Outrigger Fiji cleans up at 2022 Fiji Salon Culinaire awards

Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort chefs had a successful night at the Fiji Salon Culinaire awards for 2022, with three chefs winning awards at the event, including the Chef of the Year award.

Held in December 2022 in conjunction with HOTEC, this annual 2-day event had participants battling three categories. Chef of the year criteria consisted of a main course and dessert, a mystery box, and a modern canapé.

Outrigger’s Fijian chefs won awards in all three major categories including Chef of the Year, Junior Chef of the Year, and Pastry Chef of the Year. With executive chef Priya Darshani leading the Outrigger Fiji team.

Akshay Goundar, a member of the team since 2014 and now the leader of the resorts busy steakhouse restaurant, Sundowner Bar & Grill took out the highly anticipated chef of the year award for 2022, with judges remarking Akshay for being the finest and most skilful young chef they had come across this year. In 2016 he won the Junior Chef of the Year during the Moffat Salon Culinaire.

Jeremiah Rafai won the award for junior chef of the year, backing up a win in the same division at the previous awards. Rafai was tasked with a salad creation, a classic local dish with a modern twist, a main course and desserts. Rafai began his career at the Outrigger resort and has worked his way up to oversee the signature restaurant, Ivi, as chef di partie which is an award-winning fine dining restaurant.

Also part of the back to back success, Lina Toge won the pastry chef of the year award after creating a bread and pastry display, a classic local desert with a twist and a cake decoration. Toge is the junior sous chef and the strongest team player in support to the resorts pastry chef, leading a large kitchen operation. 

Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort is renowned for fostering young chefs and strives to foster and grow local talent to deliver exceptional food and beverage to resorts four eatery’s; Ivi, Vake ni Kana, Sundowner Bar & Grill and Baravi.