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Fleur: The Life & Times Of Pioneering Restaurateur Fleur Sullivan
The memoir of the characterful restaurateur and national treasure.
Fleur Sullivan is a South Island legend, the culinary maven responsible for not one but two iconic local restaurants - Olivers in Clyde and the eponymous Fleurs Place in Moeraki. Now, at the age of 72, she's running a third, The Loan and Merc in her home town of Oamaru. Her eventful career has spanned more than 40 years, during which time she's transformed two sleepy towns into international destinations. Fleur is brimming with great stories, anecdotes, reminiscences, the conversations had round her table and friendships formed in her establishments.
This memoir chronicles her early life cooking in a pub on the West Coast, through to setting up Dunstan House in Clyde and on to the heady days of the restaurant scene in the 1970s in Queenstown. Drawing on this range of influences, Fleur then returned to Clyde and embarked on the 20-year journey that was Olivers, using local produce and products at a time when no one else was doing so. From there she went to Moeraki and opened her world-renowned fish restaurant Fleurs Place. Everything Fleur does is touched by her warmth, vision and enthusiams, making her places the place to be. IIlustrated with new photography by Aaron McLean, plus Fleur's own photographs and ephemera.
Fleur Sullivan is a South Island legend, the culinary maven responsible for not one but two iconic local restaurants - Olivers in Clyde and the eponymous Fleurs Place in Moeraki. Now, at the age of 72, she's running a third, The Loan and Merc in her home town of Oamaru. Her eventful career has spanned more than 40 years, during which time she's transformed two sleepy towns into international destinations. Fleur is brimming with great stories, anecdotes, reminiscences, the conversations had round her table and friendships formed in her establishments.
This memoir chronicles her early life cooking in a pub on the West Coast, through to setting up Dunstan House in Clyde and on to the heady days of the restaurant scene in the 1970s in Queenstown. Drawing on this range of influences, Fleur then returned to Clyde and embarked on the 20-year journey that was Olivers, using local produce and products at a time when no one else was doing so. From there she went to Moeraki and opened her world-renowned fish restaurant Fleurs Place. Everything Fleur does is touched by her warmth, vision and enthusiams, making her places the place to be. IIlustrated with new photography by Aaron McLean, plus Fleur's own photographs and ephemera.
180 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 15, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
July 23, 2025
I absolutely loved this book, perhaps because I am a Kiwi. Although I am 14 or so years younger than Fleur, I related so well to her depiction of life in NZ in the 60’s and 70’s. Fleur comes at life with 100% passion, energy, courage and imagination and this is reflected so well in her writing. For her to go full circle and open up another high profile restaurant in Oamaru in her ‘70’s after all her life’s trials and tribulations was an absolute testament to her resilience. There are so many lessons for all of us through the pages and I am filled with admiration for her. Her no-holds-barred account of a life in hospitality shows how in love with the profession you need to be.
Kudos to Fleur! I can’t imagine her retiring any time :)
Kudos to Fleur! I can’t imagine her retiring any time :)
August 3, 2019
Loved having a meal at Fleurs place in Moeraki, beautiful view and food.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews