Food for Thought

Visiting Kiwi chef, Paul Sadlier, a New Zealand Maori of Ngati Porou, Te Rarawa ki Hokianga descent, who was employed as a team leader for renowned airline catering service, L.S.G, gives forth his lively testimony on the agonies and the ecstasies of the local produce and the culinary delight that is Rarotonga.

Firstly, it has been my great honour and privilege to have assisted such a noteworthy international company. The standard of hygiene, work ethic, the professionalism of the staff are on par and often exceeding even some of the very finest institutions I have worked for to date. I’d like to thank Theresa Noovao, who in all her wisdom placed me at L.S.G. Also to John Taripo, my boss who was a powerhouse of stamina, humour and authority when we all craved much needed morale. What a character.
Billy T .James sit this one out. And to the A Team (night shift), the full-time B Team (day shift), to all the volunteers, drivers, hospitality students and supporters, Meitaki ma’ ata, e tano e, nunui rawa kia koutou katoa.
Although the Pacific Mini Games was on show for all, in some ways I feel it was upstaged by the local produce. A stunning variety of local fruit and vegetables.
Tomatoes as big as coconuts. Well not exactly, but you wouldn’t be holding many tomatoes by weight per coconut. And they’re juicy on this sun blessed tropical island and full of a subtle yet splendid flavour. When I was slicing tomato wedges it was like segmenting a water melon, which are the size of small meteorites. Well if that’s not true, then am I actually being misleading. The water-logged melons, crisp, sweet as sugar and ripe beyond all doubt. Pawpaws the size of large rugby balls ought to help the game out with their pungent scent and kiss of promise that will leave you lost for words or swaying like a lonely palm in the breeze. Crunchy lettuce with it’s ears ripped off ready to rinse as a base for a small banquet. The honey dew that smelled and tasted just like honey. Strangely enough the coconuts were normal size.
The kaliedscope of food is staggering. The fish that graced the ika mata hit me like David Tua, but it went down and stayed down like Shane Cameron. It was marinated to perfection with that punch of lemon and a thankful slapping of coconut cream.
The palusami that has odds on that you can’t eat the whole plate. The chop suey that’s worth fighting Bruce Lee for meat that tastes like meat. All the sea food that was ever edible. Brilliant cooking that had me going back for more and more, long after my heart murmur had passed and my mouth had switched to automatic. I felt like Santa and his sack of presents.
To the people of Rarotonga, the men and most importantly the women, thanks for the laughter, the love, friendship, peace, strength and our united sympathy for our cousins in Samoa To our dead overseas and at home I say haere ra.
Farewell to those who have left us, for we all seek our waka in the great beyond.
To the extended family of the Pacific who shared their mana and glory with us during The 2009 Pacific Mini Games here in Rarotonga I say well done one and all, you all deserve a gold medal. And to all the women of all the islands I say that the next dance with you will be forever. I leave Hawaiki now with a heavy heart but a legacy of hope and peace.
Ka tangi te titi,
Ka tangi te kaka,
Ka tangi hoki ahau.

The titi cries,
The kaka cries,
So I must also cry
He aha te mea nui, he tangata, he tangata, he tangata.
What is the most important thing? It is people, it is people, it is people.

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