Pacific Island Living Issue 19 Vanuatu

Islandliving pacifi c from the editor

AUTUMN 2017 | ISSUE 19

N ulge yourself ext issue, we will be celebrating four years of Pacific Island Living.

We started this magazine for Pacific people – to find, review and recommend things to see and do, and ultimately, buy. We are proudly an aspirational magazine, we want our readers to sit back and indulge just as much as we want to tell the world how great the Pacific really is.

From Georgie Gordon’s health and beauty columns, to Carolyn Ernst’s gardening tips, we hope you agree Pacific Island Living has something for everyone.

In four years our market has grown from Vanuatu and Nauru Airlines to cover most of the Pacific. We’re particularly proud of our market share in Fiji and the Solomon Islands as well as our distribution in Australia through Qantas Club lounges.

As I write this column I’m in Fiji, having just flown in from Vanuatu. Next month it will be Nauru then the Sollies. Pacific Island Living truly is a Pacific magazine and we’re so pleased you have enjoyed it and helped its growth over the last four years. Please do keep in touch via our website, Facebook page, Instagram or Twitter.

Happy reading.

Tiffany Carroll

Ind

Find us on Facebook

www.facebook.com/pacificislandliving, Twitter

@PacIsLiving

and Instagram at instagram.com/pacisliving or read this and all our magazines online at www.pacific-island-living. com Cover images - Fiji Island Living courtesy Adrenalin Fiji; Solomon Island Living, by David Kirkland; Nauru Airlines Cover courtesy Nautilus Resort, Kosrae; Vanuatu cover courtesy Pavol Stranák.

RESORTS I SHOPPING I SPAS I RESTAURANTS PLUS FOOD I FASHION I BEAUTY I HEALTH I FINANCE

Copyright: All rights reserved. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced without the permission of the publisher. Articles express the opinions of the author and not necessarily those of Nauru Airlines, Tourism Fiji, Vanuatu Tourism Office or Pacific Island Living.

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PICTURE: Francesca’s at Havannah Harbour, Port Vila

I

Welcome m a k l e W Bienvenue

t is my pleasure to welcome visitors to Vanuatu.

For many of you, this will be your first experience of true Melanesian hospitality – for some, who have experienced our friendly shores, Vanuatu has no doubt become a must visit destination every year.

We pride ourselves on welcoming visitors from all around the world. We have so much to offer, from exciting adventures such as ziplining, SCUBA diving, off-road buggies and parasailing to authentic cultural experiences.

We also have some of the Pacific’s finest hotels and resorts, many of which are featured in this edition of Pacific Island Living.

Whilst you’re here, we encourage you to get out and see the real Vanuatu. My team at the Vanuatu Tourism Office will

be only too happy to assist with a village tour or to explore one of our many outer islands.

From the hustle and bustle of Port Vila to the tranquility of the stunning Torres Islands, we hope you will enjoy our home.

Welcome, and thank you for choosing Vanuatu.

Adela Issachar Aru. GM, Vanuatu Tourism Office.

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out and about

Tours, Tips andanTrips uatu V n i o d What to

Vanuatu is all about being laid back and relaxed, or equally, getting out and about and enjoying the vast number of activities on offer.

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HIDEAWAY ISLAND Hideaway Island Resort and Marine Sanctuary is located 10 minutes from Port Vila with day guests always welcome.

Hideaway is the perfect place for a day out, not only does the marine sanctuary offer some of the most accessible snorkelling around Efaté, but it is also home to the world’s first underwater Post Office. Snorkellers can post waterproof post cards from here to anywhere in the world.

Recently Hideaway also opened the Ken Zimmerman snorkel trail in memory of the late Ken Zimmerman, who with the University of Newcastle had been working with Hideaway Island over the years to establish and maintain a program to grow and preserve the reef and marine life that

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form this fragile eco system on the reef at Hideaway Island.

Each year two groups of marine biology students travel to Vanuatu to monitor and maintain the reef on the island.

This includes monitoring the sea life, the coral and a unique program where ‘babies’ are grafted from the coral nursery to damaged areas of the reef to enable regeneration for future generations.

Day visitors can experience the Ken Zimmerman trail, or try a dive with Hideaway.

Non-divers are also catered for with a fantastic on-island restaurant and bar. Try the island special – the chicken curry. The best in Efaté!

Hideaway Island Resort is 10 minutes from Port Vila, with a free ferry operating from the mainland 24 hours a day.

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THE FUN WAY TO EXPLORE EFATé Here’s a tip. Go the Fun Cars at World Car Rentals, it’ll be the highlight of your Vanuatu adventure.

Combining the fun of an off-road buggy with a fully registered vehicle, the four seater Mini Moke gets you where you want to go in the beautiful Vanuatu sun. Put the boards on top, explore the Blue Hole, hit the beach, pack a picnic and get off the beaten track. World Car Rentals have got the vehicle for every adventure. The Mini Moke, 4 x 4 Luxury and tray back vehicle options.

World Car Rentals offer 24-hour road side assistance OPEN: Seven days, 7.30 am - 5.00 pm, Just ring and they will deliver. +678 26 515 or 26 512.

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FISHING IN PARADISE Relax on Island Fishing Charters’ comfortable Sea Fox 187 boat, with all the creature comforts included.

This 28ft machine is the perfect boat for all conditions and weather.

Island Fishing Charters’ local skipper Kendrick ‘Kenny’ George has over 15 years experience in game and reef fishing.

Fromthe dock to open water, Kenny’s extensive knowledge and experience will put you in prime position to catch ‘the one’.

From the most experienced angler down to the first timers Island Fishing Charters cater for everyone.

Call (678) 5552277 or www. islandfishingchartersco. com.vu

Vanuatu has 83 islands, with the main tourism on Efaté (Port Vila), Tanna and Espiritu Santo. Here’s our pick of things to see and do, buy and drink to get you started.

Try one of our many fantastic restaurants, go shopping, go fishing or hire a car and explore the island.

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HOLIDAY BEAUTY In Vanuatu the humidity can play havoc with holiday hair, frizz is the norm, but it doesn’t have to be.

The well regarded and long established Head Hunter Hair + Beauty Salons with two locations in Port Vila and one in Luganville are experts at hair and beauty – offering professional hairdressing and beauty therapy.

They are renowned for their Wella, Joico and Napoleon Perdis products along with their friendly professional service and inventive stylists.

Book in for a blow wave or pedicure, enjoy a relaxing massage and tame your wild locks with straightening and strengthening products.

Wedding groups welcome.

Call on +678 22 868 (Vila) or +678 37 168 (Luganville).

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EPICURE A welcome addition to Vanuatu’s shopping scene is a new gourmet store at the Tana Russet complex, Epicure.

Epicure stocks fine international products to ensure the perfect picnic, day trip or dinner party.

From France they have fine tea, jams, biscuits, oils (olive, truffle, avocado) and foie gras plus wines from the regions of Bordeaux, Bourgogne, Côtes-du-Rhône and of course Champagne.

Epicure also has products and wines from Italy and an international selection of oils, balsamic vinegars, salts and spices.

NZ and Australian wines are also available.

Epicure at Tana Russet complex, Tebakor.

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WATERSIDE DINING Le Cafe du Village restaurant and bar is a Mediterranean-style Port Vila institution which has enjoyed pride of place on the harbourfront opposite Iririki Island for many years.

Over that time there have been several changes of management but it is now in the capable hands of Simon Troman who has revived its reputation as one of the capital’s must-visit eateries.

The location is stunning with an absolute waterfront position which also serves as a wharf from which the Meridian sunset cruise departs each evening.

The menu retains a number of old favourites including the entree seafood chowder with crusty bread, there’s also a Spanish

seafood soup with aioli and garlic toast and a few Asian goodies too, like pork and prawn spring rolls and Thai beef salad. For mains try the tropical geographical anomaly – steak and kidney pie, doesn’t matter if the weather’s hot this dish is worth overheating for.

There’s also local eye fillet steak and lobster along with a good beef curry, so a cosmopolitan selection to suit all tastes. There’s a kid’s menu too so take the rugrats. The wine list is extensive featuring some great drops from New Zealand, Australia and France at reasonable prices.

Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner from 8am until late – Tuesday to Sunday.

Call for reservations +678 27789.

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Italian favourite

Indulge in scallops When it comes to the challenge of cooking for a special occasion, scallops are a must have item on the menu says restaurateur Francesca Grillo.

T

hese delicate jewels of the sea have a unique wonderful taste and texture that make them an indulgence for the palate.

To create a real work of art to serve at functions, I have combined an array of ingredients to marry with scallops in a fabulous dish I call Scallops Michelangelo.

Here are the simple recipes for the six elements to compose the dish.

With your passion for cooking and the creativity in you, engage in this challenge and you will be amazed by the result!

Asparagus Cream

1 tin asparagus 530g net ¼ cup cream 8g butter ½ tsp Parmesan Cheese pinch of salt Drain asparagus from water (do not squeeze) and put them in a blender with half of the cream. Blend well then add remaining cream and blend again to a smooth paste. Warm over gentle heat with the butter then add Parmesan cheese and salt, stir well and remove from the heat. Warm up before serving.

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Cauliflowers ‘Vastedda’

120g cauliflower pieces boiled in salt water and well drained in the oven for 5 minutes 1 and ½ anchovy fillets with a little of their oil 3 tblsp flour 1/3 cup water 2 pinches of salt 2 beaten egg with a pinch of salt and a pinch of pepper Frying oil Dissolve anchovy fillets in their oil then remove from the heat and cool.

Add flour and stir well then add water and 1 pinch of salt. Dip cauliflower pieces first in the flour mixture then in the egg and gently fry in hot oil until just golden (about 1 or 2 minutes each side).

Warm up in the oven before serving.

Roe in Turmeric Cream

3 scallop roe 2 pinches of turmeric powder Small amount of cream Pinch of salt Cook the roe gently in a pan with a little olive oil than mash it well with a fork. Add turmeric powder and a little cream, season with salt and cook for a minute over gentle heat. Warm up before serving.

Cocktail Sauce

½ cup mayonnaise 2 tblsp of tomato ketchup 5 drops tobasco ¼ tsp Brandy Salt and pepper 1 pinch each Mix well and store in container in fridge, to serve either drizzle on to dish or squeeze from a piping bag. .

Crumbing

1 ½ tblsp breadcrumbs 1 ½ tsp Parmesan cheese 1 tsp chopped parsley ¼ tsp crushed garlic ½ tsp chopped chilli (red) A couple of drops of olive oil to moisten the mixture and salt and pepper to taste.

Mix ingredients very well, spread in a layer over baking paper and bake for a couple of minutes or until slightly brown.

Scallops

12 scallops without roe Olive oil to bake and fry Wash the scallops and dry well. Arrange on an oven tray, sprinkle with olive oil and gently bake at 250 C for a couple of minutes each side. Finish cooking by frying in a pan with oil until golden on each side. Warm up in the oven before serving.

Garnish

4 dill twigs per serve 2 chive leaves per serve Place chive leaves in the centre of the plate as a guide, spoon a couple of generous drops of asparagus cream on each side and spread with the back of the spoon before arranging a scallop on top of each, sprinkle the cauliflower, roe, turmeric and cream around, finishing with drops of cocktail sauce, sprinkles of crumbing and the dill twigs. •

This ingredient-heavy recipe is worth the effort. Scallops, cauliflower, turmeric and Francesca’s flair ensure it will be a favourite at your home too.

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Vanuatu’s Most Sophisticated

BeachfrontVilla Rentals Paua offers a range of spectacular private, absolute beachfront villas in the Whitesands/Narpow Point area of Efaté.

Established in Port Vila 28 years ago, Vanuatu Agricultural Supplies is Vanuatu’s most trusted agricultural and horticultural supplies business.

Vanuatu Agricultural Supplies can quote on your building project, from water supply to alternative power sources.

Contact Christiana or Toga.

T: +678 775 1793 or +678 775 1792 or+678 26 108 E: info@paua.co W: www.paua.co for villa details

Port Vila Ph: +678 22 376 Fax: +678 23 402 Santo Ph/Fax: +678 36756 E: ben.vasvila@vanuatu.com.vu

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A sustainable eco-experience for the whole family, set in a stunning tropical paradise

Join us for the Eden Experience, Port Vila | Contact +678 7710765

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Life is a collection of special moments Let Warwick Le Lagon be part of it Surrounded by natural beauty along the cobalt waters of Erakor Lagoon, Warwick Le Lagon - Vanuatu offers opportunities to create those special moments.

Whether planning a relaxing holiday, romantic escape, wedding or conference, guests enjoy comfortable accommodation, exotic scenery, soothing spas, delectable cuisine and a host of activities suitable for all ages.

Warwick Le Lagon - Vanuatu, Elluk Road, Erakor Lagoon, Port Vila, Vanuatu D +678 22313 | info.lelagon@warwickhotels.com | warwickhotels.com/le-lagon-resort

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