A former New Zealand chef with Cook Islands roots returned home over a decade ago to care for his aging parents.

While on the island, he opened up the Baby Pancakes business and little did he know that his humble business would become the primary source of income for his family.

Dion Teau, a chef by trade who started his career in New Zealand, is now known for his baby pancake business, which attracts hundreds of customers island-wide at their hut in the Punanga Nui Market on weekends.

“I’ve been doing it for about 10 to 12 years now, started back at the 50^th anniversary (Te Maeva Nui). Before that, I came back from New Zealand and that's when I started at the Trade Days, our first event (where) we did,” he said.

“We live off it! That's my main job and it's been good, I'm so happy I did that and I don't have to work for anybody else.”

Teau said he set up the business in New Zealand about four years prior to moving to Rarotonga.

“I decided I wanted to come back as mom and dad are getting older now, I just wanted to spend time with them so we got everything out of New Zealand, came here, set up the business and it's been awesome,” he said.

“I think in the beginning, it was getting people used to the product which took a while but as the months and years go by, people started to know and then gradually business got better and better.”

Teau emphasised that his baby pancakes business is now more cost-effective than operating in New Zealand. While store fees for night markets in New Zealand range from $150 to $200 per night, he pays only $15 in the Cook Islands.

Being a chef by trade since 1991, Teau said he now makes more money through his Baby Pancakes business than he did as a chef.

“I like this market life it's much easier on my family and better money financially, you are your own boss,” he said.

The Baby Pancakes are selling at the Cook Islands Games.