A bowl of oatmeal is like a canvas. Nothing to see and do here at the start, but hand it over to someone talented enough and sure enough they'll turn it into a masterpiece. Anna and Lucy from The Oatery might just be Wellington's finest proponents in the art of beautiful, nutritious oat bowls. They're a busy duo, found in various spots around town — the heart of Courtenay Place throughout the week and the Harbourside Market on Sundays. Wherever they are, you can rely on them to whip up a tasty start to your morning. The glorious Wellington sun was out in full force on this Sunday trip to their Harbourside spot. We opted for two bowls, one hot and one cold, to try a wide sweep of their offerings. The rhubarb porridge ($10) is delicious and filling; not even Goldilocks will need convincing to finish one of these. Part of the appeal of these bowls is the aesthetics — the chunks of baked rhubarb and strawberry, huge dollop of Greek yoghurt and edible flowers were practically made for Instagram. The taste lives up to the expectations, too, with the sweet rhubarb blending superbly with the hot porridge underneath. Definitely a pick for those colder Wellington mornings. For the cold bowl we opted for that perennial brunch favourite, the granola bowl ($10). It does a wonderful job of taking that tried-and-tested granola, fresh fruit and yoghurt combo and somehow adding a unique spin on it. Everything in the bowl has either a delicious crunch or an irresistible creaminess to it, all in one guilt-free package. Check out the latest menus on their social media pages to get an idea of the other treats they offer. We hear the turmeric bircher bowl is a favourite, while their porridge also comes in carrot cake, apple and nuts, and banana cacao iterations. The premise behind the Oatery is simple — take something that heaps of people love, but perhaps isn't the sexiest item on the breakfast menu, and make it a whole lot more hip. Anna and Lucy work with the idea that people shouldn't have to choose between favour and nutrition. If you ask us, we think they're doing a very good job indeed.
