It's officially the age of hyperlocal goods. Spice up your consumption with food and drink made by hand, by real people you can chat to. Canterbury is an artisanal cornucopia, and Cityscape has a wee taste of what's on offer.
Christchurch's streets are slathered with art, and the creativity doesn't stop there. Many of our bakers, butchers, bottlers and more are absolute maestros of food and drink. With some of the best produce in the world on our doorstep, the region’s small food producers have carved themselves a big reputation, with Canterbury always well-represented in national artisan cuisine awards.
Why opt for bland and mass-produced when the region’s artisans and growers are powering out bold, beautiful flavours right here? If you haven’t already, it’s time to branch out; why not skip the supermarket and flock to the farmers’ markets, the factory shops and the gourmet food stores.
Bakers
In Riverside Market, Riverside Collective has some of the best brownies in town thanks to Badass Brownies, as well as a selection of raw vegan crackers, energy bars and granola from Make it Raw. In Ferrymead, the team at Vic’s Bakehouse are devoted to using traditional bread-making techniques to produce their delicious range of European breads. In Sydenham and also at The Welder in Welles Street, Sam and Sara Ellis of Grizzly Baked Goods have brought light, flaky and dizzyingly buttery Morning Buns to Ōtautahi.
Not so good on gluten? You’re not the only one. Totally Gluten Free Bakery, in Colombo Street, arose out of a growing need for a specifically gluten free bakery. Delicious baked goods that fuse Japanese and European influences are the speciality at Japanz Bakery in South City Shopping Centre. The popular pies and donuts here are made from scratch each day.
At The Tannery, Bellbird Bakery offers a selection of high-quality breads and pastries made with ingredients that include Canterbury-grown wheat, New Zealand butter and free range eggs. Bohemian Bakery is in the central city and Sumner. You can watch the bakers at work as their creations come to life – enjoy some of their fresh-baked breads and sweet or savoury pastries. Closer to the city, Good Honest Products produces Parisian macarons, delicious slices, muesli and biscuits without additives – order online and get it delivered to your door.
Delicatessens
Curator’s Deli grew out of a frequent question at the Curator’s House Restaurant: where do you get your chorizos from? Answer: they're made in house! Riverside Market is home to Cured, stockists of Cashmere Cuisine’s famous range of salami that is beautifully packaged and perfect for gifts.
Stripped Jerky is your local handcrafted jerky company, putting an all-natural and delicious spin on the art of drying Canterbury grass-fed beef. Keep an eye out too for the authentic South African taste of Canterbury Biltong, and all-New Zealand, all-authentic Wagyu beef from Black Origin.
If you are after plant-based alternatives to meat, Grater Goods in Sydenham is a vegan deli dedicated to creating meat-like products and cheeses without using anything from animals. Using ingredients such as jackfruit, vegetable proteins and seitan to mimic texture, Flip and Youssef create delicious ‘chorizos’ and roasts, alongside BBQ packs.
Pantry stockers
Riverside Collective once again delivers the artisan goods at Riverside Market: Karikari Kitchen produces condiments, chutneys and creations that make a great addition to any table; Saveur de Sel's 'salt lady' collaborates with other local producers to blend flavoured sea salts; Greenz has a passion for jams made from spray-free, locally grown fruit as well as tasty handmade peanut butter and a range of keto snacks; and White Heart Specialty Hazelnut Products grows its own hazelnuts for making gourmet products like granola-style toppers, condiments and snacks.
For the real taste of Christchurch, check out Gold Fern Honey. The team buzz all over town collecting honey from their hundreds of hives and produce raw honey and beeswax products. For fresh, premium quality cold-pressed oils for cooking and dressing, check out The Good Oil range from Pure Oil New Zealand.
Dairy
Artisan cheesemakers are hard at work around the region, from Barrys Bay Cheese on Banks Peninsula to Emilio’s Cheese near Kirwee. Barrys Bay Cheese is the granddaddy of them all, having been producing cheeses using traditional methods since 1895. Canterbury Cheesemongers, now in Ferrymead, mature and sell quality cheeses from around New Zealand and abroad.
The chocolatiers at de Spa Chocolatier and She Universe are also putting milk to good use (as well as producing dairy-free chocolates), both handcrafting new and wondrous chocolate creations.
Rollickin Gelato makes delicious gelato on site with organic milk delivered daily from free-range, happy cows in Rangiora, as well as a range of dairy-free fruit sorbets and a dessert menu. Globally popular artisan ice cream crowd Ben & Jerry's has its very own Christchurch scoop shop in Riverside market, with over 25 flavours that you can get in a baked waffle cone, shake or sundae (not all the flavours at once, you glutton!).
BREWERS & BOTTLERS
For those of us riding the kombucha wave, Toni and her crew at The Kombucha Girls are brewing excellent 'buch, and serving it on tap in Riverside Market. If you’re looking for something a bit harder, Concept Brewing has an ever-expanding range of craft beers as well as some very classy gins. The team work with local artists to design the labels, to keep it simple (like the gin) or silly (like the tap badge cartoons).
The team at Three Boys Brewery are still smashing it at their Ferry Road operation, turning out special-edition brews like the Imperial Oyster Stout (complete with Bluff oysters) and growing a burgeoning international reputation – they’re part of a thriving Christchurch craft beer scene that includes Eagle Brewing, Wigram Brewing Co., Two Thumb Brewing Co., Pomeroy’s Old Brewery Inn, Lyttelton’s Eruption Brewing, and more besides (find an excellent local round-up at Canterbury Brewers Collective).
Leading the way in sustainability is The Fermentist. The Sydenham brewery and taproom has set out to be a test bed for innovation and ideas that can make a difference.
The Spirits Workshop operates a boutique, small-batch craft distillery in Sydenham. Its flagship product is Curiosity Gin and it also produces micro-barrel single malt whiskies. Holding to the traditions of artisan distilling, The Spirits Workshop uses locally sourced Canterbury malted grain and pure Canterbury artesian water.
Small-batch premium gin is also made at Lyttelton Distillery Co. It all starts with making alcohol in house from local grains and honey. The distillers then add carefully chosen botanicals including juniper, mānuka, wild thyme and citrus. No artificial flavours are used, and it shows in the result. And for a new flavour experience, check out the seasonal releases from Juno Gin, each one made with a unique selection of botanicals.