OKA FESTIVAL 2018

Roko’s restaurant in Samoa once again took out the coveted Oka Fest top honours in Apia today, making it a 3 year trifecta for the popular local restaurant!

The uniquely Samoan festival sees the best local restaurants and hotels put up their best team who must husk and valu a ton of popo in record time, and then be first to squeeze a carefully measured jug full of the precious cream.

“It’s an awesum festival for Samoa because it’s everyone’s favorite dish, and it highlights all the best of our local organic ingredients as well as outstanding local creativity.”  Says organizer Joe Lam of Scallinis fame.

Locals and tourists flocked to Home Cafe in Malifa to see the Oka making action and eat a variety of local organic produce and food stalls - Marquerita sorbet, hot roast pork, curries and baked delights offset the star dish of the day.

The outstanding flavors and presentations included the winning coconut crusted dish, Taumeasina Resort’s concoction topped with palolo, and the Sheraton’s classic presentation that came second.

The techniques of how to valu the popo to get the most coconut grated, the skills of filleting fish efficiently and the innovation in presentation were all on hand to witness at record speed in the cut throat completion.

Turning Samoa’s classic soul food into works of art, wasn’t to detract from the classic taste as judges looked for a best pure oka flavors to come up with the winning dish.

Oka Fest - elevating the humble oka to a place of honour in Samoan cuisine!