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Experience of Food in Hawaii
Hawaii is one of the world’s preferred vacation spot. With an almost
unceasing summer through the year, people from different walks of
life from different countries come and go to experience the pristine
waters as well as stunning views. Along with this great land mass is
the dining experience that will not be experienced in other parts of
the planet. It’s not just the ambiance but the food through the
years have evolved from simple island flavors to exquisite dining
that will give the experience not just of American food but the food
of the world. Hawaii is not just the destination for great vacation
it’s also a destination for a superb dining experience.
The Evolution of Food in Hawaii
Hawaii’s expertise in food didn’t come in a silver platter. Decades
ago, food in Hawaii mostly consists of packed food that was shipped
from the mainland USA or from the fruits that grew in the islands.
Although there are a variety of fruits that grew in Hawaii,
pineapple was the major fruit in the island and may be the only
fruit that could be enjoyed. You could either have pineapple or
frozen products that come from mainland which is usually frozen
pizza.
But that situation didn’t last long when Hawaii become the
destination for tourists. Little by little, different ingredients
have been grown in the island to ensure freshness and cuisines from
countries in the orient started to grow in popularity. Cuisines from
the Philippines, Japan, Korea and other oriental countries started
to coming in. The weather conditions of Hawaii have been perfect in
growing ingredients for cuisines from oriental countries. Fish-based
meals became widely popular. But these cuisines weren’t just a copy
of meals of the orient and other countries, Hawaiians diversified
and started creating their own meals. The identity of Hawaii in
terms of food is not anymore based on pineapple only but an
orchestrated interaction of different herbs and spices and other
ingredients. For tourists, the names of the meals could be a little
bit odd but no matter what the name is, the taste is always a
delight.
Taro – It’s not Hawaii Without it
Hawaii has transformed their meals because of the influx and
influence of different countries. But their staple food has not
changed. Taro has been the staple food in Hawaii and will continue
to stay that way. Hawaiian traditional meal will always have Taro
and will never be the same without it. Taro or Kalo in Hawaii has
been cultivated in different parts of Hawaii and because of the
weather condition of the islands, Taro grows all year long.
Taro could be part of the vegetable meal since its leaves and the
corm (the fruit in roots) could be prepared easily. The taste of
Taro for those who have not experienced it as a staple food may be
uneventful but Taro’s significance in Hawaiian meals is basically
not because of its taste but because of its availability. But the
experience of simple Taro has changed significantly because of
integration with different culture. Taro is not only found in
Hawaii. Other countries, especially in Eastern Asia region, also
grow Taro. Although they are not considered as staple food, they do
have significant roles in most meals.
Genuinely Local
If you want to experience authentic Hawaiian meals, never go to
expensive restaurants. Instead, visit local diners and try some of
their street foods. A very popular Hawaii meal is called the plate
lunch. It’s a meal on paper plate that consists of fried fish
covered with starch, a little bit of meat with teriyaki sauce, a
little bit of salad and gravy. It looks really simple but the taste
is just amazing. The combination of gravy and teriyaki is
surprisingly good that you’ll want more. Another popular food from
food carts are mashed Taro corm. It’s purple, which should not
surprise you since it’s the natural color of Taro corm. It looks
really simple but it tastes great. It’s not mashed potato because it
tastes sweeter. Also, never miss the roasted pig when you’re in the
island.
The beaches in Hawaii are full of coconuts and it’s not a mistake
that coconuts are popular in Hawaii. From the flesh to the water,
coconuts are popular with not only for the tourists but also for the
locals. In fact, coconuts or Haupia in local Hawaiian language is
found almost everywhere. There’s coconut based gelatin, pudding and
even donuts with coconut filling. You can also buy coconut in
different forms. You can have coconut milk fresh, from a can or even
powdered.
If you’re a weight watcher, then you should control your Hawaiian
meal. Most cuisines in Hawaii are high in calories. Also expect
foods with high content of starch.
But don’t be left out of cuisines from other countries. Chinese,
Japanese and European meals are also available in different
restaurants. Authentic Chinese meals could be obtained in Chinatown
located in the Big Island.
Any whim that you want, Hawaii will always have something for you.
Experience Dining Only Hawaii Could Offer
The food that you’ll find in the island could be easily understood
through the surroundings of Hawaii. Because Hawaii is collection an
island, fish based cuisines should be expected. Don’t be afraid if
you have to eat a fish with a name that you haven’t heard of (mahi
mahi, ahi, opakapaka and others) as they all taste great. Hawaii is
also a tropical island with a good variety of fruits. For a
vegetarian, most meals may not be appealing but the variety of
fruits in the island is just simply astounding.
But the culmination of the dining experience in Hawaii is the luau.
The luau is a Hawaiian tradition as a tribute to life. It’s a
celebration with great Hawaiian music with great food. If you’re
looking for a smorgasbord of authentic Hawaiian cuisine, never miss
a luau. Most special celebrations of the locals in Hawaii are done
with a luau.
The tradition of Luau is a little bit different from those offered
by hotels. A traditional luau could last for days as every step,
even the digging of the hole where the food will be cooked, is part
of the ceremony. But even it was shortened to a few hours, the
essence of a luau is still there – friendship, life and of course
great meal will always be there.
Hawaiian food has a gone a long way as countries have greatly
influenced the food prepared in the islands. The state is basically
a melting pot of cuisines from different countries. The Hawaiians
have learned a lot from different cuisine and now a meal in Hawaii
is not just a simple cure for the hunger but a gastronomic delight.
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