Maui Food And Dining

When we think of Maui, it only makes sense that many of us think of the fresh fruit found here. Scrumptious, tree-ripened fruit can be found throughout the Hawaiian Islands, thanks to the year-round temperate climate and abundant sunshine. So, how can you turn Hawaii’s best fruits into drinks and savory meals your whole family […]

If you have a couple of ripe mangoes in your kitchen, you should try this fun and healthy recipe.  The bread is incredibly moist, the recipe is basic, and the mangoes are an unexpected but delicious addition.  Mango bread is great for breakfast, as dessert, or a sweet snack.  Just toast it and spread a little […]

You are going to love this scrumptious and healthy recipe, and here’s why – These cookies substitute eggs with banana, and uses gluten-free flour instead of white flour.  Gluten-free flour can be found at most health food stores, but if you cannot find gluten-free flower, whole wheat or regular white flour will suffice.  The most […]

We all know the disappointment at cutting into what we think is a ripe papaya to find that it is actually tasteless and could actually use another day or two.  But if you don’t want to waste the fruit, what can you do with it?  Answer: make papaya bread! As we learned earlier this month, […]

Poi is a sacred part of daily Hawaiian culture and the following recipe uses it to make extra moist muffins.  But first a little trivia: 1)      What plant is poi made from? 2)      Is taro cultivated in the dry uplands or in the marshy wetlands? 3)      Name all the regions of the world where poi […]

This week we’ll be bringing you recipes for Hawaiian pastries, starting today with Hawaiian Bread.  This regional delight is actually Portuguese sweet bread, or Pao Doce, that was originally a Christmas and Easter tradition.  Around Easter the bread is made into round rolls with hard-boiled eggs baked into their center, but the rest of the […]

By: Grace Chen Public demand for organically grown and processed foods has shown double-digit growth for over ten years, proving it pays farmers to be health and environmentally conscious.  Since 1990, the industry has grown from practically zero market share to claiming 3% of the total US food market (according to recent industry statistics).  Today […]

By: Grace Chen Hawaii has a cultural history of producing sustainable food .  The agricultural systems were developed with the environment as its pinnacle focus, thus ensuring it could support many thousands of people over the long-term.  And that tradition carries on today as there are approximately 200 organic certified growers in Hawaii with the […]

This recipe for Italian flavored Quark is perfect as an appetizer, served with toasted crostini’s, soft sourdough bread, raw or blanched vegetables, crackers, or with slices of heirloom tomatoes and fresh basil leaves.  The Hawaiian recipe has been adapted from the Surfing Goat Dairy. Ingredients 2 cups fresh organic goat quark 1 Tbsp dried oregano […]

By: Grace Chen The rich volcanic soil and tropical climate of Maui provide the perfect environment for growing produce and this has allowed Farm-to-Table restaurants to flourish.  People argue about the birthplace of this concept, but Hawaii’s own Peter Merriman will tell you he’s been cooking fresh and local fare since before there was a […]

By: Grace Chen This week we’re going to focus on trends in Hawaiian agriculture and specifically, sustainable food.  Hawaiians have a long and mutually beneficial relationship with the land, so it’s no surprise that movements such as “farm-to-table” and organic farming have taken off on this collection of Pacific isles. Sustainable agriculture is a Hawaiian […]

By: Grace Chen The mango has a special place in our hearts.  Its meaty fruit is juicy and sweet when ripe, and is the perfect addition to chutneys when it is not. It is also highly nutritious.  Mangos are rich in a variety of phytochemicals and nutrients. The fruit pulp is high in dietary fiber, […]

Pineapple is a staple here on Maui as it is one of the most versatile of fruits.  Paired with meat, it is the perfect condiment; it cuts the heat when added to spicy dishes; and when grilled and topped with ice cream, it makes a refreshing dessert. With 91% of the recommended daily value (DV) […]

The papaya is used cooked or raw, ripe or unripe, and the seeds can be ground to add a kind of black pepper taste to food.  Unripe, green fruit is typically cooked and used in curries, chutneys and stews, while ripe fruit is typically eaten raw with a wedge of lime.  Today we are bringing […]

Guava trees are so prevalent on the big island of Hawaii; there is ripe fruit on almost every street corner.  They are often called “superfruits” as they are rich in dietary fiber, vitamin A, manganese, folic acid, potassium, copper, and have as much vitamin C in one serving as four oranges.  Locals typically eat guavas […]

This week we’re focusing on one of the best things about Hawaii- the fruit!  Here is a quick pop quiz for you: Which of the following are native fruits to Hawaii? Pineapple Mango Guava Papaya The answer: None.  Well, that’s not entirely true.  There is a pineapple look-a-like called Hala or “Tourist Pineapple” that is […]

At a luau, the kalua pig is the main event.  “Kalua” refers to the cooking process of using an earthen oven, or “imu”, which is really just a large underground steam cooker.  Traditionally ti and banana leaf-covered breadfruit, sweet potatoes, bananas, taro, and other vegetables accompany the pig. Preparations begin early as cooks dig a […]

In Hawaii, luaus are held to celebrate a first birthday, a high school graduation, or some other event, and they are a great way to add a festive theme to your special day.  They are held outdoors under tents or the open the sky, and tables are decorated with elaborate centerpieces of ti leaves, palm […]

Chicken Luau is the traditional Hawaiian dish for which the luau celebration was named.  It is a sweet and savory delicacy and always a crowd pleaser, even though its presentation might be lacking.  The dish can be prepared in various ways and the recipe below has been adapted from www.maona.net, reflecting a healthier version of […]

Sweet potatoes have been a staple at luau celebrations since the first one was held in the 1800’s.  This starchy vegetable originated in South America and spread through Polynesia, Hawaii and New Zealand via early Polynesians who are thought to have traveled to South America and back.  Archeologists believe it is also possible that South […]