Polynesian food hitting the spot
From humble beginnings selling food to raise money for their church, and with a push from the community, a Samoan family have opened a new business in Timaru specialising in Polynesian food, and is already making up to 500 steamed buns a day to keep up with the demand.
JK’s Polynesian Kitchen, on Evans St, opened less than two weeks ago, with owners Kolopa Edna John and her husband John John saying when they moved to Timaru, from Hawkes Bay, in 2018, opening their own takeaway shop was never on their mind.
‘‘It started from making stuff to fundraise for our church, and then we started doing farmers’ markets, and it just grew from there,’’ Kolopa Edna John said.
‘‘We would go to the farmers’ market and the community was so supportive and told us to make more food and no matter how much we made we would sell out of food or have very little left.’’
She said since opening, the business has been well-supported.
‘‘We have people outside waiting before we open, and it is busy until we close.’’
She said it was special to be able to share the traditional food from their childhoods with the community and for it be to so well received.
Already some of its regular customers were workers from Silver Fern Farms, Alliance and workers from the Showgrounds area, she said.
She said opening a business for the first time in a pandemic was very scary, but the number of regular customers had made it worth it.
‘‘I put my trust in God . . . and it takes a village,’’ she said.
‘‘We have had a lot of support from a lot of other local businesses – we get a lot of meat from Burgers Butchers, they have been amazing.’’
‘‘Opening up on the first day was emotional, we have worked so hard for everything,’’ she said.
‘‘Everything we have done is through the support of our families, our church and the community.’’