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Christchurch’s circulating free weekly paper THURSDAY November 1 largest 2012
mainland press
proudly Christchurch owned SEE
THURSDAY NOVEMBER 1 2012
• Papanui student excels in oratory competition • Rezoning proposed for the North West of city
INSIDE your local
History focus for 150th A&P Show P5
Target met, bands set for The Concert P3
Demolition woman makes her mark P12
Pedro’s back Outpouring of support from local businesses, friends and customers Help from friends: LK Carlton store ambassador Andy Gutschlag, left, with Pedro Carazo at his new venture, Pedro’s House of Lamb. A picture of Pedro’s old restaurant, which was destroyed in the February 2011 earthquake, is shown behind. Photo: Samantha Early
Samantha Early | samantha@mainlandpress.co.nz
PEDRO Carazo greets an old friend with a warm hug, while the aroma of roasting lamb wafts through the air. It’s a scene which could have been repeated hundreds of times over the past 30 years in Pedro’s central city restaurant, as generations of families enjoyed his Spanish cuisine. But this time it’s different. It’s in a car park outside a liquor store. The popular restaurateur lost his home, his business and his son in the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake. When Mainland Press’ sister publication, CC Magazine, last caught up with him in December 2010 he was buoyed by the support of his customers following the September 4 earthquake. He spoke proudly of his children, including 35-year-old language teacher Christian who was among the 115 killed in the CTV building collapse. His friends, business associates and customers stuck by him again and with their help he’s back in business, opening Pedro’s House of Lamb this week, providing takeaway meals from a
container in the car park of Liquor King (LK) Carlton, at 17 Papanui Road. “I’m thrilled, my customers have been fantastic, with people ringing and congratulating me for starting something again.” One of this week’s first customers, Stacey Trott of Merivale, was ordering lamb for dinner at the request of her husband. “It’s fantastic. It’s exactly what the city needs, these sort of little food shops opening up and Pedro’s restaurant was always fantastic, we used to go there quite a bit and his lamb is to die for.” Pedro jokes the idea might catch on. “You never know, maybe we are going to be the new McDonald’s, with New Zealand lamb cooked in the Spanish way.” It’s a start, he says, something to keep him going for the next couple of years until he can open another permanent restaurant. “Not only for the money, for the mind” He had hoped to rebuild on his old Worcester Street site
and during a trip to Spain this year had filled a container with memorabilia for the new restaurant, but his plans went back to square one after the site fell within the green frame in the Central City plan. LK Carlton store ambassador Andy Gutschlag said they jumped at the chance to help Pedro as they had all enjoyed his cuisine. They would sell a selection of Spanish wine to accompany the food and were offering him his first three months rent free. “He is a fantastic match for our business; we really wanted to help a local business as it gets back on its feet.” Because Pedro had his restaurant for so long, customers felt like friends and family. “The only problem is to remember some of the names, there are so many.” By the time Pedro, 67, is likely to re-establish a permanent restaurant, he will be pushing 70. But this doesn’t faze him. “Why not?” he asks. “I’m not retired from food or cooking. It’s my life.”
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