End of year update from Brewed |
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In this months letter: Monthly Music pick Upcoming Music events Tips for locals |
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Hello coffee lovers and valued patrons of Brewed As. This letter will be a little bit different, every year is different, and we are constantly learning or understanding better ways to do things. So we thought we'd share a bit about us and how Brewed came to be the café it is today. Anna and I crossed paths in Chamonix, France – a funny twist of fate to travel across the globe and end up with another New Zealander. We both worked winter seasons in Chamonix, which sparked more adventures across Europe. Our journey led us to volunteer at a surf school in Portugal, right around the time when the famous 90ft wave was surfed in Nazaré. We found ourselves in Arifana, 5 hours south, still experiencing massive swells. It was during this time that I confirmed my preference for frozen mountains over liquid ones. Paddling into a wave to look down a two-story building was truly terrifying. In Portugal, we helped cook and clean for the people staying at the surf school. We even operated a friend's small restaurant in Luz, Portugal, collecting ingredients, prepping, and opening for one night during the interseason (slow season) of the Summer town. We served just 5 tables, but it was a lot of fun. When my visa expired, Anna and I decided to return home together. We secured full-time work with my previous employer in Robina on the Gold Coast, Australia, where we worked for a year to fund a snowboarding trip to Japan, spanning seven weeks. Upon returning to beautiful Aotearoa, Anna and I re-entered the workforce, initially working at various cafes. Realizing the need to carve our own path, we seized an opportunity to become franchisees in a small coffee kiosk business. With our naivety, enthusiasm, and the support of Anna's parents, we searched for a high-traffic site and found a 9m² hole in the wall in Khyber Pass, Newmarket to fitout.(pictures here) The kiosk had a slow start, and to attract attention, I began drawing pictures and quotes on the wall. (pictures here) As the business picked up, drawing on the wall became impractical, as Anna and I were consistently making over 200 coffees a day. After two years and a change in Coffix's CEO, it was time to move on. Working and living together taught us vital lessons in communication, and we learned to swiftly resolve disagreements before work to ensure smoother days. During our time at Coffix, we became friends with Evan King, owner of The Lumsden Freehouse, just three doors down from our kiosk. After overcoming legal challenges, Evan offered us the chance to set up another coffee kiosk just outside the restraint of trade area, which didn't do so well, being in a low foot traffic area, and Auckland transport removing the carparks outside the shop. After some rest and relaxation in Indonesia to explore coffee there, we returned and set up our coffee machine in Evan's courtyard at the Wood Street Freehouse in Mangawhai. Following a Summer in Mangawhai, we decided to establish our café, Brewed As, when a lease next to Sandbar became available. Although initially intending to return to Auckland, after spending a Summer in Mangawhai, we couldn't imagine leaving. We spent three months on the fit-out, with the help of local hero Craig from Grand Designs NZ, who for the time we have Brewed, will never pay for a coffee from us again, his care, knowledge, and expertise that he gave us to help build Brewed will never be forgotten. We even have a portrait of Craig in the bar, be sure to check it out. Originally planned as a small cabinet and coffee machine, Brewed expanded to offer full brunch and eventually evening services. However, when Covid hit, finding chefs became challenging, emphasizing the importance of our team culture. Anna and I believe in encouraging and empowering our team, fostering a positive and collaborative work environment. The past few years have presented challenges, with the statistics suggesting a high closure rate for new restaurants. There’s an old saying “Just because you know how to bake great pies, doesn’t mean you should open on pie shop’’ I truly understand this, my passion has been coffee (I learnt to make coffee when I was 17, now 38) When Brewed As started, little did we know we would soon have to learn how to navigate costings, taxes, team dynamics, software programs and world pandemics. With the memory of recent bosses, that operated like a dictatorship, e.g. “I am the boss, you are the worker, do as I say” we never wanted or could operate like that. We’re all just humans, and guess what? When you encourage and empower people, they do great things! We acknowledge the difficulty of running a business but prioritize the love for hospitality and "Manaakitanga," creating a space where people can enjoy good food and beverages. Our team has become a family, and we understand the delicate balance between personal well-being and maintaining a positive atmosphere for our customers. Despite not intending to stay in Mangawhai, with our love of snowboarding and the mountains but the friends and the love and support from the community have anchored us here for the past five years with no intention of leaving. Driving back into Mangawhai and catching sight of the coastline with the Brynderwyns behind is a grounding and special moment. Mangawhai, with its magical people and place, has become our home. |
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Music is a big part of what we enjoy here at Brewed, and we make it a point to keep our playlists fresh. I, along with the team, listen to music every day, and to ensure a dynamic musical experience. This weekend at Mangawhai Tavern is Sunshine Soundsystem, they used to have a Friday afternoon slot on BaseFM, playing Reggae, Hip Hop, Dancehall & Drum'n'Bass with a Live MC. Link below from one of there shows. |
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In conjunction with the Food Truck Events, we've organised some music for the festive season. |
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Carli Oso - Energetic folk-rock bops that are sure to provoke thought and move your feet. Armed with an acoustic guitar, kick drum and looping pedal, a truly talented and entertaining artist. Thursday 28th December from 5pm |
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DJ Miss Chan was a DJ on 95bFM from 1987 to 2000. A Saturday afternoon slot and was the first female host of the Zambesi Jazz Show. During the late 90s Chan was asked to DJ at private parties, corporate functions and bars and clubs around Auckland. Venues included Khuja Lounge, Buddha Bar, Dragon Bar, Leigh Sawmill Café, Tabac, Angle Bar, Safari Lounge, The Supper Club and Herzog. The Miss Chan DJ style mixes up groove, jazz, funk, Latin, Cuban, drum’n’bass, downtempo, roots and reggae. We are fortunate enough to have Miss Chan for two nights, as her musical knowledge spans many genres & decades and is simply too much to fit into one night, so we've split it into two nights Friday 29th December from 5pm- Jazz, Soul & Disco Saturday 30th December from 5pm- Funk, Roots & electronica If time permits, Myself (Mohasky) and Silva will jump on after Miss Chan for some back2back Drum'n'Bass. |
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Amaranto food truck was established in 2018 with the aim of bringing authentic, high-quality, gluten-free Italian cuisine to the streets of Auckland. Pasta holds a special place in the hearts of every Italian family, so when Luisa discovered her gluten intolerance, Tommaso dedicated himself to devising a gluten-free pasta recipe that was not only delicious but also had a satisfying texture. After over a year of relentless effort and determination, he succeeded in gifting Luisa the joy of having delicious pasta in her life once again. Amaranto is now on a mission, via their food truck, to share this gift and prove that gluten-free food can be just as scrumptious, if not better, than "regular" food. At Amaranto food truck, they prioritize using fresh, seasonal, and free-range ingredients as the foundation of their dishes, making everything from scratch. Whenever possible, they source Italian and organic ingredients to preserve the most authentic flavours. Their recipes embody a blend of family traditions infused with the innovation of being entirely gluten-free, reflecting the culinary influences of Piedmont, Marche, and Campania—three Italian regions that have greatly influenced Tommy's cooking. Their passion lies in crafting one of Auckland's finest food trucks by offering quick, healthy fare that is exceptionally flavourful. After multiple successful nights at Brewed and a much needed holiday, Amaranto are back at Brewed. Mark your calendars and join us on the following dates for our upcoming Food truck events:
Time: 4:30pm - 8pm When: 28th, 29th, 30th December 2023 5th January 2024 We have confirmed Carli Oso (who played a couple weeks back) it was absolutely amazing, so we must have him back, he's booked for the 28th December! We'll be lining up some DJ's to play some tunes to bring the courtyard to life on the 29th & 30th. Due to the incredible demand we experience, we highly recommend booking a table to guarantee the best possible experience. While we do reserve some tables for walk-ins, securing your spot in advance allows us to accommodate you and your group more efficiently. |
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With the population jumping by 5x, queues, wait times etc are inevitable, we do our best to provide the best service in a timely manner. To help with jumping the que, you can utilise our ordering system so you can order ahead, Bopple. Either through the Bopple app, our website or if you are already seated, you can scan the QR codes on the table talkers (this records your table number), order and pay straight away and the docket gets printed directly to the kitchen, bar or baristas. The busiest is 9am-2pm is where the queues are biggest, but of course this changes day to day. |
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