All Blacks chef opens coffee bar
A former chef for the All Blacks and Crusaders has opened a coffee bar in Christchurch serving balanced meals and healthy treats.
Chef and owner Peter Howe launched Native at 383 Colombo St, Sydenham last month.
Prior to opening the cafe he was the executive chef at the Sports Kitchen, where he cooked nutritionally sound meals for Christchurch’s high performance athletes.
Now he is taking the concepts he has learnt and is providing the public with access to balanced, healthy meal options.
‘‘I learned a lot about how food nourishes the body. We’re not against unhealthy foods but we’re very conscious about what we’re serving up to people.’’
Most of its dishes are diary free, gluten free and refined sugar free, plus a number are also vegan.
Plant-based proteins are a prominent feature on Native’s menu. Howe’s interest in meat replacements was sparked when he started cooking meat-free meals for ‘‘a couple of Crusaders in Christchurch who are on plantbased diets’’.
He says many athletes consume between 200g to 350g of meat per serving. ‘‘We can provide that same amount of protein through a lot of alternatives we work with like quinoa, beans and tofu.
‘‘I want to provide my customers with meals that will help them achieve their different goals.’’
Supporting local suppliers is also important to Howe who uses local and organic milk and vegetables and locally roasted coffee. ‘‘Our ethics are based on supporting local friends and family within the industry.’’