NEWS:

The 22nd Annual Hawaii International Tropical Fruit Conference

Pau Hana Friday Lychee Sangria from Josselin’s Tapas Bar & Grill. Daniel Lane photo

The 22nd Annual Hawaii International Tropical Fruit Conference kicks off September 13 -16 at the University of Hawaii at Manoa campus on Oahu and continues with free mini gatherings for Kauai, Maui, Hilo and Kona.

Open to the public and presented by the statewide Hawaii Tropical Fruit Growers (HTFG), the events are geared for farmers, educators, orchard managers and proponents of sustainable agriculture.

Kauai’s free 2012 post-conference mini meeting is 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 17 at the National Tropical Botanical Garden Education Center, 3530 Papalina Road, Kalaheo.

With the theme Producing Quality Fruit for the Future of Hawaii, all sessions headline keynote speakers Dr. Roberto Coronel, professor emeritus University of the Philippines Los Banos, and Chef Ernest Miller of Hollywood Farmer’s Kitchen, a non-profit community-oriented project of Sustainable Economic Enterprises of Los Angeles.

Dr. Coronel, an author and award-winning fruit researcher, will discuss “On-Farm Fruit Biodiversity Conservation.” Dr. Coronel will share his experiences as owner-curator of the four-hectare RC Fruit Conservation Farm planted with 220 edible fruit and nut species from the tropical regions of the world and 136 registered fruit varieties.

Speaking on “The Rise, Decline and Rise of Food Preservation,” Chef Miller is the lead instructor for the Master Food Preserver Program for the University of California Cooperative Extension in Los Angeles County. A U.S. delegate to Slow Food’s Terra Madre 2012, Miller will discuss food preservation for future security and value-added project development.

To signup for the Kauai post-conference mini meeting, contact Scott Sloan, 808-651-9879 or sloan@ntbg.org.

Hawaii Tropical Fruit Growers incorporated in 1989 to promote tropical fruit grown in Hawaii, HTFG is a statewide association of tropical fruit growers, packers, distributors and hobbyists dedicated to tropical fruit research, education, marketing and promotion.

Kalaheo Ag lots

Reservations are now being taken for Brydeswood Ranch, a new community located in Kalaheo, Kauai. The project will make available for agricultural use a total of 24 lots ranging in size from four up to 17 acres; prices start at $600,000. The land is zoned ‘agricultural open space’ which allows for a variety of uses including farming, raising horses and other animals, cultivating flowers, trees, or a variety of plants, along with associated country residences.

Of the 24 Ranch lots, 13 will be available exclusively to Kauai farmers for an initial 120-day period. Reservations began on September 6, 2012.

Brydeswood Ranch takes its name from the expansive McBryde family estate, which was also called Brydeswood. In the mid-19th century, agricultural pioneer Duncan McBryde emigrated from Scotland and acquired a lease for lands in Wahiawa, Kauai, on which he built his family home, as well as an extensive cattle ranch.

To learn more about Brydeswood Ranch on Kauai, Hawaii, as well as to view the Public Offering Statement, please visit the Brydeswood Ranch website. You may also contact the exclusive project broker, Sleeping Giant Sotheby’s International Realtyon Kauai sales agents Julie Hardie (R) 808-652-0468 and Susan Higgins (RA) 808-346-7900.

Kilauea Agriculture Park

Ian K. Costa, deputy director of Parks and Recreation for the County of Kauai met with north shore farmers this week. The Kilauea Agriculture Park plan is for 10 lots, about five-acres each. Five organic farms will be established up wind of five conventional farms. There will also be 14, one-acre incubator farms. Kilauea growers can expect a two to three year wait, as Costa, and County Agricultural Specialist Bill Spitz, are updating the Ag Park ordinance. Special concerns regarding shearwater and endangered species also need to be addressed.

The board passed a motion to form a Kilauea Community Farm committee that will establish goals, and to prepare a proposal to the county regarding management of the land.

Tahiti Nui

The Environmental Protection Agency has filed a complaint against the Tahiti Nui Restaurant and Cocktail Bar in Hanalei on Kauai, alleging that the business has failed to close three cesspools and, as a result, is in violation of the Safe Water Drinking Act.

The Garden Island newspaper is reporting that the EPA is seeking fines against the restaurant that could total $177,500. It alleges that for six years the Tahiti Nui Restaurant’s cesspools have been discharging raw sewage into the ground.

But Tahiti Nui Restaurant owner Christian Marston said as recently as last week that he is “in compliance.” In 2006, he says he hired a contractor to design a state-approved wastewater system and plans to that effect are on file.

The EPA disputes Marston’s claims.

Fine Dining Menu at the Kauai Community College

KCC Students practice their Fine Dining skills. Photo Daniel Lane

Tuesday, September 11, Wednesday, September 12, and Thursday, September 13

Entrees

• Pizza Margherita topped with spinach salad, $13.50
• Chicken Scaloppini Marsala with Lyonnaise potatoes and zucchini sauté Provençal, $16.75
• Grilled fresh fish with beurre blanc, pineapple mango salsa, lemon orzo pilaf, and grilled vegetable medley, $17.50
• Roast loin of pork with sage and apples, garlic mashed potatoes, and carrots vichy $15.50
• Coq au vin, potatoes Anna, broccoli and hollandaise sauce, $15.50

All meals come with cheddar cheese jalapeno biscuits, herb butter rolls and a choice of:
Minestrone soup; broccoli, prosciutto, and sunflower salad or Waldorf salad.

Dessert choices include:
Peach cobbler ala mode; chocolate mousse with raspberry sauce, or strawberry trifle.

Limited seating is still available for all three days. Call 245-8365 to make reservations.

EVENTS:

Tuesday, September 11

The Eye of The Lion, The Story of My First Hurricane book signing

Small Town Coffee, 2 to 5 p.m.

Join author Mark Jeffers of Storybook Theatre for a book signing. His story, The Eye of The Lion, The Story of My First Hurricane Iniki recounts how the storm affected the children of Kauai, in their words. Jeffers enlisted Stacey Kaopuiki of Maui to illustrate based on the images sent in by the children.

Wednesday, September 12

Kauai Culinary Market

Wednesdays 4 to 6 p.m.

Kauai Culinary Market at Kukuiula Shopping Village in Poipu. Daniel Lane photo

The Shops at Kukuiula host a gourmet farmers market every Wednesday afternoon. You can stroll through the outside mall and buy farm fresh produce, local coffee, salt blends, macadamia nuts, coconut syrup, flowers, pie and jam. Local musicians play, there is a beer and wine garden as well as free cooking demonstrations.

This week, Aletha Thomas of Monkeypod Jam will focus on easy entertaining, and plans on showing everyone how to make goat cheese and Spiced Tomato Jam crostini along with a Greek yogurt Lilikoi Curd parfait. Come early and get a front row seat!

The culinary market is a partnership between The Shops at Kukuiula and the Kauai County Farm Bureau. Look for the Kauai Grown label, and you’ll know that the food you buy was really grown on Kauai!

Friday, September 14

Kauai Culinary Tour

8 a.m. to 4 p.m., $120

Lunch from our last tour. Wild Wailua Fern Shoots, Kauai Fresh Farms Tomatoes and Pulehu Kauai Grown Shrimp. Daniel Lane photo

Tasting Kauai is featuring Nani Moon Mead at this month’s day-long culinary romp through paradise. We start with a tour of a 26-acre sustainable fruit farm, and sample seasonal fruit just harvested from the farm. Then we’ll go to the lush Kauai Marriott Resort, and enjoy a four-course lunch made with Kauai-grown ingredients. Executive chef Guy Higa will do a cooking demonstration at an outdoor, covered lanai.

After lunch, we’ll get an exclusive tour of Hawaii’s only meadery. There are five meads in the Nani Moon Mead collection, and we’ll sample each one as we learn about how it’s made using local ingredients such as pineapple, passion fruit, and honey. Pick your favorite, and bring a bottle home. It’s on us!

For more information, visit our Kauai Culinary Tours page, or call 808-635-0257. Deadline to register is this Wednesday at noon, HST. If you’d like to make your mouth water, read about our last Kauai Culinary Tour.

Saturday, September 15

September in the Gardens

Na Aina Kai, 3 to 6 p.m., $15

“September in the Gardens” is a Na Aina Kai annual fundraiser that enables the community to enjoy the gardens. There will be local entertainment, aerial silks, and food provided by Collin Darrell of Grow Culture.

ONGOING:

Sunday, September 3 – Friday, September 21

Kauai Aloha Festivals

The Kauai Aloha Festivals celebrates Kauai’s native Hawaiian culture. Several events showcase Hawaiian music, dance, cuisine, arts and cultural practices. Kauai residents and visitors will be able to observe time-honored protocol and traditions in association with the Hawaiian culture as well as experience a broad range of Hawaiian dance, music and food.

Event locations include Smith’s Tropical Paradise, Kapaa First Hawaiian Church, Kauai Beach Resort, Kauai Marriott, and the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa. For more information, visit the Kauai Aloha Festivals website.