NEWS:

Midnight Bear Breads

Pau Hana Friday drinks at the Beach House. Daniel Lane photo

Midnight Bear Breads is now at the Restore Kauai farmers market on Wednesdays. The market is across the street from the Kapaa farmers market, so you can get your veg and bread all at once.

Last week, as I reached their stall, Evan McAfee asked me if I wanted to sample his baba ghanoush. Evan makes fresh spreads and sandwiches to eat with his girlfriend’s bread. Ursa Swift is the baker behind Midnight Bear Breads, and specializes in European-style baguettes and ciabatta.

“I make my own tahini,” Evan tells me as a slather a spoonful on a wedge of Ursa’s whole wheat bread. “I toast the sesame seeds first, and blend it in my Vitamix.” He adds roasted eggplant and fresh herbs. The result is a tahini forward creamy spread with a touch of acid.

Ursa Swift of Midnight Bear Breads. Daniel Lane photo

In a cooler, Evan has a stash of ulu sandwiches made with Ursa’s fluffy sesame wheat rolls. The breadfruit patty is made of mashed ulu, ginger, spices and onion. It’s topped with lettuce, tomato, onion, basil, Rainbow Garden sprouts, and a garlicy mayo. Evan adds avocado when they’re in season. It’s one bambucha sammy, and when he hands it to a customer, it looks like it could serve two people.

Evan also makes a macadamia nut pesto, which he sells in containers, but on Saturday night, you can get it on pizza. The couple set up at Hanapepe Art Night, and using the old Hanapepe Cafe kitchen, make pizza cooked on a stone. Thin and crispy crust, all bubbled and brown, is topped with pesto, mozzarella, local tomatoes, roasted garlic, and fresh thyme, oregano and basil. Slices are $5, or you can pre order a 16-inch pizza for $30.

Dan and I walked away with two stuffed sweet breads. Tucked inside the bread is a silky purple sweet potato puree mixed with butter, cream, vanilla and cinnamon. The bread is soft and buttery with a slight chew and tender crumb. Inside, the sweet potatoes are as smooth as baby food, only nice and tight like a thick frosting. It’s not too sweet though, and a bite of the puree with the bread ranks in my all time top 10 favorite comfort foods.

The Garden Cafe

Chard Ahi Wrap with cilantro lime vinaigrette, papaya salsa and cucumber namasu.

The Garden Cafe at Common Ground will be transitioning to dining room service beginning September 4, and will extend hours until 3 p.m.  The farm to table restaurant is just 20-feet from the onsite garden, which you can tour at your leisure, or take a 45-minute guided tour and learn about the importance of organic farming and see the principles of permaculture design in effect.

A monthly digestible speaker series on sustainability called “Beyond the Plate” will begin in September. A date hasn’t been set yet, but it will feature a pre fixe menu.

Akamai Juice Company

Scott Lutton of Akamai Juice Company serves fresh orange juice at the Hanalei Farmers Market. Photo by Danile Lane

Akamai Juice Company’s Strawberry Guava is certainly the flavor of the month. The Garden Cafe at Common Ground now sells seven Akamai Juice flavors, and the Strawberry Guava consistently sells out first.

With lilikoi and mango season jamming, the Mango-licious and Lilisnap juices are a close second. “I’m all for global warming if it means three guava and mango seasons this year!” Says owner Cas Schwabe-Lutton. For an up-to-date juice menu check out Akamai Juice Company on Facebook, or visit the Akamai Juice Company website.

Lighthouse Bistro in Kilauea is using the popular (and one of our favorites) Cucumber Mint Slushy as a base for their Cucumber Mint Mojito special. “Every Saturday market, more than 20 people suggest adding booze to the fresh juices,” says Cas. I think that’s an excellent idea!

Pono Photo

Daniel Lane at the Hanalei Pier on Kauai’s North shore

At the moment, Dan is at Java Kai taking down his prints. The most popular image by far, is Sunset with Kong. Residents bought the majority of them, and I think that’s because it’s a unique view of Kealia Beach, and Kong mountain. Dan sends his mahalos to the community and visitors for their support!

Tomorrow, he’s meeting with Koloa Rum to get his prints in their Tasting Room & Company Store at Kilohana Plantation. If you haven’t been there yet, you can sample the award-winning rum, their mai tais and rum cake in the Tasting Room, and then browse the store for locally made products.

If you don’t know, Pono Photo is my husband Daniel Lane. He is the exclusive photographer for Tasting Kauai, and MidWeek Kauai’s “Eye on Kauai”, “Tastes of Kauai” and “Farmers Markets” columns.

Tahiti Nui

According to Pacific Business News, The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has issued an enforcement action against the owner of the landmark Tahiti Nui Restaurant and Cocktail Bar, which was featured in the film “The Descendants,” for failing to close three large-capacity cesspools on the property in Hanalei.

Owner Christian Marston, who plans to appeal the enforcement action, said he hired an engineering company to draw up plans for removing the cesspools, but said the plans have been delayed for more than two years and were never submitted to the state Board of Health.

EVENTS:

Saturday, September 1

Aha Hula the 4th Annual Luau and Hula Kahiko Concert

Common Ground, noon to 5 p.m., $40

Celebrate the legacy of Halau Palaihiwa O Kaipuwai, under the direction of Kumu Hula, Kehaulani Kekua. The cultural experience includes rare performances and an offering of 30 traditional Hawaiian chants as well as classical dances of Hawaii.

Set against the magnificent backdrop of Kilauea and Hanalei’s stunning Namahana, Hihimanu and Namolokama mountain peaks, Aha Hula will be held in the natural outdoor performance arena at Common Ground Kauai located in Kilauea.

Pre-sale tickets include a Hawaiian luau with vegetarian fare, Hawaiian music, and entertainment. Fresh lei, arts and crafts, baked goods and refreshments, and a Keiki Paani Zone will also be available.

For tickets and information, visit the Kaieie Foundation website or call 808-346-7574.

Kapaa Art Walk

Free, 5 to 9 p.m.

It’s the first Saturday of the month, and that means new art exhibits, food and music in downtown Kapaa. Art Cafe Hemingway will feature the Taylor Camp photo exhibition by John Wehrheim.

The images were taken in the 60s when a group of teenagers and young adults fled the mainland, and lived on Kauai’s north shore. This is the first time in over 30-years that the original collection of rare gelatin silver prints will be exhibited on Kauai.

Art Cafe Hemingway owners Markus and Jana Boemer have incorporated a long caption or quote from the Taylor Camp book, in handwritten calligraphy. Every piece tells a story, and becomes a direct link to the past creating the feeling of “being there”.

Wednesday September 5, and Thursday September 6

Kauai Community College Fine Dining menu

• French dip sandwich served with French fries, green salad, horseradish cream and au jus, $14.50
• Sauteed boneless breast of chicken with mushroom sauce. Served with peas, carrots, and pearl onions and tarragon butter, and affron rice pilaf $17.50.
• Grilled rib eye served with sauteed mushrooms, béarnaise sauce, grilled asparagus, and gratin dauphinois, $20.25.
• Swiss steaks in tomato sauce with creamy polenta and broccoli mornay, $16.00.
• Sauteed shrimp with tomato, garlic and parsley, and fresh pasta with pesto sauce, $16.75

Price includes one of these starters:
New England clam chowder, Caesar salad, Pacific rim salad with chicken.

And choice of dessert:
Custard rice pudding with raspberry sauce, chocolate haupia cream pie, and apple crisp with vanilla ice cream.

Soft rolls and muffins will also be served. Call 808-245-8365 to make a reservation.

Tuesday, September 11

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

Small Town Coffee, 2 to 5 p.m.

After Hurricane Iniki passed over Kauai, leaving a wake of destruction in its path, Mark Jeffers of Storybook Theatre wanted to know how the storm affected the children of Kauai. He applied for funds available from the Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund to hold a contest that would allow the children of Kauai to share their hurricane stories.

He believed that allowing the children to write their stories would be therapeutic and that their stories could potentially benefit other children that found themselves facing a hurricane or similar natural disaster.

The winners also received a monetary prize, which would benefit their families at a time when most people were without work. The stories and images he received from the children of Kauai became the inspiration for his book, The Eye of The Lion, The Story of My First Hurricane. Jeffers enlisted Stacey Kaopuiki of Maui to illustrate based on the images sent in by the children.

Friday, September 14

Kauai Culinary Tour

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

What will Guy cook up next? Check out our culinary tour page. 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!

Read about Tasting Kauai’s last culinary tour,  visit our Kauai Culinary Tours page, or call 808-635-0257.

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.