Blossoming Christchurch

STAY

Aside from its five-star service and foodie credentials, guests can feel good about staying at the recently-opened Sudima Christchurch City thanks to its behind-thescenes environmental and social initiatives. And there is no charge for all the extras; the a la carte breakfast, yoga classes, use of bicycles (park the car and leave it there) and treats like locally-made She chocolate. Little wonder the hotel group picked up New Zealand’s top tourism award in November. It is also easy to see why locals are utilising the adjacent Moss Spa and dining the Vices & Virtues restaurant.

TRY

Put yourself in the hands of the professionals and take a kai safari tour with Amiki Tours. Cate and Riwai Grace have done their homework in terms of both food and local history – they are great storytellers who know where to find the city’s culinary gems.

Sign up for a cooking class with Two Raw Sisters. Or Riverside Kitchen in Riverside Market, which also offers market and other food tours, demonstrations and guest chefs from Indonesia, Italy and India amongst others. There is a dining space for private functions, as well as lessons for younger children and teenagers preparing to leave home.

TASTE

Plan to visit and revisit Riverside Market over several mealtimes to properly celebrate Canterbury food and the city’s ethnic diversity courtesy. Aside from dosa, find authentic Indonesian tempeh and meat barbecued Argentinian-style. Prepare to queue for popular Greek souvlaki. Buy Turkish delight from its Turkish maker. Roam the stands at Riverside Collective, a gathering of boutique producers making everything from layered cakes and vegan cheese to cashew brittle, edible petals, hemp hearts and curry paste. Buy fresh coconuts, watercress and quail eggs. Tuck into a sandwich shaped like a whale. Visit the fishmonger for smoked salmon sausages and fresh banana prawns. Take home pasta and olives. Look up and ogle the reclaimed bricks, a ceiling made from rimu floorboards, timber piles from Lyttelton’s wharf and the clock rescued from the old Moorhouse Ave train station. Find gourmet teas, wholefoods, organic juices, a wine bar, New Zealand crafts and plenty more at The Welder. Also home to The Great Pastry Shop for classic Paris Brest pastries and a deliciously reinvented pastie made with mature cheddar, leek, onion, rosemary, potato and smoked garlic. Tucked into an alleyway, Bohemian Bakery Cafe´ does beautiful bread, vegan pain au chocolate and properly buttery pastries. High St was edgy and appealing pre-quakes. That’s happening here again courtesy of the likes of Utopia Ice City. Get your vegan coconut tayberry and kaffir lime leaf cone here, made from scratch in Sumner. C1 Espresso is an old favourite, reestablished. Coffee and food aside, visit for the impressive urban garden and historic building, the pneumatic tube slider delivery and the superb bookcase bathroom entry. Take your pick inside Little High Eatery but Caribe Latin Kitchen does a mean burrito served in chipped enamel bowls amidst multi-hued tiles, skulls and religious icons. If you’ve missed the 70s, down a fluffy duck cocktail at Retropolitan. Visit Inati for inventive, modern culinary wizardry and excellent service from people who care deeply about food. Take a high perch at the brass-topped bar and watch the chefs make a broccoli stem sexy with the help of smoked ricotta and almonds. Make sure you talk to your neighbours because that’s part of the inati – sharing – philosophy. On Saturday mornings, find fresh produce and some of the city’s favourite food vendors at the picturesque and wellattended Christchurch Farmers Market.