Launches

North Shore Kauai: Food As Medicine Tour   Traditional Diet Traditional Hawaiian diets are considered to be some of the healthiest in the world. Living on a protein, vitamin and mineral rich diet that consisted mainly of poi (pounded taro root), fresh fish along with fruits and vegetables such as banana, coconut, breadfruit and sweet potato made for a clean and nourishing foundation. Even Hawaiian sea salt that was harvested in large amounts held minerals and rich health benefits. We aim to teach you about a variety of the beautiful canoe crops that the Polynesians brought to the Hawaiian islands over 1,000 years ago and how they are still being used today.  Modern Food Practices Fast forward to modern day Hawaii – you do not see this traditional health based diet by any means. Yes, you can still find fresh…

The Spot We here at Tasting Kauai are always delighted when a new spot opens up for us to explore and taste test. This is especially true when it is a breathtaking oceanfront dining location with fabulous food. I have been hearing from friends all over the island for weeks, that we must go and…

The Tour We here at Tasting Kauai are excited to share with you that our newest tour of Hanapepe town will be launching officially Friday, October 19th.  Come join us for an afternoon strolling the quiet streets of historic Hanapepe to learn about the town’s past, present and future through its food. We have curated…

Addison Bulosan is the new owner of Tasting Kauai. Dear fans of Tasting Kauai. This is the last blog post I’ll make.   Last September, when Dan and I went to visit my 88-year-old parents in Colorado, mom said she wanted to tour retirement communities. She said the house her and dad were living in for 47 years was was finally too much. She needed a smaller place. When their favorite complex had an opening in October, we moved back three weeks later. We got them settled into a two bedroom apartment in the independent living section. We visit them every Saturday and help them run errands, fix things in the apartment, make phone calls to credit card companies on their behalf, and go out to lunch.  Being so far away from Kauai made it tricky to be responsive when…

The Filipino trinity: tomato, onion, pork. Roots in Culture’s Lechon Kawali with crispy pork belly mixed with tomatoes, onion, shredded carrots, and roasted garlic, tossed in a chili vinaigrette. The summer just got hotter on the South Side! Chef Mark Ruiz and General Manager Tricia Ruiz, owners of Roots in Culture food truck, are trading…

Koloa Rum Company’s Inaugural Kauai Reserve Three-Year Aged Hawaiian Rum is now being sold in Hawaii and will be available for purchase in California and other West Coast markets in February. Photo courtesy of Koloa Rum Co. Hawaii’s award-winning Koloa Rum Company has announced the launch of its first-ever Kauai Reserve Three-Year Aged Hawaiian Rum.Artfully crafted in single-batches at its Kalaheo…

Inside Coconut’s Fish Cafe. Photo by Megan Fox. Last week there was a grand opening of Coconut’s Fish Cafe, the chain’s first location on Kauai, and they’re open now to the public. The restaurant’s decor is bright and fun (the surfboard tables are too cute), and a fast-casual ordering and seating style, which makes it a…

Sam Choy, internationally renowned television personality and restaurateur, will share his culinary secrets, while preparing family-style signature cuisine and hosting a talk story event. Photo courtesy of Sam Choy. Koloa Landing Resort announces the first annual “Choy of Cooking” with Sam Choy on Friday, October 20 at the Holoholo Grill. The internationally renowned television personality and restaurateur will be sharing his culinary secrets, while preparing family-style signature cuisine and hosting a talk story event. Guests will be treated to an evening of entertainment, education and endless memories with a legendary local personality. At the end of the night, guests can take home personalized recipe cards of Chef Choy’s favorites to continue the culinary adventure at home. To kick off this ongoing event series, Mayor Bernard P. Carvalho, Jr. is announcing a proclamation honoring Sam Choy Day. At the “Choy of…

Katherine Smithers at home on Kauai – photo courtesy of Katherine Smithers Tasting Kauai’s new food tour guide is Katherine Smithers. We have been training her for two weeks and tomorrow she’ll be guiding her first solo tour. She will run two tours every week and Dan and I will guide one. Katherine tells me she relocated to Kauai to be closer to family and work on sustainable farming/perma-culture projects with the goal of owning a farm and growing all of her family’s food. She brings a passion for food, a welcoming attitude and experience to our food tours. She’s a perfect fit for us, but I’ll let her tell you more! My name is Katherine and my husband, Roel Faber, and I have recently made Kauai our home! I grew up in Virginia and in 2011, graduated from the…

Family Ingredients is a new culinary travel TV series that tells these unique stories by tracing the origins of a Hawaii dish to its roots around the world. Not quite a documentary, not quite a cooking show, Family Ingredients is a joyful ode to farmers, food producers and families. Hosted by acclaimed Oahu chef and sustainability hero Ed Kenney, the story begins in the Hawaiian Islands, where big things are happening in the state’s dynamic culinary scene. Beautifully filmed, Family Ingredients showcases Hawaii’s small town communities, diverse cultures, and exhilarating experiences that cross the Pacific Ocean.   Engaging, authentic, funny, even a bit quirky, Kenney is the perfect host to trace these dishes around the globe. He takes off with guests to explore Okinawa, Tahiti, California, Japan, Puerto Rico, and the Hawaiian Islands, showcasing how cuisine can profoundly unite cultures, communities and families….