Patwa: The Gem of Paihia

Patwa: Paihia’s new gem

Words + Photography Jessica Whiting

Tucked away in the beachside town of Paihia, is your new favourite spot. It’s a big call, yes, but my gosh does this place deserve your full attention. Patwa (from the word Patois, meaning a local dialect) opened their doors in June 2018, the place has been pumping ever since and it’s easy to see why as soon as you sit down and spend a little time there.

Owners Chris Simpson and Jenna Prendiville are the duo behind the bar, partners in both the personal and business sense, which creates an enormous passion for what they are creating. The pair moved tothe area in 2015, but at that time didn’t yet know each other.

So how does a young, careerdriven couple get to this place? Chris’s family had holidayed in the area since he was a kid, and his dad was Principal at Morewa Primary, a small local school. After his parents moved permanently to the area in 2014, they supported Chris to purchase a small local takeaway joint, Haruru Falls Takeaways, which was quickly turned into one of the greatest take-out places in the area. Customers would often be driving 30-40 minutes just to eat one of his burgers. Needless to say, the business was a success after just a few months.

Not surprising really, Chris had a strong background in hospitality while he had been living in Auckland. He had worked at the Mexican Cafe in the CBD and Rakinos on High Street for the last three years before it closed — Rakinos was an Auckland bar that was an absolute institution in its day, a spot that was known for great music, excellent food and an all-around welcoming atmosphere. RIP Rakinos, gone but never forgotten… I digress.

Chris now had an excellent local reputation for his food, he had met Jenna who had moved to Paihia around the same time, she had been working in the corporate sector in recruitment in Melbourne beforequitting and moving to NZ in search of that elusive lifestyle balance. The pair were keen to get some kind of business off the ground, as well as keeping the existing takeout place in their portfolio.

At the seemingly perfect time, the pair got a tip-off about the tucked away location — the existing restaurants’ lease was coming up for renewal and the tenanted business owner wasn’t able to renew again; one person’s unfortunate circumstances turned into Chris and Jenna’s stroke of good luck.

Like all good projects, things fell into place quickly. The ethos from the beginning has always been about creating elevated products that are designed to contribute to the atmosphere while still being accessible. They didn’t want to re-create

something that was already on offer, especially with Paihia being a small town that already has some great food options. They wanted to bring something different, create their own market share and not be in direct competition with anyone else.

What is on offer at Patwa is definitely elevated and the menu is carefully considered. Crispy fried chicken with waffles, ceviche tacos on a bed of fresh crisp salsa, burgers that are dangerously tall and packed full of fresh ingredients. All served alongside the most delicious cocktail menu.

The food is all made with local ingredients that are ultimately seasonal, the bar makes as much of the food they can themselves, even the buns for their burgers are handmade from their own recipes and the rum they serve is from a local artisan distillery, Black Collar.

This type of eatery, however, hasn’t come without its challenges. Remaining profitable as a new business, in the beginning, was a steep learning curve and one that they had to overcome quickly. There were a few items on the menu when they started that actually cost them more than what they were making on them. But now, with a few adjustments, they are more on the right track as they come into their first summer.

Of course, it’s not all about the food. Patwa is the type of place you can grab a take away or hang for a while in; I would always choose the latter — there is an eclectic feel to the space, vintage and retro furniture with local art on the

plywood walls. The music, of course, deserves a special mention, the kind of place that you’ll end up using your Shazam app on every second tune. Chilled and with just the right amount of a head nod going on as you sip your cocktail and sample the menu. It really felt like a little slice of the old Rakinos had been rediscovered in the north.

Chris designs the menu and cooks the food, he can usually be found in the kitchen. Jenna is the smiling face behind the coffee machine or the bar while at the same time keeping things running behind the scenes, overseeing the operational aspects of the business. While they both have their own strengths, it’s very much a team effort.

Living and running a business together as a couple definitely has its challenges, but the pair make it work. Having been together almost three years now, they know each other well and work hard to ensure that they both bring a complimentary offering to the table when it comes to their business.

So what is on the cards for the pair to grow? They’d love to create more of their special spot in other locations, it is after all an area that they love.

That’s what I think I loved the most about this place when we stopped in; as soon as you chatted to both Chris and Jenna you could feel just how much they loved doing what they do, and all in a place that they love as much as all those that visit.

Be sure to check it out next time you’re in town. •