Fijian-Australian chef Arrnott Salesi Olssen is set to bring his Kana Club dining concept back to Fiji in a new immersive cultural experience that will take visitors beyond resort dining and into the heart of village life, local markets and traditional kitchens.
The initiative, developed in partnership with Quro Collective, is expected to transform The Kana Club from a pop-up dining experience in Sydney into a multi-day journey across Fiji, focusing on food, culture, storytelling and community connection.
Olssen, who is a former Gospel High School student, says this project reflects his long-standing effort to showcase Fiji’s identity through cuisine, noting that he has spent years bringing Fijian flavours and stories to audiences in Australia through his dining events.
He says that the new experience is designed to allow visitors to engage directly with the cultural roots of Fijian food, rather than experiencing the country only through conventional tourism settings.
According to Quro the journey will include visits to village communities, local markets and coastal areas, where guests will take part in cooking sessions with Olssen and local hosts, including the preparation of traditional lovo meals.
It is also expected that participants will hear family-based recipes passed down through generations, while experiencing how Indigenous Fijian, Indian and Chinese influences have shaped modern Fijian cuisine.
A final Kana Club dinner in Fiji is planned as the concluding event of the journey, bringing together the experiences and stories gathered throughout the trip.
Olssen shares the concept is deeply personal, adding that Fijian food represents more than just cuisine, but identity, history and lived experience.
He adds that Fiji should not be viewed only as a tropical destination, but as a place rich in cultural meaning and community life.
The chef, who gained wider recognition after appearing on the television cooking show My Kitchen Rules in 2022, has since developed Kana Club into a recognised dining brand across Australia.
Organisers have indicated that the experience will be limited to a small group of participants to maintain an intimate setting and allow closer engagement with local communities and cultural custodians.
Quro also note that the initiative is expected to support local producers, village communities and small businesses involved in the programme.
Pre-registration opened on 20th May, with bookings expected to follow in early June, while the first journey is anticipated to depart in November 2026.
