Saletoga takes top honour

By Vatapuia Maiava 19 August 2016, 12:00AM

The New Zealand/Samoa Friendship Week Restaurant Challenge ended last night with the Saletoga Sand Resort winning the competition their slow roasted Kiwi duck served with breadfruit hash dish.

A prize giving ceremony held at the New Zealand High Commission residence at Letava saw the winners being announced and congratulated.

The Minister of Tourism, Sala Fata Pinati, Samoa Tourism Authority C.E.O, Papali’i Sonja Hunter joined the Samoa Culinary Association, Samoa Hotels Association, restaurant owners and chefs to celebrate.

Between the 5th and the 15th of August, participating restaurants put up new dishes for judging; the dishes had to fuse both New Zealand and Samoan ingredients.

“This event is all about the growth of tourism,” said New Zealand High Commissioner, Jackie Frizelle.

“The story of the friendship restaurant week goes back a fair way; you could say it goes back 55 years because the friendship that we’re talking about is the treaty of friendship that was signed by New Zealand and Samoa 55 years ago.”

According to Mrs. Frizelle, the Challenge has grown over the years.

“The first year that we had the Restaurant challenge was during the 50th year of celebration of the treaty; now when it was first started it was a one off idea,” she said.

“It was something to celebrate that particular year; but there was so much interest and enthusiasm around it that we thought we would give it another go. And so it grew and it grew and it grew and now after five year I think it has developed a huge life on its own.

“It’s come into its own; the quality of the food, the number of participating restaurants the experience the people are gaining; it has really turned into a huge event… it’s fantastic.”

Along with the growth of the competition, the quality of the dishes have improved vastly.

“I do think the quality of food, the fabulous innovatively interesting ideas that has been put on the plates has changed over time,” Mrs. Frizelle said.

“We’ve seen Samoa turning into a foodie’s destination; this year is special because it marks the first year that we’ve included a few café’s and the first year that we’ve had a restaurant from Savaii.”

Mrs. Frizelle also shared her appreciation for everyone who helped keep the restaurant challenge running.

“I would like to thank everyone who took place in this,” she said.

“I managed to taste only a few dishes and I was really blown away by how creative they were and the incredible taste sensations.

“I would also like to acknowledge the waiting staff who did a great job; often in explaining the dish and presenting it.

“I would like to thank the sponsors of this event who have so readily supported this yet again; most of them also supported us last year.

“We appreciate the help from Lucky Foodtown, Farmer Joe, Samoa Meat Supplies, Niu Sina, Digicel, Air  New Zealand, Toa Gas, Samoa Tourism Authority  and of course the Samoa Culinary Association.

“I would also like to give a huge thank you to the judges; I had a little chat with them just before and they were literally misty eyed with the experience so it must have been an amazing experience for all of them.”

And with the curtains closing on this year’s challenge, all eyes are eager to see what next year has in stall for everyone.

“So we are looking forward to next year’s challenge and we’re open to ideas,” Mrs. Frizelle said.

“I have heard one already which is a healthy choice award for next year; we will again challenge chefs to create more wonderful and tasty dishes so we can turn this into a fabulous tourism destination for Samoa.”

But for the happy owners of the Saletoga Sand Resort, Gavin and Lou Brightwell; winning the overall award came as a major shock.

“We are feeling pretty shocked and happy,” Mr. Brightwell told Samoa Observer. “We have entered this competition three times now; the first year when we were only open for a few months and we won the best service award which was amazing.”

“Last year we entered and won the most Innovative and skill award and now for us to win the overall award this is just amazing.

“We know it was a very hard competition with these new resorts now here with their top overseas chef and we are happy that we won with a local chef with a little bit of help with our other chef from Fiji.”

“I have to give a lot of this to Lou who comes from a culinary background and she put a lot into it too; we are also proud of our staff; our chefs and our service staff.”

Awards:

Overall Winner: Saletoga Sand Resort

Best New Entrants: Legends Café and Amoa Resort

Best Service: Seabreeze Resort

Best Innovative and Skill: Roko’s Restaurant

By Vatapuia Maiava 19 August 2016, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

Upgrade to Premium

Subscribe to
Samoa Observer Online

Enjoy unlimited access to all our articles on any device + free trial to e-Edition. You can cancel anytime.

>