Guava-fired smokers cook up choice meats
Guava Smoked owner Scott Shibuya is doing his part to eradicate the invasive strawberry guava plant, one plate lunch at a time. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily, except Sundays, pull up to his smokers at 1637 Republican St. and order a plate lunch or bowl piled high with smoked chicken, pork, duck, salmon belly, butterfish collar, kalbi or hamburger steak. Better yet, pick up a pound of frozen pork ($10), boneless chicken thighs
($8) or salmon belly ($17) for grilling at home. Pork burgers, turkey tails, half ducks and whole turkeys are available as well.
Don’t want to make the trip to Kalihi? Guava Smoked operates at the Blaisdell Farmers Market from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesdays and Kailua Farmers Market from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Thursdays. For more info, visit guavasmoked.com. See a video of the process at staradvertiser.com.
–Jason Genegabus
Banana bread is perfect in sweetness and flavor
I’m not a huge fan of sweets or fatty snacks, but I recently became addicted to Broke Da Mouth Butter Banana Bread by Aunty Barbara, fresh baked in Honolulu. Made by Barbara’s Sweets and Snacks, this miniature loaf is the best banana bread I’ve ever tried. It is soft and fresh-tasting with just the right amount of sweetness, and the banana flavor isn’t overpowering. I buy mine for $2.50 from Pacific Sundries at Waterfront Plaza.
–David Swann
Tackle book’s global 1,000-food challenge
After a quick flip through "1,000 Foods to Eat Before You Die" (Workman Publishing, $24.95), by restaurant critic Mimi Sheraton, I was ready to meet her food challenge. After a closer look, I realized food allergies would keep me from accomplishing that goal, but the book is intriguing nevertheless. Sheraton takes readers around the world from Ireland through Australia and onward to Tahiti. In between are delicious descriptions of restaurant dishes and ingredients, more than 70 recipes, mentions of markets to visit and more. So far I’ve eaten about 275 of the 1,000 foods, thanks to being born and raised in Hawaii where ethnic dishes are part of our diet.
–Michelle Ramos
Pi-shaped pan transforms pies into calculated treats
The mathematical constant "pi" comprises an infinite series of numbers, but it’s commonly known by the first three — 3.14. From there it’s but a short jump to proclaiming March 14 (3/14) as "Pi Day," often celebrated by the eating of pies. When Honolulu Star-Advertiser staffer Wilma Jandoc took the concept of a Pi Day pie one step further by baking a delicious blueberry pie in an eye-catching pi-shaped pan, I had to investigate. My findings: The aluminum Pi Pie Pan, measuring 13 by 93/4 inches, can be had for $24.99 at amazon.com.
— John Berger
Ohana Rice soothes even the worst of brown-rice snubbers
The kids say they’ve never seen their dad angrier than when I first poured a bag of brown rice into our rice bucket. While he’s always been open to healthy-eating concessions, mixing white and brown rice was one concession too far. But I never gave up trying.
So on a recent trip to the Maui Costco, I picked up a bag of SunWest’s Old Style Hawaiian Ohana Rice — genius marketing! — which promises "white rice taste, brown rice nutrition." A scarification process puts tiny scratches in the California-grown rice, allowing liquid to more easily penetrate the kernels and reducing cooking time. The result is brown rice with more of the taste and texture of white. Imagine my shock when my husband grudgingly approved. We’ll never buy white rice again. Look for the yellow package featuring artwork of surfing canoes by Kerne Erickson. A 25-pound bag was $18.39, with a portion of sales donated to the Duke Kahanamoku Foundation and Lanakila Meals on Wheels.
–Christie Wilson
5 Things We Love is a shortlist of newly discovered stuff you have got to see, hear, wear, use or eat. What are you loving this week? Send a brief description of your latest favorite thing, where to find it and how much it costs, along with your name and contact info to features@staradvertiser.com.
