Hapuku Kitchen — Attraction in Kaikōura

We signed up for an all-day (6 hour) cooking class at Hapuku Kitchen, and it was one of the best things we did on our NZ vacation. Fiona's home is simply beautiful and the menu she put together, along with her instruction, allowed us to create some pretty amazing food without any mishaps. Fiona's helper Rebecca took care of so many details that we could focus on the fun parts of the meal preparation.

From selecting items from the garden (mostly herbs, garnishes and fruit) to the preparation - making out own crackers, puff pastry and ricotta cheese - and then final assembly with expert and beautiful plating by Fiona, we had a great time and delicious meal with our co-chefs.

If you enjoy cooking and good food I highly recommend this adventure. But Fiona has many other options if you don't want to spend an entire day, or just want to enjoy the food without the preparation, and I guarantee you'll eat a better meal here than any other...

By pure good fortune, and thanks to my very smart other-half, we found a gap in Hapuku's bookings for Friday night supper club. We'd heard so many good things about supper club I approached the thing with a degree of trepidation; 'could it really be that good?' I wondered. I needn't have worried. It was all we'd heard and much more. The format is brilliant. A long table for 12, where you may or may not know anyone else having dinner with you. The food is cooked by the talented chef, Fiona, with Chris acting as host, wine waiter, cocktail maker and general bon vivant. The food was incredible, with much of the produce coming from Hapuku's kitchen garden. The emphasis is on sustainability and local produce, so the provenance of everything that hits your plate is known. Kate and I had an incredible evening, with wonderful food, great company and gales of laughter. We're already...

On a recent trip to Kaikoura we were lucky enough to dine at Hapuku Kitchen twice in the space of three days. Both meals were extremely memorable and also completely different. Fiona and Chris are delightful hosts and it was lovely to be warmly welcomed into their home based supper club for both meals. I’m struggling to remember a time when I have been served a meal that matches the time, loving care and creativity that Fiona put into the food we enjoyed both nights. The layering of perfectly balanced flavours and textures in the dishes was absolutely masterful, and the use of local and foraged produce was intriguing. I hope to return one day and have a cooking lesson in the hope that some of Fiona’s culinary genius might...