Shopping inside Florence’s Food Store and Cafe in Wanaka

When a friend suggested we drive over the Crown Range from Arrowtown, on a gloomy, wet day for lunch at Florence’s Food Store and Café I was ambivalent…until I got there. This incredible restaurant / deli / homeware store on the outskirts of Wanaka is a foodie’s destination.

The bitter wind had us heading indoors quickly, but had it been a scorching summer’s day, the outdoor setting and alluring sand pit with kid’s toys, would have been inviting.

Before we could focus on what to eat there was shopping to be done. Picking up our baskets we began to cruise the stylish and tempting store. Like kids in a lollie store, we didn’t know where to begin -cheeses, salami, bread, sweets goods, crockery, cutlery, sauces, drinks, linen and so much more.

As the cash register starting going chink chink, we began browsing the lunch menu and counter food, pondering the options.

Delicious counter food had us salivating

We all chose something different and finally settled for a creamy risotto with prawns and spicy chorizo, a rich and thick pea and ham soup and a ramekin of piping hot macaroni cheese with generous lashings of bacon.

With a glass of local Rose and impeccable serve, we enjoyed our tasty meals, followed by a coffee from Florence’s award winning barista, Keighley.

It’s worth the trip over the Crown Range for lunch and for the lucky locals living in Wanaka, you should be thankful Sharyn Mathias, with her flare and creativity has created Florence’s for you.