Set for summer at the station

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 10, Issue 458, 20 October 1992, Page 10

Set for summer at the station

ADVERTORIAL Fancy Mediterranean dining outside in the warm evening air this summer? Well, look no further than Cafe Loco at Ohakune Junction which will be open six days a week from early November right through the summer. The energy and enthusiasm behind this move comes from three enterprising guys who are sub leasing the cafe for seven months from it's present owners. Steve Armes, who is a silent partner in the business already, Patrick Wilkie, who has been the cafe's chef all winter, and David McLeod, who also works at the cafe, will together be giving people the option to dine somewhere a bit different. Situated in the old Ohakune railway station tearooms, Cafe Loco really is in a class of its own. That distinction will be quite visible at their Halloween party on 1 November. Patrons are asked to

dress up for the occasion to match the staff who will all be in Halloween costume. Patrick will be whipping up a mean buffet for those fortunate to get one of the forty tickets, so you'll have to be in quick. The $25 tickets entitle each person to main and dessert courses, and are available from today at Cafe Loco. Buffets are a Wilkie speciality and the cafe can cater for up to forty people. "We offer quite a different menu which is negotiable along with the price," Patrick said, "we're quite flexible." Here's just a few of the mouth watering delights on the buffet menu; chicken merango, - a chicken, tomato and orange casserole type dish - roast stuffed roll of pork, spanakopita, -fetta, cottage cheese and spinach filo parcels - black forest gateau, moist carrot cake, fresh fruit salad. Everything is made

fresh on the premises Fresh and frothy Robert Harris cappucino is about to become a permanent fixture to the menu and there will be a bigger selection of salads for summer dining. David moved to Ohakune this season to touch base with his family who live in the area, and he is the prep chef responsible for the infamous mouth watering croissants. He also organises the breakfasts and lunches. Steve, who is a qualified chef but steers well clear of the Cafe's kitchen, has wanted to set up a cafe for a few years now.

He has come from Wellington where he part owns a motorcycle repair shop. There's a touch of family history wound up in the business. Steve's grandfather, Ellis Friend, was involved with the Ohakune railway station back when it started, and worked on the line from there to Auckland for about thirty years before retiring in Ohakune. Steve has a keen interest in motorbikes and informed the Bulletin that he, along with a pit crew of Cafe Loco staff, will be racing in the Boxing Day races around Wanganui's cemetery circuit this year.