Criminally smooth

Given April can come with a take-no-prisoners-binge on chocolate (thanks Easter Bunny), Sam Parish steers us in a less obvious direction. Smoothies! Here are her latest favourite mouthfuls of fruity goodness in Christchurch.

1066D Colombo Street, St Albans

This neighbourhood gem is a one-stop shop. One-part abundant seasonal greengrocer teeming with fresh fruit and vege, additional retail space with imported hard-to-source quality ingredients, and one-part seasonal fruit and vegetable-forward café with bonus kids’ play area if you have little people to entertain. Rotating sandwiches, bakes, and salads fill the cabinets for fresh lunch, brunch, and snack options. Drinks are also covered with C4 coffee and an extensive juice and smoothie menu to satisfy your craving for something fresh and crisp. Operating in the Edgeware shops from Monday to Saturday with the likes of Peter Timbs butchers right around the corner, this is a foodie haven for good quality supplies. With five smoothies on the menu, I had the kiwi twist, a combo of kiwi fruit, mango, pineapple, and coconut water – think frosty fruit crossed with kiwi crush – a total banger!

You can always count on this treasured local café to be bustling. Crazy good cakes, crazy good ingredients, crazy good people. While supporting local, these guys put the good stuff in, and it shows in their plates of food, mugs of smooth coffee, and tall glasses of deliciousness. This space of grandeur, with higher-than-high ceilings looking out to the water and an oldschool coffee roastery on display, has an open corner kitchen letting you see the geniuses at work. This is the heart and soul of Lyttleton. The smoothies here are all dairy-free and packed with seasonal ingredients. For me it had to be the trusted old faithful of mixed berries, banana, orange, and apple juice – the orange and apple juice balance out the berries and the banana rounds it out perfectly – it is incredibly refreshing. It should be said there is always a seasonal green smoothie on offer; just check the specials board.

Doubles gets double points for the ombre vibes and the oversized metal straw served with their smoothies. Perfectly located in the city’s heart across from the Art Gallery and next door to Council chambers, Doubles is an aesthetically pleasing café with great food to match – hello croffles! A cabinet of baked-good dreams welcomes you at the counter as Allpress coffee perfumes the energetic café. But, with the mission of smoothies on the agenda, I pushed past my standard order of a cheese scone and flat white (I know, so predictable) for one of Doubles’ three smoothies on offer. I opted for the berry coconut smoothie and there were zero regrets. Coconut milk swirled glass, berry pink smoothie filled to the top and finished with toasted coconut chips and dehydrated raspberry ‘sprinkly bits’ this was a tall glass of deliciousness and calls match point on smoothies in CHCH.

Located in the city centre with exclusive onsite parking (winning) this garden café in a historical convent is a breath of fresh air. Entering through the brick pathed garden hugged with wild fennel, lemon trees, and sage, passing the enclosed lawn of grass (yes, toddler parents, you read that right) and nunnery door, you arrive at an open kitchen café – which you won’t want to leave. Sit under the apple or peach tree, or take a pew inside. This is the perfect café for both sunny and rainy days. The cabinet is full of freshly made scones, cakes, sweets, and salads... for balance. There’s warm, friendly service, eclectic and rustic décor, and an overall chill vibe. I’m still in shock that I’ve never been here before. The green smoothie is sublime, smoothed out with banana and spiked with a good amount of spinach which might have even been picked from the garden outside. With minimal ice yet still cold and refreshing, this is a great version of a green smoothie that certainly does not taste like a cup of bitter chlorophyll that’s trying too hard to be healthy. (Trust me, it’s a slippery slope). Taste comes first for this café with the option of bread or potato hash for the base of your Benedict (with lime chipotle hollandaise, I should add) and the addition of bacon to tall stacks of blueberry pancakes. I’d happily make my way through this menu. I’m also keen to try their crazy hand-cut triple-cooked chips.