Somewhere special to eat

In 2005, when Alexandra Tylee first moved her Pipi Café from its original Greytown location to Havelock North, it caused a bit of a stir, particularly when she painted the mustard-coloured premises of the former fish-and-chip shop pink and red. The café's cheerful demeanour, good food and cute-as-a-button pizza truck melted the hearts of sceptical locals, and Pipi Café has become a cherished local landmark. Alexandra, who is the author of three cookbooks, set out to create an eatery where people feel comfortable. “I wanted to have a place where people can be completely themselves and not have to sit up straight,” she says. “When I cook a dish, I want to get to the essence of it. An apple crumble is lovely with polenta and ground almonds, but ours is made with just butter and rolled oats — how your grandmother made it — because then it becomes about memories.” The café is open for dinner; the fishcakes and stew pie are long-time favourites and enquire about special seasonal dishes such as pumpkin gnocchi with sage butter.

16 Joll Road, Havelock North. (06) 877 8993, cafe.pipi.co.nz