Naturally, we needed to ask about their favourite meals from their tradition! Here is what they needed to say:
“Oh my god, I am actually lacking Tongan meals proper now. My household are continuously like, ‘Oh, we’re at this perform,’ and sending me images. Ota ika [raw fish in coconut cream] is superb. I like it. I am in Mexico Metropolis proper now, so I am simply consuming ceviche, like, ‘It is virtually the identical.’ I really like tapioca. I really like lu sipi [lamb, onion, and coconut cream wrapped in taro leaves]. It is humorous, I used to be vegan for 2 years [laughs] my household would make me a vegan model. However now I am again to consuming meat, I am absolutely again into that. My auntie makes this superb Fijian curry. It is bomb. It is my favourite.”
“Inexperienced pāua [abalone] and kina [sea urchin]. Equal. I did not like kina that a lot after I was rising up, after which within the final 20 years, it is change into an obsession.”
“Fa’i [green bananas]. I’d say I am a fa’i lover. Now, do I would like all the fixings with it? No, I like my fa’i plain, and I do know that is so controversial; I do not care. Additionally palusami [coconut cream wrapped in taro leaves]. My two faves.”
“My go-to conventional Hawaiian plate can be lau lau, kalua pig, some rice, lomi salmon, and I am good. Ooh and a few poi.”
5.
Oscar Kightley (Samoan)
“Properly, this is not truly Samoan [laughs] however rising up — do you get corned beef within the States? Pisupo? It is like a forex. My favourite rising up was pisupo and rice, just about something with rice. I like it all. We have now our personal soul meals. I really like that idea of soul meals as a result of meals is definitely so essential to us as nicely. But when I needed to choose one, it will be oka, uncooked fish and coconut cream.”
“Properly [laughs] after I go residence, my whanau or my household say that I am hopeless as a result of I do not eat meat. So, a boil up, which might be extremely good for you as a result of it’s all the bones and the meat and the watercress, nevertheless it’s not a meals I eat. I do like fry bread, although. With numerous butter, incredible.”
7.
Alex Tarrant (Māori, Samoan, and Niuean)
“Oh, man. For meals, I really like palusami. And if it is dessert — I do not even know if I can name it dessert — however panipopo [coconut buns].”
“It is onerous to decide on one factor. I used to be in Utah not too way back, and I went to Pacific Seas, off of Redwood. That is the very first thing I wished after I landed, Tongan meals. So I get there, and the very first thing I say I would like on my plate is lu sipi. It is just like the Samoan palusami. Tongans, we like including extra, we’re somewhat additional. Taro leaves, you will have meat in there, you’ll be able to have corned beef in there, or sipi, lamb, coconut milk and onions and all that.”
9.
And at last, Uli Latukefu (Tongan)
“Lu sipi, manioke, octopus/feke, I like all of it. If I might have it each Sunday, I’d.”