From Colonial to Contemporary —Fergusson's Cafe

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 13, Issue 599, 15 August 1995, Page 9 (Supplement)

From Colonial to Contemporary —Fergusson's Cafe

Just over the road from The Grand Chateau, but still firmly in the shadow of the Mountain, is Fergusson's Cafe. Originally the first building on the northern side of Ruapehu, and dating back to before the hotel, the beautiful old colonial building was intended for Lady Fergusson so she would have a place to stay when she graced the Mountain with her presence on ski trips. But these days it's a busy little cafe serving espresso and the best bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwiches to be found anywhere on the central plateau, and is a welcome stop for skiers both on the way up and on the way down the Mountain. Cafe manager Amanda Power says a lot of the food is made fresh in the hotel kitchens. "They have some excellent pastry chefs and one of the most popular things we sell is the cakes," she says. However, muffins and scones are baked fresh every day in the cafe itself by Amanda and her staff. A variety of other fresh foods we made every day, including hot soups and breads. All the food is of a high standard, and in the ski season there is not a lot left at the end of the day. Amanda says that one of the challenges of managing the Cafe will be training the staff and streamlining the way it runs. "Once winter hits we'll be extremely busy," she says. "I'm expecting mayhem! That's why it's important to get the staff ready now so that we can deliver a high level of service." She says the highlight of working on the Mountain is the "great atmosphere." "Everyone you meet is just so friendly. We're all very close up here, and we have a lot of fun, but everyone takes their jobs very seriously and works really hard. We've got a good team up here." A small gift shop adjoins the cafe, selling magazines and various local paraphernalia including postcards and clothing. The cafe also doubles as the post office, selling stamps and making sure mail arrives and goes on time. Amanda says her main impression is the huge potential the area has for tourism. "It's just a great place. There's no two ways about it."