Pau Hana Friday for July 25

July 25, 2014

Tasting Kauai

Helen Lacono opens the doors to Hanapepe Cafe only during Hanapepe Art Night. Daniel Lane Photo

Today in The Garden Island, we head to the Hanapepe Cafe to visit chef Helen Lacono and her family in “Evening Delight” as she returns to cooking on just Friday nights during Hanapepe Art Night.
If you’ve ever had noni, you’ll likely never forget the taste. In last week’s On the Farm column, we examined why you may want to make the pungent fruit a regular part of your diet. The benefits of noni include that it’s 75 percent as effective at killing pain as morphine, and not at all addictive. Here’s a little insight from organic noni farmer Steve Frailey into why it’s better to drink unfermented noni juice and how to make your own.
We’ve had folks inquire about where to find us online. We’re on Twitter at @TastingKauai and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TastingKauai. Be sure to check Tasting Kauai’s Pinterest page!

NEWS:

One Song Farm

Sun and Lisa at One Song Farm holding Tahitian taro. Daniel Lane photo

Our friend Lisa Fuller at One Song Farm wrote us this week and said that since the farm started selling at the Farmer’s Market on Saturdays starting at 9 a.m. near the Mini Golf Course north of Kilauea, “several of our regular customers began fermenting their own veggies, especially our popular head cabbages. Some wanted to but were wary of the process. It seemed like a daunting endeavor. So we set out to find a simple pickling system that was affordable because we believe in the huge benefits something so simple can have on our bodies.”
Lisa says her husband, Sun, found “The Perfect Pickler” in a seed catalog for less than $20. She says The Perfect Pickler is a jar-top fermentor that fits on any wide mouth mason jar, from 1 cup size to half-gallon. After starting to use the device, the couple was amazed that they could make kim chee in just four days, instead of the usual 10-14 days in a crock. Lisa says the flavors and crunch experience are comparable and allowed them to find a solution for their customer’s hesitation! L
One Song Farm has now became the first retail outlet in Hawaii for the Perfect Pickler. They are offering it at the Farmer’s Market on Saturdays in Kilauea. There is also an XL kit for those wanting to pickle in larger quantities. If you can’t make it to the market, just call Lisa or Sun at 635-3020 to make other arrangements to get a Pickler.
“Not only are we selling the Picklers, we’ve also begun selling pickles we’ve made,” Lisa says. “Each week I choose from the bounty of the garden and create a fresh veggie combination to transform by lactic-fermentation. So, the pickles are handmade, fresh from the One Song Garden, using local Hawaiian sea salt in the brine and all organic with minimal ingredients from abroad with occasional spices from time to time. We’ve been selling out each week, getting people turned on to the Pickle Revolution that is taking hold. This week we’re offering Pickled Beets and Kai Kim Chee.”
Lisa says One Song Farm has a desire to help folks make their own pickled foods while learning about all of the amazing benefits. The process is as easy as making a salad, just four days ahead of time. One Song Farm is currently planning a pickling class in the near future that will be a hands-on experience and allow everyone attending to return home with their first pickles in hand.
For more on One Song Farm and their biointensive techniques, check out “Keen on mustard greens,” in The Garden Island.

Shamma Farm

Our friend Jaime Means at Shamma Farms tells us they have microgreens available at Healthy Hut and Hoku’s again. In addition, they are doing new varieties such as pea shoots, cress, and cilantro.
Microgreens are beautiful, tiny and fragile. Learn more about the microgreens and other offerings at Shamma Farms at “Microgreens are mega good” in Midweek Kauai.
The farms are also looking for a good helper in the garden. Contact Jaime at meansound@gmail.com if you are interested.

Hole in the Mountain Farm

Sampling Paulie’s Pineapple Phrosty’s made of Sugarloaf Pineapple from Hole in the Mountain Farm

Hole in the Mountain Farm, home of Kauai’s Sugarloaf Pineapple, will be again be making Paulie’s Pineapple Phrosty’s at the KCC market.
“We gave away hundreds of samples and will always have free samples of Paulie’s Pineapple Phrosty,” says Paul and Jude Huber, owners of the farm.
This delectable frozen treat has become an overnight sensation.
Made to order, the Phrosty’s contain 100 percent Kauaʻi Sugarloaf Pineapple and have absolutely no cream, dairy or sugar, yet it tastes just like ice cream.
“These Phosty’s just continue to phascinate all those who have tried them. Come and see for yourself what the phrenzy is all about.” say the Hubers.
For more on the sweet Sugarloaf Pineapples at Hole in the Mountain Farm, check out Marta Lane’s article, “Not just a hole in the mountain,” in The Garden Island.

EVENTS:
Friday, July 25

Talk Story with Filipino Community Leaders

Talk story at 6 p.m., tonight with Filipino Community Leaders Dr. Romeo Quijano and Gilbert Sape at at the Kaleheo Neighborhood Center at 4480 Papalina Rd. in Kalaheo.
Community leaders from the Philippines will discuss, “Health, Community, and Food Sovereignty, Lessons from the front lines.” Dinner will be provided.
Friday, July 25

Finally Friday

Black Limousine, Oktoberfest and Lihue Lager from Kauai Beer Company. Daniel Lane photo

Kauai Beer Company offers suggested beer pairings with each entree. The delicious menu continues to grow as well. Tonight’s offerings include:

Brewer’s Salad $8 ~ Chopped organic romaine, pretzel croutons, confit garlic cloves, manchego cheese and an avocado-lime dressing. Suggested pairing: Lihue Lager, Nitro IPA

Bo Saam Pork Eggrolls $8 ~ Shredded slow cooked pork and pickled vegetables with a coconut Thai chili sauce. Suggested pairing: Amber, Austrian Chicken

Poutine Fries $10 ~ Beer-battered French fries smothered with slow cooked pork gravy and pork belly lardons, then topped with white cheddar cheese. Suggested pairings: Amber, Black Limousine

Gà Nướng Chicken Sausage Banh Mi $10 ~ Featuring Chili Mango Chicken Sausage, Peppers, Cilantro, Pickled Carrot-Cucumber Slaw and a Spicy Thai Lemongrass Aioli on Midnight Bear Roll and served with Housemade Potato Chips or Cabbage-Kale Slaw. Suggested pairings: Tropical Armadillo, IPA 1 Nitro

Roasted Vegetable Wrap $9 ~ Roasted Eggplant, Zucchini (or Squash), Onions, Tomatoes and Garden Greens with an Avocado Lime Spread in a Flour Spinich-Herb Tortilla. Served with Housemade Potato Chips or a Cabbage-Kale Slaw. Suggested pairings: IPA 2, Lihue Lager

PB-L-GT $11 ~ Kiawe crusted fried green tomatoes, beer braised pork belly and fresh garden mustard greens and a tarragon aioli on a Midnight Bear roll served with housemade potato chips or cabbage-kale slaw. Suggested pairing: Amber, Austrian Chicken

Cabbage and Kale Slaw $4

Housemade BBQ Potato Chips $3

Spent Grain Pretzels $3 ~ Made with the brewery’s spent grain by Judy Capertina of Haole Girl Island Sweets and served with house-made mustard. Suggested pairing: What beer doesn’t go well with a pretzel?

All menu items feature locally grown vegetables, herbs and fruits from Growing Strong Farm, Kauai Glory Farms, Wootens Produce of Kauai, Moloaa Organicaa and Kauai Kunana Dairy.
Saturday, July 26

Malama Kauai Community Farm

Please join us to help set up Malama Kauai Community Farm’s new 2-acre chicken and veggie farm at 5545 Kahiliholo Rd., in Kilauea to become a productive farm and learning center for the community.
During our first ever community work day, we’ll work on various hands-on farm projects, so dress appropriately, bring a water bottle, and sun protection. We can pau with a potluck if you’d like!
To get to the farm, turn left into Kalihiwai Ridge off of the hwy (after fruit stand on your right), and follow down the road – you’ll take a left after the Pepperwood Plantation Sign into the Dog Park area; follow the “trail” road straight all the way back to the farm.

Sunday, July 27

Society at the Time of Pearl Harbor

Join “Living Treasure” David Penhallow Scott for afternoon tea from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday, July 27, at Plantation Gardens Restaurant and Bar in Koloa. David will transport participants to the eve of World War II as he discusses his latest play, “Emma’s Last Dance,” being produced by Women in Theatre September 26 to 28 at Kauai Community College. For more info, call 635-3727 or visit www.WomenInTheatre.org online.

Friday, July 25 to Sunday, July 27

Koloa Plantation Days

The 29th annual Koloa Plantation Days opens today in Poipu. More than 25 events are planned to celebrate the plantation heritage and modern-day vitality of Kauai’s south shore communities of Koloa and Poipu, during this 10-day family-oriented festival.
The festival is designed to teach Koloa’s multicultural history, experience a diverse range of local foods, culture and activities, explore the area’s unique ecology and archaeology, and enjoy the warm hospitality of the south shore’s resorts, golf courses and other neighborhood venues.
Along with rodeo events, “talk stories” about growing up on the plantation with Kauai Living Legend David Penhallow Scott, the festival will also feature live music events, cultural performances, film nights, culinary demonstrations, craft fairs, guided walks and hikes, activities and games for keiki, sporting events, and the historic parade and park celebration which has become an annual Kauai tradition.
Visit the Koloa Plantation Days website for the full schedule of events!

Wednesday, July 30 to Saturday, August 9

Hawaii Master Food Preservers

Space is still available for the Hawaii Master Food Preservers course at Waipa Foundation. The cost of the course is $320. The fee covers all books and binders, jars, packaging, ingredients (fruits, vegetables, sugar, etc) and equipment.
The course runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday. The first week runs from July 30 to August 2, while Week 2 runs from August 6 t0 9. It is a commitment but the reward of learning is well worth it.
Please contact Kalen Kelekoma at 808-652-6236 or kalen@waipafoundation.org to register.
We took this very informative class a few months back. Please check out what we learned in “Safely preserving the harvest” in The Garden Island.

Saturday, August 2

A Taste of Kilohana

The Groves celebrate their anniversary during A Taste of Kilohana. Daniel Lane photo

Kilohana Plantation, 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., $130
A Taste of Kilohana is an exclusive, guided food tour that includes an off-the-menu, three-course, locally sourced meal that’s served in the Private Dining Room of Wilcox Mansion. Begin with a ride in a open-air train through the 105-acre orchard which has more than 50 varieties of exotic fruit trees. Guests disembark and feed wild boar, goats and chickens and stroll through the orchard with Kai, Kilohana’s expert in local fruit. After picking and eating exotic fruit, sit and relax as Kai demonstrates how to select and prepare tropical fruit, then taste the best of Kilohana in a super-fresh fruit salad.
After a short tour of the historic Manor House, guests settle in at Mahiko Lounge and learn how to make Gaylord’s signature Mai Tai. Meet Gaylord’s executive chef Todd Barrett while he explains the day’s preparations and enjoy a three-course, locally sourced lunch in the Private Dining Room. Lunch is always based on seasonal ingredients, but here’s what our guests enjoyed last month:

Sake soaked Kauai Shrimp with Kailani mixed greens, Maui tropical pineapple, and sweet sesame ginger aioli
Grass-fed Makaweli Meat Company beef tenderloin topped with port wine and a confit of Kauai’s Kaneshiro Farms pork belly and Island fresh Wasabi Crusted Opah with a lilikoi white wine vinaigrette, caramelized Ewa onion, jasmine rice, and a medley of farm fresh vegetables
Rustic Wi and Molokai Uala Gallete

A portion of proceeds from Tasting Kauai’s food tours and book benefits the Hawaii Food Bank – Kauai Branch. To make reservations, visit A Taste of Kilohana. To see previous tours, check out our Facebook photo album. For a complete list of tour dates, check out our Kauai Culinary Tours Calendar.

All July

“You Dine, We Donate” to benefit Kauai Humane Society

Pipikaula Flatbread. Daniel Lane photo

RumFire Poipu Beach’s delicious charity fundraising program, “You Dine We Donate,” brings out their animal side during July to benefit the Kauai Humane Society.
The signature oceanfront restaurant at Sheraton Kauai Resort will donate net proceeds for all food & beverage at its sunset view Table #53 during the month-long fundraiser. The south shore’s hotspot for ocean front dining features Hawaii-rooted cuisine with global influences and exciting cocktails to ignite your palate every evening. Facing the beautifully landscaped Ocean Courtyard and inviting fire pits, Table #53 is prime seating for viewing Kauai’s lovely sunsets. From its enticing appetizers and libations to signature entrees and irresistible desserts, guests can enjoy a great night of dining and support a worthy cause.
Founded in 1952 to protect Kauai’s animals and to promote the human/animal bond, the Kauai Humane Society is an independent and private, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that receives no funding from mainland humane organizations, the State or Federal government. The organization depends on the contributions of donors to continue to fund programs and services that are vital to the community and the island’s animals. Programs and services provided by the Kauai Humane Society include pet adoptions, low cost spay/neuter and vaccination clinics, the nationally recognized pet field trip program, Critter Camp for the keiki (children) of Kauai, the Save Our Shearwaters (SOS) program, and volunteer programs.
“The Kauai Humane Society has been serving our community as its only animal welfare organization, and we are proud to once again support this great organization,” says Sheraton Kauai Resort General Manager Chip Bahouth.
In addition to July’s “You Dine, We Donate” program, Sheraton Kauai Resort will be support the Kauai Humane Society via a silent auction at its Second Annual RumFest at RumFire Poipu Beach, celebrating National Rum Day, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2014. More than $10,000 was raised for the Kauai Humane Society last year as a result of Table #53 donations and the silent auction.
In addition, more than $68,000 has been raised for local charities through the “You Dine, We Donate” program since its inception in October 2012, which in past months benefitted organizations such as Kauai Veterans Center, The Kauai Independent Food Bank, the annual HLTA Charity Walk and more.
If you are interested in participating in RumFire’s “You Dine, We Donate” program, make reservations in advance by calling 808.742.4786 and requesting Table #53, which is available on a first come, first serve basis. Net proceeds for all food and beverage at Table #53 during dinner service will be donated to the Kauai Humane Society, gratuity will be paid to the server and taxes will be remitted to the State of Hawaii.
For more information about RumFire Poipu Beach and Sheraton Kauai Resort, call 808.742.1661 or visit www.sheraton-kauai.com online.

UPCOMING:
Saturday, August 2 and Sunday, August 3

Heiva I Kauai

Warung Bali will be severing delicious Traditional Balinese plate lunches at the Heiva I Kauai IA Orana Tahiti Dance and Drum competition from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, August 2-3, at the Kapaa Beach Park. Hope to see you there.
Sustainable Kauai Meetups
In August, Sustainable Kauai’s Meetups include:
Tuesday, August 12

Sustainable Kauai Garden Share

This month’s Garden Share will be held from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday, August 12, at Malama Kauai Food Forest, located at 5545 Kahiliholo Rd in Kilauea. After getting off Kuhio Highway at the Kalihiwai Ridge area, take the first left after Pepperwood Plantation, to the right of the dog park.
The concept of the Garden Share is the simple: Bring something you have and take something home you do not have.
Share in the bounty of Kauai’s gardens as everyone shares homegrown fruit, vegetables, eggs, herbs, honey, flowers, seedlings, plants and seeds. No worries if your garden is not producing as the group welcomes homemade treasures, food and supplies made from or for the garden or kitchen too.
Please bring bags, paper towels, etc. to take things home with you. Any items remaining at the end of the event will be donated to the food pantry or community garden.
Wednesday, August 13

Kauai Farmers Union Meeting and Potluck

The Kauai Farmers Union will host a monthly local food potluck and education sessions at 6 p.m., Wednesday, August 13, at the Anahola Clubhouse, located at 3900 Kawelo St., in Anahola.
Topics include Legislative Updates & a Farm-to-Restaurant Panel Discussion.
Please bring a dish to share and talk story with family farmers, food producers, politicians, restaurants and other local food supporters! We always provide a range of speakers and information relevant to our mission of supporting the health of the family farms of Kauai. Visit www.kauaifarmersunion.org for more information.
Friday, August 15

A Culinary Romp Through Paradise

During A Culinary Romp Through Paradise, guests ask chef Rey questions while others take pictures of the beautiful food. Marta Lane photo

Various locations in Kapaa, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., $140
Tasting Kauai’s Culinary Tour offers an intimate glimpse into the Garden Island’s culinary scene. We start with a farm tour and sample exotic fruit grown on Kauai. At the Kauai Marriott Resort, we join executive chef Guy Higa for an outdoor cooking demonstration and gourmet, four-course lunch made with Kauai grown ingredients. This tour ends at The Feral Pig where, Dave Power, co owner and bartender, will demonstrate how to make handcrafted cocktails. This is a special treat as Dave has been written up as one of Hawaii’s best bartenders and he excels at making drinks customized to individual tastes.
Sample menu:
First Course
Chef’s Garden Salad and Lilikoi Vinaigrette
Second Course
Kaneshiro Farms Crispy Pork Belly Plantation Style
Third Course
Kauai Shrimp, Wailua Herb Butter and Fresh Pasta
Fourth Course
Kauai Coffee Expresso Cheesecake with Poha Berry Sauce
To make reservations, visit A Culinary Romp Through Paradise. To check out previous tours, visit our Facebook photo album. Chef Higa donates proceeds from his portion of the tour to the Salvation Army Soup Kitchen and Tasting Kauai donates a portion of tour and book proceeds to the Kauai Branch of the Hawaii Food Bank. For a complete list of tour dates, check out our Kauai Culinary Tours Calendar.
Saturday, August 16

RumFest at RumFire

The Second Annual RumFest at RumFire Poipu Beach at Sheraton Kauai Resort kicks off at 6 p.m. Saturday, August 16, in the resort’s open-air Ocean Courtyard.
The event, which celebrates National Rum Day, will feature Hawaii rums, island music and heavy pupu. A silent auction will be held during the festivities to benefit the Kauai Humane Society.
Tickets for RumFest are $50 inclusive tax and gratuity and include a chance to win a variety of door prizes, and includes a 15 percent discount for one dinner at RumFire throughout August.
For more information about the Second Annual RumFest, or to make reservations, call 808-742-4786 or visit www.sheraton-kauai.com online.
Sunday, August 17

Waipa Music and Mango Festival

Join us at Waipa’s beautiful Halulu Fishpond from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday, August 17, at Halulu Fishpond for a fun and relaxing day enjoying home grown live music, hands-on activities, and local artisans and crafts!
Island chefs and food vendors will offer amazing food inspired by the summer mango harvest! Also, there will be recipe contests and biggest mango contests, mango tastings, a silent auction, cultural and educational displays and many activities.
Come support the Waipa Foundation. Bring a beach blanket and you can also enjoy some time on the west side of Hanalei Bay. Cost is $10 for adults over 18 and $1 for keiki.
Saturday, August 23

A Taste of Kilohana

Sampling seasonal fruit at Kilohana Plantation. Daniel Lane photo

Sake soaked Kauai Shrimp with Kailani mixed greens, Maui tropical pineapple, and sweet sesame ginger aioli
Grass-fed Makaweli Meat Company beef tenderloin topped with port wine and a confit of Kauai’s Kaneshiro Farms pork belly and Island fresh Wasabi Crusted Opah with a lilikoi white wine vinaigrette, caramelized Ewa onion, jasmine rice, and a medley of farm fresh vegetables
Rustic Wi and Molokai Uala Gallete

Kauai Vegan Cooking Workshop

A Vegan Cooking Workshop will be taught from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, August 23 and 24, by Vegan Fusion Certified Teacher Lisa Parker.
In this hands-on style workshop, you will learn how to prepare vegan feasts that will wow even the most omnivorous of your friends and family. The stellar gluten-free menu includes a selection of both cooked and raw food vegan cuisine
Day One

Spinach Stuffed Mushrooms
Creamy Broccoli Bisque
Raw Pesto Pasta Puttanesca
Coconut Curry Tempeh over Quinoa Pilaf
Raw Chocolate Mousse with Macadamia Cream

Day Two

Sun-Dried Tomato Flax Crackers with Cashew Cheese
Raw Carrot Ginger Soup
Coconut Spinach Rice
Walnut Crusted Tofu with Golden Gravy
Organic Mixed Greens with Toasted Pecan Vinaigrette Chocolate Dream Pie

Cost is $275 per person and includes recipe handouts and daily gourmet vegan feasts.
To register, please email info@veganfusion.com and mention Kauai Vegan Fusion Certified Teacher Class in the subject line. A welcome letter with additional information will be emailed once registration and payment is confirmed.
Wednesdays, September 3 to 24

Cooking Made Easy class

Chef Rafael Camarillo is going to be teaching a cooking class at Kauai Community College for people who want to get better in the kitchen.

Night #1: Knife Skills, Kitchen Safety and Sanitation or “I don’t want yucky bacteria”..ewww.
Kitchen safety and sanitation: Learn why there is no running in the kitchen and why chefs say “behind!” Learn about salmonella, why wash my hands is a good idea and if there is a 10 second rule.In Knives, Knives, Knives offers a study in a variety and types of knives, from the chef’s knives to a serrated knife, along with what is the right knife to use and learn not to place your knife in a soapy sink.
Night #2: No time to cook? Quick recipes as easy as 123
Eggs as the perfect food: The egg has been called the perfect food, from its perfect shape to its protein packed punch! It is also versatile, from omelets to Eggs Benedict with hollandaise sauce, to a steak sauce that is truly a classic, the egg is inexpensive and demands respect, hail the egg!From the farmer’s market: Ever been to a farmer’s market? Have you seen the variety of fruits and vegetables that these local farmers grow with pride…have you ever said “what the heck kind of vegetables or fruit is that”! Explore and cook with some of these delicious fruits and vegetables.
Night #3: “Eh what get fo eat?”
Ever have one of those days when things are so hectic that you forgot to go to the store and when you get home it’s your turn to cook dinner!No worries we will cover that problem and solve it with ground beef, chicken that is finger lickin’ good, deep frying… it’s good for the sole (get it…I use fish sole instead of “soul”) and rice, rice baby. These are low cost dishes perfect for the family.
Night #4: Simply Sweet
Think desserts are hard to make? Well…yes and no, if you spent 10 years being a pastry chef then it would be easy for you, but I have not! So I am going to show how to make easy desserts at home. We are going to also explore NSA (no sugar added) desserts and other “healthier desserts.”

More information on Cooking Made Easy classes is available at www.Kauai.edu online.
Saturday, September 27

Westin Princeville Jazz and Wine Festival

Westin Princeville Wine & Jazz festival. Daniel Lane photo

The Fifth Annual Westin Princeville Jazz and Wine Festival will be held at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27. Locals and visitors alike are invited to mingle and savor an evening under the stars featuring delectable wines, island-inspired cuisine from the island’s top chefs and lively jazz music. Proceeds from the evening’s silent auction will benefit the Kauai Lifeguard Association.
The Jazz and Wine Festival features a variety of dishes from the island’s premier chefs, including The Westin Princeville’s Nanea Restaurant & Bar and Wailele Bar. The event will also showcase cuisine from St. Regis Princeville’s Kauai Grill & Makana Terrace, Sheraton Kauai Resort’s RumFire Poipu Beach, BarAcuda Tapas & Wine, Hukilau Lanai, Merriman’s and more. Guests will have a chance to pair the extravagant fare with nearly 20 different wines from some of wine countries’ most sought-after vineyards. Dynamic entertainment will be performed by One Song taiko drumming, Kauai-based Amit Heri, a prolific composer and one of India’s biggest names in jazz fusion and Hot Club of Hulaville, Na Hoku Hanohano award winners for the 2011 Jazz Album of the Year.
The silent auction benefiting Kauai Lifeguard Association will include hotel stays, airfare, activities, dining certificates and more as part of The Westin Princeville’s year-long, ongoing effort to give back to the community. The Kauai Lifeguard Association is a non-profit organization that maximizes ocean safety through education, training and maintaining high standards of professional and open-water lifesaving practices and techniques. The resort has raised more than $43,000 for the Kauai Lifeguard Association through past Jazz & Wine events.
Tickets are $95 per person and includes an etched Jazz & Wine Festival wine glass, food, wine and non-alcoholic beverages. For more information, or to purchase tickets, call The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas at (808) 827-8700 or visit www.westinprinceville.com.
ONGOING:

Sunshine Farmers Market in Kapaa. Daniel Lane photo

Farmers Market Tour

Wednesdays, 3 to 4 p.m., $30
Meet local farmers, learn how to select perfect produce as well as when it’s in season and how to cook with it during Tasting Kauai’s one-hour farmers market class. Farmers markets are an affordable way to immerse yourself in local culture and the best place to buy produce that’s so fresh, it was harvested that morning. But buying at the farmers market doesn’t always insure that it was grown on Kauai. It happens all over the world. In Hawaii, customers want mangoes year-round. In Colorado, they want tomatoes in May. To make that sale, vendors buy imported mangoes or tomatoes and sell them as their own. Becoming familiar with growing seasons insures your dollars are spent on local produce.
There’s a whole world of delicious produce that many people never try. Let’s face it, some of it looks like it came from another planet. Once unfamiliar produce is demystified and cooking tips are shared, it may become a regular at dinner table. Many factors can make exotic produce expensive and the last thing you want to do is buy a pineapple that isn’t at peak perfection. This class will also teach you how to tell when produce is ripe as well as how to store it for best results. To make reservations, visit our Farmers Market Tour page.

Hanapepe Friday Night Festival and Art Walk

Hanapepe Town, 6 to 9 p.m.
Every Friday evening, Old Town Hanapepe bustles with people. A dozen art galleries stay open late and local crafters sell their wares. There’s also stilt walkers, classics cars, live music and entertainment. The Right Slice sells fresh-baked pie by the slice or whole. Midnight Bear Breads makes pizza fresh from a wood-burning oven. Aloha Spice Company serves samples of their Hawaiian sea salt and spice blends on grilled chicken. These spices quickly add fantastic flavor without a lot of calories and make wonderful gifts of aloha.
Haole Girl Island Sweets sells a variety of hand-made butter croissants, including grilled chicken and portobello mushroom seasoned with Aloha Spice Company blends. Other croissants are filled with local fruit, nuts, honey or vegetables. Samples are given just outside the parking lot, in front of the darling Aloha Spice Company building. Call 808-335-6469 for more information.

Kapaa Art Walk in Old Town Kapaa. Daniel Lane photo

Kapaa Art Walk

Old Town Kapaa, 5 to 9 p.m.
On the first Saturday of the month hundreds of people party in Old Town Kapaa. The street is filled with the sounds of laughter and music, smells of delicious local food, and the work of Kauai artists. In front of the Dragon Building, Anni Caporuscio (owner of Small Town Coffee and Blue House Booksellers) sings to a three-piece band which includes a guitar player, drummer and washboard player. The Right Slice will be serving up pies and slice all night, net to Hula Girl. Kickshaws will also be there serving delicious food. Art Cafe Hemingway and Java Kai open a new exhibit and serve food late.
A designated parking area is located at 4451 Lehua St., on a 3-acre spot next to Restore Kauai and Specialty Lumber. Cost to park in the lot is $3.

Kauai Culinary Market at Kukuiula Shopping Village in Poipu. Daniel Lane photo

Art Walk at Kukuiula

The Shops at Kukuiula, 6 to 9 p.m., free
An evening of fine art, fine dining and live music under the stars at The Shops at Kukuiula the second Saturday of each month. See May 10 listing for this month’s details.
Dining options include Merriman’s Fish House, Josselin’s Tapas Bar & Grill, Tortilla Republic, Dolphin Sushi, Living Foods and Lappert’s Hawaii. Plus, enjoy jazz outdoors by Hank Curtis and Steve Dubey and Latin rhythms by Manuel Mendes and Cary Valentine.

Kilauea Art Walk

Stone Building, 5 to 8 p.m.
Join more than 20 artisans on the last Saturday of the month at the Stone Building in Kilauea Town. There’s live music, original art, hand-made apparel, jewelry, photography, custom slippers, painted glass bottles, ice cream and unique creations. Face painting henna tattoos. Stop by Kilauea Fish Market for dinner.

Art and Wine Thursdays

Kauai Beach Resort, 6 to 7 p.m., $15

Art and Wine Thursdays includes an art reception by Kauai based artists such as Donia Lilly, with original pastel, acrylic, and mixed media paintings from the “Oceans” and “Moons” and “Memories” series, along with prints and greeting cards. Wine tastings have included Buena Vista The Count Cabernet 2008; St. Francis Chardonnay 2009; Matanzas Creek Sauvignon Blanc 2011; Sonoma Cutrer Chardonnay 2011 and Lyeth Meritage 2010. Light appetizers of cheese, fruit and vegetable crudités are also available. Includes a coupon for a 15 percent food discount at the Naupaka Terrace with the purchase of any dinner entrée.

Truck Stop Thursday

Kauai Beer Company, 5 p.m.
Every Thursday, Kauai Beer Company invites three food trucks to serve food. Trucks park along the curb, the sidewalk is converted into a patio and hundreds of people enjoy food, conversation and each other. Since the trucks change every week, it’s a great opportunity to try something new. For a listing of this week’s trucks, check out Kauai Beer Company’s Facebook page.

Photos for this blog post were contributed by Daniel Lane of Pono Photo.

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