Dining

Good Eats!- eating is everyones favorite thing to do on vacation. Our time to forget diets or postpone diets and enjoy the tastes and treats of our destination.

Hawaii has come of age in the gourmet department. But, the old favorites Plate Lunch, Malasadas, and shave ice should not be missed.

We at Insider's will share with you the new and old favorites. Be sure to add your favorites on our BLOG

Let us start with the local Island favorites...

The Hawaii Plate Lunch is the antithesis of the "no-carb" diet. This has been a famous Island staple for generations. It always has 2 scoops rice, 1 scoop macaroni salad, and a meat dish. It is always filling and always affordable. Here is the history of this Island wonder.

In the early days of the Hawaiian sugar plantations, lunch was a simple affair. Plantation workers gathered in the fields for their mid-day meal. The Japanese laborers would bring teriyaki beef with rice and pickled vegetables. Seated next to them might be their Filipino neighbors with the traditional dish adobo or perhaps a pork or chicken stew. The Koreans had their kalbi or marinated ribs and the Chinese a rice noodle and vegetable dish called chow fun. Hawaiians were known for their kalua pig, roasted in an underground oven called an imu. It wasn't long before they began to share their foods with one another and the "mixed plate" was born.

"Two scoops rice" and "one scoop macaroni salad" always accompany the traditional plate lunch. The rice is an important part of the meal because it provides the "backdrop" for the distinctive flavors of the main courses which, local style, tend toward the savory. Macaroni salad also presents a counterpoint to the main courses while providing a small portion of vegetables such as finely chopped carrots and small diced celery.

Malasadas are a type of Portuguese donut. They are synonymous with Leonards Bakery, who made them popular, and easily do the very best malasadas on the island.

The main bakery is located in the heart of Waikiki. However, all over the island you will see Leonards bakery trucks, usually parked in front of shopping malls.

And in case you're wondering, they make the malasadas right there in the truck, and are easily as good as those found in the actual bakery.

Lighter and less dense than a regular donut, malasadas are like donuts but with the holes, that are fried (and so much better eaten while still hot). You can get them covered with cinnamon sugar, or regular sugar. In addition, you can get them filled with either chocolate or haupia, which is a kind of coconut filling.

Be aware though; filled malasadas are not like your usual filled donut. There is no skimping on filling for these donuts. Instead, they can be quite messy, so remember to bring lots of napkins!

Did I mention they are made to order and are fresh as well as hot and sweet!! Don't leave without having this traditional Hawaii Island breakfast or anytime treat.

Hawaii Shave Ice is not a sno-cone. Similiar? Maybe? But, we don't think so. Hawaii has the all-time world's best shave ice. The bad news, is it's way on the other side of Oahu in a little Haleiwa town. The good news, it's a beautiful drive to the North Shore. The bad news, you can't bring one back to Waikiki--it'll melt first.

A trip to Matsumoto's on Kamehameha Highway is worth the trip among those of us who know our shave ice ("shave ice" is what locals call it--"shaved ice" is how it's spelled for you English teachers out there).

There are about 25 flavors. Favorite Combinations; The Rainbow-combination of Strawberry, Pineapple, and Lemon. Hawaiian Special-combination of Pineapple, Coconut, and Banana. Matsumoto's Special-combination of Coconut, Pineapple, and Lemon. But you can make up your own. Have it with vanila ice cream on the bottom, our favorite way.

But, wherever you try a shave ice one thing is certain; it will not be your last.

A relativley new phenomonon around the Island are Shrimp Trucks and Shrimp Shacks.You could call them Plate Lunches with shrimp. But, whatever you call them no trip is complete without stopping for these delectable treats.
For complete details on our favorites Shrimp Shacks Click Here