Fana Café: A culinary revival on Niue’s shores to honour tradition

A small yet charming café in Niue is winning the hearts of locals and tourists alike.

Fana Café, operated by 41-year-old Niuean Chris Skinner and his family, brings 23 years of culinary experience from abroad to the small Pacific island nation.

Skinner returned to Niue with his wife and son five years ago to fulfil his dream of opening a café.

“I started in New Zealand, in Auckland, in Newmarket, and then moved out to the wineries in Kumeū, over to Waiheke, and then on to some cruise ships and worked with the Michelin star chef for a while,” he told PMN Niue’s Faama Viliamu.

“And then moved to Perth, where we spent about 14 years. That was where I became a head chef for the first time and carried on that for about 10 years over there.”

Ultimately, Skinner realised he wanted to teach his son about his culture.”

While his immense experience in Aotearoa and Australia has refined his culinary skills, Skinner shares with Viliamu that he returned to Niue to be with his son.

“We were in Australia, and we were singing the Australian anthem at his school, and it clicked in my head one day that I needed to come home and teach him his culture.”

Since opening during the Covid-19 pandemic, Fana Café has survived and thrived, with locals eager to taste dishes that blend international techniques with island flavours.

Fana Café infuses local food such as breadfruit, fresh fish, and produce into its unique dishes that keep its attraction alive. Photo/Chris Skinner

“I feel when Fana opened, it raised the bar of the Niue food eateries,” Skinner says.

“I think they had nothing to gauge off before we had arrived, and I feel that everything has improved since we have come.”

Skinner acknowledges the challenges posed by Niue's limited labour force and population but expresses appreciation for his small yet dedicated team, which supports the growth of the humble café.

“As far as business moves forward, I want to do more, but staffing is the hardest. We just don’t have the people here that we need.

“We don’t have the population in order to keep growing, which is the hard part for me.”

Skinner has a clear message for aspiring entrepreneurs, especially Niueans living abroad.

“The ups and downs of setting up a business in Niue, you just have to be respectful here. You’ve got to put in your groundwork and support everyone.

“There’s only so much you can receive here, but it’s what you give back is what you receive, and that’s a big part of Niue.

Chris Skinner's son (left) and Clifford Marsh (right) posing with their big catch of the day ready for Fana Café's exquisite dishes. Photo/Chris Skinner.

“If you are a part of the community and help as much as you can and give back, it will be full circle.”

Skinner commends those who have contributed to laying the foundation for his business in Niue.

"Big shout out to my Niue team mates and brothers who came through when I needed them! Apollo Poitoa, Adam Faitala, Cliff Tuatuki, and Dave Ulukita. I took a risk knowing these dudes had my back," Skinner says.

With four successful years behind him and a deep gratitude for the community surrounding him, Skinner is not just feeding Niue but is also helping rediscover the island’s unique flavours.

This is a BBQ bacon beef burger. One of the local favourites is Fana Mac-Friday, an imitation of McDonald's Big Mac but locally made on Fridays only. Photo/Chris Skinner

Niue marks milestone

Air New Zealand has completed its first commercial night-time departure from Niue since 2013, marking an important step in the island nation's aviation capabilities.

The Niue government reported that Flight NZ936 was scheduled to leave Auckland at 9am, NZ time, over a week ago, but severe weather conditions caused by Cyclone Tam in New Zealand delayed the flight.

The flight arrived in Alofi at 5.55pm, local time, which was too late for a same-day daylight turnaround, making the night departure necessary.

Locals waiting for their families and friends to arrive from the flight at Niue's Hannan International Airport. Photo/PMN News/Sariah Magaoa

The government states that the change will make flying to and from Niue easier and more reliable, benefiting both locals and visitors.

It adds that Niueans can now look forward to the opportunities brought by this milestone, which include increased connectivity, greater tourism, and long-term economic benefits for the Pacific island nation.

Watch Chris Skinner's full interview here.