One of New Zealand’s most experienced restaurateurs has been appointed manager at Craggy Range Winery’s award winning Terrôir restaurant in Havelock North.
John Logan brings to the role more than 20 years’ experience in hospitality in the UK and New Zealand, most recently as restaurant manager at Auckland’s enduring O’Connell St Bistro.
In joining Craggy Range, Logan is coming back to the Hawke’s Bay region he first worked in after returning in 2000 from a decade in the UK. It was there that he managed Thackeray House Restaurant in Tunbridge Wells, renowned for its French cuisine and extensive European wine list.
Logan says it is his 10 years in Europe that provided him with a deep knowledge of not only the hospitality industry but also the importance of the wine-food match.
“Having a French wife who grew up in the Rhone area of south-eastern France – arguably the wine and food capital of the world – has been an important driver in guiding my career,” Logan says. “It has been a major influence in developing my passion for French food and wine.”
“I’m a firm believer in the synergy between wine and food and my new role at Terrôir provides the perfect opportunity for that,” he added. “The restaurant is renowned for both its menu and the wonderful single vineyard Craggy Range wines it serves, we plan to build on Terrôir’s already fantastic reputation to make it the best winery restaurant in New Zealand, if not the world.”
During Logan’s time at O’Connell St Bistro the restaurant was recognised in consecutive years in Metro magazine’s top 50 restaurants as well as receiving Best Wine Experience 2014 in Cuisine magazine.
Other previous roles include general manager of Treetops Lodge & Estate and he has held restaurant management positions at Number 5 and Hilton Hotel in Auckland, Huka Lodge and Hawke’s Bay’s Sileni Winery.
