Interview with Chef Mo Arun of the Grand Pacific Hotel
Arguably one of the most influential chefs in Fiji, Chef Mo Arun has become well known in recent years as a practitioner of the “Pacific Rim Authenticity Cuisine”. A native of Nadi, he began his culinary career at the Fijian Hotel (now the Shangri-La) and Regent of Fiji (now The Westin Denarau Island Resort & Spa). He subsequently moved to New Zealand and moved up the ranks in some of New Zealand’s best known hotels and restaurants.
In 1997 he became Executive Chef of one of Auckland’s most fashionable restaurants, Iguacu in Parnell, prior to a stint at the respected Stamford Plaza Auckland in 2007.
Chef Mo has been the recipient of many honors including the New Zealand Culinary Fare Kitchen Team awards, the 2010 New Zealand Beef and Lamb Hallmark of Excellence Gold Plate Award, the 2008 New Zealand Metro Top 20 Restaurant awards and, for three consecutive years, the “Entertainment Gold Award” for best fine dining restaurant.
After an absence of twenty three years, Mo returned to Fiji to join the Grand Pacific Hotel in December 2015.
