Cooking Up Global Success

A cookbook born in Samoa is making its mark on the world stage.

HEAL: The Samoan Way has won Best Oceania Fundraising Book at the recent Gourmand World Cookbook Awards.

The announcement was made at the Saudi Feast Food Festival in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where chefs, authors, publishers, diplomats, and influencers from 96 countries gathered to celebrate the international awards.

Produced with support from Signs Publishing, the cookbook was nominated alongside three other Australian titles, including The Best of Maggie Beer, by The Australian Women’s Weekly, making the win particularly notable.

“This win is wonderful for Samoa and the South Pacific,” said 10,000 Toes Campaign coordinator Pamela Townend.

“The recognition highlights Samoan knowledge, healthy food, and strong communities, showing that even small island nations can achieve global success.”

Launched at the 2023 10,000 Toes summit in Samoa, HEAL: The Samoan Way has helped bring the work of 10,000 Toes to a global audience.

“This cookbook was the initiative of several women in Samoa who had a passion to create something healthy, and here we are a few years later receiving unexpected recognition—highlighting another wonderful achievement for the 10,000 Toes Campaign,” Townend said.

Coauthor Tertia Ryan said it has been well received in Samoa.

“There has been a positive response across the local community,” she said. “People are pleased to finally have a high-quality local cookbook that celebrates and encourages Samoan- and Pacific-focused healthy eating and cooking with locally grown fresh ingredients.”

She explained that the book plays an important role in addressing health challenges in the region.

“Diabetes is rampant in Samoa and across the Pacific. The cookbook is an excellent outreach resource to guide families toward recipes that are practical, locally sourced, affordable, with better food and beverage options to tackle the health crisis of diabetes and other noncommunicable diseases.”

Ryan said the award reflects the dedication of local contributors. “It is a testament to the passion and shared health vision of the Samoan contributors to promote healthy eating in our homes and communities.”

HEAL: The Samoan Way has been shared locally and internationally, with cooking demonstrations of the recipes conducted to support healthier lifestyles. Copies were presented to King Charles, Queen Camilla, and delegates at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa in 2024.

The Gourmand Awards are the world’s only international competition for food and drink publications, with participation from more than 200 countries, recognizing books that connect food with culture, education, and social impact.

The original version of this story was posted on Adventist Record.