Far-flung flavours

NICOLE WHIPPY

ACTOR, SHORTLAND STREET

Never judge a book by its cover is the lesson behind Nicole Whippy’s most memorable meal.

The star of Shortland Street and Outrageous Fortune was born in Fiji, moving to New Zealand when she was three. But the 43-year-old returns most years to see family, to work and to eat the Fijian food she loves, especially kokoda, raw white fish marinated in lemon juice and coconut cream with onion, coriander and chilli. “Because of the Indian and Chinese influence in Fiji, they really know how to flavour their food.”

It was while on holiday there three years ago that Nicole had a truly sublime culinary experience. “In Suva, where I was born, there’s a restaurant, Tiko’s Seafood Restaurant, which is on a boat in Suva Harbour. It’s been there since I was a kid and I was always a bit wary, because why would I go somewhere all the tourists go that probably has a buffet and is like being on a cruise ship?”

But Nicole ended up there with husband Tom, daughters Pearl, 11, and Vida, five, her sister’s family and their mother.

“It blew me away. It was amazing! I’d expected it to be a bit