My Mark Wiens Experience
WMoving on to Nausori, my hometown and Fiji’s food delicacy capital, we explored local favourites like Elvis Kana Place and Babasiga Halal Bites, each dish leaving Mark impressed with its flavours and authenticity. Our journey continued to Mrs Nand’s residence in Vuci South Road, where Mark savoured the most delicious masala duck he had ever tasted.
orking alongside Mark Wiens, the world-renowned food vlogger and YouTube sensation, was a dream come true for a foodie like me. Mark’s videos had been my guide through culinary adventures in Tokyo and Honolulu back in 2019, so when I found myself bingewatching his content again in late December of last year, a bold idea struck me – why not invite him to explore the hidden culinary gems of Fiji?
Fiji, often hailed for its pristine beaches and azure waters, holds a treasure trove of culinary delights that often go unnoticed by tourists. Determined to showcase our rich food culture, I reached out to Mark, and after a series of emails and video calls, we set a date for his visit in May 2023. As Mark arrived with his family, I could sense his excitement to dive into Fiji’s culinary landscape. We began our food tour at Zam Zam, a popular curry restaurant in Suva, where we indulged in a variety of curries from goat to fish, offering Mark a tantalizing introduction to Fijian Indian cuisine.
Moving on to Nausori, my hometown and Fiji’s food delicacy capital, we explored local favourites like Elvis Kana Place and Babasiga Halal Bites, each dish leaving Mark impressed with its flavours and authenticity.
Our journey continued to Mrs Nand’s residence in Vuci South Road, where Mark savoured the most delicious masala duck he had ever tasted, accompanied by flavourful dhal and puri bread. From there, we ventured to Nausori market to sample freshly baked tea buns at Tea Totoka, and seafood delights prepared by Sera Ranadi, ending our mainland experience on a high note.
But our culinary adventure didn’t stop there.
I took Mark to Bar Belle restaurant at Queen Elizabeth Drive, Suva, where he delighted in the seafood spread, including mana
(mud crabs), pan-fried fish, and traditional desserts like vudi lote
(ripe plantain cooked in coconut cream).
Venturing into the province of Tailevu, we explored traditional delicacies like bila (a type of fermented traditional cassava) and
vakalolo (rootcrop coated in rich coconut syrup), immersing ourselves in the rich culinary heritage of Fiji.
Our journey concluded with a visit to a popular BBQ stall at Nadali, outside Nausori, where Mark got a taste of Fiji’s street stall BBQ, complete with its secret marinade and bold flavours.
It was a culinary journey unlike any other, as I had the opportunity to share my love for Fijian cuisine with one of the renowned food vloggers.
Mark’s enthusiasm and appreciation for our gastronomic delights reinforced Fiji’s position as a culinary destination worthy of global recognition. Watch Mark Wiens