In Wellington Meet Food Hero Monique Fiso

Chef and owner of Wellington restaurant, Hiakai, Monique Fiso has been named a “Hero of Travel 2019” by Australia’s Traveller publication.

“Travel is a little like theatre – much of the magic happens behind the scenes. We all know that a great guide can help to bring a destination to life, but they are not the only ones who lift your holiday to the next level,” the publication reports for its third annual edition “recognising [these travel heroes’] achievements and their positive impact on our travels and the ways in which we travel”.

“Often, our travel experiences are shaped by people that we never meet – from the behind-the-scenes hotelier who creates a one-of-a-kind boutique hideaway to the environmental campaigner who tackles difficult local issues and encourages travellers to do their bit.

“Fiso loves a challenge, from teaching Gordon Ramsay to forage in the new National Geographic series, Gordon Ramsay: Unchartered to opening a fine dining restaurant that specialises in authentic Māori cuisine. Through her restaurant Hiakai (meaning having a desire or craving for food) Fiso is pushing the boundaries on Māori food while keeping Indigenous food culture alive. Hiakai’s eight-course degustation takes diners on a journey across New Zealand via ingredients such as horopito, mamaku, kawakawa and red matipo.”

In August, Hiakai was named by TIME magazine as one of the World’s 100 Greatest Places of 2019.

Original article by Traveller, November 1, 2019.