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    Urban Bliss Life » Travel » Hawaii » Taste of Hawaii

    Published: January 27, 2015 / Updated: May 28, 2022 by Marlynn Jayme Schotland · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Taste of Hawaii

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    Hawaii is full of fresh, delicious specialty foods and beverages. Here's a taste of Hawaii, at the Taste of Hawaiian Range event.


    Taste of the Hawaiian Range 2014 | UrbanBlissLife.com

    Jump to:
    • Taste of the Hawaiian Range
    • Hawaiian Food Highlights
    • Information about Hawaiian food

    So far on our journey through this Travel to Hawaii Island series, we've:

    • ziplined through rainforest
    • walked on black sand beaches
    • visited a family-run coffee plantation farm, and
    • kayaked and snorkeled in Kealakekua Bay. 

    It's taken a lot of restraint for me to hold off talking about the food of Hawaii Island for this long! I'm delighted to finally share some of the island's food stories with you.

    As one local so perfectly put it: "It's so easy to eat healthily in Hawaii." 

    Indeed, the true taste of Hawaii includes an abundance of delicious, interesting, and versatile fresh fruits and vegetables. I'll be sharing some of my favorite local fruit and vegetable finds. Plus, a cute little Vegan restaurant (run by a woman from Portland!).

    First, I'd like to share with you a side of Hawaii Island you may not have realized plays a large part in the history of the island. This is the ranching industry. It was highlighted through a fantastic annual event that I was honored to attend: The Taste of the Hawaiian Range.

    Taste of the Hawaiian Range

    Taste of the Hawaiian Range 2014 | UrbanBlissLife.com

    The annual Taste of the Hawaiian Range takes place at the Hilton Waikoloa Village on the Kohala Coast of Hawaii Island. Its goal is to provide an educational venue to encourage and support local production of agricultural products. 

    Now looking forward to its 20th year, the event features a large number of local food and beverage producers, restaurants, and agriculture programs. More than 2,000 attendees sampled their way through the event in 2014 (pre-sale tickets were $45; $60 the day of the event).

    A big focus was on pasture-raised, or grass-fed, beef. Seven of the 30 culinary stations at the recent event paired together a local chef with a local ranch. The chef was challenged to prepare 100 pounds of a specific cut of pasture-raised beef from that ranch. Or, the chef could use locally sourced pork, lamb, mutton, goat or USDA-inspected wild boar.

    The results were inventive, satisfying dishes. Each paid great tribute to the diversity of the land and the cut of meat.

    Hawaiian Food Highlights

    Here's a look at some of the seven highlighted culinary dishes:

    Taste of the Hawaiian Range 2014 | UrbanBlissLife.com
    Smoked Marinated Grilled Flank Steak by the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel Culinary Team

    The Mauna Lani Bay Canoehouse culinary team, lead by Chef de Cuisine Allen Hess, prepared two items:

    Taste of the Hawaiian Range 2014 | UrbanBlissLife.com

    Tri Tip Nacho: Housemade Shrimp Chips, Ume, and Avocado Creme Fraiche
    Tri Tip Furakake: Puff beef tendon, Unagi, and Pickled Pumpkin
    Taste of the Hawaiian Range 2014 | UrbanBlissLife.com

    This one was one of my favorites:

    Taste of the Hawaiian Range 2014 | UrbanBlissLife.com
    Feral Hog with mustard seeds by Tommy Bahama

    Inside the main festival area, attendees were greeted with even more food, beverages, and informational booths.

    This pho caught my eye because it included my favorite Filipino pancit noodles:

    Taste of the Hawaiian Range 2014 | UrbanBlissLife.com

    Beef Tongue Pho. Pancit noodles, bone marrow stock, grass fed beef bo vien, bean sprouts, basil oil jalapeno, , kula onions, cilantro, mint, garlic sand, and calamansi 

    There were also a handful of featured Kona coffee producers on hand. Here, you could learn about the process from coffee cherry to final cup (read more about the Aikane Plantation Coffee Farm).
    Taste of the Hawaiian Range 2014 | UrbanBlissLife.com

    Of course, it would not be a complete food event without some tasty desserts.

    PHO - Taste of the Hawaiian Range 2014 | UrbanBlissLife.com
    Purple Sweet Potato Mochi Balls with Macadamia Nuts

    Taste of the Hawaiian Range 2014 | UrbanBlissLife.com
    Gingerbread with Honey Drizzle and Candied Ginger 

    Information about Hawaiian food

    Informational booths were interspersed among the food and beverage tables. These were overflowing with educational info about food research programs. Plus, you could learn about local beekeeping programs and ranching history.

    Taste of the Hawaiian Range 2014 | UrbanBlissLife.com

    If you find yourself visiting Hawaii, the Big Island, I highly suggest buying tickets to this event. It's a wonderful opportunity to meet the people who raise, prepare, and distribute the amazing cuisine of Hawaii Island.

    You'll walk away with a full, happy belly. And, you'll have a greater appreciation for the food and beverages presented before you at your next vacation meal.

    For more information, visit http://www.tasteofthehawaiianrange.com/

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      Reader Interactions

      Comments

      1. Denise @ Healthy Disney Family says

        February 06, 2015 at 10:14 am

        Your food photography is amazing, Marlynn! Looks like a fantastic - and delicious! - event to attend.

        Reply
      2. Rachel says

        January 28, 2015 at 8:54 am

        These Hawaii posts kill me! I need a hot vacation like tomorrow!!!! So awesome. The food also looks amazing. I want to learn more about Hawaiian cuisine, it looks great!

        Reply
      3. kelsey says

        January 28, 2015 at 7:14 am

        mmmm! this looks so good! but hawaii's food is, of course, the best, so i am not surprised!

        Reply
      4. Beckydancer says

        January 27, 2015 at 7:22 pm

        Wow, I mean WOW! You captured such vibrant colors and personality in these dishes! I love this post.

        Reply
      5. Catherine says

        January 27, 2015 at 11:21 am

        Mm, that sherbet looks phenomenal! I bet it was a welcome light bite among all the heavier fare.

        Reply
      6. Pech says

        January 27, 2015 at 1:29 pm

        Yum! What is in that fourth picture down?

        Reply

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      Marlynn Jayme Schotland 2021 profile pic

      Hi! Thanks for stopping by! I'm Marlynn - a cookbook author, writer, photographer, and mom of two teenagers + a lovable lab retriever. Here you'll find my fast, easy, and delicious recipes, wine pairings, and travel guides. I hold a WSET 2 with Distinction in wine, and am a member of Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) and the International Food, Wine, and Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA).

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