Christchurch barista of the year surprised by nomination
If you’re after a good brew, Fumi Takai is the man for you.
The Japanese native and long-term Cantabrian recently won outstanding barista of the year at the Canterbury Hospitality Awards, and said he didn’t know he was nominated until one of his customers told him.
Stationed at Riverside Market in the central city since October 2019, Takai’s Espresso Studio by Fushoken has become a staple caffeine hotspot for many who work in the CBD.
Takai found out about his nomination two weeks prior to the ceremony when a customer began to congratulate him. Confused, he searched Facebook and found his name with a list of nominees and decided he would go to the ceremony, but never expected to win.
“I was so happy. To be nominated in the top four was great, but to win the award was special.”
Takai has developed a strong regular customer base in just under a year – estimating that about 70 per cent of his customers had been there before.
Have you been to Takai's coffee shop?
Neighbourhood Challenge: Who Can Crack This One? ⛓️💥❔
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Some Choice News!
Many New Zealand gardens aren’t seeing as many monarch butterflies fluttering around their swan plants and flower beds these days — the hungry Asian paper wasp has been taking its toll.
Thanks to people like Alan Baldick, who’s made it his mission to protect the monarch, his neighbours still get to enjoy these beautiful butterflies in their own backyards.
Thinking about planting something to invite more butterflies, bees, and birds into your garden?
Thanks for your mahi, Alan! We hope this brings a smile!
Book Cellar Christmas Opening hours
Merry Christmas from The Book Cellar!
The summer break is the perfect time to relax with a book or two (or three or four…). And, of course, books make excellent gifts. There is still time to come in and find the perfect read for you or someone else.
We are open on Thursday, Friday and Saturday of this week as usual, then our Christmas hours are:
Monday 22nd December, 10am – 3pm
Wednesday 24th December, 10am – 12noon
Friday 26th December (Boxing Day), 10am – 1pm (last day for the year).
We will reopen with our usual hours on Thursday 8th January 2026
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