Whenever we visit a new place, we like to check out the local cuisine and what best way to go than a taste of what the island of Kauai can offer us.
Michelle was our bubbly, energetic, and very knowledgable tour guide. Friendly and caring, she was able to connect us with the people who try to give Kauai the best local, organic, farm-to-table stories and the small players who work very hard and stay true to their passions and eventually provide us with their pride and joy - food, traditional medicines, and snacks that are meant to make you full and whole.
We started off with Doug and Jenna who offered us a sampling of what organic ingredients can do to your body. Their teas are all grown organically in Kauai and have some medicinal stuff that you can use that was created from their plant varieties. The second spot was in the General Store which, if not for this tour, we would have otherwise passed by because of its inconspicuous ness. It looked very unassuming but if you like pizza that was cooked from a brick oven in the north shore then do stop by. Bonus: they make pizza with gluten free dough. Yay!
The third spot was in a tiki place in Princeville. Love the stories shared with the manager, Susan. However, equally delicious is their food and Mai tai. Had my gluten free ahi fish & chips too! The next stop was a quick hi and hello to the man who owns a dehydrator that is now making waves in the local and organic circuit and hands down, the best dried fruit in the island.
Next on the agenda was to sample native cuisine and we were treated to a good food called lau lau. The food that we got was more than enough so we brought one of the dishes home and I experimented with that food by adding our own (Filipino) twist to it by adding sautéed onion and garlic with coconut milk and chillies and what came about was our version of Laing.
Dessert was from another food truck whose owner is a young chef who is passionate about her trade. She made gluten free waffles for us with macadamia nut ice cream and caramel sauce. Divine!
Finally, we wrapped up our visit in the Waipa Farmers market where we enjoyed some freshly picked fruits and freshly made goat cheese and we brought home a liliquoy butter.
Was it worth it? Absolutely! Remember, you go to this tours with an end goal of understanding the food culture of the island. You don't just add up the price you pay for the food - it's a tasting tour for crying out loud. It is an experience to hear and meet and understand how entrepreneurs manage their businesses - and it's a chance to have a glimpse of how locals really live and it's a nod to eating organically, locally, and healthily.
Thank you, Michelle for your enthusiasm. We learned more about the island through the actual locals whom you connected us with. It was truly priceless!