Day 64: Pacific Seas Restaurant & Market, Salt Lake City, Utah

📌APIA Every Day (64) - The Pacific Seas Restaurant and Market, situated in the Glendale neighborhood of Salt Lake City, has emerged as a popular destination for Pacific Islander cuisine in Utah. Managed by the Lavulo family for over 28 years, this restaurant offers a taste of Tongan dishes. David Lavulo, the restaurant's owner, left Tonga in 1968 to study in Fiji, later moving to the U.S. and settling in San Francisco. After five years, he and his wife, Leti Lavulo, relocated to Utah, drawn by the area’s slower-paced lifestyle. They eventually established the Pacific Seas Restaurant and Market, with the desire to serve the local Pacific Islander community.

The restaurant's casual and family-friendly atmosphere, coupled with a menu featuring a Tongan and American cuisine, has significantly contributed to its success. Regular customers visit the establishment, enjoying their meals surrounded by Tongan-inspired decorations, as seen by the Tongan athlete photos that adorn the restaurant’s walls. The Lavulo family places a strong emphasis on fresh, daily cooking, sourcing ingredients from various countries.

The Pacific Seas Restaurant and Market has evolved into a popular community gathering spot, serving as a venue that exemplifies the cultural significance of food in Pacific Islander communities. Expressed by Feltch-Malohifo’ou, the executive director of Pacific Islanders Knowledge 2 Action Resources (PIK2AR), “Food is love in the Pacific Islands culture, and it shows in everything from the food to the services.”

LEARN MORE:

Voices of Utah: “Food is love” at the Pacific Seas Restaurant and Market in Salt Lake City

Voices of Utah: Pacific Islander cuisine and the impact of colonization

Facebook: Pacific Seas Restaurant 

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