….. long before the world caught up with Samoa, this was our culture of showing respect to visiting dignitaries equal to the palagi way of serving ‘food on a platter’.
This was ancient tradition for us long before our forebears heard or tasted ‘pisupo’ or canned beef’ as seen here in cardboard boxes.
What we used instead were ‘taisi’ or cooked taro wrapped up in banana leaves, cooked chicken and fresh coconuts served as appetizers. The main course is always a huge cooked pork that would take several strong men to carry across to where the guests / visitors are seated.
Time as they say does not stand still and while the same cultural format remains the contents have changed.
As seen here, instead of pork we have pisupo or corned beef. The famous Samoan taste for ‘pisupo’ makes it a worthy substitute for pork or actual carcass of beef. No wrong done.