It's an absolute treat to bring you snippets of insight from the owners,  profiling four amazing businesses in the Warehouse Precinct.   A little bit of inside info directly from the inspiring, hard working creatives who are stamping their identity into this area in their own unique ways:

TODAYS INSIDER PERSPECTIVE:  LIZ CHRISTENSEN

P r e c i n c t    F o o d

&   T h e    I n s p i r e d    P a n t r y

L e t ' s   h e a r   f r o m   L i z:

Tell us about Precinct Food:

Precinct Food is first and foremost a catering business providing corporate, conference and event catering throughout the greater Dunedin area under The Inspired Pantry brand. 

We outgrew our suburban commercial kitchen and built a large new kitchen in the Warehouse Precinct in early 2017.  We wanted to include a small lunch bar/deli as part of the new premises, but we have been overwhelmed by the demand for high quality café food. 

So now our business is very much a busy hybrid.  We strive to be the best privately-owned corporate caterers in town, while also providing a top quality destination for stunning café dining.

What do you love about The Warehouse Precinct? 

Our building is not just an old warehouse.  It was designed by Robert Lawson, Dunedin’s father of architecture, and the building has been restored in a way that celebrates its history and prominence in this part of the city. 

With the other tenants in the building we form a community, and with our neighbouring hospitality offerings we form a dining destination like Dunedin has not experienced before. 

We love being a part of the transformation of this part of our beautiful city, we love being part of the creative environment that has emerged here and we love being part of positive growth in our city.

Describe the design aesthetic that inspired your design choices:

The building itself does most of the work for us.  Exposed brick walls, wooden pillars, and exposed ceilings make the space rich and inviting.  Contemporary elements of glass, neon and other feature lighting, metal signage, and ground concrete floors  have been added to add interest while still showcasing the structure and aesthetic of the original building.   

We have gone for a sophisticated, but contemporary and minimalist vibe.

Tell us a little about people who inspire you:

We are inspired by our three adult children and their partners who encourage and challenge us to reach for the very best that this place can be.

We are inspired by our parents who taught us to love and to keep faith when the going is tough.

We are inspired by our mighty staff who go above and beyond what they need to do every single day…

What's at the heart of Precinct Food?

Well, I guess we are expected to say it’s all about great food.  That’s true, but we have come to understand that for most people if you asked them to describe the most memorable meals they ever had, they would most likely not describe the food. 

They would talk about who they were with, where they were, and why they were there. 

Food and venue often create the context, but at the heart of what we do is the hope that by being excellent at our work we can allow our clients and customers to have experiences that will encourage and sustain them to live, love, and thrive!

S T W  S T U D I O  - What we love about Precinct Food 

Precinct Food is quickly building a reputation among the locals as being a mecca for foodies and in my opinion if you haven't tasted their flatbreads you haven't truly lived.   

The space feels clean and modern with character injected through a carefully considered refurbishment. There's a great sense of spaciousness at Precinct Food which is comfortable and inviting.   

It's clear that Liz has worked incredibly hard to build her catering business into the busy hybrid it is today,  with a commercial kitchen producing top quality gourmet food and a cafe space that is modern and refined.  

I recently attended a function at Precinct Food,  seeing Liz in action is observing someone who really knows how to work. Committed to excellence, she leads from the front in an unassuming way both in work ethic and her commitment to client and team.

Liz is well deserving of all the accolades that will follow her endeavours.   

Thanks Liz.