The Parnell 'institution', Cibo Turns 30!

Cibo (pronounced chibow) Maître De Jeremy Turner and his long standing Cibo team sprinkle a type of metaphorical pink fairy dust over everyone who dines with them. There’s a type of inexplicable magic that accompanies a dining experience at Cibo, a craft that’s clearly been perfected over the last 30 years.

Cibo is nestled away at 91 St Georges Bay Rd and has been since its inception. It’s a shining example of the perfection that can happen when people who are naturally good at something come together and decide to make a great career of it. Turner reflects “I always wanted to create a place that was super fun with a bit of crazy. Where anyone could drop in, either for a beer and fish ‘n chips, or a full champagne and crayfish extravaganza! Cibo became that, a place for everyone, whether it be long chats over dinner, or a delicious dine and dash express lunch”.

When asked about the key to his success, Turner (the restaurant owner) muses “I don’t ever really think about the key to our success, as it’s not just any one thing, it’s a combination of a million little things done (mostly!) right every day for 30 years”.

Cibo is on the go from 8am until midnight with what Turner describes “a thousand different moving parts to keep track of”. He has an ‘all the details matter’ approach be it the kitchen team cooking a protein 20 different ways to get it just so, or the wine team working tirelessly on the list curating, creating and evolving the wine journey. But he stresses, the most important thing is relationships “nurture them, embrace them, with an open heart and endless enthusiasm. This is true for our customers, suppliers, and most of all our team – we love them sincerely and dearly”!

Having successfully navigated his way through the many ups and downs the hospitality industry brings, not mentioning the pandemic, Turner’s philosophy is of upbeat resilience “challenges are a huge part of life, be it business or personal. I have had a few serious health challenges over the years, and through all of that it makes the business ones seem far more manageable. The love and support of those that are close gives you the strength to overcome all the hurdles and keep on trucking. Dark clouds never last forever!” And that’s probably it, the reason behind the magic of it all, a man who has navigated his fair share of challenges, and perhaps understands that everyone is navigating something, and Cibo offers a space, a haven, if only for an hour or two of purely indulgent, charismatic escapism for all the senses.

Cibo, 91 Saint Georges Bay Road, Parnell, Auckland. Cibo.co.nz and for bookings 09 303 9660 or [email protected]