All's well in Manawatu
Margaret Brooker
Think of Manawatu and most people don’t immediately think of food. But in fact the Manawatu has made a major contribution to the food of the nation and continues to do so. A highly fertile region, the district is primarily agrarian and produces food at its most basic level. And Massey, initially as an agricultural college and more recently as a university with eight research institutes, has prov-ided the expertise and innovation which has led the primary industries forward. Graduates from the food technology department are working throughout the country’s food and wine industries.
At a more prepared level too, the Manawatu offers some delicious food. Dedicated artisan producers, cafés and restaurants combine to make dining in the Manawatu a positive experience.
Bounded by the Rangitikei and Manawatu Rivers, the Ruahine Ranges and the Tasman Sea, the Manawatu district is an orderly landscape of farmland and gardens. Palmerston North, or ‘Palmie’ as some locals dub it, is the region’s principal city. Built around a central square, flat Palmerston North is essentially laid out in a grid pattern, the Manawatu River lazily winding along its limits. With Massey University just across the river, the populace is youthful. Nearby Feilding is an agricultural service centre for the district. Eleven times the winner of New Zealand’s most beautiful town award, Feilding is proud of its Edwardian architecture.
Residents of the Manawatu cite the region’s central location as one of its advantages. Being a mere two hours from Wellington, Hawke’s Bay and the Wairarapa is a ‘gateway’ to the delights of those regions. But the entertainments on offer in the Manawatu itself are many and varied. It is not necessary to leave.  The region is rich with gardens to visit. Its natural assets include the Pohangina Valley – described by one of the locals as “the Manawatu’s best-kept secret”, the Manawatu Gorge, Himatangi Beach and the Tararua and Ruahine Ranges. These offer a range of outdoor pursuits such as trout fishing, jet boating, kayaking, tramping and horse trekking. Man-made spectacles are as diverse as the Tararua Wind Farm, the renowned weekly stock sales at the Feilding sale yards and jet sprints at Manfeild Park. And there is a variety of special interest museums.
Cafés and Restaurants
Barista
77 George St, Palmerston North,
ph: 06-357 2614, www.barista.co.nz
Styled ‘the espresso bar’, Barista not only offers coffee but contemporary and delicious brunch, café and evening menus and a wine list with some out-of-the-ordinary options, available by the glass. Dark walls of the industrial chic interior are offset by the floor-to-ceiling glass of the street frontage. Deservedly popular with all ages and types, Barista is the café in Palmerston North. Open seven days 6.30am-late. Licensed and BYO.
Bella’s Café
2 The Square, Palmerston North,
ph: 06-357 8616, www.bellas.co.nz
Locals speak highly of this central city café. Divided into ‘classics’ which remain a constant, and other changing dishes, the menu ranges from Italian to Thai to Pacific Rim. Open for lunch Tues-Sat 11am-3pm, dinner Mon-Sat 6 pm-late. Licensed and BYO.
Clark’s Café
4 The Square, City Library, Palmerston North, ph: 06-355 1902
Adjoining the City Library, this self-service café offers an appetising array of sandwiches, wraps, rolls and baking. The cakes are particularly enticing. Open Mon-Fri 7am-5pm, Sat 8am-4pm, Sun 9am-4pm.
Déjeuner
159 Broadway Ave, Palmerston North,
ph: 06-952 5581, www.dejeuner.co.nz
In restaurant terms Déjeuner is a veteran, having been a fine-dining destination for almost 20 years. And situated in an old house and decorated with rich dark colours the ambience spells establishment. Its signature dish, slow roasted lamb or veal shanks on a flavoured mash, has been on the menu in various guises for the last 1 
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