New Zealand-based celebrity chef Colin Chung is teaching a group of local and experienced Pacific chefs how to use local produce and ingredients to make internationally attractive cuisines.
Chung has assisted many of the world's most famous hotel brands with their operations, whilst cooking for some of the globe's most famous names - think Nicole Kidman, The Rolling Stones and Justin Timberlake.
This week he is in Samoa conducting the training in the 2nd Pacific Agribusiness Forum.
The chefs will be preparing a four course meal for a banquet that will be held at Tanoa Tusitala Hotel tomorrow night.
“I don’t want to see any potatoes because it isn’t local. There are so many ways to make internationally contemporary cuisines using local ingredients while at the same time making a stance in what Pacific island food looks like,” said Chung.
The chef turned caterer is working with another celebrity chef Robert Oliver to deliver the training.
Whatever the assignment, Chung takes it all in his stride, bringing his trademark Pan-Asian flavours and the gracious hospitality of his Hawaiian heritage to everything he does.
“You aren’t helping your country if you bring in tourists to Samoa and then when they sit down and eat they see the same foods they eat in where they are from,” he added.
“That doesn’t make any sense, you import the food to serve to the same people that are coming into your country. It doesn’t help your farmers, your neighbors, or yourselves, so why import when you have all these local producers in the islands than can supply your restaurants,” added Chung.
He says Samoa experiences a very common problem which hinders culinary programmes.
“You have to share the knowledge. Many of us like to say I know more than you and I can cook more than you without knowing that they are thinking locally. But you have to think global,” he added.
“Samoan chefs have to be connected and help each other reach a high level in cooking and creativity. It’s good to compete, but to compete with other countries in the region, because it’s now the food that attracts the tourists knowing who your competition is, is very important,” said Chung.