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Pau Hana Friday for Feb 15

By on February 15, 2013 in Pau Hana Friday
The Beach House at night.

The Beach House at night.

NEWS:

The Beach House

Travel + Leisure recently announced the top 37 Most Romantic Restaurants in the United States. The Beach House Restaurant not only made the list, but was the only restaurant represented in the Hawaiian Islands. “This is a real honor for the staff, Kauai and the restaurant,” says General Manager Tim Obert.

Travel + Leisure says, “A great romantic restaurant should make you feel the way a great romantic partner does—appreciated, special, and like you’re the only person in the room.” We can’t argue with that! Continue Reading →

Pau Hana Friday for Jan. 25

By on January 25, 2013 in Pau Hana Friday

Last night’s Outstanding in the Field farm to table dinner at Olana Organic Farm started of well but got rained out. The food and company was wonderful though. Marta Lane photo

NEWS:

Tasting Kauai

I’m blessed in many ways. I get to live on Kauai, and as a food writer, I get to work with my husband who is a photographer. In the 16 years that we’ve been together, he’s never faltered in his love, encouragement and solid advise. My mother was born and raised in Barcelona, Spain, and her family taught me how to celebrate life, friends and family with good food and laughter at the center of the table.

The Spanish, and many other cultures, are passionate about food. I remember shopping sprees with my aunt Anita. She knew exactly which markets had the best fish, meat and vegetables for her paella. Her table was abundant with family, friends, fresh seafood, baguettes, cheese, meat, produce and wine. As we broke bread together, good natured arguments broke out regarding where the best cherries are grown, the best wine region (we prefer Rioja), and the best places for mushroom hunting. They’d even talk about their next meal, while eating the current meal! Continue Reading →

Pau Hana Friday for Jan. 18

By on January 18, 2013 in Pau Hana Friday
Dr. Vandana Shiva at the Kauai War Memorial Hall. Daniel Lane photo. Anti GMO Rally

Dr. Vandana Shiva at the Kauai War Memorial Hall. Daniel Lane photo.

NEWS:

Rise Awareness and Inspire Change

Over 1,000 people filled the Kauai War Memorial Hall in peaceful solidarity last night. Dr. Vandana Shiva, a celebrated physicist and environmental activist, spoke about the deadly effect genetically modified crops have had on India. She encouraged our residents to become active with legislature and banning GMO crops in Hawaii.

Andrew Kimbrall, executive director of the Center of Food Safety, gave numerous examples of how GMO giants Monsanto, Syngenta, Dow AgroSciences, Bayer CropScience and DuPont have been stanched. In 2006, the Center for Food Safety, Friends of the Earth, Pesticide Action Network North America, and KAHEA (the Hawaiian-Environmental Alliance) sued the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). A federal district judge ruled that the USDA violated the Endangered Species Act. The ruling is the first on controversial drug-producing GE crops.

Hawaii’s revered environmental activist Walter Ritte lives on Molokai and shared that 30 percent of the island’s food supply is grown on the island. A remarkable feat since 90 percent of the state’s food supply is imported. Many native Hawaiians were in the audience and he reached out to them by saying that independence and sovereignty are part of food security and aloha aina.

Regeneration Botanical Gardens and Kauai Seed Bank passed out seeds that were harvested from plants that were grown on Kauai. The event was organized by GMO Free Kauai, and Hawaii SEED. A free copy of the book Facing Hawaii’s Future was given to everyone.

Dan and I were there to cover the event for MidWeek Kauai. A complete story will run in the Farmers Markets column of the Jan. 30 issue. Continue Reading →

Kauai Culinary Tour – October 19

By on October 11, 2012 in Culinary Tour
Stephanie Krieger of Nani Moon Mead. Daniel Lane photo

Stephanie Krieger of Nani Moon Mead. Daniel Lane photo

Word from the honeycomb (instead of grapevine – geddit?) is that we may be in for a special treat on our tour next Friday. I just got word from Stephanie Krieger, owner and brewer of Nani Moon Mead. She has a bottling scheduled for that day, so we’ll get an insider’s look at how it’s done. This doesn’t happen all the time, we just got lucky! Just like fruits and vegetables change with the seasons, so do our tours. Each tour is completely unique. Not only have we have worked with these producers to offer a tour that you can’t experience on your own, the tour changes based on what is happening right now. And right now, Nani Moon Mead will be bottling mead! I do hope she’ll make her Winter Sun Margarita for us again.

There will also be different fruit to sample at the farm, as we are easing from hot summer temperatures and dry climate to cooler temperatures and wetter days. The farm portion of our culinary tour includes a generous sampling of what’s in season, and right now that includes star fruit, dragon fruit, mangos, citrus, and passion fruit.

The whole tour is a food lover’s dream. But most of our guests say the cooking demonstration and four-course lunch is their favorite part. What makes this really special, is that we start the day at chef Higa’s personal garden. Our guests get to meet this very busy chef, ask him questions, and see what he grows to use in his menus at the Marriott.

Chef Higa has created a special four-course lunch menu for our tour, and it’s made from local ingredients. His laid back style and easy laugh invite our guests to ask questions while he cooks lunch. I have learned tips such as the best way to remove water from tofu, and how to get a good sear on pan-fried noodles. Of course, each course is delicious!

We still have some spaces available for next Friday, and with the bottling addition, it’s sure to be special! It’s a little cooler this morning, so I expect the weather next Friday will be perfect. If you are interested in attending, please visit our Kauai Culinary Tours page.

Aloha!

Pau Hana Friday for August 31

By on August 31, 2012 in Pau Hana Friday

NEWS:

Midnight Bear Breads

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

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. Continue Reading →

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