Traditional Sapasui, Samoan Chop Suey

Photo c/o RMO

"From the mountains flow the blessings to the village" (Samoan proverb). Schools in Aotearoa New Zealand this week are celebrating Samoan Language Week. Our college celebrates the week by starting with a school assembly in the hall. Each day, a different aspect of Samoan language and culture are featured: music, dance, arts, language, and food among many other aspects. The college has a huge number of students and staff who are of Samoan descent. For today’s free school lunches, we’re having Samoan Chop Suey also known as Sapasui. I’m curious as to what are the ingredients, are they like the Filipino version?

This is an island favourite! Ingredients are choice of beef, chicken or pork, vermicelli noodles, garlic, ginger, mushroom soy sauce, and a bit of cabbage. This is a simple recipe with easy to make steps. There are heaps of similarities with our dish though. The slight difference is our way of using soy sauce and patis instead of mushroom soy sauce. Taste wise, they nearly taste the same. Just like Pinoys, Samoans also don’t cut their noodles. Pinoys do so because the noodles are equated to long-life and cutting them might shorten that life. I guess Samoans might have similar reasons.

The use of food during language weeks is a great way of expanding what could be called as culinary diplomacy. We share food with friends and family, and sharing a meal with strangers would be a game-changer in terms of relationships, both personal and professional. Countries and people can benefit heaps from the simple exchange of a meal.

It's nearly winter in the Southern Hemisphere

Photo c/o RMO

"One kind word can warm three winter months" (Winter quote). Our winter in Aotearoa New Zealand stretches from June to August. I was in Palmerston North over the weekend filming a fashion show. But that will be for another blog post soon. Sunday, I took the road less travelled when I rode the bus from Palmerston North to Manukau, via the scenic route of Whanganui. It was an eventful 11-hour trip, passing through the quaint towns in the western side of the Central North Island. I was able to have a glimpse of the mystical Mount Ruapehu, reminding me of the winter that’s coming. I’ve always had a personal and intimate relationships with this snow mountain ever since I first visited her in 2008. I don’t get to visit her more often, but she is always in my mind. The view is much better and more up close from this side. I notice too that much of the countryside was hilly or mountainous and with heaps of grazing sheep and cows, plus the occasional llama or alpaca farm along the way. It was interesting to see the animals coexisting and I could just imagine what their thoughts and conversations might have been. Although it was a very long bus trip, I liked it because I was able to think more and plan better. You’ll get to see my thoughts in action in the next couple of months.