The café’s new operating team is led by Director, Rosalin Lertpongvipusana (Emily), alongside Café Manager, Verachai Lertpongvipusana (Ray) and Head Chef, Pornpawee Champakhao (Oil).
Not only is Ray operating a Southern Institute of Technology (SIT) café - Kahu Ariki is located in SIT’s Centre for Creative Industries, Te Rau o te Huia - he is also a graduate of SIT. Originally from Thailand, he arrived in New Zealand in 2017, following in sister Emily’s footsteps, who’d come to Invercargill about three years earlier.
“…Emily taught me a lot about this town, and it sounded very nice, so I followed her. I came to first study English, then continued to my main qualification; I graduated in business entrepreneurship (the Postgraduate Diploma in Business Enterprise) 2017-18.”
Ray’s partner Oil arrived in 2020. Having already completed a Master of IT in Thailand, she followed a similar path, working as a chef in a variety of Invercargill cafés and restaurants, mainly cooking “Kiwi food”.
Ray then went on to complete a Master of Information Technology (2022-23) and recalls completing his studies in the newly finished creative industries building. “I had the opportunity to see Kahu Ariki at that time,” so he was familiar with the café when it first opened.
During his studies at SIT, Ray entered the local hospitality scene. “While I was studying my master’s degree I was managing Cheeky Llama café in Queens Park as well, so I gained some experience in running a café and restaurant.”
Ray details the plan was always to go into business here, he just wasn’t 100% sure what it would be. ”I graduated with business entrepreneurship; I was planning to go into business, but at the time I got the Cheeky Llama role … there were a lot of choices to make, so it was whether I go for an IT role, or build a family business…”
However, it was the Cheeky Llama that would win out and now sister Emily and brother Luke both work alongside Ray and Oil in helping to run the business.
When Ray spotted the advertisement seeking a new operator for Kahu Ariki, he wanted to take the opportunity to put their mark on the café.
“When we first went there to have a look we saw a lot of potential in the setting of the café and the location and customers, but we saw that it still had not reached its fullest potential yet. When we decided to take over it was to bring Kahu Ariki to its fullest potential.”
Ray and Oil have introduced a few changes to the offerings at Kahu Ariki, with choices to appeal to a wide range of tastes. “We have the well-stocked cabinet, filled with freshly baked slices, homemade cakes, and tempting sweet treats. There is also a selection of gluten-free and dairy-free cakes and slices.”
For those looking for a savoury option, the cabinet is stocked daily with favourites such as flaky filo pastries, homemade pies, sausage rolls, freshly filled bagels, and pocket sandwiches. “We also serve an extensive all-day menu, allowing guests to enjoy breakfast favourites whenever they choose,” Ray says.
Customers can try the hearty big breakfast with the works – eggs, sausage, bacon, hash browns and more, or the refined eggs benedict. There are bacon butties, classic pancakes, flavoursome corn fritters, soup of the day or seafood chowder.
Aside from the all-day menu, the couple have also introduced a regular weekly special, showcasing the variety of freshly prepared dishes that are perfect for lunch or a light meal - burgers, filled pao buns, chicken poke bowl, chicken salad, to name a few.
“We normally change it every week,” Oil explains, “so, sometimes it's going to be pasta, sometimes it's going to be a chicken salad or something like that,” with the aim of offering choice for the regular lunchtime clientele.
Ray says some of their Cheeky Llama customers have already come to visit them at Kahu Ariki and have a meal. “… we promote Kahu Ariki at Cheeky Llama as well.”
“[Our menus] are not exactly the same; we try to do something different with the type of food here. We have different customer base … Mostly our target [at Cheeky Llama] is the family group and when it’s school holidays we have a lot of families coming into the park.”
At Kahu Ariki, aside from SIT staff and students, they’ve noticed professional and working people coming from the city centre to dine, have morning tea or a coffee. “People come from ICC (Invercargill City Council); some are police and even fire firefighters and all sorts of people…”
Ray describes Kahu Ariki as quieter and more relaxed. “[It] offers a welcoming space where locals and visitors alike can enjoy great food made with passion. Cheeky Llama is more family friendly and is a destination café, so people go there because they're going to the park…”
Emily, Ray and Oil currently spend most of their time at Kahu Ariki. “At the moment I spend more time here as it's just started, and at the Cheeky Llama we have a reliable team; we communicate with our staff regularly, and my brother Luke is running it.”
Kahu Ariki café is open Monday to Friday, from 7.30am to 2.30pm in the Creative Industries Centre at SIT, with access via Tay Street (next to Civic Theatre) or Esk Street (next to ICC building).
Emily, Ray, Oil and staff look forward to presenting their delicious coffee, weekly specials, and all-day menu to new and returning customers.