A n u p d a t e f r o m M o i e t y

During April we ran a feature on The Warehouse Precinct in Dunedin which included 'People of the Precinct' presenting insight from four of the business owners situated in this area.

While our images were focused on heritage architecture we were keen to learn a little more about the people, their business and the design choices in each restored space. The Warehouse Precinct is such an interesting/creative area and an emerging hub for business, information technology and hospitality in Dunedin today.

We were excited to have Sam & Kim involved in our April feature as they were in the latter stages of their renovation on the ground floor of the Terminus Building at 42 Queens Gardens.

Built in the 1880's as The Railway Central Terminus Hotel this restoration has been a huge undertaking and today is the unique heritage setting for Sam & Kim's contemporary restaurant Moiety.

Hearing a little about the vision behind Moiety and seeing the huge potential that was evident back in April we hoped to produce a follow up article featuring the completed space and a little more from Sam and Kim about their story. So grab yourself a coffee and enjoy the update.

The story of Moiety begins with the couple behind it Sam and Kim, a Dunedin raised couple who returned from working in Australia with a vision to generate a special and unique dining spot in the heart of the city they consider their hometown.

Motivated to create a business infused with their passion for great food and hospitality they were intentional that Dunedin, with supportive family nearby was where they wanted to be based as the pursued their dream.

With 15 years in the NZ and Australian hospitality industry working as a Chef (Sam) and Front of House (Kim), this talented couple bring a depth of experience and flair that will be on display at their newly opened restaurant Moiety.

“Before we met we had both been in the UK and Europe where we got to combine a love of travel and our passion for hospitality.”

H o s p i t a l i t y

"Hospitality for us is not just about the food you eat and the drinks you enjoy but the service and the experience as a whole."

V i s i o n

"Our vision is to create a unique dining space, somewhere that we would want to dine in, that also functions as a sustainable business model."

Having worked in the hospitality industry for a significant period of time, Sam and Kim have seen both the good and the bad. They’ve been inspired working for people with a shared value for great hospitality ultimately realising through this that their own goals were achievable.

Conversely they’ve worked for those who didn’t hold the same standard for hospitality and seen the potentially negative affect on personal passion this type of working environment can have.

“To make the move back home we couldn’t see ourselves going to work for someone else again long term, we needed to create a job for ourselves in our home city. We are surrounded by so many good people (not just our friends and family) but those great mentors we have worked with over the years that have been significant in their support and encouragement along the journey."

T r a n s f o r m a t i o n

We are showing you the finished restaurant today and it’s a beautifully resolved space with the design work and decor choices a credit to Kim. This journey has been a hands on affair for the pair including the back breaking labour involved in it's transformation.

“We have learned a lot from doing the refurbishment, it has taken an immense amount of work to get us here and we couldn’t have done it without the help and support of our landlord Steve MacKnight."

"We’ve all put in many long hours painting, cleaning, pulling hundreds of nails out of ceiling beams, applying polyurethane to the ceiling by hand as it drips everywhere. We have realised perhaps doing a trade might have been a good idea but not quite sure we are cut out for that."

C h a l l e n g e s

Of course the Moiety journey to date hasn’t been without it’s challenges and the complete renovation of a heritage site has been a huge undertaking.

Patience has been key in handling the variables involved in this says Kim. “Originally we were hoping for a 6 month turnaround but the joys of renovation hit us and it has been a full year to the day since we found our beautiful site and have opened the doors."

"We tried to manage it by doing as much as we could ourselves so we could really put our mark on it, our builders have been fantastic dealing with the issues we’ve had and seeing our vision through so we couldn’t have asked for more.”

F o l l o w t h a t d r e a m

It's always inspiring to see people getting out there and pursuing their goals in life and business, so we asked Sam & Kim for advice that they would give to readers young and old based on what they've learned on their own journey.

"The best advice we could give is that there are a lot of good people out there who want to see you succeed and are willing to help you out so don't be afraid or too proud to ask for help. Also having a limited budget forces you to be creative - don't be scared about that, embrace it."

"If you have a passion, follow it, feed it and make it work for you."

C u i s i n e

Well one passion that many of us share is for excellent cuisine and the five course menu at Moiety promises to be a delicious and interesting dining experience.

"The aim for the food is to have a produce driven menu, guided by local supply where possible and supporting our smaller local growers."

"The whole experience of food and drink at Moiety is intended to be something different for Dunedin, a new fun way to dine or share a drink with friends."

If a great night out sounds like you this is a one place you need to experience - Moiety is currently open Tuesday to Saturday from 5pm until late. Head online to make a booking or peruse their current sample menu: www.moiety.restaurant

Well that's a wrap from us for another week, it's been a cold one here in Dunedin with the first snowy encounter for many of us in the hill suburbs so weekend goals around here include keeping warm!