Mother's Day on Kauai 2016

Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there! We know the big day isn’t until Sunday, May 8, but we wanted to give you a head start. My mother lives in Colorado, and I miss her lovin’ tremendously. I know that she’s surrounded with love and I hope you feel the love in your life. If you’re fortunate enough to have mom nearby, we’ve got a lot of options to indulge her appetite. Read on to learn about fun events, ideas and tasty places to celebrate mom on Kauai in 2016.

Each attendee will take home two handblown glass globe terrariums.

South Shore

Monkeypod Jam, Succulents Workshop

Saturday, April 30, 4 to 7 p.m., $75
Make gifts for mom during a succulent terrarium workshop. In fact, treat mom to an early present and bring her with you. Monkeypod Jam’s workshops over-deliver on fun, creativity and food. This workshop begins with pupus, a jam tasting, and a brief tutorial. Then, get creative and design your own miniature world featuring Kauai grown succulents. Each attendee will take home two handblown glass globe terrariums and the evening ends with spritzers and a multi-course dinner. Chef Jodie and Aletha are finessing the menu this week and I know from previous experience, it will be tasty. I went to the picketing workshop several weeks ago (I will post about that soon) and we started with an abundant cheese plate, deviled eggs made with her Piccalilli jam, dilly beans, a tart, and spritzers made with roselle or jaboticaba shrub (which is available for purchase). For dinner we had a salad, vegetarian chili, quiche and dessert. Make sure you come hungry! All supplies included.
In you’re into brunch at home, Monkeypod Jam is accepting preorders for quiches, soups and desserts for Friday and Saturday pick up. Also, they just introduced The Monkeypod Jam Club, featuring the finest fruits of the seasons through two carefully selected, 6-ounce jars. They are launching for Mother’s Day. To honor our mothers, and the launch, May 2016 recipients will receive their first box of jam in a beautiful wooden box. Every 2 months, for a total of 6 shipments (or 12 jars), two beautiful jars highlighting the best fruit Kauai farmers have to offer will be sent to you or your loved one. Profiles of the farmer who grew the fruit along with their team’s favorite uses for the month’s preserves will be included in each box. Membership includes FedEx 2Day Shipping.
What to expect:

• January: Lilikoi Curd + Orange Chocolate Sauce
• March: Caracara Marmalade + White Pineapple Ginger Jam
• May: Myer Lemon Curd + Papaya Vanilla Jam
• July: Mango Jam + Spiced Tomato Jam
• September: Guava Butter + Tahitian Lime Curd
• November: Orange Cranberry Sauce + Mountain Apple Pepper Jelly

Register for workshops or Jam Club by visiting Monkeypod Jam, next to the Lawai Post Office, or at http://monkeypodjam.com/collections/learn/products/succulents-workshop.

Merriman’s Fish House

Merriman’s Fish House will be featuring live music and the nightly dinner menu will also include specials of Keahole lobster ravioli, USDA Prime 16-ounce bone-in New York steak, and Hawaiian Snapper. Their newest offering is a shared dinner menu, for four or more people, which includes an abundant offering of Merriman’s favorites served family-style.
Anuenue Cafe
This is a great new spot that opened recently in the Poipu Shopping Village. We’ll share our experience later this month, but if you want to take mom out for a casual breakfast or lunch, this is a tasty option. They’ll be open from 6 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for Mother’s Day. If you go, wish owner Michelle Hastings a happy Mother’s Day!
Tortilla Republic

TR Cantina & Margarita Bar

Sparkling Brunch and Mother’s Day Menu

• Any Brunch Entrée with “Momosa” or Sparkling wine,  $30 (1.5 hour limit) 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Tortilla Republic “The Upstairs” offering a new dinner menu with highlights such as Ahi “Nachos,” and Almond Crusted Mahi Mahi with roasted purple potatoes, brussel sprouts and chili de arbol shrimp sauce. 5:30 to 9 p.m.
• Happy Hour in TR Cantina & Margarita Bar is offering a special “Momarita” from 3 to 5 p.m.

West Side

MCS Grill

MCS Grill is not open on Sundays so they’re celebrating Mother’s Day on Saturday night from 5 to 7 p.m. There will be specials, including surf and turf with crab legs.

Central

Papalani Gelato

Papalani Gelato will be offering mom a free one scoop cone, or cup with purchase. Stop by either shop in Anchor Cove or the Poipu Shopping Village.

East Side

Wailua Shave Ice

We love Wailua Shave Ice, and not just because of their timeless aloha. Co-owner Brandon Baptiste uses the mad skills he picked up while working at Per Se (Thomas Keller’s renowned restaurant in New York) to make syrups with local ingredients. They will be giving away free shave ice to all mothers, aunties, and kupuna this Mother’s Day and the special is coconut strawberry.

Hanai

Hanai is a new grocery store in Kapaa that boasts 100 percent local. The coolers are filled with locally grown produce, beef and pork as well as sauces and soups. Market meals may be an easy option for mom. Everything is cut, portioned and packaged, you just take it home and cook it. They are located in the old Kojima Store and have recently expanded their hours to Mon., Thurs., Fri. and Sat from 2 to 8 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Tiny Isle

If you’d like to bring mom something sweet, Tiny Isle’s newest flavor in Truffle Bites and Raw Fudge is Orange Sunshine. Dark chocolate is mixed with fresh organic orange essential oil and topped with chewy bits of Kauai-grown organic oranges. Chocolate is available at Hoku Foods Natural Market, Papaya’s Natural Foods & Cafe, Harvest Market, Banana Joes and Living Foods Gourmet Market.
Hauoli La Makuahine, or Happy Mother’s Day from Tasting Kauai!

North Shore