Islandliving pacifi c from the editor
WINTER 2017 | ISSUE 20
t a e r g The cape es
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ext issue, we will be celebrating four years of Pacific Island Living. We started this magazine for Pacific people – to find, review and recommend things to see and do, and ultimately, buy. We are proudly an aspirational magazine, we want our readers to sit back and indulge just as much as we want to tell the world how great the Pacific really is. From Georgie Gordon’s health and beauty columns, to Carolyn Ernst’s gardening tips, we hope you agree Pacific Island Living has something for everyone. In four years our market has grown from Vanuatu and Nauru Airlines to cover most of the Pacific. We’re particularly proud of our market share in Fiji and the Solomon Islands as well as our distribution in Australia through Qantas Club lounges. As I write this column I’m in Fiji, having just flown in from Vanuatu. Next month it will be Nauru then the Sollies. Pacific Island Living truly is a Pacific magazine and we’re so pleased you have enjoyed it and helped its growth over the last four years. Please do keep in touch via our website, Facebook page, Instagram or Twitter. Happy reading. Tiffany Carroll
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and Instagram at instagram.com/pacisliving or read this and all our magazines online at www.pacific-island-living. com Cover images - Fiji Island Living courtesy Adrenalin Fiji; Solomon Island Living, by David Kirkland; Nauru Airlines Cover courtesy Nautilus Resort, Kosrae; Vanuatu cover courtesy Pavol Stranák. Copyright: All rights reserved. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced without the permission of the publisher. Articles express the opinions of the author and not necessarily those of Nauru Airlines, Tourism Fiji, Vanuatu Tourism Office or Pacific Island Living.
GAME FISHING | DINING | COOKING TIMEOUT | PLUS FOOD | FASHION BEAUTY | HEALTH | DECOR islandliving | 1 pacific
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PICTURE: Sunset from Villa 25 by Valerie Martinez.
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Welcome m a k l e W Bienvenue
t is my pleasure to welcome visitors to Vanuatu. This issue of Pacific Island Living features stories on what to see and do, for the young and the young-at -heart.There’s also a feature on what to do without the kids, and let me tell you, Vanuatu has much to offer. From game fishing (we have some of the best sport and game fishing operators in the Pacific), to a round of golf, a long lunch or a cultural tour, we have something special to offer all our visitors. As we approach our ‘dry season’, visitors will enjoy cool evenings and warm days – perfect for lazing by a pool or on a gorgeous white sand beach (check out Eton or Honeymoon Beach in Vila; Champagne or Port Olry beach in Santo and Port Resolution in Tanna to name a few), or spend some time
at our fabulous markets where our organic fresh fruit and vegetables are not only plentiful but cheap and so good for you! Feel free to call in to our office to see any one of the Vanuatu Tourism Office team to help arrange your perfect day in paradise. Welkam and lukim yu! Adela Issachar Aru. GM, Vanuatu Tourism Office.
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out and about
Tours, Tips andanTrips uatu V n i o d What to
Vanuatu is all about being laid back and relaxed, or equally, getting out and about and enjoying the vast number of activities on offer.
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HIDEAWAY ISLAND Hideaway Island Resort and Marine Sanctuary is set on a small coral island in Mele bay with fantastic snorkeling and diving. It’s probably one of Vanuatu’s most iconic images, chances are you’ve seen it on a postcard or flown over it on your way to Port Vila. Home to the world’s first underwater post office, the protected marine sanctuary is a diver’s paradise. Not only do their PADI Instructors teach all levels of courses from a basic Discover Scuba through to Master Scuba Diver and all speciality courses as well, Hideaway has that truly great post-dive atmosphere too. There’s not a lot better than coming back from a great dive, enjoying a beer or cocktail on the beach and watching the
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sun go down. At Hideaway you can do all this and enjoy delicious meal as well. Hideaway Island has recently been recognised by PADI Asia Pacific for 20 years outstanding service. They operate three dives a day and night dives on Wednesdays and Saturdays, so why not come on over and talk to Wills and Kevin (pictured above) and get into diving? Hideaway Island Resort welcomes day visitors to Vanuatu 365 days a year. A nominal fee is payable and snorkel gear is available. Our tip – go for lunch and have their famous chicken curry. Hideaway Island Resort is 10 minutes from Port Vila, with a free ferry operating from the mainland 24 hours a day.
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TUSKER TIME Vanuatu’s favourite beer, Tusker has rebranded and expanded their range after being the market leader since 1990. The new branding reflects Tusker’s proud connection to Vanuatu and coincides with an expansion and more Tusker products now available. Tusker was first made from a recipe created by a Swedish master brewer nearly 30 years ago. Since then, Vanuatu’s favourite beer has won many international awards. “This year Tusker wanted to refresh the image of its products,” the national brewery said. The new range of Tusker includes the recently launched Tusker Premium Beer large format, (650 ml)
which is the first of its kind in the market of Vanuatu. The idea of this larger bottle comes from a spirit of sharing, the brewery says. “Tusker is a light tasting beer and thanks to the flavour it can be enjoyed between friends in front of a football game or during a party.” Also in the range is the staple, Tusker Premium Beer in 330ml bottles or cans, this iconic beer is the most popular in Vanuatu. Made with South Pacific hops, the result is a naturally low carbohydrate beer, with a light texture. The Tusker family also includes Tusker OP, with an alcohol content of 7%; Tusker Lemon which is prepared with, you guessed it, lemon as well as the
Vanuatu has 83 islands, with the main tourism on Efaté (Port Vila), Tanna and Espiritu Santo. Here’s our pick of things to see and do, buy and drink to get you started.
Try one of our many fantastic restaurants, go shopping, go fishing or hire a car and explore the island.
best malt and hops. Tusker Lemon was specially crafted with the tropics in mind. It’s ideal for moments of relaxation – under the sun at the beach, in a cafe, or restaurant. Finally Tusker Bitter, as the name indicates, is Tusker’s answer to VB. The Tusker Bitter is a great option if you like something strong and to challenge your taste buds. Tusker is available throughout Vanuatu, at supermarkets, restaurants, bars, hotels and nakamals. Do remember on weekends after Saturday lunch, you cannot buy alcohol retail – only at licensed restaurants and bars. In Vanuatu we say ‘mi wantem Tusker’ – we’re sure you will too.
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Etam Lingerie, swimwear, ready-to-wear, shoes, hand bags, sleepwear, jeans, dresses and much more. Etam, the European chain store is located opposite the Anchor Inn in Port Vila. By far one of the best places to shop in town, call in to try or buy the latest designs from Europe. Etam regularly has sales and not only has a great selection of clothes, it is also home to the retail store of local artist Marie St Hilaire. Marie makes her own kilmdried pottery at her home gallery outside Port Vila and showcases her latest range at Etam. Most of Marie’s creations are many months in the making - ensuring a long lasting memory of Vanuatu.
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WATERSIDE DINING Le Cafe du Village restaurant and bar just keeps getting better and better. Since new owner Simon Troman took the reigns over a year ago, this Mediterranean-style Port Vila institution which has enjoyed pride of place on the harbourfront opposite Iririki Island for many years has become one of Port Vila’s best dining experiences. The location is stunning with an absolute waterfront position which also serves as a wharf from which the Meridian sunset cruise departs each evening. The menu retains a number of old favourites including the entree seafood chowder with crusty bread, there’s also a Spanish
seafood soup with aioli and garlic toast and a few Asian goodies too, like pork and prawn spring rolls and Thai beef salad. Happy Hour is on weekdays-only from 5pm to 6pm and there’s a VT1,000 lunch special (Fish and Chips, Burger and Chips, Calamari and Salad ) on weekdays as well. Cafe du Village also hosts a Village Market – a garage sale every first Sunday of the month from 8am 11am. Dont forget they have coconut crabs (when in season) and losbter – straight out of their cage in the harbour. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner from 8am until late – Tuesday to Sunday. Call for reservations +678 27789.
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peanut fever
Nuts for Tanna Renowned cook at restauranteur Francesca Grillo from Francesca’s Beach Club at Havannah Harbour took time out to explore Tanna and it’s endless peanut patches.
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idely grown in Vanuatu, peanuts are in fact a legume commonly related to the family of beans and peas, however they are similar in taste and nutritional profile to tree nuts such as walnuts and almonds but the peanuts pods develop underground like a root. Peas or nuts, peanuts are surely delicious, highly nutritious, rich in proteins, vitamins, minerals and dietary fibre as well as widely used for their fabulous oil and addictive butter or as a crunchy snack and an addition to salads, vegetables and sweets. I recently spent a week at Whitegrass Ocean Resort in Tanna with my dear friend and passionate cook Sabine, learning and cooking with the locally grown peanuts and the fabulous peanut butter (who doesn’t like peanut butter?) from Tanna Farms. The island of Tanna is famous for its active volcano, Mount Yasur, and now even more so after an Oscar nomination for the extraordinary movie ‘Tanna’, however there is much more on offer for lucky visitors. While on our ‘peanut mission’ around Tanna island, Sabine and I spotted innumerable patches of peanut plants even at the custom village of Yakel where the movie was filmed, the forest fairy munchkins are running around peanut fields and chewing the nuts avidly with their charming grins. Market stalls abound with freshly picked peanuts in bunches and luckily for us, we
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had plenty of fresh produce to work with for our recipes. Here’s one of my favourties:
Pecel
Ingredients: Sauce 200g fried peanuts; 4 cloves garlic; 2 red chillies, seeded, chopped and fried; 3cm piece of galangal or ginger peeled and grated; 7 kaffir lime leaves chopped; ½ tsp shrimp paste; ½ tsp tamarind paste;1 tsp palm sugar;1 tblsp soy sauce; ½ tsp sesame oil; 100ml warm water. Vegetables 300g Choy Sum (Chinese vegetable with green thin stem and yellow flowers); 2 tblsp olive oil; salt and pepper to taste Preparation Coarsely blend the peanuts and set aside. Grind or blend all other ingredients to a paste, adding water little by little adjusting the consistency to a smooth sauce – add more if necessary according to taste. Add peanuts to the sauce and set aside. Boil or simmer vegetables until softened but still bright green and crunchy and toss them in a pan over high heat with olive oil and seasoning for a minute then arrange on a plate and pour the peanut sauce over them to serve. BUON APPETTITO
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