Raymond’s Restaurant located at the Fiji Orchids which nestled in a orchard setting in Saweni, outside Lautoka City invites locals to try out their Sunday brunch.

This was one way of placing local culinary skills by home grown chefs for guests to enjoy healthy food, in a setting that throws you out of the hustle and bustle of daily urban lifestyle.

Fiji Orchids executive director Jenny Bourke said: “We are also officially introducing our ‘farm to table’ cooking method which we have constantly practiced together with a few ‘reef to table’ mouthwatering dishes that we specialise in.”

The event is held once a month at mid-day. Ms Bourke said this way they keep an engagement with the local guests.

Recently the property welcomed back their Assistant Chef, Losevati Sewale, who returned from a 12-week internship at Le Cordon Bleu, Wellington, where she achieved excellent results.

Since then Ms Sewale has been putting her culinary skills to good use for guests to enjoy.

Guests are also advised to bring along dancing shoes as their regular house band will be there to entertain you with classical and rhythm and blues numbers.

Edited by Paula Tuvuki

Feedback:  waisean@fijisun.com.fj

Restaurant: Raymond’s Restaurant at the The Fiji Orchids

Chef: Assistant chef Losevati Sewale

Experience: Ms Sewale studied cookery at Fiji National University then started using her culinary skills in 2010 with her six months attachment at Nukubati Island Resort, a sister property of The Fiji Orchids situated off the coast of Macuata in Vanua Levu.

Those six months led to three healthy years on the property before asked to join the team at Fiji Orchids in 2013. The 12-week internship at Le Cordon Bleu, Wellington, New Zealand has brought the best in her talents where she achieved excellent results. She departed in September and returned in December last year. “I was surprised to go to NZ to study; it was a good exposure to learn from the best in the culinary world. I will just keep on working hard,” she said.

Background: Originally from Buavou, Labasa, in Macuatu. She was educated at Seaqaqa Central College until Year 12. She loved the subject of Home Economics.

After high school she enrolled for a three-month course at the FNU Nasese campus for Trade Certificate Cookery I.