Scroggin is a staple food for active people who go exploring, but according to Lucy Conway, the owner of a new Wanaka cafe by that name, scroggin is also "a mix of all things good".  

Lucy has wanted to open up a cafe since she was very young and believes people should feel energised by what they eat and leave a cafe fueled up and ready to go out and enjoy the day.

"I hate it when I buy a meal that makes me feel sleepy, and I end up thinking, 'Oooshh, that was really big' because that doesn't encourage me to go out and do more stuff,” she said.

"If I'm going to spend my money on breakfast or lunch, I want to go on with the rest of my day and feel awesome."

Lucy found inspiration for the new cafe in the four years she spent in America. She discovered cafes there were "so progressive" in their willingness to go beyond ‘meat and three-veg’ and explored new ideas by combining ingredients in unexpected ways.

Upon her return to New Zealand she found "quite hip, foodie, plant-based places to eat" in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch but saw that there wasn't a large catering for plant-based eating in Wanaka, so she decided to fill the gap in the market.

Inspired by fond memories of sharing a meal and laughter with friends in a backcountry hut, she set out to transform the former Beanie Cafe to reflect Wanaka’s rugged surroundings.  

Plywood furnishings, sunlight and the polished concrete floor create a sleek yet unfussy feel, but Lucy believes that to be successful, a cafe has "got to be able to make something that people wouldn't normally cook at home; that makes them feel awesome".  

She uses as many local suppliers as possible, which is why the menu is seasonal. "It's got to be for the locals."  

Lucy likes the idea of contributing to the cafe culture on Ardmore Street. 

“I love it. It should be that Wanaka is an awesome place to come and eat. If someone else is doing a really good job at something, it means you step up as well. It's like we're all doing it together."

PHOTO: Supplied