Tastes of Hawaii

There are some fabulous web site links to Hawaiian Food information and recipes. For a taste of LCC 2009 and food of Hawaii see this story. Below is a summary of the article:

AGUSTIN TABARES / ATABARES@STARBULLETIN.COM

Big Island farmed baby abalone is one of many new seafood products being produced close to home.

Time’s ripe for local fare

More grocery store shoppers and restaurant patrons are demanding food produced naturally in Hawaii

STORY SUMMARY ยป

By Keiko Ohnuma

Special to the Star-Bulletin

Of the many food trends clamoring for shelf space in 2008, one clearly stands out: The mood in food is going to be green — and we’re not talking leafy vegetables. Hawaii chefs and gourmet grocers alike report that people are demanding naturally produced food as never before, and the whole industry is paying attention.

Labels reading “organic,” “free-range,” “grass-fed,” and “wild-caught” are rapidly edging out the dowdy “all-natural” in supermarkets. And in the coming year, “people will become more picky about where their food comes from, more concerned about tainted food — and that’s not only from China, but all over the world,” says chef Alan Wong, who echoes a growing concern among Hawaii chefs for purity, authenticity and transparency in food sourcing.

Wong sees a growing emphasis on buying local in the coming year, not only to reduce carbon emissions, but to strengthen relationships with Hawaii producers of food. Indeed, as rising fuel costs stoke a nationwide concern for “food security,” Hawaii continues to depend largely on food imports, as land here has proved too valuable to devote to agriculture.

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