The name’s the same and so are the friendly staff, but the menu has had some changes since new owners Scott and Jo Johnson took over Zinc Cafe in Waipukurau’s Northumberland St in July.
Scott and Jo did think about changing the name “but Zinc is so well known, we needed to keep it.” So they did, along with the cabinet foods, lunches, and catering. They have added a lot of healthy alternatives to those lunch options though “gluten-free slices, salads, vegetarian options, keto options ... lots of healthy alternatives,” Scott says. “It has been very well received.”
Scott is a chef by trade, and he is at his happiest in the kitchen. Which is lucky because he now has two...Scott and Jo also took over the Hatuma Cafe in August last year. Just before the August lockdown. “Which wasn’t so bad, locked up with a good coffee machine and a playground for the children,” says Jo.
The two businesses are completely separate, attracting a different clientele, and the couple want to keep it that way. “As well as midweek morning teas and lunches, Hatuma is a great weekend option: child-friendly, dog-friendly (apart from the local cat...), simple but great-tasting food ... we attract a lot of families and people travelling through. “We are still doing Friday nights at Hatuma, and next summer the craft beers and ciders will be back.” Between the two venues, the couple employ 14 staff and have a strong focus on training and a positive workplace experience. “We train to a high standard. We also want staff to like coming to work,” Jo says. It’s an attitude that comes down from Scott and Jo themselves. They are in the business because they enjoy it, having run a cafe in Turangi before selling up for the move to CHB. “We wanted a different lifestyle, nicer temperatures and good schools for our children,” says Jo. “We were looking for a small community and Waipukurau just felt good when we came for a look.” Jo says she hadn’t quite bargained on the 32 degree temperatures this summer has brought...but Scott says the temperature in his two kitchens is just about right.