Cooking Island Kitsch Style

Along with an interest in island kitsch, I have what some call a passion for cooking. I enjoy experimenting with food combinations, methods and the challenge of preparing something exotic. Now that I have some experience at it, my wife says she enjoys it too. I have yet to win over my teenage sons.

This isn't going to become a cooking blog. I'll leave that in the capable hands of Eric over at Back of the Refrigerator Gourmet. The guy lives, breathes and "eats" gourmet. He even has a dream job giving gourmet tours of some of the top restaurants in Seattle. Check it out if you have an interest in food and the almost limitless options for preparing it.

Like I said, this isn't a cooking or food blog - but there's no denying that the islands are home to some of the most incredible culinary treats available on the planet. Everytime I visit, I end up with a suitcase of sauces and treats to last me until my next trip. Fortunately, you can experience some of these same products through the modern miracle of online shopping.

These make fantastic gifts for the person in your life that loves trying new flavors.

Macadamia Nut Oil is completly undeserving of its reputation as a "fatty" oil. The myth comes from the fact that the nut itself has a high calorie count. The oil from the nut is one of the healthiest available. It can be used as a cooking oil or in dressings and marinades. Either form infuses the associated food with a light, silky texture and slightly sweet taste. In this form, it is a great cooking oil due to its high smoke point.

Being a sea salt, it's already superior to table salt for cooking. Due to the way it's processed, table salt has a heavy, artificial texture that coats your tongue and prevents the flavors from having full access to all of the taste sensors. Sea salt is under processed and lacks this after-texture. Add to that, its suprising color, and this salt is a win in its presentation. I tasted this product in a resort restaurant when I was younger and have looked for it since.

These are the Nori sheets I wrote about in the Spam article a few posts ago. They are used to make a Spam Musubi that still brings back fond memories. Order these for direct-to-your-doorstep convenience or look in any decently stocked asian market. With free shipping, the price is about the same.

Talk about a unique Hawaiian flavor. Coconut anything inspires visions of sun-kissed beaches, waving palms and warm tropical breezes. I've had this syrup with my morning mocha and it completes the experience like nothing else. I have also heard it used on Macadamia Nut pancakes and look forward to having the opportunity to try it out.

Kona-grown coffee has been with us for a while. It's great - often superior to the south american blends that are prevalent due to their lower cost. However, for a truly great experience, try Maui-grown beans. Grown on planations that used to be home to pineapple fields, I suspect that is a part of their unique taste. The preparation of the pineapple fields for a 4-year growing/rest cycle lowers the natural iron content resulting in the coffee beans having a less bitter taste. If you can, grind your own. The oils will be preserved with the lower surface area. If you must order it ground, use a press. The processing is less intense and it results in a superior richness of flavor without the bitterness.

For snacking and gifting. This is a great assortment for gift giving. There's something for everyone.

For cooking. It's difficult to get unsalted macadamia nuts on the mainland, which is how they are purchased for cooking on the islands. These are the next best thing. Order extra. Left unopened, they last for many months.

As of last year, I would have recommended a Maui Gold pineapple from Maui Land & Pine. They were developed using a painstaking process of selective breeding rather than the more expedient genetic engineering. The fruit was beyond question the best pineapple I have ever tasted. Unfortunately, Maui Land & Pine had to discontinue its growing operation or face extinction as a company. I used to work for ML&P in my youth and it was one of my saddest moments to see them give up pineapple growing. Hopefully they can make a comeback with their real estate management.

Ordering online gives you an opportunity to try something out of the ordinary. Exotic ingredients don't necessarily require exotic methods. It's a quick and easy way to break out of the ordinary. Best of luck and Aloha.