You’ll find The Chop Shop Food Merchants 20 minutes’ drive from central Queenstown, framed by the hills that loom over the former gold rush hub of Arrowtown.

This locals’ favourite is open for breakfast and lunch, as well as private dining at night. Inside, the fit-out leans quirky, with mismatched chairs, a distressed counter fronting the kitchen area, vintage mirrors and an ornamental typewriter. Outdoor seating on the balcony looks out to the hills, which are most astonishing in autumn, when they turn a golden, fiery red.

The Chop Shop is run by husband-and-wife team Kei and Sawa Sakashita, who pride themselves on creating an ever-changing daytime menu with wide-ranging Asian influences. It might include okonomiyaki (savoury Japanese pancakes), beef cheek rendang or bang bang poached chicken salad, as well as ricotta hotcakes, Turkish poached eggs and classic corn fritters.

Coffee Supreme supplies the caffeine hit, and the venue’s also licensed – so you can order a Bloody Mary or a Central Otago wine with your potato and jalapeno hash.