Samoan Chef Uelese Mua brings Pacific flavours to Trivet for Restaurant Month
It’s Restaurant Month in Tāmaki Makaurau, and Trivet Restaurant on Albert Street is inviting diners to experience a menu that blends international influences with the warmth of Pacific hospitality.
At the centre of it all is executive chef Uelese Mua, or Chef Wallace, who says the inspiration behind Trivet is rooted in his own upbringing.
“My thoughts behind Trivet… Well, a trivet is a device that was used to protect tables so you could put a hot pan or pot on it. With my upbringing, to’onai was always one of the highlights of the week. You break bread with family, catch up and the rest of the world fades away. Those moments, the table becomes sacred to me, so with that in mind, I wanted Trivet to protect that sacred table.”
This August, Trivet is offering a specially curated two-course Restaurant Month menu for $55 per person. Guests can enjoy Trivet classics and the restaurant’s signature flatbread with coconut butter. Wine matches are available for $12 per glass.
The Pacific influence on Trivet’s menu comes from Wallace’s desire to recreate the spirit of a family gathering. “Going back to that theme of to’onai, I wanted it to feel like it does when you have a family gathering, where everyone brings something to add to the table.”
Wallace says he wants every guest to leave with more than just a full stomach. “Definitely a memorable experience that when thinking back they remember the dish. That for me is a true mark of a great dish as this is my experience when tasting a great dish made by someone. I also hope they taste the labour of love that goes into it."
"I have a very young team of chefs who all give they’re all to make the dishes as best as they can. And like my mum, my sisters and many aunties, when they’re cooking for family they’re doing it with love.”
For Wallace, Auckland’s diversity is reflected in the way he creates his menu. “I actually have some Polynesian influence in the menu, but I also have many other influences. With Auckland being such a diverse city, and myself having worked with so many chefs from around the world in different kitchens, I wanted to keep the menu as international as possible using our beautiful N.Z ingredients.”
Trivet is open for lunch and dinner throughout August, and bookings are recommended for the $55 Restaurant Month menu.
Trivet is located at 22 Albert Street, Auckland.