When The Marque Hotel opens  next week, it promises to deliver a fresh new take on dining in Christchurch.

The Marque Hotel Christchurch’s restaurant, simply called Fresh, sets a new direction in dining where the emphasis is on locally sourced, fresh seasonal produce.

“The focus is on food that is healthy and nourishing,” says Fresh’s talented executive chef Adrian Lowrey. “What we offer is an innovative, contemporary menu that marries the best local produce with the freshest flavours.”

Before taking on the job of executive chef at Fresh, Mr Lowrey was chef at the highly rated London Street Restaurant in Lyttelton. For six years prior to that he was part of the award-winning team of chefs at The George hotel in Christchurch.

“The Marque Hotel Christchurch is a green hotel and we’ve carried that theme into the restaurant. We’re using local suppliers wherever possible and the emphasis is on fresh seasonal produce and food that is in tune with the seasons,” Mr Lowrey says.

“The restaurant is designed to give diners the chance to have a direct influence on the food offering. We’ve created tapas and dessert menus where diners can sample tasting plates.”

“We’ve also left the kitchen open so that diners can watch their food being prepared and talk to the chefs. We want people to be able to see where their food is coming from and to bring the restaurant alive,” Mr Lowrey said.

“Fresh is all about providing high quality food in a relaxed setting. It’s about tailoring dishes to our diners’ tastes and delivering a memorable dining experience,” Mr Lowrey says.

The Marque Hotel Christchurch opens on March 18 with 171 guest rooms and suites. It is located in the heart of Christchurch’s central business district at 166 Gloucester Street, corner of Cathedral Junction and Gloucester Street, opposite New Regent Street. Telephone (64 3) 943 3888.