Upskilling local chefs for healthy eating
Making delicious Samoan Chinese food is the goal of 21 chefs that will attend a training course on culinary skills in Shandong Province, China.
The team of local chefs from different restaurants, hotels and cafés, will leave this weekend for China.
A farewell with the chefs was held yesterday at the Chinese Embassy headquarters.
It is a two week training course that will promote healthy eating. It is also for participants to have more ideas on how to cook vegetables so the people will start eating healthy.
The Ambassador of China to Samoa, Wang Xuefeng, highlighted the importance of this training course for the Samoan people in terms of promoting healthy eating.
“This training course is also a good opportunity to popularise the healthy eating habits in Samoa. Over the years, Chinese Government has sent many agriculture experts team to Samoa to demonstrate and teach Samoan farmer to grow vegetables so as to popularise the dietary habits of balanced nutrition through eating more vegetables.
“Both Samoans and Chinese have rich experience in cooking, using creative methods and natural ingredients. This training course will provide chance for chefs of both countries to exchange ideas and skills in training.
“We have discussed with the organiser of this course in Shandong Province that the emphasis of this programme is on the exchange of ideas and skills so that Samoan Chefs will be able to cook Samoan food ingredients in some of the Chinese cooking skills to cater to the tastes of Samoan people.
“That is to cook some delicious Samoan Chinese food,” Mr. Wang added.
This is the second time the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China has hosted this training course. In 2017, they sent 19 participants to China to gain knowledge of Chinese catering culture.
According to Mr. Wang, the first group of participants that was in this training course had a great feedback.
“Last year, 19 participants went to China to attend this training course and came back with so much to share with their families and friends in Samoa.
“They also published an article in Samoa Observer ‘Food Odyssey in wonderful China’ to share with all the readers about their memorable experience in China.
“To that effect, we consulted with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Samoa and decided to have the second training course,” said Mr. Wang.
The list of the chefs who will attend this training are:
UTU VILIAMU Viliamu
SCANLAN Tyson Misimoa
AH LEONG Richard Joseph Toi
MAANAIMA TUI Telesia
MATAGI Christopher Solomona
AILUA Tauilo
ZHU Chee Kwong
CHAN FOUNG Paulo
MATAMUA Nemaia
MOSE Faioso Junior
UNOI Torrey Tavale
HUNT Daniel
MOORS Thirza Sherry
HUNT DARVITT Filipo
MEREDITH Visceta Cynthia
PINATI Lui
DALA Leilani
ANITELEA SILIATO Faalanisisi Sesilia
PAUL Faaosofia Irene
LOULANTING Pepe
MASOE Mary Agnes Clare