Courtney Tate, chef at Poppies in Martinborough, was raised loving food. Growing up in Canterbury, Tate recalled spending his time in kitchens for as long as his could remember.
“My whole family loves food, and cooking is as much of a familial connection as a career and passion. My father is a chef by trade as well. Growing up with that connection to cuisine is addictive and had me hooked early on,” revealed Tate.
Tate shared that his food creations are contemporary provincial New Zealand cuisine inspired by local fresh products and produce. However, Tate also finds inspiration in crafting meals based on mood. The chef aptly pointed out the importance of experimentation. 
“Why stick to one style when you can try them all?”
Being a chef and running the kitchen at Poppies has provided Tate with the platform he can create between his two inspirations for food, which the chef described as a dream.
“We focus a lot on our vineyard platter offerings which have been called some of the best in New Zealand.”
Tate stated that the platter was anything but simple. The chef shared that a great deal of thought goes into his creations and that the environment in which he works means that Tate always has the chance to work with fresh and exciting ingredients.
For those looking to enter a similar career path, Tate stated that what individuals put into the hospitality industry is what they get out of it. Often considered a bridging between careers, the chef described the industry as far more varied and rewarding than common misconceptions.
Tate shared that while the industry has faced challenges, mainly through recent extreme weather events and the lingering effects of the pandemic, the industry's resilience was remarkable.
“It becomes apparent again that for one of New Zealand’s largest industries, we have to adjust to unforeseen challenges and be more resilient when events happen out of our control.”
For the future, Tate hoped to maintain the standards within his current kitchen at Poppies to continue as an industry leader within the Martinborough region.
“Focusing on that and my newborn should be enough of a challenge for a little while,” concluded Tate.
