Tahiti or French Polynesian food is known throughout the world because of its exotic fruits, fresh fish and vegetables which are prepared with a strong French influence underlying the Tahitian ingredients. Restaurants in French Polynesia are from a wide variety of backgrounds including and inevitably French and Tahitian, but also Chinese, Vietnamese, and Italian.
The sauces served in these restaurants often features sauces which contain home grown vanilla beans
However to taste the absolutely genuine Tahiti Food you need to find a way of sampling the Ahimaa otherwise known at Tahitis underground oven. It is usually prepared on a Sunday morning, or for a special celebration.
Firstly the oven is preheated with a wood fire, then the wood is placed in levels one on top of the other all criss-crossed. The porous volcanic rock is scattered over the wood until it is completely covered.. When the fire goes out, the rocks are leveled and the food placed on top wrapped in woven baskets of coconut leaves. Fish, pork, chicken and vegetables are prepared in this way. Banana leaves are then laid over the top, plus many layers of leaves from the purao tree to cover the...