We spoke to Prue Barton, Co-Owner of Mister D and Hawkes Bay Branch President for The Restaurant Association about her love of the industry.

Mister D, in Napier, is a little bit country and a little bit rock & roll. Focused on fresh, local produce delivered with friendly and efficient service but no fuss. For Prue, Co Owner of Mister D’s a career in hospitality has spread over many decades.   After the traditional Kiwi OE travel, with time working in kitchens and front-of-house positions in London, New York and Australia, returning to NZ it was obvious that she was going to stay involved in the industry.

The most long- standing was Vinnies in Auckland which spanned 15 years of dedicated fine dining restaurant ownership and where she met her life long partner and chef David Griffiths. They now own Mister D in Napier and have been there for eleven years. Much water has passed under the bridge in the last 3 years, most notably the challenges that Covid and recent flooding has thrown at them. It certainly makes for resilience and so Prue’s motto of “every days a new day” keeps her in check.

What made you decide to go into the industry?

Many moons ago hospitality actually found me. Hospitality has been my way of life from the get-go. I started working a part-time kitchen position at a restaurant in Wellington called Macavities on Plimmer Steps to help bump up some money for my studies. It was here that I found that I could actually cook and all the so-called ‘light bulb’ switched on for me. With very little supervision I was handed recipes and left to bake, chop and saute and I was completely in my element. Never looking back I eventually teamed up with one of the chefs there and we went on to own and run the restaurant together. It was early Wellington days and we were one of the first BYO restaurants around. It was an extremely exciting time back in those days.

What inspires you?

I am a creative person and so anything that is involved with design and food fashion interests me.

What do you love about the industry?

It is forever changing and “every day is a new day” in this industry.  Keeping well informed of culinary trends is forever challenging.  Running and motivating a successful team is always a fluid situation that requires determination and drive to keep positive in this ever-changing climate.

What is the secret to your success?

My love of food, wine and people is one of the consistent keys to my success. My life is completely entwined in the industry.

What one piece of advice would you give to others in the industry?

It’s not an easy road and it is hard work. It is definitely not for the “faint-hearted” and will never be a get-rich-quick job. It takes years of graft to get there but is rewarding if you have the right attitude. You need to be brave, believe in yourself and have the courage to open and run your own business to fully enjoy the magnitude of hospitality. Then the challenges are endless and as I have found, I never have a dull moment in my day.

Which restaurants are on your dining bucket list?

I always love Micheal Meredith’s restaurants. He is such a unique chef and has real talent.

When David and I travel we like to source little local restaurants to get the full impact of an area. We have dined in many Michelin-starred restaurants in our time but now prefer more local and authentic ones. So if we are travelling we always ask the locals for advice.

There is a restaurant in Sydney that I want to go to called Seta. It is owned by Tonci Farac and he never does anything by halves. One day when we finally get there!!

My daughter lives in Rarotonga at the moment and so when we get on planes that’s where we go right now. There is some good local cuisine there and we search out low-key beach hangouts for relaxing eats.

What do you do to relax / in your spare time?

I have a horse and so that is a big care commitment for me. I like getting into the country and being around people who are not associated with my industry. It keeps me fit and refreshes my brain after a busy shift at Mister D. I tell my pony all my troubles and she listens, or appears to!!