Long lunch for charity

A humble parking lot on Glasgow Road was transformed into Pukekohe’s very own slice of Italy recently, as locals gathered for a sold-out Italian Long Table Lunch to raise funds for Franklin Hospice.

With 101 tickets sold and nine special guests, a total of 110 people sat shoulder-to-shoulder at what may well have been the longest table Pukekohe has ever seen. The weather played its part too — not a drop of rain, just perfect conditions for neighbours to come together in style.

Pizzata was the driving force behind the event and also provided the Neapolitan pizzas and
Italian wine on the day, while Your Local Bakery served up freshly baked sourdough with olive oil, balsamic and dukkah to start. Franklin Cake House created a showstopper limoncello cake for dessert, and Mr Consistent Cocktails kept glasses filled with beautifully crafted cocktails.

The event was supported by the Pukekohe Business Association.

For Pizzata managing director Brad Golchin, the event was the realisation of a long-held dream.

“I’ve always dreamed of creating an Italian-style long table feast – neighbours shoulder-to-shoulder, laughter in the air, and food passed. To see our parking lot turn into something so
magical was beyond anything I imagined. So many people have already asked us to do it again – I think we’ve just started a new annual tradition for Pukekohe.”

The Long Table Lunch raised $2,000 for Franklin Hospice, ensuring more support for families who need it most. Franklin Hospice provides specialist palliative care, compassion, and support for people and families living with life-limiting conditions in the Franklin region.