Pau Hana Friday For July 18

Shoppers at Living Foods Gourmet Market can buy local produce as well as house-made sauces, hot meals or fresh fish and meat. Daniel Lane Photo

Tasting Kauai

Today, learn about the new owners of Living Foods Gourmet Market and what they have planned for their Poipu grocery store and cafe in “A food lover’s paradise” in The Garden Island.
In this week’s On the Farm column, if you’ve ever had noni, you’ll likely never forget the taste. You may want to make the pungent fruit a regular part of your diet. In this Sunday’s article, you’ll learn about the benefits of noni, including that it’s 75 percent as effective at killing pain as morphine, and not at all addictive.
Here’s a little insight from organic noni farmer Steve Frailey into why it’s better to drink unfermented noni juice and how to make your own.
In last week’s On the Farm column, “Bee Happy,” we explored beekeeping courses at Kauai Community College, discovered why bees swarm and learned what to do if you get stung.

NEWS:

Hawaii Dairy Farms

Thursday’s article, “Dairy suit splits island,” notes that a lawsuit demanding Hawaii Dairy Farms complete an environmental assessment for its proposed dairy in Mahaulepu Valley has added fuel to a fiery situation.

Kawailoa Development, which owns the Grand Hyatt Resort & Spa and the Poipu Bay Golf Course, filed suit July 10 in 5th Circuit Court, and claims its interests would be adversely affected should the dairy move into the neighborhood.

Some Kauai residents believe the suit is premature and without merit and see it as simply another attack on Kauai agriculture. Others say it is necessary to prevent irreversible harm to a pristine environment. Read more online at The Garden Island.

Taste of Hawaii 2014 Winners

Jake and Erron DePew of The Green Pig. Daniel Lane photo.

• Best Seafood ~ Paco’s Tacos
• Best Meat/Poultry ~ The Green Pig
• Best Dessert ~ Kawaii Cupcake
• Best Beverage ~ Rainbeau Jo’s
• Best Water ~ Hawaii Volcanic Water
• Best Beer ~ Kauai Beer Company
• Best Wine ~ Nani Moon Mead
• Best New Discovery ~ The Green Pig
• Aloha Spirit ~ Kawaii Cupcake
• People’s Choice ~ Hukilau Lanai
• Best Presentation ~ The Fairmont Kea Lani on Maui

Pau Hana Bakery

The folks at Pau Hana Bakery in the Kong Lung Center at Kilauea are now serving homemade Portuguese Sausage and egg Stromboli. Their staff will also soon offer individually wrapped, smoked Portuguese Sausages straight out of their coolers. Their special recipe takes 30 Hawaiian chili peppers for every 13 pounds of meat, among many other spices!
The bakery remains a “trans-fat-free zone” offering gluten-free, dairy-free, sugar-free and vegetarian food options.
We checked them out earlier this year for The Garden Island in the article, “A tolerance for intolerance at the Pau Hana Bakery.”

Rainbeau Jo’s

Rainbeau Jo’s is now selling reusable, reversible locally made Java Jackets in the colors on the right. Daniel Lane Photo

Roy’s Poipu

Sad announcement this week from Roy’s Poipu that Executive Chef Melanie Nowels is leaving. While we wish her the very best as she moves on to her next endeavor, we’ll greatly miss the delicious food she crafted.
“I want to thank everyone for all of the help and phenomenal service you all have given me, ” Melanie says. “I truly appreciate it. You will be in capable hands with John and Vance and the rest of the Roy’s team. My last day will be July 24, but if there is anything I can assist you with until then, please don’t hesitate to ask.”

Kauai Farmacy

The lovely folks operating Kauai Farmacy Tea Wagon in Kilauea have released a new video showcasing what they can do to help customers and how they operate.  Check out the Kauai Farmacy Trailer online at YouTube.
To learn more about our friends at the Kauai Farmacy Tea Wagon, read Marta Lane’s article, “Medicinal Teas from the Farmacy,” in Midweek Kauai.

Yanagi Sushi

Exciting news this week from Matt Oliver that Yanagi Sushi Kauai has moved The Dragon Wagon to the heart of Koloa Town in the historic sugar cane monument lawn on the corner of Maluhia Road and Koloa Road.  You can get fresh sushi there from 11 a.m. t0 3 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.
Learn more about how Yanagi Sushi hit the road in “Poipu’s mobile sushi bar,” in The Garden Island.

Java Kai

Java Kai has a new coffee roaster. Daniel Lane photo

The Right Slice

The Right Slice in Puhi is looking for two part-time employees, including a Tuesday/Wednesday Market person and a Thursday/Friday/Saturday evening event person. While both positions are part-time and commission based, the positions could become full time later this year when The Right Slice opens a second location in Kalaheo as well as at the markets. Applicants can send a resume to sandy@rightslice.com, or are welcome to fill out an application at the store.
EVENTS:
Friday. July 18

Finally Friday

Kauai Beer Company offers suggested beer pairings with each entree this week. The delicious menu continues to grow as well. Tonight’s offerings include:

• Roasted Beets and Watermelon Salad $8 ~Arugula, Spinach, Onions, Fennel, a Saison Lemongrass-Honey Dressing and a Balsamic glaze. Suggested pairings: Saison, Lihue Lager, IPA 1 Nitro

• Black Limousine Braised Oxtail Stew $8 ~ topped with toasted Cheddar Cheese Bread Dippers and served with sesame brown rice. Suggested pairing: Black Limousine

• Poutine Fries $10 ~ Beer-battered French fries smothered with slow cooked pork gravy and pork belly lardons, then topped with white cheddar cheese. Suggested pairings: Austrian Chicken, Black Limousine

• Gà Nướng Chicken Sausage Banh Mi $10 ~ Featuring Chili Mango Chicken Sausage, Peppers, Cilantro, Pickled Carrot-Cucumber Slaw and a Spicy Thai Lemongrass Aioli on Midnight Bear Roll and served with Housemade Potato Chips or Cabbage-Kale Slaw. Suggested pairings: Saison, IPA 1 Nitro

• Roasted Vegetable Wrap $9 ~ Roasted Eggplant, Zucchini (or Squash), Onions, Tomatoes and Garden Greens with an Avocado Lime Spread in a Flour Spinich-Herb Tortilla. Served with Housemade Potato Chips or a Cabbage-Kale Slaw. Suggested pairings: IPA 2, Tropical Armadillo

• Pacific Rim Cuban $11 ~ House Cured and Beer Braised Pulled Pork, Seared SPAM, Manchego Cheese, Housemade Pickles and Mustard on a Midnight Bear Roll, Served with Housemade Potato Chips or Cabbage-Kale Slaw. Suggested pairings: Lihue Lager, Tropical Armadillo

• Cabbage and Kale Slaw $4

• Housemade BBQ Potato Chips $3

• Spent Grain Pretzels $3 ~ Made with the brewery’s spent grain by Judy Capertina of Haole Girl Island Sweets and served with house-made mustard. Suggested pairing: What beer doesn’t go well with a pretzel?

All menu items feature locally grown vegetables, herbs and fruits from Growing Strong Farm, Kauai Glory Farms, Wootens Produce of Kauai, Moloaa Organicaa and Kauai Kunana Dairy.
Friday, July 18 to Sunday, July 27

Koloa Plantation Days

The 29th annual Koloa Plantation Days opens today in Poipu. More than 25 events are planned to celebrate the plantation heritage and modern-day vitality of Kauai’s south shore communities of Koloa and Poipu, during this 10-day family-oriented festival.
The festival is designed to teach Koloa’s multicultural history, experience a diverse range of local foods, culture and activities, explore the area’s unique ecology and archaeology, and enjoy the warm hospitality of the south shore’s resorts, golf courses and other neighborhood venues.
Along with rodeo events, “talk stories” about growing up on the plantation with Kauai Living Legend David Penhallow Scott, the festival will also feature live music events, cultural performances, film nights, culinary demonstrations, craft fairs, guided walks and hikes, activities and games for keiki, sporting events, and the historic parade and park celebration which has become an annual Kauai tradition.
Visit the Koloa Plantation Days website for the full schedule of events!
Saturday, July 19 and Sunday, July 20

Korean Natural Farming workshop

Permaculture Kauai Farm in Moloaa, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. both days, $160
Korean Natural Farming and Indigenous Microorganisms training offers a beyond organic approach to nurturing the aina. Hosted by Permaculture Hawaii, the workshop offers training for making on-farm produced inputs using local and Hawaii-sourced materials designed for farmers, landscapers, ranchers and gardeners.
The workshop will cover:

• Fertilizers in dry and liquid forms
• Soil and compost innoculants
• Foliar sprays for every stage of plant growth
• Plant hormone extracts
• Herbal and medicinal extracts
• Pest control inputs

Developed and re-systematized by Cho Han-kyu, “Korean Natural Farming” is an ancient system for producing every farm input necessary for sustainable production and management of field crops and animals.
Expected benefits from this system include soil moisture retention, increased tilth, increased resistance to environmental stresses, more nutrient dense food, and vigorous organic plant and animal health. This training session will teach how to produce and use natural farming inputs at both commercial and residential farming scales.
A light lunch will be offered and participants are asked to bring a notebook, chair and “a can do attitude!” Pre-registration is encouraged as the class is limited to 40 people. Please contact Ray Maki at 634-5412, permaculturekauai@yahoo.com or at www.PermacultureKauai.com for more details.

Sunday, July 20

2014 Hoolaulea at Poipu Beach Park

The Poipu Beach Resort Association and Koloa Plantation Days present the 2014 Hoolaulea at Poipu Beach Park from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., Sunday, July 20.
Several food trucks will be in attendance, including Yanagi Sushi, Yamato’s Ice Cream, Chef George of the Jungle, Porky’s and Truckin’ Delicious. There will be live entertainment from The Greenstone Project, Applesauce, and Jeff Caldwell.
Beach chairs and blankets are welcome. This is a no alcohol event. Admission is free. For more information, please call 808-742-7444.
Wednesday, July 23

Living Foods Gourmet Market and Cafe

The new owners of Living Foods Gourmet Market and Cafe, Jeff Sacchini and Howard Warner, are inviting the public to a Blessing and Grand Re-opening Celebration on Wednesday, July 23. The blessing begins at 2:30 p.m. and will be followed by a Grand Re-opening celebration from 3 to 5 p.m. with samplings showcasing specialty foods prepared by the Living Foods culinary team.
With plans to create a thriving foodie hub on Kauai, be a responsible employer, and become a committed partner in the community, they are excited to showcase their expansive and exclusive product lines and educate people on the Living Foods story. Living Foods is already planning wine tastings, cooking classes and chef demonstrations, as well catering special events and parties.
Living Foods Gourmet Market and Cafe, located in the Shops at Kukuiula, is open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. The cafe is open from 7 to 11:30 a.m. for breakfast and 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. for lunch and dinner. For more information, please visit www.shoplivingfoods.com or phone 808-742-2323.
Saturday, July 26

A Taste of Kilohana

Sampling seasonal fruit at Kilohana Plantation. Daniel Lane photo

• Sake soaked Kauai Shrimp with Kailani mixed greens, Maui tropical pineapple, and sweet sesame ginger aioli
• Grass-fed Makaweli Meat Company beef tenderloin topped with port wine and a confit of Kauai’s Kaneshiro Farms pork belly and Island fresh Wasabi Crusted Opah with a lilikoi white wine vinaigrette, caramelized Ewa onion, jasmine rice, and a medley of farm fresh vegetables
• Rustic Wi and Molokai Uala Gallete

A portion of proceeds from Tasting Kauai’s food tours and book benefits the Hawaii Food Bank – Kauai Branch. To make reservations, visit A Taste of Kilohana. To see previous tours, check out our Facebook photo album. For a complete list of tour dates, check out our Kauai Culinary Tours Calendar.
All July

“You Dine, We Donate” to benefit Kauai Humane Society

Pipikaula Flatbread. Daniel Lane photo

The Groves celebrate their anniversary during A Taste of Kilohana. Daniel Lane photo

• Sake soaked Kauai Shrimp with Kailani mixed greens, Maui tropical pineapple, and sweet sesame ginger aioli
• Grass-fed Makaweli Meat Company beef tenderloin topped with port wine and a confit of Kauai’s Kaneshiro Farms pork belly and Island fresh Wasabi Crusted Opah with a lilikoi white wine vinaigrette, caramelized Ewa onion, jasmine rice, and a medley of farm fresh vegetables
• Rustic Wi and Molokai Uala Gallete

A portion of proceeds from Tasting Kauai’s food tours and book benefits the Hawaii Food Bank – Kauai Branch. To make reservations, visit A Taste of Kilohana. To see previous tours, check out our Facebook photo album. For a complete list of tour dates, check out our Kauai Culinary Tours Calendar.

Sustainable Kauai Meetups

In August, Sustainable Kauai’s Meetups include:
Tuesday, August 12

Sustainable Kauai Garden Share

This month’s Garden Share will be held from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday, August 12, at Malama Kauai Food Forest, located at 5545 Kahiliholo Rd in Kilauea. After getting off Kuhio Highway at the Kalihiwai Ridge area, take the first left after Pepperwood Plantation, to the right of the dog park.
The concept of the Garden Share is the simple: Bring something you have and take something home you do not have.
Share in the bounty of Kauai’s gardens as everyone shares homegrown fruit, vegetables, eggs, herbs, honey, flowers, seedlings, plants and seeds. No worries if your garden is not producing as the group welcomes homemade treasures, food and supplies made from or for the garden or kitchen too.
Please bring bags, paper towels, etc. to take things home with you. Any items remaining at the end of the event will be donated to the food pantry or community garden.
Wednesday, August 13

Kauai Farmers Union Meeting and Potluck

The Kauai Farmers Union will host a monthly local food potluck and education sessions at 6 p.m., Wednesday, August 13, at the Anahola Clubhouse, located at 3900 Kawelo St., in Anahola.
Topics include Legislative Updates & a Farm-to-Restaurant Panel Discussion.
Please bring a dish to share and talk story with family farmers, food producers, politicians, restaurants and other local food supporters! We always provide a range of speakers and information relevant to our mission of supporting the health of the family farms of Kauai. Visit www.kauaifarmersunion.org for more information.
Friday, August 15

A Culinary Romp Through Paradise

During A Culinary Romp Through Paradise, guests ask chef Rey questions while others take pictures of the beautiful food. Marta Lane photo

RumFest at RumFire

The Second Annual RumFest at RumFire Poipu Beach at Sheraton Kauai Resort kicks off at 6 p.m. Saturday, August 16, in the resort’s open-air Ocean Courtyard.
The event, which celebrates National Rum Day, will feature Hawaii rums, island music and heavy pupu. A silent auction will be held during the festivities to benefit the Kauai Humane Society.
Tickets for RumFest are $50 inclusive tax and gratuity and include a chance to win a variety of door prizes, and includes a 15 percent discount for one dinner at RumFire throughout August.
For more information about the Second Annual RumFest, or to make reservations, call 808-742-4786 or visit www.sheraton-kauai.com online.
ONGOING:

Sunshine Farmers Market in Kapaa. Daniel Lane photo

Farmers Market Tour

Wednesdays, 3 to 4 p.m., $30
Meet local farmers, learn how to select perfect produce as well as when it’s in season and how to cook with it during Tasting Kauai’s one-hour farmers market class. Farmers markets are an affordable way to immerse yourself in local culture and the best place to buy produce that’s so fresh, it was harvested that morning. But buying at the farmers market doesn’t always insure that it was grown on Kauai. It happens all over the world. In Hawaii, customers want mangoes year-round. In Colorado, they want tomatoes in May. To make that sale, vendors buy imported mangoes or tomatoes and sell them as their own. Becoming familiar with growing seasons insures your dollars are spent on local produce.
There’s a whole world of delicious produce that many people never try. Let’s face it, some of it looks like it came from another planet. Once unfamiliar produce is demystified and cooking tips are shared, it may become a regular at dinner table. Many factors can make exotic produce expensive and the last thing you want to do is buy a pineapple that isn’t at peak perfection. This class will also teach you how to tell when produce is ripe as well as how to store it for best results. To make reservations, visit our Farmers Market Tour page.

Hanapepe Friday Night Festival and Art Walk

Hanapepe Town, 6 to 9 p.m.
Every Friday evening, Old Town Hanapepe bustles with people. A dozen art galleries stay open late and local crafters sell their wares. There’s also stilt walkers, classics cars, live music and entertainment. The Right Slice sells fresh-baked pie by the slice or whole. Midnight Bear Breads makes pizza fresh from a wood-burning oven. Aloha Spice Company serves samples of their Hawaiian sea salt and spice blends on grilled chicken. These spices quickly add fantastic flavor without a lot of calories and make wonderful gifts of aloha.
Haole Girl Island Sweets sells a variety of hand-made butter croissants, including grilled chicken and portobello mushroom seasoned with Aloha Spice Company blends. Other croissants are filled with local fruit, nuts, honey or vegetables. Samples are given just outside the parking lot, in front of the darling Aloha Spice Company building. Call 808-335-6469 for more information.

Kapaa Art Walk in Old Town Kapaa. Daniel Lane photo

Kapaa Art Walk

Old Town Kapaa, 5 to 9 p.m.
On the first Saturday of the month hundreds of people party in Old Town Kapaa. The street is filled with the sounds of laughter and music, smells of delicious local food, and the work of Kauai artists. In front of the Dragon Building, Anni Caporuscio (owner of Small Town Coffee and Blue House Booksellers) sings to a three-piece band which includes a guitar player, drummer and washboard player. Art Cafe Hemingway and Java Kai open a new exhibit and serve food late. The Buttery hosts jewelers and other Kauai Made jewelry is available throughout.
A designated parking area is located at 4451 Lehua St., on a 3-acre spot next to Restore Kauai and Specialty Lumber. Cost to park in the lot is $3.
 

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

Art Walk at Kukuiula

The Shops at Kukuiula, 6 to 9 p.m., free
An evening of fine art, fine dining and live music under the stars at The Shops at Kukuiula the second Saturday of each month. See May 10 listing for this month’s details.
Dining options include Merriman’s Fish House, Josselin’s Tapas Bar & Grill, Tortilla Republic, Dolphin Sushi, Living Foods and Lappert’s Hawaii. Plus, enjoy jazz outdoors by Hank Curtis and Steve Dubey and Latin rhythms by Manuel Mendes and Cary Valentine.

Kilauea Art Walk

Stone Building, 5 to 8 p.m.
Join more than 20 artisans on the last Saturday of the month at the Stone Building in Kilauea Town. There’s live music, original art, hand-made apparel, jewelry, photography, custom slippers, painted glass bottles, ice cream and unique creations. Face painting henna tattoos. Stop by Kilauea Fish Market for dinner.

Art and Wine Thursdays

Art and Wine Thursdays includes an art reception by Kauai based artists such as Donia Lilly, with original pastel, acrylic, and mixed media paintings from the “Oceans” and “Moons” and “Memories” series, along with prints and greeting cards. Wine tastings have included Buena Vista The Count Cabernet 2008; St. Francis Chardonnay 2009; Matanzas Creek Sauvignon Blanc 2011; Sonoma Cutrer Chardonnay 2011 and Lyeth Meritage 2010. Light appetizers of cheese, fruit and vegetable crudités are also available. Includes a coupon for a 15 percent food discount at the Naupaka Terrace with the purchase of any dinner entrée.

Truck Stop Thursday

Kauai Beer Company, 5 p.m.
Every Thursday, Kauai Beer Company invites three food trucks to serve food. Trucks park along the curb, the sidewalk is converted into a patio and hundreds of people enjoy food, conversation and each other. Since the trucks change every week, it’s a great opportunity to try something new. For a listing of this week’s trucks, check out Kauai Beer Company’s Facebook page.
 

Photos for this blog post were contributed by Daniel Lane of Pono Photo.