LIFE'S A PEACH WORDS AMBER BREMNER | IMAGES TASHA MEYS
Tamahere local Angie Millar was out for a run one morning when she had the bright idea to open a salad and smoothie bar to serve the local community. POPPYPEACH opened in Tamahere Village in May 2021, a colourful oasis serving a range of healthy but delicious food. Gourmet toast, buckwheat crêpes, breakfast bowls and cabinet salads are on offer alongside fresh baking, raw treats, luscious smoothies and Rocket coffee. The menu caters for all eaters, with plenty of dairy free, gluten free, refined sugar free and vegan options. The common thread is the menu’s focus on nutritionally dense food made with fresh, wholesome, real ingredients. New to hospitality, Angie found her feet fast. “We were insanely busy in those first few weeks. We worked very long days and I basically didn’t see my family for six weeks. There was a lot to
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learn. Ashleigh Brodie from Weave and Haley Bicknell from Punnet were really generous with their advice and I’m eternally grateful for their support.” That support has been given back to our local suppliers too. Angie says it was really important to find suppliers who shared her values, which led her to Rocket Coffee and Raglan Food Co for coffee beans and coconut yoghurt. “We love that they operate ethically and have relationships with their farmers. We also get some of our fruit and veg from local grower Tomtit Farms.” Angie doesn’t do things by halves. A mother of four, managing director of a nursing agency, and mastermind of the Divine Eats cookbook which raised over $500k for Tamahere Model Country School, she was able to draw on her skills to pull together a talented team that has the kitchen and front of house humming. It’s this kind of do-it-all way of thinking that has contributed to both the success of the eatery and the shape of its menu. “Busy people need to take care of their wellbeing and fuel themselves
