not a big city person. I like the rural community. It's different of course, but it's nice to have that country atmosphere. Like anywhere it takes a while to break through a bit, but now I have a great network of people.
"As a chef I use as much produce as I can from around here - at least 70 per cent - so you get to know people through that.
"Over here you need to get out to find the local suppliers, but now people turn up [at the restaurant] who want us to use their produce. Buying local is very big in [Britain] but harder in some ways. [Over] there, "local" [refers to] the whole of Britain, and we also used a lot of French and European [produce].
"Here the beef comes from the Waikato, the cheeses from Mercer just down the road, bacon and sausages from Pokeno, and there are lots of free-range chicken and egg suppliers. We tend to get our own food for home from the same people, and of course there are great vege markets everywhere. I say that if people aren't involved in cars or racing [around here] then they are growing something.
"My favourite spot is the Counties Manukau football stadium - I support rugby and football. It's great to have them down here, with Tana Umaga and all, and from my house it's only three minutes to the stadium. I try to get there when I'm not working.
"There is also the racetrack nearby, and on open days I take my car around the track. There or at Hampton Downs, it's good fun and my brother-in-law is a rally sprinter, so he's nuts about it.
My local would be the Monarch Cafe Bar and Grill. The owner, Dean, used to be a rugby player, and for people from [Britain] it's important to have a local.
Also locally, Poco Loco restaurant is run by two mad Newcastle women - they'll have you in stitches and the tapas are great.
"There are plenty of nice little parks to go to, or I'll take the dog up for a walk up Pukekohe Hill. We like to go over to Hunua Falls for a walk, the reservoir is lovely.
"Even the grounds at Bracu with the olive groves are pretty special, with the olive press and the ponds.
"For the beach, we'll go to Kariotahi or Port Waikato: we consider that local. I like the warmer water at the Port - I'm a wimp about cold water but I can stay in the surf for two hours."
Adrian's picks
Bracu Restaurant, 49 Main Rd Bombay, ph (09) 236 1030, open Wednesday to Sunday 10.30am till late. www.simuolive.co.nz/bracu-restaurant
Monarch Cafe Bar and Grill, 1 King St, Pukekohe, ph (09) 238 3232, open Monday-Friday 11am till late, Saturday-Sunday 10am till late. www.monarchcafe.co.nz
Poco Loco, 15 Queen St, Pukekohe, ph (09) 238 1607, open Wednesday to Saturday, 5pm till late. www.pocoloco.co.nz
Counties Manukau Rugby Football Union, Corner Stadium and Franklin Rds, Pukekohe, ph (09) 237 0033 www.steelers.co.nz
Pukekohe Park, 222-250 Manukau Rd, ph (09) 238 8049 (horse racing) or (09) 238 0553 (motorsport). Controlled vehicle test days are regularly held for the public to test their cars or bikes.
