TOP 10 food travel destinations
O
‘ahu is the most unique of
tropical getaways, offering a rare combination of
breathtaking beauty, the rich Hawaiian culture, quiet country towns, and
cosmopolitan Honolulu and Waikīkī.
Over the last two decades, O‘ahu has
emerged as a leading culinary destination boasting a vibrant, eclectic food
scene where chefs, farmers, ranchers, and food artisans are partnering
to promote a sustainable Hawai‘i and
farm to table cuisine.
O‘ahu secured its spot on the global
culinary landscape over 20 years ago
when 12 island chefs banded together
and developed Hawai‘i Regional Cuisine (HRC), an inventive fusion of
Hawaiian and international cooking
traditions with ingredients from island farms, ranches, and seas.
As you explore O‘ahu, you’ll discover the island’s deli ciously diverse
food scene with restaurateurs, chefs,
64 FOOD TRAVELER | SUMMER 2013
farmers, and food professionals eager
to share their bounty and innovative
cooking with the aloha spirit that pervades every interaction here.
IN TOWN
Waikīkī and Honolulu are home to
chefs at the vanguard of O‘ahu’s ever
evolving food scene. Ed Kenney’s Town
(townkaimuki.com) is known for an
ever changing menu, exceptional proteins procured from local fishermen
and farmers, and homemade pasta. A
farm to table enthusiast, Chef Kenney is
now integrating indigenous ingredients
Hawaiians used before contact with the
West including pa‘i ‘ai (hand pounded
food such as poi made from kalo—
taro—an ancient Hawaiian staple), limu
(seaweed), aweoweo (native quinoa),
maiapilo (wild native caper), pepeiao (a
wild mushroom), and wana (sea urchin)
Earlier this year, Chai Chaowasaree opened Chef Chai (chefchai.com),
NORTH SHORE
Off the beaten path food experiences
await on the dramatically beautiful
North Shore, a world-renowned destination for big wave surfing within
a one-hour drive from Honolulu and
Waikīkī. Stop for a relaxing beachside
lunch or dinner at Ola (olaislife.com)
at Turtle Bay Resort and savor Chef
Fred DeAngelo’s fresh innovative
Hawaiian cuisine featuring tomatoes,
beef, and sea asparagus all from the
North Shore. Iconic food moments on
this fabled coastline include the garlic shrimp plate lunch at Giovanni’s
(giovannisshrimptruck.com), one
of the shrimp trucks lining the road
through Kahuku, and chocolate-haupia pie at Ted’s Bakery (tedsbakery.
com) in Sunset Beach. Another must
do North Shore stop is a refreshing
shave ice at Matsumoto’s (matsumotoshaveice.com) in Hale‘iwa.
HAWAII TOURISM AUTHORITY TOR JOHNSON, JOHN DEMELLO (TOP)
O‘ahu, Hawai‘i
a stylish, contemporary space with an
Asian Fusion menu stressing healthy,
seasonal ingredients. Chef Chai uses
local tuna and snapper, lean meats like
filet mignon, and herbs and produce
from O‘ahu’s ‘Nalo, Ma‘o, and Aloun
Farms. What’s out? Butter. What’s in?
Shredded zucchini instead of pasta.
Down on the pier by Honolulu Fish
Auction, Nico’s at Pier 38 (nicospier38.
com) serves up ultra fresh fish and
seafood plate lunches in a relaxed
open air setting. Walk in, order, and
within minutes you are enjoying a
gourmet plate lunch featuring the
catch brought in that morning by
the local fleet.
Restaurants owned by award winning HRC pioneers are also found
in town. Alan Wong, owner of Alan
Wong’s Restaurant and The Pineapple
Room (alanwongs.com), is continually inspired by the bounty of Hawai‘i’s
farmers. George Mavrothalassitis of
Chef Mavro (chefmavro.com) is known
for innovative food and wine pairings
and Roy Yamaguchi serves his signature Hawaiian Fusion Cuisine at Roy’s
Waikīkī (roysrestaurant.com).