Agrotourism
Chefs for Development
Robert Oliver, Chef, New Zealand
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Robert Oliver Enterprises LLC
Chefs for Development is an online community for chefs in the
worlds tropical regions- the Caribbean, the Indian Ocean and the
South Pacific. A place for them to share successes and challenges,
to share recipes, to commune with their counterparts in the other
oceans.When many of us think about the South Pacific, the Caribbean
or the Indian Ocean, we think romantically of sparking islands with
swaying palms; perfect jewels in turquoise blue oceans. This is
where we go to unwind, to experience natural perfection.All three
regions are comprised of islands whose chief industry is tourism.
Chefs play a significant role in these islands. It is the chefs who
decide whether the menus are locally supplied, thereby supporting
local farmers, or based on imported products, sending valuable
prosperity offshore.In all 3 regions, a group of chefs are emerging
who are committed to their nations above and beyond the usual day
to day of menus and cooking. These are chefs whose work goes beyond
the kitchen and into the greater good of their nation; these are
Chefs for Development2
Philosophy
Where the cuisine goes, the agriculture followsWhen many of us
think about the South Pacific, the Caribbean or the Indian Ocean,
we think romantically of sparking islands with swaying palms;
perfect jewels in turquoise blue oceans. This is where we go to
unwind, to experience natural perfection.All three regions are
comprised of islands whose chief industry is tourism. Chefs play a
significant role in these islands. It is the chefs who decide
whether the menus are locally supplied, thereby supporting local
farmers, or based on imported products, sending valuable prosperity
offshore.
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MissionShare lessons learned Share recipes Share information on
resources and possible partnerships with development agencies and
governmentsLinks to relevant global cuisine initiatives and
movementsShowcase chefs who are pioneering the development
approachProfile local cuisine heroesProfile farmer heroesDetail
specific information about local cropsA calendar of regional food
festivalsOpportunities for culinary trainingCreate a link within
the website for contributorsLink to current relevant mediaLinks to
relevant social media
Overall- the website is to be developed and promoted as a a
community portal and storytelling portal specifically for chefs in
the development zones: the Pacific, the Caribbean and the Indian
Ocean. The site should dynamic, conversational, topical, and
informative and be a on-going repository for chefs across the
regions and the world.
Recipes
Chefs AssociationsNo regional entityFiji, Vanuatu, SamoaChannels
to chefsChannel creativityPacific versions could include
farmersWhat do they need?
association
Robert Oliver Enterprises LLC
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GlossaryRobert Oliver Enterprises LLC
Rainal Sahai, Fiji
Robert Oliver Enterprises LLC
Chefs ProfilesSamoa, Fiji, Haiti, Barbados and more
Dora Rossi, Samoa
Shailesh Naidu, Fiji
Jesse Lee, Samoa
What do they have in common?Local cuisine advocatesVested in
their communities and countriesSee it as more than just a
jobAwareness of the power of cuisineDont seek the limelight
Robert Oliver Enterprises LLC
Celebration of culture- soul foodHow we build relationships,
offer love, shareAn expression of earth and sea around usIndigenous
cuisine is the key to good healthDestination brandMai na koroThe
hottest thing on TV right now
Cuisine is not just FOOD
The Story of the food is the story of the People
To us - food mediates relationships, facilitates health,
celebrates life and its achievements, defines identity, identifies
culture and links us closely to the earth that gave birth to us.
Therefore to offer our cuisine to the tourists who are visitors to
our land makes our hospitality to them more whole. In the modern
world it of course includes the stimulation of our economy as more
of tourists money is channelled to local farmers, local
transporters, and local food processors
Suliana Siwatibau, organic farmer, icon.
Next Steps
Traditional cultural information from all 3 regions on dishes
and crops is gatheredStories and content from the Caribbean and
Indian Ocean is developedA youtube channel or the like is created
and populated to include recipes and stories from hero chefs and
farmersMore discussion re: community forum structure and capacity.
This could also be used to gather pertinent survey information for
CTA
Books and television media
Entertain
to
Educate
In 2014 our second book about Samoa- written at the request of
the PM of Samoa- also won a Gourmand Award for Best TV Chef
Cookbook in the world. There is clearly an appetite out there for
our stories- and for South Pacific CuisineSo hotStory,
storytellerWibi f to tableSo this is about the economic potential
of the cuisinebut what has most emerged for me is the issue of
Pacific health.
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Real Pasifik
The power of cuisine model was so successful as a book, we made
a TV series across the Pacific with chefs as cuisine ambassadors-
Real Pasifik, many of you would have seen it. Heres a brief clip
that explains our approach19
