HILL & FARM HOUSE CAFE NEWSLETTER | EDITION 001
NOVEMBER 2025
A Little Note From Peter - Owner
From a childhood dream in Slovenia to building two thriving cafés in Auckland, Peter shares the heartfelt story behind Hill House Café and Farm House Café. It's a journey of resilience, community, long nights, and believing in a dream that many thought was impossible. Most of all, it's a thank you to every guest who has supported us and become part of our story.
Kia ora, friends and family,
As I write this first newsletter, I can’t help but feel deeply grateful. What began as a childhood dream — one that seemed impossible — has grown into two incredible cafés filled with life, laughter, and community.
I was born in communist Yugoslavia (now Slovenia), where dreams like opening a bakery were often seen as foolish. As a young boy, I’d wake up to the smell of bread and imagine having a little bakery of my own one day — a place filled with warmth, good food, and the sound of people connecting. But life had other plans. My father didn’t want me to go to culinary school, so I studied law instead. For years, I followed a very different path — but that love for food, people, and connection never left me.
When I moved to New Zealand, I spent 14 years working for Auckland Council, managing community centres. I loved that work — it showed me how powerful community can be when people come together. And in many ways, that experience shaped everything that came next.
In 2021 we opened Hill House Café with a simple idea: create a place that feels like home – extension of your living rooms. Everyone told us we’d fail — that a café in South Auckland couldn’t succeed. But we believed in what we were building. We believed in our community. And somehow, through all the lessons, long nights, lockdowns, burnt pastries, and moments of doubt, we made it.
Now, a few years later, Hill House has become one of Auckland’s most loved cafés, and our new chapter — Farm House Café in Clevedon — carries that same spirit of community, connection, and food made from scratch with love.
This newsletter is our way of saying thank you. Thank you for visiting us, believing in us, and for being part of our story. We’ll use this space to share stories from behind the scenes, new creations from the kitchen, and glimpses into the lessons and laughter that keep us going.
From a boy in Yugoslavia with a dream to the cafés we have today — none of it would mean anything without you.
With heartfelt gratitude,
Peter
FARM HOUSE TURNS ONE
WE'RE CELEBRATING
Mark your calendars for Saturday, November 22 — Farm House Café’s first birthday!
We’re celebrating with a full day of free, family-friendly fun from morning right through to evening. Every hour brings a new activation — from Run for Your Bun with Mike, to Little Growers gardening with Benni, plus our Little Farmers Paddock and Animal Tour. Kids can get creative at Pimp My Mini Cinnamon Bun, and there’ll be plenty more surprises along the way!
As the sun sets, enjoy Golden Hour (6 p.m. – 8 p.m.) with live music from talented local artist Tayla Gillard — the perfect way to toast our first year together.
Come along, blow out the candles, and celebrate this special milestone with us. It’s our way of giving back to the community and saying thank you for all your incredible support this past year.
NOVEMBER: CELEBRATE STRAWBERRY & CHAMPAGNE MONTH
November is Strawberries & Champagne Month - a sparkling celebration of our favourite local berries from Clevedon Strawberries.
All month long, indulge in all things strawberry: strawberry waffles, strawberry tarts, our signature strawberry gelato, and the limited-edition Strawberry Sin-in-a-Bun. You'll find these sweet seasonal creations at both Farm House and Hill House, perfectly paired with a glass of champagne.
We're pouring a stellar lineup - Moët, Veuve Clicquot, Mumm, and Piper-Heidsieck — for a touch of luxury that’s just for this month.
Pop by, pour a glass, and celebrate the season of sunshine, strawberries, and champagne!
HIGH TEA AT HILL HOUSE
HILL HOUSE HIGH TEA IN FULL SWING
A TASTE OF SLOVENIA AT HILL HOUSE
SLOVENIA IN NEW ZEALAND
Over at Hill House Café, we’re thrilled to host our very first Slovenian Dinner on Thursday, November 6, in collaboration with artist Gregor Kregar at the beautiful Pah Homestead.
This special cultural evening is now SOLD OUT, and we can’t wait to welcome everyone who’s secured their tickets for an unforgettable night of art, flavour, and connection.
GELATO POD IS BACK!
& WE WON SOME AWARDS
GELATO POD AT FARM HOUSE IS BACK
Summer at Farm House just got even sweeter! From Friday 13 November, our iconic Gelato Pod returns for the season — serving up 12 award-winning, house-made gelatos and sorbets, all crafted right here by our talented team. Whether you’re enjoying brunch in Clevedon or stopping by after a countryside stroll, the Gelato Pod is your go-to for a scoop (or two) of pure summer happiness.
We’re especially proud to share that our creations have been recognised at the NZ Ice Cream & Gelato Awards 2025 — with Biscoff winning Silver, and both Sin in a Bun and Spiced Apple Crumble taking home Bronze!
And this November, we’re featuring two very special flavours born from a sweet collaboration with Clevedon Kindergarten! The little ones put their creative hats on and chose their dream flavours — introducing Lemon Cake and Roast Marshmallow, now available in the pod all month long.
Every scoop is made right here at Farm House, using fruits from local suppliers (and sometimes even our own garden!) — so you can taste the sunshine, the fun, and the community in every bite.
Come grab your gelato, enjoy the farm breeze, and celebrate summer one (or two) scoop at a time!
THE OG SIN IN A BUN'S GOT SIBLINGS
SIN IN A BUN
You asked, we baked — and it’s time to turn up the sin! Our iconic Sin-in-a-Bun just got some seriously delicious company. You already know and love the OG, but this month we’re rolling out a few new temptations fresh from the ovens:
Biscoff Sin-in-a-Bun — an instant crowd favourite that’s here to stay (for now).
Strawberry Sin-in-a-Bun — the taste of summer, made for berry lovers.
Mango Coconut Sin-in-a-Bun (exclusive to Farm House) — bright, tropical, and impossible to resist.
They’re here for a good time, not a long time, so don’t wait too long to get your fix.
The OG Sin-in-a-Bun’s got siblings — and they’re making things a whole lot more fun
OUR FIRST EVER CUSTOMER
Our very first customer from 2021, the lovely Kitty, stopped by the other day! Seeing her again was such a special moment — she’s been part of our story since day one, and we absolutely adore her.
A STAR-STUDDED VISIT
We recently had the honour of hosting Anapela Polataivao, who was nominated for Best Actress at the 2025 New Zealand Screen Awards for her incredible performance in Tinā.
It was a true privilege to welcome her and her whānau to the café — a beautiful reminder of how far we’ve come and the amazing people who continue to share our space.
MEET THE TEAM
Zee has been with Farm House Cafe since day one, bringing flavour, heart, and a touch of Fijian warmth to our kitchen.
With roots in Fijian cuisine and a passion for Mediterranean flavours, Zee’s dishes burst with colour, spice, and soul — especially his famous Shakshuka, one of our top sellers. Known for his sharp humour and easy banter, Zee keeps the team laughing… just don’t talk to him before 11am!
MEET ZEE - HEAD CHEF