166annecatherineb
Dec 2022
Perhaps others are impressed with overwrought food from far away places. I came for the local fare in Hilo on a farm that was all about an Eco - farm to fork experience. I got duck from New York. Why would I go to Hilo to eat duck from New York? What's the carbon footprint of that? Even the chef was imported from New York. And though I love New York and New Yorkers generally, I prefer to go to New York for that. I'm in Hilo for the Aloha vibe. The dessert was too much as in too much going on, too many ingredients, flavors, and too sweet. All I could taste was sugar. My wine was from France and maybe Argentina - the second did not pair well. I found the whole thing overpriced, over done, and with an attitude. Half the guests were getting soaking wet on the open lanai without a thought to move the table 1' away from the sideways rain. That's $225 and four hours of my time that I'll never get back. If I could have had the soup (but even that main ingredient came from a far away place) and a glass of wine, I would have been good and in and out in an hour for less than $50 including tip. The server/sous-chef even put down classically trained chefs as "a great place for home cooks to learn to cook." He was quoting someone else to be fair. Arrogance is only remotely and rarely acceptable and if and only if you are in fact the best. Do the lunch instead which is truly a farm to fork experience with humble charming people.