Sign In / Register
Frankie’s Gelato & Deli has made itself right at home in the former butchery in Manly Village.
Although the store has only been open a couple of months, owners Grainne and Mike Farrell’s desire to slot into community life is working a treat – customers, including many regulars, can often be found sitting on the old school bench outside Frankie’s, watching the world go by while enjoying a coffee or ice cream.
Inside, the gelato is a big drawcard and the shelves are stocked with many types of cheese, bread, nut butters, chutneys, meat, pasta and sweet treats.
During the week, fresh bread comes from Zeki’s Woodfired Turkish bakery and in the weekend pastries, ryebread and sourdough is brought in from Wild Wheat on the North Shore.
Grainne says the delicatessen foods are “good, old fashioned stuff” – the kinds of things you can pop in and grab to put a quick meal together. Gift platters can be made up, which proved popular over Christmas.
Finding great products has been a lot of fun, Grainne says – and wherever possible, items are sourced locally, including cheese from Puhoi and Dairy Flat, eggs and meat from Warkworth. There are plenty of gluten free options.
Mike’s family is from Manly, and the couple and their two children, Frankie and Poppy, moved back to New Zealand from Adelaide in 2014.
Grainne says in Adelaide they lived a short distance from a big market, with access to a wide range of good food. Their aim was to bring that sort of choice to Whangaparaoa so that people didn’t have to travel to find what they need.
“We want to add value to the village and fit in with the lifestyle that we all enjoy here,” Mike says. “So far we’ve had great feedback and customers are coming back for particular favourites.”
