The Pacific Island Food Revolution has introduced a new cookbook at the EDEN restaurant in Samabula on Wednesday evening, coinciding with its global TV series. Titled “Eat Pacific,” the cookbook is curated by the acclaimed chef and host Robert Oliver.
The foreword is penned by Her Royal Highness Princess Salote Mafile’u Pilolevu Tuita, the Princess Royal of Tonga. She emphasized the importance of safeguarding the region’s natural produce, stating, “We are admired around the globe for our pristine region and the bountiful harvests that our forebears cherished and sustained. I urge you all to take this to heart, to protect the produce of our land and sea that is our inheritance.”
With over 400 pages, the cookbook showcases vibrant recipes from Fiji and various other Pacific islands. It draws inspiration from the TV series, now in its third season. In his speech, Mr. Oliver spoke of the potential of Pacific island cuisine, likening it to the culinary success of countries like Thailand, where food is integral to the economy and national identity.
Deputy Speaker of Parliament Lenora Qereqeretabua praised Mr. Oliver for his contributions. She expressed her pride when the series first aired, noting that it highlighted the region’s culinary heritage on international television. She also mentioned that the cooking challenges presented in the show address ongoing issues in the region, particularly the rise of non-communicable diseases linked to replacing traditional foods with processed alternatives.
Copies of the “Eat Pacific” cookbook are now available at Baka Bookstore on McGregor Road in Suva, with plans for it to also be stocked at the University of the South Pacific Bookshop soon.