Monica Galetti talks remote beaches and the world's most underrated destination for food lovers

Monica Galetti, the MasterChef judge, recalls trying guinea pig meat in South America, the culture shock of moving to New Zealand and her new-found love of dates. 

Seeing water is so freeing

...whether it’s the sea, ocean or rivers – I love being able to see the water wherever you go in New Zealand. I visited this summer (which is their winter) with my daughter and I hadn’t been back for three years.  

I did my first bungee jump at Lake Wanaka

...which was incredible and Marlborough Sounds is also breathtaking. We were based in the Hutt Valley area of Wellington where the majority of my family live now and also spent a few days in Auckland.

New Zealand was a huge culture shock

...when I first moved there as an eight-year-old. I’d never seen so many Westerners before and had to wear shoes, learn a new language and found it very cold too. Being born in the Pacific Islands, the most travelling I did when I was little was getting the ferry over to the next island. That was very exciting. 

Samoa has the most unspoilt beaches

...and such a unique culture revolving around family, dancing and food. It’s such an interesting destination to explore.

I find it hard to switch off

It takes me a long time to unwind when I’m on holiday – at least three or four days.  A perfect holiday for me is somewhere warm with a beach because I love swimming in the ocean, while my husband and daughter prefer splashing around in a pool. Great produce is also essential, somewhere offering good, simple food. It doesn’t have to be gastronomic.

Diving is so peaceful

…because you really have to switch off to take in everything around you. I love open water diving and first tried it in Vanuatu. I remember a bunch of us trainee divers jumped in the water but jumped straight out when we saw the sharks. But our diving coach reassured us they were friendly harmless sharks. I also went swimming with manta rays and turtles.

The most unusual food I’ve ever had?

I tried guinea pig meat in South America. It tasted like a fatty duck. I didn’t enjoy it and I couldn’t get the image of the guinea pig out of my head.

I never liked dates before

...I went to Oman. They had them everywhere and I was converted. They’re a great snack and especially delicious when dipped into tahini.

Oman exceeded my expectations

...in terms of food. Their use of spices, how they rub them into the meat before baking it in the ground was fascinating. It’s quite similar to the traditional way of cooking in Samoa.

I love the street food scene in Singapore

...as well as the nightlife. You can walk anywhere and feel safe. I remembering seeing families walking along the beach at 2am.

I could see mankind’s destructive impact

...on nature when I visited Ecuador. So I was blown away by the Mashpi Lodge, an eco-friendly lodge in the Ecuadorian rainforest. Run by the ex-mayor of the capital Quito and staffed by former loggers, they’ve put a tremendous effort into the country's preservation, teaching locals and multiple generations about sustainable practices. It was incredible having breakfast on the balcony in the trees, surrounded by birds, butterflies and exotic animals.  

The Maldives felt like a sanctuary

...away from my hectic London life running my Mere restaurant when I was there recently. I developed a unique six-course menu for the luxurious Coco Bodu Hithi this month and added some new dishes to their menu.

Shanghai airport felt like Fawlty Towers meets The Office

Trying to find the lounge involved providing fingerprints, getting a pass, traipsing through endless corridors, going up and down levels before another queue, in which the gentleman in front told me it took him three hours to transit the airport the previous month.

I could have walked home from China

...I thought to myself at one point, when one of the officials saw I was returning via Los Angeles and insisted she had to see my ESTA. I had to call my husband at 3am in London to email me proof of my ESTA. Thankfully we made the flight because it was delayed.

I love Cornwall and Scotland

...I don’t get there enough but they’re my favourite places in Britain. They’re both so beautiful and have great food, including fresh fish.

Greece and Portugal are great for families

...they're our favourite family holiday destinations. I also love France. My husband is from the Jura department in eastern France, about an hour away from Dijon.

I’d love to spend more time in Spain

The weather is amazing and the food is simple yet delicious. Great olive oil, freshly made bread and olives are enough to keep me happy.

I’m long overdue a trip to Samoa

Life’s taken over and it’s been six years since I’ve been back home. I travel for work every other month and I’ll be heading to the Maldives, Majorca and Perth in Australia, all before December. But I’m lucky I’ve got three countries – Samoa, New Zealand and Britain - I can call home.

Monica Galetti unveils a new six-course tasting menu for the Coco Bodu Hithi in the Maldives this month. For more information see, cococollection.com.

Interview by Sarah Ewing