CoOK ISLANDS SuN
D I N I N G & E N T E R TA I N M E N T
A stylish town eatery with hangout appeal THERE IS NO SHORTAGE OF INTERESTING PLACES TO EAT AND DRINK ON RAROTONGA, BUT THERE IS ONE POPULAR EATERY THAT JUST ABOUT EVERYONE ON THE ISLAND WILL HAPPEN UPON!
L
ocated next to the CITC Pharmacy in downtown Avarua, The Lucky Rooster Eatery (formerly Café Salsa) has what all food and beverage businesses crave: location, location, location. And it is a great place to hang out! The eatery’s owners Martina Uhlig and Armin Schwander are from Switzerland. Arriving in Rarotonga three years ago the longtime friends and business partners have developed the original café into a stylish eatery and popular meeting place, recently including an outside catering component for events and weddings.
Antipodes, an Epic Name for an Epic Restaurant
hospitality course, similar to the one Martina completed. Once qualified he was headhunted and moved to South Africa ‘to join a circus’ as side-kick to the owner.
Armin described it as an ambitious project similar to Cirque du Soleil. “The world tour started in Montreal, but soon the eccentric owner went bankrupt!” Another skill Martina acquired was the teaching of yoga. “I also registered for a Chinese medicine school, but wanted to travel before committing to the course”. It was at this time Martina planned to meet up with Armin in Fiji. Armin was
On return to Switzerland he worked for a communications and event company managing a converted cinema in Zurich, where he met Martina, who was working for a company that held events in the venue. Armin and Martina have been close friends and fellow travellers since! Both had separate business interests that often kept them apart, until they met up in Rarotonga in February 2016.
According “We had such the Martina a great time and Armin in Raro we The Lucky wondered if Rooster Eatery we could buy a staff have business or work given them here.” an insight into the local A few days culture and before they were communities: Armin and Martina, fun owners of The Lucky Rooster Eatery due to fly out “We have arriving from Mexico, they heard Café Salsa was learned a lot from them, and Martina from Bali. Three for sale, looked it over and they have learned from us. days before the reunion decided to buy. It is a beautiful exchange in Cyclone Winston happened cultural knowledge,” both “Something felt special, around Fiji. Travel plans partners agree. beautiful and magical here quickly changed and they in the Cook Islands!” said met in Rarotonga instead, a Armin and Martina’s Martina. “We were at the place they had never heard professional backgrounds are right time, at the right place, of before, but was to change the similar, but different. making the right decision.” their life plans forever! Martina is from Zurich, “We saw the potential of “When I was doing the big Armin from Lucerne. Both the place and we knew the events, Armin was an event have travelled extensively, lifestyle that comes with it! manager in one of the venues. individually and together, and Being business partners made That's how we met”. both have worked in events it possible for one of us to and hospitality. be here, while the other one travelled!” added Armin. As a teenager at language college Martina recalls “Café Salsa was a strong wanting: “to experience life, brand on the island, but have money, and travel!” She we don’t serve Central or speaks Swiss German, High South American food, so German, English, French, we decided on a new name Italian and Spanish. more connected to the area. One animal that everyone Included in the varied places Fresh and healthy homemade food sees and hears in Rarotonga Martina has worked are are the roosters. They are Cape Verde, the Maldives, Armin is from Lucerne. He everywhere; we have made the Galapagos Islands, and speaks German, French and our peace with ours,” said Thailand. English. When at school he Martina. started a commercial business apprenticeship and became “We made them part of our a textile tradesman for huge new brand name: The Lucky corporate company, but he Rooster Eatery. We changed yearned to see the world so the ‘café’ part of our name he moved to Guernsey to too, because we are not just work in a five star resort as a place for coffee and cake. a bartender, which gained We are an eatery that proudly him valuable expertise from prepares fresh and healthy bartending professionals. homemade foods daily for our Martina completed a After returning to Switzerland customers”. three-year course with the working for a promotion “Rarotonga is the greatest Swiss School of Tourism & company, he got a job bar place on Earth; the vibe and Hospitality, which led her keeping on a German cruise the energy of this place is to be employed by a catering ship, “The German version outstanding. It just makes me and events company that of the Love Boat – they were happy!” beamed Martina. specialised in “super big shooting a TV series”. Armin added: “The beauty events”. “When I came off the ship of the environment, of the I worked for the mother At one time Martina was people, the smell of the company of the same employed by one of the ocean, … and I want to company as Martina worked country’s best-known become a good kite surfer.” in. I was doing ‘bar concepts’, companies that published Fb & Instagram: and ended up assistant cookbooks and consulted theluckyroostereatery general manager”. for supermarket chains. She scouted different countries to Homepage: After more travel Armin check out product trends. theluckyroostereatery.com did a three-year tourism and
Something felt special, beautiful and magical here in the Cook Islands!
19
Dining views over the South Pacific Ocean
JOCELYN BALLANTYNE IS THE UNPRETENTIOUS CHEF AT ANTIPODES, A CLASSY, ‘IN-DEMAND’ RESTAURANT IN RAROTONGA WELL KNOWN FOR IT’S DELECTABLE MEDITERRANEAN-INSPIRED CUISINE.
J
ocelyn is one of the most appealing and original voices in recent years to enter the Rarotonga restaurant scene, the kind of chef who can tempt the palate of ordinary people who just like to eat well and enjoy their food. Antipodes is not the cheapest eatery in town, but with Trip Advisor’s number one restaurant rating in Rarotonga for value, service and food, one patron recently described it as a ‘top spot for top-end dining.’ Located within a cliff-top Mediterranean-style villa at Black Rock near Avarua, Antipodes offers matchless views over the sparkling South Pacific Ocean.
was a magnificent private home. At the time, we thought it would be the perfect place to set up a business specialising in weddings, events, with a restaurant and boutique accommodation. In 2017 the property came on the market, we purchased it and over the next seven months, carried out extensive renovations of the building to convert it in such a way that it could accommodate our commercial plans. Everything we imagined we would do with the property, we finally achieved in reality.
Occupying one of the loveliest, airy spaces of any restaurant on the island, Antipodes is open for dinner six nights a week (except Tuesdays), and for lunch on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.
Twelve years ago whilst on a holiday in Rarotonga, my partner and I came across this Mediterranean style villa at Blackrock, which at the time
Top spot for top-end dining. Antipodes ambience Antipodes has a unique location perched on top of the Blackrock Cliff that affords it commanding views out over the lagoon and the South Pacific Ocean. The ‘romantic’ Mediterranean villa is very photogenic. The position and way Antipodes has been built, provides maximum protection from the elements. And, Antipodes is perfectly situated to take in the magnificent sunsets.
The sign says it all
Antarctica each year to spend time in the tropical paradise of Rarotonga between the months of July through to the end of October. From our three spacious outside dining terraces patrons can observe magnificent whale breaching and tailslapping displays.
Antipodes, the specialty caterer and accommodation provider
Not only is Jocelyn Ballantyne the executive chef, she owns the joint! So, we asked her Superb accommodation at Antipodes to tell us a little about herself and the concept behind The Antipodes menu Antipodes. No other restaurant in Rarotonga specialises in Professional Mediterranean-inspired background cuisine. We provide Trained in New Zealand. patrons with a menu that is Worked on Waiheke Island exceptionally varied, with at a number of well-known dishes from a number of restaurants. Prior to acquiring countries situated in the the Antipodes site, spent last Mediterranean region. around eight years working at the four most exclusive resorts on Rarotonga and, in last two as Executive Chef.
The creation of Antipodes
Jocelyn Ballantyne: executive chef and co-owner of Antipodes
Antipodes is also arguably the best spot on the island to easily view the Humpback Whales that migrate from
The renovations we carried out converted the building and site to accommodate weddings and events. A luxurious 115 sq.metre bridal suite was created on the eastern side of the property, which can accommodate up to four adults in two en-suite bedrooms that lead out to the suites' private 200 sq.metre courtyard - complete with a pool on the cliff edge looking out to the ocean.
Entertainment at Antipodes On Sunday evenings Antipodes has its ' Sunday Sunset Session', which features live local entertainment. Each Sunday of the month has a different entertainer.
Antipodes, the future To continue with our treasured Antipodes team, to each day try our best to provide outstanding dining experiences for our guests. And, to build Antipodes up to be the premier venue to enjoy a romantic meal, celebrate weddings and anniversaries, and other special events. Above all, to remain respectful and hospitable to all our patrons!
Antipodes Restaurant T: 28 873 or 73 900 E: events@ antipodesrarotonga.com www.antipodesrarotonga.com
