Food is often a highlight on any given day in this tropical paradise known as the Cook Islands. Despite its small population, there are more than 50 cafes and restaurants on Rarotonga alone. The fresh international and local cuisines provided manage to draw an ‘Mmmm’ from even the fussiest of foodies.The large variety of restaurants means you can find something new and unique to eat every day. From dining in a restored colonial house on the edge of a lagoon, to staring out across at the offshore islands from a table on an open deck, each dining experience delivers a new appreciation for the island way of life.For a cultural evening, have the Progressive Dinner at Rarotonga. You’re taken through three homes of local residents who are experienced cooks and know how to get the best flavours out of the Cook Islands’ ingredients. Traditional food such as kumera (sweet potato) and rukua (taro) is served up, and you even get to see the old style of cooking food in an umu (earth oven).Regardless of where you’re eating, a visit to the Cook Islands isn’t complete without tasting the delicious national dish of Ika Mata: fresh tuna marinated in coconut milk, onion, tomato and chilli.
