Page 26 - Fiji Traveller Issue 4
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Sun Smiles Café
Sun Smiles Café at the Hope Clinic is the go-to
place if you’re looking for a healthy and nutritious
bite at lunchtime. In addition to their pita sandwich
and burgers, they serve four different dishes that
change daily. These generally include a starchy
crop, a couple of local vegetables and a protein
option such as legumes or soy-based meatless
balls. This is also a good spot for a healthy snack
as they sell low-sugar desserts and fruit smoothies.
The clinic next-door promotes lifestyle (and
diet) change as a major component of disease
prevention and treatment. And the café is there to
show how easy, satisfying and affordable switching
to a balanced plant-rich diet can be.
All the dishes are vegan but some of the sweets
might occasionally contain honey, so make sure to
double-check if you don’t eat this ingredient.
The café is inside the FNPF Downtown
Boulevard mall, close to some popular bula
fashion outlets.
Sun Smiles Cafe
Vegan options in omnivore restaurants Another local favourite, Kanalevu Kitchen,
If you are keen to eat Fiji’s traditional has a dish called the Vegan Delight showcasing
vegetables, you’ll be happy to know that some seasonal local vegetables and island fries which
popular local restaurants are now adding vegan you can enjoy on their lovely deck next to the
options to their menus. Head to the Bar Belle, Niu FMF Gymnasium.
Grillz or Kanalevu Kitchen to try their delicious Kanalevu Kitchen
Pacific flavours.
An Pho, a Vietnamese restaurant in the
The Bar Belle at the National Fitness centre Garden City complex also has a few vegetarian
(still known as “Rabuka gym” to locals) along options on the menu. These include salads, tofu
Queen Elizabeth Drive serves local food and dishes, as well as Vietnamese rolls. Most of
several delicious vegetable dishes. You can the vegetarian options can be made vegan, so
taste them all in the Vegan Platter or order them make sure to check which ones can be prepared
separately as sides, such as the rourou (taro without eggs, dairy and fish sauce.
leaves), crispy eggplant, ota (edible fern) or the An Pho
nama (local sea grapes) salad. Their specials
change daily, so don’t hesitate to ask on the And if you’re heading to the Fiji Museum, don’t
day if they have any other vegetarian or vegan forget to stop at Ginger Kitchen for coffee, lunch
options. Don’t miss the Thai noodle salad if they or a smoothie. The vegetarian options generally
have it on the specials board! include a burger, a salad and a pasta dish.
Bar-Belle Fiji Ginger Kitchen
Since 2018, Suva has also had its local
plant-based festival, VegFest Fiji. Check their
Facebook page for upcoming events.
VegFest Fiji
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