The Pacific Island Food Revolution has unveiled a new cookbook titled “Eat Pacific” during an event at EDEN restaurant in Samabula on Wednesday evening. The cookbook is curated by renowned chef and television host Robert Oliver, who also leads the Pacific Island Food Revolution series.
The foreword of the cookbook is penned by Her Royal Highness Princess Salote Mafile’u Pilolevu Tuita of Tonga. In her message, she emphasized the global admiration for the Pacific region and its rich harvests, urging people to safeguard the produce from their land and sea, which she described as an inheritance.
Encompassing over 400 pages, the cookbook features a collection of vibrant recipes from Fiji and various Pacific islands, inspired by the successful TV series, currently in its third season. In his address, Oliver underscored the significance of Pacific island cuisine and its motivation for publishing the cookbook.
“The essence of this initiative is to showcase the immense potential of Pacific food. Consider Thailand, where food underscores everything; it influences the economy and national identity, spanning from upscale restaurants to street vendors. That is the opportunity I envision for the Pacific,” he stated.
Lenora Qereqeretabua, Deputy Speaker of Parliament, commended Oliver’s efforts. She reflected on her pride when the TV series first aired, highlighting how it showcased the region’s culinary heritage on an international platform.
She noted that the cooking challenges presented in the show addressed pressing issues in the region, many of which persist today. “We are combating the rise of non-communicable diseases as traditional foods are increasingly replaced by processed alternatives,” Qereqeretabua remarked, warning that Pacific communities risk becoming victims of this processed food trend.
The “Eat Pacific” cookbook is now available for purchase at Baka Bookstore on McGregor Road in Suva, and it will soon be stocked at the University of the South Pacific Bookshop.