{{Short description|New Zealand-Samoan chef and author}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2024}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=February 2024}} {{Infobox person | name = Monique Fiso | birth_name = Monique Tumema Fiso | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1987|10|23|df=y}} | birth_place = Wellington, New Zealand | alma_mater = Wellington Institute of Technology | occupation = Chef }} '''Monique Tumema Fiso''' (born 23 October 1987) is a New Zealand chef and author known for her contribution to the revival of Māori and Polynesian cuisine.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://media.newzealand.com/en/story-ideas/kings-and-queens-of-kai-leading-the-maori-food-re/|title=Kings and Queens of kai: Leading the Māori food revolution|website=TNZ Media|access-date=2018-09-06}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/food-wine/104532757/meet-the-pioneers-giving-new-life-to-traditional-maori-food-techniques|title=Meet the pioneers giving new life to traditional Maori food techniques|website=Stuff|access-date=2018-09-04}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/06/t-magazine/polynesian-cuisine.html|title=The Chefs Redefining Polynesian Cuisine|work=The New York Times |date=6 August 2018 |access-date=2018-09-04 |last1=Mishan |first1=Ligaya }}</ref><ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://thisnzlife.co.nz/monique-fiso-raising-bar-maori-cuisine/|title=How Monique Fiso is raising the bar on Maori cuisine - thisNZlife|website=thisnzlife.co.nz|date=16 February 2017 |access-date=2018-09-06}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/food-wine/food-news/93276486/review-an-ode-to-the-new-zealandstyle-soul-food-at-hiakai|title=Review: An ode to the New Zealand-style soul food at Hiakai|website=Stuff|access-date=2018-09-06}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.faz.net/1.5656022|title=Maori-Küche: Vor dem Kochen in die Wildnis|last=Neubauer|first=Doris|work=FAZ.NET|access-date=2018-09-06|language=de|issn=0174-4909}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.latimes.com/food/jonathan-gold/la-fo-gold-potatoes-20180608-story.html|title=Jonathan Gold's top dishes from 31 days of great chefs around L.A.? Potatoes cooked in earth|last=Gold|first=Jonathan|website=Los Angeles Times|date=8 June 2018 |access-date=2018-09-06}}</ref>
== Early life == Fiso was born in Wellington, New Zealand, and is of Māori and Samoan descent.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.pacificbusiness.co.nz/news-events/making-connections/|title=Making Connections - Pacific Business Trust|work=Pacific Business Trust|access-date=2018-09-06}}</ref><ref name="auto"/> Fiso made a name for herself in New York, working in Michelin-star restaurants. With her trademark determination she decided to make a shift and came home to discover a new style of cooking, and a new side to herself. She appeared on Netflix's ''The Final Table''.
Fiso is the second of five children. Her brother is the New Zealand crossfit athlete and six-time New Zealand fittest man, Luke Fiso, and her cousin Maaka Fiso is a radio host and competed on X-Factor New Zealand. She also comes from a long line of entrepreneurs, which she credits for her strong work ethic. Her parents Siuai and Serena Fiso run a number of businesses and her uncle is investor John Fiso.
== Career == Fiso attended Wellington Institute of Technology where she gained a City & Guilds Diploma in Cookery and Patisserie and graduated first in her class. While completing her culinary studies she worked under New Zealand chef Martin Bosley. She then moved to New York City to further expand her culinary knowledge and experience as a chef. During her time in New York, she worked for Michelin starred chefs Brad Farmerie, Missy Robbins and Matt Lambert.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.dish.co.nz/interviews/article/2017/6/lay-land|title=Lay of the land|date=2017-06-20|work=Dish|access-date=2018-09-06}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.noted.co.nz/dining/dining/how-chef-monique-fiso-is-making-maori-cuisine-a-fine-dining-treat/|title=How chef Monique Fiso is making Māori cuisine a fine-dining treat|last=Noted|website=Noted|access-date=2018-09-06}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.viva.co.nz/article/food-drink/maori-cuisine-monique-fiso/|title=Monique Fiso's Big Plans For Maori Cuisine - Viva|last=Magazine|first=Viva|website=www.viva.co.nz|date=21 February 2017 |access-date=2018-09-06}}</ref>
In 2016, Fiso returned to New Zealand and founded Hiakai,<ref name="auto2">{{Cite news|url=https://idealog.co.nz/venture/2017/12/new-zealand-innovation-awards-innovation-maori-development-hiakai|title=New Zealand Innovation Awards: Innovation in Māori Development, Hiakai|date=2017-12-06|work=Idealog|access-date=2018-09-06}}</ref><ref name="auto1"/> a pop up dining series devoted to the exploration and development of Māori cooking techniques and ingredients. In 2017, the New Zealand Innovation Council awarded Hiakai the top award for "Innovation in Māori Development"<ref name="auto2"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.innovators.org.nz/winners-a-finalists/winners-2017|title=NZ Innovation Awards - Winners 2017|last=Administrator|website=www.innovators.org.nz|access-date=2018-09-04}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://home.kpmg.com/nz/en/home/media/press-releases/2017/10/innovation-in-maori-development.html|title=Innovation in Maori Development|date=2017-10-25|website=KPMG|access-date=2018-09-06}}</ref> and finalist for "Start up Innovation of the Year"<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.innovators.org.nz/winners-a-finalists/finalists-2017|title=NZ Innovation Awards - Finalists 2017|last=Administrator|website=www.innovators.org.nz|access-date=2018-09-04}}</ref> and "Supreme New Zealand Innovation of the Year". She has appeared on New Zealand television and radio shows including Radio Live,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/saturday/audio/2018644616/monique-fiso-the-chef-creating-michelin-style-maori-kai|title=Monique Fiso: the chef creating Michelin-style Māori kai|date=2018-05-12|work=Radio New Zealand|access-date=2018-09-06}}</ref> Maori Television,<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.maoritelevision.com/tv/shows/modern-maori-kai/moniques-recipes-0|title=Monique's Recipes|work=Māori Television|access-date=2018-09-06}}</ref> and Sunday TVNZ.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tvnz.co.nz/shows/sunday/clips/top-chef-monique|title=Top Chef Monique|website=www.tvnz.co.nz|access-date=2018-09-06}}</ref>
Fiso released a book about Māori cuisine also called ''Hiakai: Modern Māori Cuisine'' in 2020<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/food-wine/food-news/122599790/monique-fiso-on-creating-a-cookbook-that-is-more-than-a-cookbook|title=Monique Fiso on creating a cookbook that is more than a cookbook|publisher=Stuff|date=2 September 2020|first=Siobhan|last=Downes}}</ref> which won the Booksellers Aotearoa New Zealand Award for Illustrated Nonfiction at the 2021 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|date=2021-05-13|title=Beautrais wins 2021 Ockham New Zealand Book Award for fiction|url=https://www.booksandpublishing.com.au/articles/2021/05/13/186237/beautrais-wins-2021-ockham-new-zealand-book-award-for-fiction/|access-date=2021-05-13|website=Books+Publishing|language=en-AU}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
==External links== * [https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/2018706741/monique-fiso-s-capital-kai Monique Fiso's Capital Kai] on RNZ Nine to Noon, 1 August 2019. * [https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/afternoons/audio/2018672011/monique-fiso-taking-kai-global Monique Fiso - taking kai global] on RNZ Afternoons with Jesse Mulligan, 20 November 2018. * [https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/afternoons/audio/201806695/monique-fiso-talks-maori-kai Monique Fiso talks Māori Kai] on RNZ Afternoons with Jesse Mulligan, 1 July 2016 *{{Twitter|id=MoniqueFiso}}
{{Authority Control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fiso, Monique}} Category:1987 births Category:Living people Category:New Zealand chefs Category:New Zealand women chefs Category:People from Wellington City Category:New Zealand people of Samoan descent Category:New Zealand Māori people Category:21st-century chefs