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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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Culture Appreciation 🇼🇸 TALA by Chef @henryonesemo blazed a trail as it made history as the 1st restaurant ever in the world, to receive a Michelin Star for Samoan food!

This was and is the best restaurant Xavier and I have ever dined at, hands down a delicious and unforgettable experience. We have eaten and visited many Michelin starred restaurants and @tala_nzl is our absolute #1 favorite. You can taste the love, care and thoughtfulness in each bite.

Each member of staff from Executive Chef Henry himself, to the line and station chefs, to the hosts and hostesses, to the servers, and everyone in between-they all served us with the utmost regard and respect to our Samoan culture. Before serving each dish, a “tala” or story was told of how it came to be and its origins in Samoa. We appreciated the time and detail in not only the food but the Samoan heritage behind it. They truly understood the assignment and their kind hospitality and considerate attention to detail was magnetic!

The environment is so welcoming and the music…beautiful! Each song was familial and felt like home because it was nothing but pese Samoa and Samoan artists playing. We even heard our cousins @binabutta and @kennyonbrown songs playing, it was such a humble setting for us to be in. Surrounded by all things, beautiful and all things, fa’aSamoa 🇼🇸

I cannot say enough about the food. As we read through the menu, it was everything we knew and loved as it was all Samoan flavors and foods. However, as each dish was served, at first glance it was unique and distinctive to the way we were accustomed to. But as soon as we took the first bite, we were hit with pure flavors of home and of Samoa. It was Samoan flavors and dishes we loved but eaten in a way we never experienced before. Each dish was inimitable, only one of its kind while still reminiscent of Samoa. It was literally heartwarming 🤎

Fa’afetai tele lava Chef Henry Onesemo for everything. You represent Samoa with heart and pride. We loved being fed by you, getting to know you and talking story with you. May God forever bless you, your family, and Tala to continue living and allow for many others to taste Samo

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A historic night for South Australia! 🇦🇺✨
Huge congratulations to every single restaurant that made it into Australia’s first-ever @michelinguide MICHELIN Guide in Adelaide. You’ve officially put our incredible food scene on the global stage! 🍽️🏆
A massive special thanks to @ejsdeleon Ej, @_alexlamcheung Alex for carrying the Samoan 🇼🇸 team and also the entire team at the @adelaidecc Adelaide Convention Centre for pulling off such a flawless, historic event.
And a heartfelt thank you to the @michelinguide MICHELIN Guide for giving a global platform to Samoan cuisine. Seeing restaurant @tala_nzl Tala cooking side by side with the world’s best on this monumental night is something we will never forget. 🇼🇸❤️ Culture, heritage, and world class culinary art all in one room.
#MichelinGuide #AdelaideFood #TalaAdelaide #AdelaideConventionCentre #SouthAustralia HistoricNight SamoanFood CulinaryExcellence

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@tala_nzl chef @henryonesemo was one of two international chefs from MICHELIN-starred restaurants invited to cook at Australia’s very first MICHELIN ceremony in Adelaide, bringing Samoa to South Australia for an incredible evening that revealed the inaugural MICHELIN Guide South Australia.⁠
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Henry said it was wonderful to be part of such a momentous night for South Australia’s hospitality industry. “I know just how special it is for a restaurant to be recognised by MICHELIN and we’re thrilled for all those awarded last night. It was also really nice to be here knowing that we didn’t have to worry about whether our name would be called out!”⁠
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Read more about this prestigious event through the link in bio!

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Michelin Guide SA ceremony ✨

What we witnessed last night was simply unforgettable. As a food supplier and event partner of the Michelin Guide South Australia 2027 ceremony, we were in the room for a night of celebration.

What stayed with us most was the pride in the eyes of the chefs. Years of hard work, long hours and passion, finally recognised. Last night, South Australia’s food industry took its place on the world map. 🌏

Congratulations to all 77 selected chefs. You’ve made the whole state proud. 👏

A heartfelt thank you to @caviarsturia and @chocolatweiss for standing beside us and our chefs on this incredible journey.

And to Michelin, thank you. You’ve made a lasting mark. ❤️

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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

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“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

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“Why didn’t I come here earlier” was the thought running through my mind as I finished the panikeke stuffed with pickled mushrooms and spinach. I have been wanting to visit Tala for some time, but either I have an assignment due or my mother says there is food at home, both of which when ignored can create a lot of stress.

The word ‘tala’ translates to ‘story’ or ‘tale’ in Samoan, and even before I tasted the food, it was the tala behind each course and the way it was served and presented that made this a tala I won’t forget anytime soon.

Tala offers two tasting menus: Chef’s Journey and Fāgogo Journey. It would have been imprudent of me to miss out on the umu chicken, which was only on the Chef’s Journey menu, so I decided to go for it rather than the slightly shorter Fāgogo Journey.

Tala was my grand introduction to the beautiful Samoan culture and cuisine. I learned something new and tasted something different, but it was the interplay of contrasting flavours throughout the journey that surprised me.

Without giving away too much, here are a few snippets of the tala at Tala. The journey began with something which I would describe as very refreshing, followed by a set of snacks. The palolo, reimagined with whitebait, and the pisupo with snapper and cream cheese, were excellent.

My personal favourite was the panikeke and pickled mushrooms, it had to be self-assembled like the furniture from Ikea. Luckily, only a modicum of skill was required, otherwise I would have struggled. The dish had those subtle nuances Chef Henry had explained. I was also very interested in the colour of the panikeke, upon enquiring with Masa, it turned out to be from something I least expected.

The desserts. The copra is just too good, you will want more of it, and the finale is a ‘basket of treats’. I came by myself, and 159 minutes later, left with the warmth of Samoan hospitality. Thank you to the entire Tala team.

Tala is amongst the stars, Samoan cuisine shines, and New Zealand scintillates on the world culinary map.

Anyways, looking forward to experiencing @tala_nzl again.

Kind regards,
Nihal

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The Shared Table is an intimate new dining series hosted by Tony Stewart @fairfoodnz, where rescued food becomes memorable culinary events.

It brings together top New Zealand chefs, Fair Food volunteers and surplus ingredients to create dinners that nourish both plate and people.

Here are some of the chefs that have recently hosted a night of unforgettable delicacies -
@karenakasey - the talented chef duo Karena & Kasey Bird, Masterchef New Zealand winners 2014

@henryonesemo - amazing international chef & owner of Tala, the world’s first Michelin-starred Samoan restaurant

@sidsahrawat - international chef & owner of Cassia and The French Cafe, creator of Cassia at home curry sauces & spices

@benbaylynz - International chef & owner of Ahi and Aosta, TV presenter, champion for NZ’s food culture

The chefs wear a combination of our ALEX Jackets and LUCA aprons! A big thanks from @aussiechefclothing
#fairfoodnz #aprons #chefjackets #uniforms #AussieChefClothing

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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. 🇼🇸🍽️

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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.

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This is more than a meal. It’s not just about what’s on the plate. MICHELIN Star dining is an experience for all of the senses… ✨

The lighting and atmosphere set the scene. ✨ The aromas fill the room, while the sound and sight of fire cooking in the open kitchen become part of the experience. 🔥
Then there are the different tastes and textures in every dish, with combinations that surprise you and make you stop and think about how they were even created. 🤌🏽🌺

Even something as simple as apple juice becomes an experience. Smoked apple juice… who would have thought? 🍎🔥
Yet the depth of flavour packed into that one drink was incredible. It’s those unexpected details, alongside the food, fire, aromas, textures, presentation and storytelling, that bring all of your senses into the journey. ❤️✨

So come hungry, take your time and let Chef Henry and the TALA team take you on the journey. 🍽️✨
It is an experience well worth having. ❤️

Book or find out more at www.tala.co.nz

We’re proud to have crossed paths through our mahi and can’t wait to reconnect and work alongside you with our rangatahi again soon. ❤️🙌🏽

Fa’afetai tele lava, Chef Henry and the TALA whānau. ❤️🌺🇼🇸

#RangatahiOra #TALA #ChefHenryOnesemo #MichelinStar #SamoanCuisine PacificExcellence

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We experienced the Chef’s Journey, where each course tells its own story of Samoa, drawing on his childhood and memories, but all reimagined through contemporary fine dining. 🇼🇸🌿🍴

And what an incredible journey it was…✨

Every course was beautifully presented, full of flavour and thoughtfully created. 🤌🏽✨
The balance of traditional Samoan flavours with contemporary techniques was exceptional, while still allowing the culture and story behind each dish to shine through. 🌺
From the food and presentation to the service and storytelling, the entire experience was something special. ❤️👏🏽

To Chef Henry and the entire TALA whānau, congratulations. ⭐️
Your success reaches far beyond the walls of your restaurant. Thank you for sharing your culture, your stories and your food so proudly, and for showing what is possible when Indigenous and Pacific food is given its rightful place on the world stage. 🌺🌏🙌🏽

If you haven’t experienced TALA for yourself yet e te whānau, make sure you book in quickly as spaces are limited.⭐️🌺

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