Some of us still like to play with toys. One of my favorites was a wooden fruit play set I bought for my daughter nearly 30 years ago that is still available in various forms. Each fruit is sectioned and held together with Velcro. The wood gives the pieces heft and the Velcro provides resistance and a satisfying crunch when slicing the fruit with a “knife,” making for multisensory fun.
So when looking for a birthday present for a sweet 3-year-old girl who loves food toys, I knew exactly what to get. And this being 2016, Melissa & Doug wooden slicing play sets now include sushi and stir fry versions. Included in the sushi set ($23.95 at Thinker Toys in Kahala Mall) are a wooden tray; kiddie chopsticks; a cleaver; California, avocado and spicy tuna rolls; a selection of nigiri; plus ginger, wasabi and soy sauce. Too cute!
I paired that with the “First Book of Sushi” board book by Amy Wilson Sanger (Knopf, $6.99), part of the A World of Snacks series for budding foodies. (Sample rhyme: “Miso in my sippy cup, tofu in my bowl; crab and avocado fill my California roll.”) — Christie Wilson
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I know several “Star Wars” fanatics, and with Christmas approaching, these amusing Chewbacca and Yoda bottle openers ($14.95 each) caught my eye at Amy’s Hallmark in Pearlridge. Both play the “Star Wars” theme song, while the Chewbacca opener also emits that familiar Wookie roar. And, if your guy (or gal) likes pizza with that beer, there’s also a Lightsaber Pizza Cutter ($26.95) complete with sound and light effects. — Michelle Ramos
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Kauai’s Lori Cardenas said it took five years to develop her new Aunty Lilikoi Passion Fruit Mango Chutney. Her diligence paid off: Complex, savory, with the bite of ginger and chunks of fruit, the piquant condiment elevated our vegetarian curry, grilled lamb, roast chicken and a ploughman’s lunch of cheese and bread. A little goes a long way. We also love her Passion Fruit Kiawe BBQ Sauce with garlic and habanero, which gave pork ribs a sweet, peppery glaze.
The chutney, sold only at auntylilikoi.com, is $14 for 10 ounces plus $7 shipping, which covers up to 12 jars. The sauce, about $8 for 10 ounces, is also sold at Whole Foods Market and some Safeway stores. — Mindy Pennybacker
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Among the 50th anniversaries rock music fans will soon be celebrating is the founding of Fleetwood Mac. With “Fleetwood Mac: The Complete Illustrated History” (Voyageur Press, $40), music historian Richie Unterberger covers the history of one of rock’s biggest groups, from the pre-Mac careers of Peter Green, John McVie and Mick Fleetwood, who lives on Maui, on through to the current reunion.
Fans who know only the superstar quintet of the mid-1970s — Fleetwood, McVie, Christine McVie, Lindsay Buckingham and Stevie Nicks — may be surprised to learn Green and Fleetwood founded the group in 1967 as an English blues band. Fans of all eras will enjoy the selected discography and the album reviews by various writers that Unterberger includes with his detailed account of the band’s tumultuous history. — John Berger
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Extend your support for locally grown products to the bath, using luffa (or loofah) sponges from Ho Farms in Kahuku. Most folks know the North Shore operation for its specialty tomatoes, cucumbers and long beans. Two years ago, the farm began growing luffa plants, from the cucumber family. The natural luffas, pictured below whole, are sold at the Kapiolani Community College farmers market on Saturday mornings and at Whole Foods Market in Kahala ($3.99 for cut pieces). — Nina Wu