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The Futile Quest for Instant Poi
Memories from our Restaurant Crawl on Kauai and Maui

12 March 2016

Kalalau Valley Kauai HI

Kalalau Valley from Koke'e State Park, Kauai HI

Pineapple-Tomato Gazpacho
Taro Chips
Freshly purchased pineapples in Hawaii are sweeter and more flavorful than the ones shipped here!  This is our attempt at reconstructing a signature appetizer from Hukilau Lanai, a beachfront restaurant in Kapa’a, Kauai.  We promised no taro in the menu but couldn’t resist offering .taro chips for a crispy contrast.

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Thai muffins with Coconut Curry Butter
We never saw muffins like these in Thailand.  They are the fanciful creation of Hawaiian chef Jean-Marie Josselin, encountered at his new restaurant JO2 in Kapa’a Kauai.

Roasted beet and kale salad with goat cheese and macadamia nuts
Lilikoi Mustard Vinaigrette

This year, almost every restaurant’s beet and goat cheese salad has adopted kale as the green.  We get our supply of passion fruit products from Aunty Lilikoi, in Waimea, Kauai. 

Pan Seared Mahi Mahi with Furikake
Lilikoi Sake Beurre Blanc
We encountered this dish at Pacific’o restaurant in Lahaina, Maui.  Furikake (our Japanese grandson’s favorite rice seasoning) is a mixture of toasted seaweed, sesame seeds, salt and sugar.  Our mahi mahi is “locally sourced” from the same place we suspect most Hawaiian restaurants get it:  Costco!

Carnitas, Korean style
Gochujang Sauces
Pork taco filling is almost as common as fish and shrimp on Hawaiian restaurant menus, both sit-down and food truck.  Korean barbeque tastes, and particularly gochujang chili paste, are “in” this year, too.  This is our fusion, with an added element of lemon grass.

Jasmine rice

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Brownies with Macadamia Nuts and Chinese Five Spice
Ono Pops on Kauai was featuring chocolate and five spice popsicles for Chinese New Year when we were there.  We’ve applied the flavors to a brownie, instead. 

Green Tea Ice Cream
Green tea (matcha) ice cream is our granddaughter’s favorite, and now we know how to make it!   

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Coconut Panna Cotta with Lilikoi Mango Syrup
We saw lots of uses of coconut in desserts, particularly brulees.  We weren’t in the mood to torch sugar crusts this year, so we’re offering panna cotta, instead. The lilikoi mango syrup combines Aunty Lilikoi’s products.

 

Kona coffee-glazed macadamia nuts
Produced on the Big Island, but sold throughout Hawaii.  We’ve never seen this flavor sold on the mainland.


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Mt. Rise Fair Trade decaffeinated coffee