New Cambridge cafe aims high
A new cafe has opened in Cambridge – and intends to leave its customers impressed.
New café in town Slice of Life is aiming high – they want to offer the best food and service in Cambridge, if not the country.
After four years of hoping and waiting, Gert and Cecile Van der Westhuizen finally have the café (previously known as Flavours) they have always wanted.
The Slice of Life café opened on Victoria Street two weeks ago after months of renovation. Gert said that from the first time they saw the café they wanted it.
“We have had our eyes on this café for four years. I asked the Flavours owner that if she was to ever put it on the market to let me know first. It was the location and the feel of the place.”
Gert and Cecile moved over from Gauteng, Johannesburg with their daughters Sharney, 18 and Marcie, 20 in 2008. Gert said that no place in New Zealand compared to Cambridge.
“We just loved the town there’s no place else like Cambridge that we could find. In South Africa we owned a stud farm so with the Cambridge horse culture, moving to this area was a natural choice for us.”
The choice of opening a café came from a lifetime passion for food and Gert’s experience financing cafés and restaurants for banks in South Africa.
“I have always had a massive passion for food. I grew up in restaurants; we used to try different restaurants at least two days a week in South Africa. It was something I had to do.”
The Slice of Life aims to deliver a more restaurant style experience Gert said.
“Our food will always be completely fresh with top- of- the- range ingredients and products. We also try to make as much as we can on the premises instead of buying in, which is our point of difference.”
Gert said although he and Cecile know their vision for the café, he appreciates feedback and opinions from their customers.
“I enjoy feedback from customers whether it is good or bad. That’s how we can build on the business – I appreciate complete honesty. In the end I want people to have the best service and food in New Zealand. I want people that walk into Slice of Life to have that fresh food experience alongside the best service. I think then we will have a winning recipe.”
