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Henry Onesemo

@henryonesemo

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I love to eat, cook, and cat 🐈 a.k.a Yoko
@tala_nzl
⭐️
🎩🎩🎩 🔪
www.tala.co.nz

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We’ve gone global! We’re so excited to announce that Tala has been selected by TIME for its ‘World’s Greatest Places 2026’ list, out today. It highlights 100 extraordinary destinations around the world to visit and stay, and Tala is the only restaurant in the Oceania region to be chosen by TIME. We’re so thrilled to have the opportunity to spread fa’a Samoa even further around the world. Fa’afetai lava @TIME

Special Congratulations to @flockhill.nz and team for making the list and pushing NZ 🇳🇿hospitality forward

Credit: Cover photograph by Matt Dutile
Tag: @TIME
Link in bio by @henryonesemo

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7 months ago

We are super grateful and proud to have Tala named as one of “World’s 12 most exciting new restaurants for 2025” in the article written by Alexandra Carlton @alexandrawrites in The Australian! @the.australian by @henryonesemo

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a year ago

Nothing beats the classic Samoan combo: Elegi and a warm loaf of bread. 🥖 Missing those humble days growing up back home. We thought we were living large when we actually spent money at the shop for this! Who else remembers?🙋🏽‍♂️🇼🇸 #Elegi #Samoa #ChildhoodMemories #IslandVibes by @henryonesemo

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4 days ago

For several unforgettable hours, we stepped into the genius of @henryonesemo imagination - his heritage, his history, his world - all brought to life through food.

Thank you, @belinda.m.foster for being not only the best agent a gal could ask for, but also for waiting so patiently to share this gift with me as we celebrate our next steps.

A once-in-a-lifetime experience. Twice, if you’re lucky.

Thank you to the entire @tala_nzl team for making the experience so extraordinary. Every detail was phenomenal and there was so much joy in the room! #tala #michelin #samoa taken in Tala NZ by @henryonesemo

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10 days ago

Keke Pua’a

A true Samoan favorite with deep roots. 🇼🇸✨
Did you know that the beloved keke pua’a, a staple comfort food for locals is a beautiful piece of history you can eat?
Back in the early 1900s, Chinese 🇨🇳 laborers brought to Samoa under German 🇩🇪 administration introduced the traditional bao (steamed pork bun). Over time, local bakers adapted it, giving it a unique Samoan twist and creating the keke pua’a we all line up for today!
Proof that food brings history, culture, and people together. 🥟❤️
#KekePuaa #SamoanFood #SamoaHistory #TasteOfSamoa #PacificEats CulturalFusion BeautifulSamoa by @henryonesemo

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10 days ago

“Home is the sailor, home from sea...” 🌊✨
Fascinated by the final chapter of Robert Louis Stevenson’s life in Samoa. After a lifetime of chasing warm air to soothe his failing lungs, the Scottish author of Treasure Island finally found his paradise in the South Pacific.
The locals didn’t just welcome him; they revered him, calling him ‘Tusitala’, the Teller of Tales. He spent his final years living fully, defending Samoan rights, and writing under the island sun before being laid to rest at the summit of Mount Vaea.
Sometimes you have to sail to the edge of the world to find where you truly belong. 🌴✍️📖
#RobertLouisStevenson #Tusitala #BeautifulSamoa #Vailima #TravelHistory LiteraryTravel SouthPacific Bookstagram

🎥 @jeromewarburton by @henryonesemo

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15 days ago

Counting my blessings and feeling grateful for every single piece of this journey. ✨ by @henryonesemo

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17 days ago

This 🐈 killed it on the 🧢 🥾!!! by @henryonesemo

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19 days ago

A huge fa’afetai tele lava to Kim Knight @kimknight950 from the New Zealand Herald @newzealandheraldnews @nzhviva for spending time with us at Tala @tala_nzl. It is one thing to have your food written about, but it is another entirely to have your culture handled with such deep respect, care, and understanding. Thank you, Kim, for listening so closely to our story and capturing the true essence of Samoan heritage and contemporary storytelling on the plate.We are incredibly grateful for your beautiful words and the care you took with our village’s journey. 🇼🇸🍽️ by @henryonesemo

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25 days ago

Join us in celebrating Henry Onesemo, internationally recognized Samoan chef, Executive Chef and co-owner of Tala, and a 2026 PolyStrong Honoree.

Henry’s work has helped bring Samoan cuisine, traditions, and techniques to the global fine-dining stage. In 2026, Tala became the first restaurant centered on Samoan cuisine to earn a Michelin Star—an historic milestone for Samoan food and Pacific Islander representation.

Celebrate Henry alongside an extraordinary group of Pacific Islander leaders at the PolyStrong Global Leadership Charity Gala.

Wednesday, September 30, 2026
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
The Garden Place at Heritage Park

Tickets are available at POLYSTRONG.ORG.

Sponsorship and donor opportunities are available.
For information, email INFO@POLYSTRONG.ORG. by @henryonesemo

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a month ago

The bomb 💣 diggity! @ahirestaurant ⭐️✨ by @henryonesemo

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a month ago

Great Restaurant, great company, enjoying great food! Thank you @bistrosaine 😋⭐️ by @henryonesemo

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a month ago