Diamond Harbour gets a serve of paella

Wednesday, 15 November 2023

Clare and Edrick Corban-Banks have taken over the lease for Orton Bradley Cafe and are making Sundays paella day.

A popular Spanish dish is being served in a Banks Peninsula cafe - and it’s being made by one of the best paella cooks in the world.

The new lessees of Orton Bradley Cafe, Clare and Edrick Corban-Banks, have returned to New Zealand with a passion for the rice dish they can’t help but share.

Edrick had been “bitten by the paella cooking bug”, Clare said.

It began while they were living in Spain for five years 25 years ago. Edrick was an Anglican minister, and both were professional musicians.

Edrick entered several international paella competitions while living in Spain, eventually helping to judge the dishes.

“We have always loved cooking,” Claire said, and with six children, “cooking was a big part of our home”.

During their Spanish experience, Edrick took to paella and entered a competition making the meal created to serve the masses.

“It turned out it was the international paella competition,” Claire said.

Edrick placed fifth. The next year, he entered and placed one better, fourth. The following year, fourth again.

His enthusiasm and expertise captured the eye of the organisers, and they enlisted him to become a judge of the competition.

The cafe open Saturdays and Sundays specialises in pizzas and paella, while also having slices, salads and pastries on the menu.

“He’s got a real talent in that field.”

And so the paella bug continued to seep into his culinary vision.

The family’s most recent stint - in Tasmania for eight years - saw Edrick set up a paella catering business alongside the parish.

Edrick retired from his life-long career in the church last year and moved the family to Diamond Harbour.

People can see Edrick cooking three flavours of paella, Clare says. “It’s the entertainment, then the food.”

He thought he’d set up a catering business, Clare said, then they heard through the grapevine that the seasonal cafe was up for lease.

They had eaten there twice and had a good feeling about it, she said.

Having grown up on a dairy farm in the North Island, the cottage reminded Clare of her family home, including the large trees and English-style garden.

The Orton Bradley cottage is a replica of the original farmhouse in the area, surrounded by a private park run by a trust.

“It’s become a real firm favourite of the area because it is so beautiful and idyllic.”

The cafe is open Saturday and Sunday, serving slices, salads, cakes and pastries alongside pizza made with bases imported from their birthplace: Naples.

Sunday is also paella day, allowing Edrick to get behind the giant pans filled with the flavoursome rice dish.

“People can watch the whole process, it’s entertainment then the food,” Clare said.

“It’s such a great meal.”