Participating in the third season of the Pacific Island Food Revolution was a turning point and saving grace for former Fiji 7s winger and former Marist Brothers High School sprinter Randall Kamea.
The 37-year-old was one of the contestants who took part in the program and says it saved him from deep depression and was a God-sent opportunity for him.
Kamea who spent over two decades playing professional rugby in France had his career cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic and was locked down in Fiji in 2020.
He told fijivillage News that he did not plan for an early retirement from professional rugby and was left devastated adapting very unhealthy habits during the lockdown.
He says Robert Oliver, a famed New Zealand Chef and crusader for local cuisine, offered him an opportunity to take part in the third season of the show and gave him a fresh start in life which he grabbed with both hands and never looked back.
Kamea represented Tonga in the show with his cooking partner Ricky Vollmer
From the footy field to the kitchen, Kamea is a man of many talents.
Now based in Nadi Fiji, Kamea cooks up tasty meals for his business, Fiji Food Truck.
Kamea says cooking is not just about the dishes that are served, it's about recording and preserving the culinary experience and process.
He says we have to embrace the richness of our culinary heritage journey in the kitchen and it is not just about creating dishes, but it is about preserving and celebrating our Fijian culture and promoting healthy living combating Non Communicable Diseases whilst at it.
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