Have you ever craved for an affordable dish of varieties of seafood in one plate?
Look no further as Esther’s Seafood Takeaway at the Lautoka Fisheries Jetty sells a newly introduced seafood platter dish daily to those craving for seafood.
The platter contents change daily, include boiled fish, half a lobster, a small bowl of nama (a seaweed called sea grapes), a bowl of fire-roasted eggplants, boiled greens which vary such as bele, moca or ota, half boiled mudcrab, a small bowl of boiled or roasted squid.
The platter has toppings of coconut milk (miti), a cup each (depending on the number of people) of boiled fish soup, slices of lemon and chilli.
Imagine enjoying these delicacies from the pristine waters of the Mamanuca and Yasawa groups from the jetty shed as you look out to sea to the breathtaking views of the blue waters off Lautoka City.
The jetty is opposite the Lautoka sugar mill. The platter is the brainchild of Sainiana Susu, originally of Udu Point in Vanua Levu.
“My husband, Mosese Susu, is from Naisilisili, Yasawa in the district of Nacula,” Ms Susu said.
“It’s almost a year now since my husband and I took over this business.
“We were hit by COVID-19, but our faith in God and our perseverance to succeed forced us to come up with innovative and new ideas to attract customers.
“The pandemic is just an obstacle, but if you think outside the box, there are ways we can improve to help us during this difficult times.
“Since we returned from Australia in 2013, my husband and I invested in a pastry business. We started small by selling pastries on the roadside in Lautoka. At times I knocked on office doors to sell cakes. We never gave up. We even ended up in Nadi and inside Nadi International Airport.
“We knew the potential a food business has. Everybody eats, but it is the way you prepare your dish that attracts people. We started when COVID-19 struck. Our business and other food vendors were affected because there were no customers. We closed for a while and while at home we thought of a way of improving our dishes.
“While in Australia, I attended cooking classes, so I used some of those knowledge and experiences here. That was how the seafood platter started.
“We thought of a way to make it into a win-win situation for us and our customers, so we made it affordable and with the kind of food people crave for.
“It was knew, but as soon as it started, it became a hit. We usually run out of dishes as people all over the places such as Lautoka, Ba, Tavua, Nadi and even Suva came in to eat.
“There are variety of dishes and platters. They depend on the contents. There is a platter dish for $25, $30 and a single dish of a fish, greens and juice can be $10. In a day I could earn $400 but as weekend draws near, the amount increases.
“We also take orders and use Facebook to advertise our service. Those who wish to enjoy a dish of seafood platter, the pride of Lautoka, can order through telephone 9629961.”
She said profits from her business had helped contribute to the education of her daughter, Esther, and needs at home.
