Taste Buzz

What I learned from a bunch of bananas.

 

This hand of bananas came into my kitchen, bright green but spattered with the black, crumb-like remains of sap soaked branches. I rinsed it well and gave it a green mat to rest on. Overnight, one turned yellow while the next one began to imitate it.

The next morning I said to the bunch of bananas, "I had faith in you, I just knew that you would turn yellow!" (I often have these one-sided conversations with inanimate objects when I'm left alone for a few days).

I wanted and waited for, a soft sweetness to come over them.

 

Then it was time to eat, share or freeze.

Then they were gone. But there's no worry or sadness because I know there will be more. More bananas are growing, waiting to be cut, making their way toward me.

That certainty, that absence of doubt, is the way I want to feel about all that I'd like to be, do, or have in this lifetime. I'd like to get so good at it that I could wish and receive good things for others too! It could be as easy as watching a bunch of bananas ripen.

The greatest gift that you could give to anyone you love is the gift of positive expectation. But you can't give someone positive expectation until you know the Laws and have practiced them yourself enough so that they are very familiar. - Abraham-Hicks

Eat Local Challenge

Thanks to Alexis and Chris Smith of Coastview Aquaponics for letting us know about Kanu Hawaii's Eat Local Challenge set for September 26 to October 2. I've done this several times before with an out-of-state group and I'm so happy that there's a Hawaii and Big Island effort this year.

It fits nicely with the on-going Take It Off Hawaii Challenge that I'm doing. We can earn points for purchasing at least a pound of locally-grown, fresh produce.

Check out Kanu Hawaii's Eat Local Challenge, there are lots of ways to participate.

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• Two More Points for KTA (guavabee.com)

Drink milk? Then it's better to drink Big Island Fresh milk.

Most of Hawaii's milk today comes from California. It is pasteurized before it leaves the port, and again prior to being bottled in Hawaii. Depending on the weather, it might take more than a week for the California milk to arrive in Hawaii.-Jerry Nelson, Dairy Star

The alternative? KTA's Mountain Apple Brand is made fresh at Meadow Gold Dairies in Hilo from milk produced by Ookala's Island Dairy and Clover Leaf Dairy in Hawi.

"These local herds are not treated with any artificial bovine growth hormones." -KTA Advertisement.

Reference: The Dairy Star, Dairy Farming in Paradise.

Related Articles:

USA Today, Last Dairy Closing on Oahu.

West Hawaii Today, Island Dairy Bucks Trend.

Hawaii Business, Food Fight: Local grocers battle Mainland chains and big-box outlets for survival.

Photo: Hawaii.gov

Eat a Local Salad

 

Ever since I took up the Eat Local Challenge a few years ago, I'm much more conscious of local grown foods, farms, and farmers. A few times a week, I even manage to put together a meal in which all of the main ingredients are grown or produced within a hundred miles of Kailua-Kona.

My salad here began with lettuce greens and watercress from Coastview Aquaponics. I chopped a few tomatoes from Kawamata Farms , tossed some crumbled Natural Pacific Tofu cubes on top, and finally sprinkled chopped local green onions and cilantro for the finish.

The only part of my lunch that came from afar was the Tropics Oriental Dressing from Honolulu.

~~~~~~~~~

Why bother to eat local? Here are 10 Reasons.

For more local recipe ideas, take a look at Eat Local Hawaii's web site and if you have a few favorite foods that you can turn local, please share them with us.

Now here's a valuable lesson in itself: How to never make the same-old, same-old salad again.

There's no such thing as a Styrofoam cup?

Ever since I poured a take-out bowl of Thai Hot & Sour Soup and noticed a distinct meltdown of the styrofoam container up to the soup-line, I haven't ordered any soup-to-go. It's been years! I've often thought of showing up with my own soup pot saying "fill'er up" but have opted to either sit down as an inconspicuous sipper or pass on the idea completely.

Patience has its rewards. Today when I ordered my Banyan Bowl 'to-go' from Basik Acai, it was served in a large Planet cup along with a compostable spoon. I was happy to know that my healthy breakfast wasn't going to add to the plastic heap out in the Pacific and that made the food taste even better.

While looking at all the available Planet products on Stalk Market's site, I made a wish that all our local restaurants would follow Basic Acai's lead (that's also when I snapped the photo) and stop using styrofoam containers and plastic utensils. As I recalled my Hot and Sour dilemma I wondered if there were studies on styrofoam's effects on humans.

I searched "styrofoam+melted" and that's when I discovered that there is no such thing as a styrofoam cup:

Styrofoam is a trademarked material made by the Dow Chemical Company—and they don't make cups, plates, egg trays, or other types of food packaging from it! -The Grinning Planet

Polystyrene. That's what most take-out food containers are made of and styrene is the form of polystyrene that can be sucked out of the container, especially if the food is hot and fatty. Hot and Styrene soup is what I had!! Styrene mimics estrogen, holds the potential to disrupt normal hormone function, and has been found in biopsied human adipose (fat) tissue. Find out more about the health effects by reading The Grinning Planet article. It's not an alarmist's point of view, they're quite fair:

There are worse environmental and health threats out there than polystyrene, but since alternatives exist and it's easy to make the switch, why not do it?

Until all restaurants make the switch, consider taking your own containers and please, support and thank those food establishments that are already using alternative products that are good for our island/planet and safe for human consumption.

Maybe I'll start a list of those eateries: Basik Acai, Island Naturals, Green Flash Coffee, Lotus Cafe... any others?

Holuakoa Gardens & Cafe

I've been here twice within the week so I thought I'd list a few reasons why I like eating at Holuakoa:

• It's cool. Located up in Holualoa in an open air setting, there's no air conditioning and it can even get a bit chilly. 

• They pride themselves on buying and serving local produce. So the food is fresh and each item in their salads retains it's color and taste.

• The pace is unhurried (read Slow Food). It's a great place to sit, eat and be merry with friends.
• There are several soup choices available for lunch.

• Holuakoa Gardens & Cafe is mere 10-minutes from Kuakini Highway, via Lako Street. Map.
• The menu offers vegetarian and vegan alternatives in addition to beef, poultry and seafood dishes.
• If you don't find a parking spot along Mamalahoa, there's a paved lot right behind the restaurant that's off a small one-lane road. Click the first image for a larger view of the map.

Too Many Cooks?

If you agree with this e-mail message I got this week from Loulies, there can't be too many cooks:

In a recent New York Times Magazine article, Michael Pollan says "It's hard to imagine ever reforming the American way of eating or, for that matter, the American food system unless millions of Americans -- women and men -- are willing to make cooking a part of daily life. The path to a diet of fresher, unprocessed food, not to mention to a revitalized local-food economy, passes straight through the home kitchen."  You may say "But I am not that good of a cook."  Cooking more will make you a better cook.

Ono Bee agrees. When you cook your own meals you know exactly what's going into your dish, where that piece of fish came from and just how long that jar of mayo has been sitting in your refrigerator (or not). Because our time and energy is limited, we tend to fix simple meals that are prepared and cooked in the least amount of time, therefore preserving more nutrients.

Do you agree? Would you say that you eat healthier when you cook for yourself?

Photo: Grogg

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Only 2 Dairies Left in Hawaii

Those two dairies just happen to be on the Big Island. Island Dairies is located in Ookala and Clover Leaf Dairy, in Hawi.  West Hawaii Today printed a very informative article back in September explaining the challenges that dairy farmers face.  Most of Hawaii's milk supply is brought in from California.

Today, KGMB9's Howard Dicus, interviewed Bahman Sadeghi, president of Island Dairy, who reports that Foodland has agreed to sell the dairy's milk throughout the islands. It's a fresher source, folks. Let's support Local Milk. View on-line (02:37)

Update: 7/30/10, KGMB video is no longer available.

Photo: Marrack

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Orchid Thai Cuisine

With so many Thai restaurants in town sometimes it's hard to choose which one to go to!  Orchid Thai  has been one of my favorite's for quite sometime.   When I feel like Summer Rolls...no one else does them better.  Other catering companies call Orchid Thai and order the Summer rolls for their orders.   What does that tell you? 

I love so many dishes on their menu, it is hard to say which one is my favorite.   I had lunch there the other day with my friend and I decided to try something new...Pad See Yew.   Similar to Pad Thai, but more soy based and sweeter.  I loved it!

Chalason *Charlie" & his wife Yuthaiwan have been serving Kailua for over 8 years.   They now have a new location next to Teru's on Kaiwi St.   The dining room is larger and  it really feels like a little bit of Thailand.  But,most importantly... Charlie & Yuthaiwan make you feel like family and you leave feeling happy and full and looking forward to coming back to try something new!

Feel free to BYOB (bring your own bottle), no corking fee is charged.  Also, if you are Vegan, Yuthaiwan is happy to prepare it for you, just let her know.

They welcome your takeout orders and Catering is available for any party.

Orchid Thai Cuisine

Phone: 808-327-9437

74-5555 Kaiwi St.

Kailua Kona, HI 96740

Hours: Lunch 11a.m. to 3p.m.. Dinner 5p.m. to 9p.m. 

Air Conditioned. No Checks, all major credit cards accepted.  Lot's of parking, more in back.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Christmas gift of local Aloha...Custom Kona Coffee

Tis the season... what are you going to do?  A couple of my neighbors already have their Christmas decorations up...YES, they do!?   Since most of us have to ship something to someone somewhere, why not make it fun and support a local business.   Most people enjoy coffee and that is one of  the things our beautiful Kona is known for.  

Wouldn't it be fun to have your own personalized label!?  I stopped in at Kona Brothers Coffee located at Kona International Market  to buy some coffee.   Paul roasts the coffee to your order, and he's been doing it since 1984.   Who else does that?   Anyway, there was a gentlemen there with his dog, a cute little pomeranian.  They were getting their picture taken to create a personalized Coffee bag label.    I thought what a cool idea!  

 I have a cute big pomeranian and how fun would it be to send some Aloha from Kona with me, my hubby and my furry baby on the label! 

Anyone that knows us would delight in receiving that package, coffee drinker or not.   After all, it is truly a fun gift to receive.

If this sounds fun to you, go see Paul & Nancy.    Let them be your elves.  

 Your label is done within an hour!   They are also a USPS station and will ship anywhere for you!    Now that's one thing done for Christmas.  

74-5533 Luhia Street Suite B5
Kailua-Kona 96740
Hawaii  United States
Tel Local:331-0800 Toll Free:1-877-KONACUP
Fax (808)331-0900

Photo Credits:

Santa - Tannenbaum Holiday Shop

Pomeranian "Kolohe" - Vicki Yoon

Nancy Nangle: Kona Brothers Coffee