Vox Pop
WORD ON THE STREET BY MARY ASEARI
What food reminds you of home? VICTOR GAMINI 21, marketing director, Oro
The food that reminds me of home is fish. Growing up in the coastal area of PNG, fish was a staple protein for many of us. Every time I get the chance to eat fish, it brings back childhood memories, and of course home.
NAPHTALI ALU 51, foreman, Central
CHRISTINA STEVEN 23, self-employed, Southern Highlands
Mumu kaikai reminds me of home. Mumu is a traditional way of cooking vegetables in a pit with hot stones. This way of cooking is mostly done in the highlands region of PNG. When I see people cooking sweet potatoes and pork in a pot in the city it reminds me of my village and of how we used to do mumu. But I think mumu from a pit with hot stones is more delicious than from a pot.
For me, the food that reminds me of home is mango. I have fond memories of being a boy, climbing mango trees in the village with my mates. We would enjoy a sweet juicy mango on sunny days.
FRANCESCA FUALE 49, teacher, Sandaun
As a proud woman from the Sandaun Province, the food that reminds me of home is one that is synonymous with the Sepik region, and that is nangu. Nangu is a traditional dish that is made from mixing sago with water to make a porridgelike mixture. My favourite is nangu dipped in chicken or fish soup. One taste and I’m back home in my mum’s haus kuk, watching her cook this beautiful meal. 10 PNG NOW APRIL/MAY 2022
JEANELE EWANDE 21, student, Kentucky, US
The food that reminds me of home is aibika greased in heavy coconut cream, with chicken and vegetables like taro and banana. This is the type of food that my whole family contributes to cooking on Sundays. Most Sundays we’d drive to Erap to visit my dad’s younger brother and his family, where we’d cook the food. Erap is filled with the ingredients needed for this dish. It’s a dish that brings the whole family together. I miss it.
