Our Story
A leap of faith, a life in food.
Hello, and welcome — we're so glad you found us. We're Jake & Abi, the duo behind Artisan at Home: partners in business, and in life. We met nearly eight years ago at a music festival (one of our great loves), though it was our shared love of food that really brought us together.
A few years back, travelling around the UK and Europe, we found ourselves pondering life's big questions — what are we really here to do? Somewhere through the south of France, with a baguette in one hand and a wedge of Brie de Meaux in the other, it clicked. Our north star had always been food — not just eating it, but creating the kind of soulful, artisan experiences that make people stop and savour the moment.
And so, on a bit of a leap of faith, Artisan at Home was born. Jake brings his years of professional culinary craft to the kitchen as our private chef, while Abi handles the operations and everything in between — proper, restaurant-quality food, brought to your table across Auckland & Northland.
Meet Jake.
Jake has been a professional chef for over 20 years — from gastro pubs in the UK to fine dining, vibrant delis and corporate R&D here in NZ. A story his parents love to tell is when, at five years old, he ordered a lobster chowder off the menu (and yes, his very kind parents obliged!) — so it's safe to say he was born with a taste for great food.
A true creative at heart, if he isn't mixing music or picking up a paintbrush, Jake is dreaming up new flavour combinations and pushing the boundaries of what an ingredient can do. A mantra he lives by: everything on the plate needs a place and a purpose — whether it's for nutrient density or flavour, it has to earn its spot.
Meet Abi.
I, Abi, have always been the "foodie" of the group — the go-to for brunch recommendations for as long as I can remember. From pouring over Delia Smith and Rick Stein cookbooks on my Dad's bookshelf, to setting up my very own micro-cakery.
Food is one of those things that, every time I taste something beautiful, I do a little happy dance. I have such an appreciation for the art and skill that goes into creating something that looks beautiful and tastes magical. And as luck would have it — I ended up with an incredibly talented chef for a partner!
Our philosophy
Spray Free
Clean flavours, grown the right way. We prioritise local, spray-free produce and supporting farmers who genuinely care for the land and the food they grow.
Locally Sourced
Wherever possible, we source from New Zealand growers and producers we know and trust. Shorter supply chains mean better flavour and fresher ingredients.
Zero Seed Oils
Real fats, real food, always. We cook exclusively with quality fats — butter, tallow, cold-pressed olive oil and coconut oil.
Seasonal Always
Every menu is built around what's at its very best right now. Seasonal cooking means better flavour and better nutrition — which all leads to delicious food.