Hawaiibeforereturninghometoshowtouriststhe
bestdiningspotshiddenawayonhisisland.
Hismissionistofillusup– aftertuckinginto
chowmeinbaguettes,wecheckoutthestreetside
delightsofAlloPizza(whereItalymeetsFrench
Polynesia),nibbledumplingsservedwithmustard
atChinesebakerySnackRotui,trypo’e,a dessertof
guavaandbananaincoconutmilk,atlocalfavourite
MozCafe,andsamplefreshlyroastedmape(akathe
Tahitianchestnut)onthesideoftheroad.
Asif wehaven’teatenenoughalready,fordinner
wetasteourwaythroughLeMayflower’smenu,a
restaurantclosetoFenuaMata’i’oa,theboutique
hotelwherewearestaying.Thetarteaucitronwe
havefordessertistodiefor.TheTahitianpastries
areasgoodasanyinFranceandwedevourthem
wheneverpossible– atdinner,afternoonteaandof
coursebreakfastwhenweenjoyourdailycroissants
with pineapple, guava and banana jam.
FenuaMata’i’oaspecialisesinpicturesque
platterstostarttheday.Aswellascroissants,pains
auchocolatandotherpastriesandfreshbread,
there’spineapple,grapefruitandpapaya,plusa
cookedbreakfastif yousodesire,allaccompanied
byspectacularfloralarrangements,lagoonviews,
andthewatchfulgazeofthemanyresidentcats.
Fishisthestarattractionatlunchanddinnerin
Tahiti,servedina varietyofways– grilledtunaor
swordfishwithtarooruru(breadfruit)chips;
barbecuedkebabswithpineappleandcapsicum;
saltytunacarpaccio;poissoncru(rawfishwith
coconutmilk).If youdon’tfeellikefish,youcan
headtoveganchefEvyHirshon’shomeonthe
islandofTahiti,wheresheserves‘poisson’cruwith
eggplantinstead,alongsidea rainbowoffresh
produce(readmoreaboutEvyonpage114).
Butit’snotjustfoodthatpeoplevisitthese
islands for. You’ve seen the pictures – the scenery isUnderwaterworldMaiauTaina(aboveandopposite)runsCaptainTainatoursonMo’orea,wheresnorkellingwithturtles,stingraysandsharks
arehighlights,alongwithgiantclamharvesting,a barbecuelunchandlearninghowtomakepoissoncru.OppositepageA veganlunchserved
by chef Evy Hirshonincludesbakedbananas,breadfruitchipsandaneggplantvariationofpoissoncru(topleft).Coral Gardeners founder
TitouanBernicot (top right) is making waves in ocean conservation at just 21 years of age.The scenery is stunning,with dramatic mountains and
the clearest turquoise waters