Napier’s newest must-visit is The Picnic, where the vibe is down to earth but the food is out of this world.
The fourth member of Hawke’s Bay’s Eat Drink Share family of eateries, The Picnic was conceived, in large part, to showcase the talents of young patissier and chocolatier Chris Mirams. The Picnic lays out a veritable feast of sweet decadence to rival the best French patisseries with pain au chocolat, tarts and whole layer cakes filling the cabinet each morning.
The showstoppers are the ‘gold cakes’, restaurant-quality miniature cakes with next-level flavour combinations and intricate, fine-dining decoration. They’re the perfect dinner party dessert or special occasion reward, packaged beautifully in one of The Picnic’s floral gift boxes.
Also begging to be lined up inside those adorned gift boxes are The Picnic’s handmade chocolates.
A chocolate virtuoso, Chris crafts his tiny treats (you only need a few bites when it’s this good) like works of modern art.
Bread fiends will be in heaven here, too. The Picnic team travelled to San Francisco, spiritual home of stunning sourdough, to master the legendary San Fran style. Give us this day our daily bread: classic bagels, breadsticks, brioche rolls, plus other doughy little darlings, like potato slider buns. Amen!
Another import from San Francisco foodie culture is the Cruffin (a ridiculously delicious croissant-muffin hybrid), which The Picnic does brilliantly. Like much of The Picnic’s signature sweets, Cruffin flavours change weekly; the flaky croissant shell encases moreish fillings like lemon meringue or salted caramel.
17a Mahia Street,
Ahuriri
Story by: Alana Broadhead. Photography by: Rachel Dobbs.
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