Tommy Chang's

We’ve lost so much of our history here in Christchurch in recent times that the discovery of a spiritual home for forlorn nostalgics where one can fill the soul with images of a bygone era whilst sipping organic teas from KeriKeri is akin to mana from heaven.
It was by pure chance that I walked in through the rustic, weathered double entry doors to Tommy Chang’s cafe as I was making my way to the nearby chemist shop. A world of Victorian Kiwi knick knacks, old world wall claddings, pressed metal ceilings and crafty, early twentieth century bric-a-brac, tables, chairs and oddments represented nothing less than a delightful welcome to me.
In the shelter of the main courtyard space I sipped a soothing cup of Manuka Mint tea, an organic, caffeine free herbal infusion of a deep, golden hue, empowering aroma and lasting flavour. Strongly minted but with an evident manuka influence this tea was impressive to me, a sworn consumer, no less, of the coffee bean.
I felt so much at peace in this little cafe and was so pleased to see Tommy Chang’s name living on in this new enterprise that I ordered “The Tommy Chang’s”, a breakfast of free range eggs(poached)on focaccia bread with cheese, tomato, home cured bacon, diced veges and a creative serving of very palatable baked beans – black turtle beans in fact, a veritable highlight to the tastebuds. The eggs clucked their freshness and oozed their golden elixir when pierced, truly a poetic moment indeed.
Service was delivered with interest and care, the waiter/barista Shannon engaging so easily and comfortably with his customers, adding yet another layer of love to the experience and ensuring that unsolicited accolades will flow freely from more than satisfied customers.
What’s more, Tommy Chang’s makes everything it serves “from scratch” and strives to source local produce as much as possible. There’s a strong, overriding organic philosophy behind this cafe and I believe it shines through on the table. I want so much to return to try other items on the menu. Chef Guilio has a more than creditable history; in fact, his time at Mugaritz, voted the world’s No. 3 restaurant in the April 2012 San Pellegrino World’s Best Restaurants Awards, and at Restaurant Schwass, formerly one of Christchurch’s best, makes for enviable CV reading. If you’re interested in good food prepared with a touch of passion, a ton of professional experience and a mountain of soul then you owe it to yourself and your palate to visit Lyttelton’s newest gem as soon as possible.