Functions and events, we all love to attend them but very few admit loving to organise and cater for them like Laura Racumu.
She makes a living in the catering business servicing all sorts of events. Laura operates the Taveuni Kitchen with her sister Jolene Raitini, a business founded by their mother the late Elizabeth Racumu (nee) Hennings.
The Taveuni Kitchen started in 2006.
“The first event mum catered was my cousin’s wedding. It was a learning experience. From there, family and friends that attended the wedding encouraged her to start her catering business,” Ms Racumu said.
“With the love of cooking, Elizabeth decided to focus her energy starting the business and soon became known for her gourmet menus and unique, creative presentation.
“Most of the dishes we have on our menu are family recipes passed down to my mother from hers. My grandmother was also somewhat of a caterer on the copra estates in Taveuni where my family worked.”
Ms Racumu said her grandmother would sometimes manage the kitchen and help in organising family functions on the copra estates back in the day.
As demand for catering increased, Elizabeth employed family and friends.
“The cooks and function staff are mostly family, my cousins who are single or staying at home mothers. The money they earn goes towards supporting their families and households.
“A lot of the time their husbands are the sole-breadwinners in the family.”
She said in almost every home in Fiji children began helping out in the kitchen as young as seven and eight years old and the children in her family were no different.
“In this business we get our children as young as 12 and 13 years involved starting with prepping dishes for events while the staff prepare garlic and peel potatoes in the kitchen.
“In this way our children make some pocket money and by the time school starts they usually buy their own school supplies.
“This was one of the reasons my mother set up the Taveuni Kitchen, to give our family members an opportunity to earn some money.”
Laura said after Elizabeth Racumu died in 2013 the Taveuni Kitchen closed, but not for long.
With a little bit of help from aunt Salome Maitiro, Laura and Jolene took over and now continue their mother’s legacy.
Even when COVID-19 took its toll on the business with restrictions on social gatherings, Taveuni Kitchen adapted to the situation and began selling lunch packs.
“We would take orders from different offices and deliver to them.”
Laura said Taveuni Kitchen had also expanded it services in New Zealand which opened earlier last month.
“Whatever happens to the business it will always be the legacy of a lady who loved to cook, carried on by her daughters and it will always be Taveuni Kitchen,” she said.
