KAI Pasifika restaurant has received rave reviews from patrons and the Pacific Islands Trade and Invest New Zealand.
The Pacific Periscope, which is a PTI NZ newsletter, reported that celebrity chef, television cuisine show host and award winning author Robert Oliver recently opened his restaurant — Kai Pasifika in Auckland and offered an array of pan-Pacific dishes, both from Polynesia and Melanesia — Samoa, Tonga, Cook Islands, Fiji and Vanuatu.
“Pacific cuisine has suffered from a lot of misconceptions,” Mr Oliver said.
He said misinformed stereotyping had tended to portray Pacific Island food differently from the pristineness that is its true character.
Mr Oliver said all Pacific cuisine used fresh ingredients that were organic, for the most part, and used little oil in the cooking process.
“That’s the goodness of Pacific cuisines with fresh Pacific ingredients that we bring with Kai Pasifika,” Mr Oliver said.
“It’s our interpretation of Pasifika cuisine in an urban and contemporary way.”
He said most of their ingredients were sourced directly from the islands.
According to the Pacific Periscope much of the fish comes in from Fiji, the cocoa and taro are from Samoa, the coconuts and coconut products could be from several islands and the spices and chutneys, again, are from Fiji.
And yes, all the beer on the menu is Pacific — from Fiji, Samoa and Vanuatu.
It said Mr Oliver had worked closely for the past several years with reputable Pacific NGOs such as Women in Business (WIBDI), Samoa and FRIEND from Fiji.
PTI NZ Trade Commissioner Michael Greenslade said they welcomed the opening of Mr Oliver’s restaurant.
“This is probably one of the original settlement areas for Pacific Islanders in Auckland.
“Robert is seeking to provide a Pacific infusion style of cuisine complementing the role that PTI have in promoting Pacific ingredients to buyers and chefs in New Zealand,” said Mr Greenslade.
At the opening of the restaurant, Mr Oliver told the newsletter that it was a five-year dream.
