Hawaii: Exotic Fruit Tasting



While on Oahu, I enjoyed all of the food at the Hawai'i Food and Wine Festival and the dishes with Shinsato Farms Pork, Kuahiwi Ranch Beef, and a plethora of local produce and seafood.  So when local foodie and friend Melissa Chang invited me to a tropical fruit tasting, I wasn't sure what to expect.

@Melissa808 sizes up a mango from Makaha Mangoes 

When we arrived at the University of Hawaii, I learned that this was part of the Hawaii Tropical Fruit Growers conference and we were to meet people who really knew their stuff.  Having spent many summers in Hawaii, I grew up with papayas, lychee, guava, lilikoi, and pineapples.  I have to admit, some of the fruits on the table were a complete mystery.  
#fruitfail

See What Jay Eats...

 What an assortment of exotic fruits!

It was great to taste many of these tropical fruits
and some of these I had never had before.

The exotic Dragon Fruit

 One of my favorites, but I wanted a scoop of ice cream with it...
Rambutans

Have only seen these in pictures and haven't seen ones this nice in person...

Chef Instructor Greg Sato
demystifies the mangosteen and cuts one open for us.

A beautiful mangosteen and very tasty

DYK the bottom of the fruit indicates how many
sections are inside?

 Pig in an Ulu Blanket

All beef hot dog wrapped in a breadfruit dough,
baked and served with a Sour Sop and Chico "ketchup"

 I'm going to have to remember to make a breadfruit dough...

Breadfruit (Ulu) is amazing...
Ran into Ian Cole of the Breadfruit Institute

More about Breadfruit

 Steamed Monkfish
served with an exotic citrus salad and micro greens

I love fish with citrus...

Dessert Time!

Green tea mochi rice filled orange jack fruit
and
Mango mochi rice filled yellow jack fruit

Photo by @csuiso
 (Left to Right)  @Chef_Jay, @Melissa808, @NctrnBst, @ShareYourTable
with our favorite fruit of the moment

 I was fortunate to have grandparents who had a papaya and lychee trees in the backyard and an uncle with a mango tree.  So I grew up tasting these tree-ripened fruit, must be the volcanic soil that makes them so good.  But I'm not the expert, I don't have a green thumb, only a sharp knife.

When you visit a tropical island, you have to try the fruits grown there and Hawai'i has some great fruits to try.  Checkout my North Shore of O'ahu post...


Here's what Ed Morita
posted for Nonstop Honolulu



Mahalo!
Hawai'i Visitors and Convention Bureau
O'ahu Visitors Bureau
Melissa Chang
Ed Morita
Hawaii Tropical Fruit Growers
Candy and Mark Suiso



NOTE:  I was a guest in Honolulu of the Hawai'i Visitors and Convention Bureau, 
O'ahu Visitors Bureau and their partners.
I thank them for the invitation and hospitality.
All comments and opinions are strictly my own.




Photos by Jay Terauchi
unless otherwise noted
©Jay Terauchi
Jay Eats

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Sticking to What You Do Best...

Last week, I was invited to celebrate National Hamburger Day at The Counter in Studio City. I had been to The Counter before, but today was special and met a fellow tweeter who was a first timer. The menu is easy to follow and you actually build your own burger, well at least on paper. First you select the protein, then the cheese, other various toppings, a side sauce, and last is the type of bun you want. If you’re having a hard time deciding, don’t worry, they have signature burgers and sandwiches to choose from. Too many choices make me crazy sometimes. I get so confused when I see other restaurants trying to be everything to everyone. The food at these restaurants are usually horrible and thus end up closing. Would you be surprised if the pizza at a seafood restaurant wasn’t good? Doesn’t make sense to me. Attention Restaurant Owners: Pick something and do it really really well. In-n-Out hasn’t added anything to their menu in years and they’re still in business and GROWING! Being i
Read more

Hidden Little Tokyo: Cheap Eats

Image
I usually take the Metro Gold Line to Downtown Los Angeles.  Traffic is usually bad and then I have no idea where to park.  Although some of my friends who know I'm downtown a lot, think I know where all the places to park, this is why I take the Metro.  As I was heading into town on this trip, overheard 2 guys talking about only having $5 and wanting to get something to eat. I know there are places in Little Tokyo where you can get something to eat in the $5 range, here's what I've found: See What Jay Eats... Half California Roll and Half Spicy Tuna Roll (includes miso soup) $3.95 Little Tokyo Sushi This is a grab and go kiosk inside the Little Tokyo Market Place.  They have a variety of sushi combinations ranging in price from a $2.50 hand roll to $12+. Little Tokyo Sushi at the Little Tokyo Market Place (former Mitsuwa Marketplace) 333 S. Alameda St #100 Los Angeles, CA 90012 (213) 617-0343 Niku (Beef) Udon  $5.00
Read more

Recipe: Ahi Masago Poke - May 2012

Image
Where do you get good poke in Southern California? If there is a place, I haven't found it yet. I'm really picky when it comes to poke, so I make my own. Having competed in the Sam Choy Poke Festival on the Big Island in 2003, I got to try all kinds and some with imitation crab and tofu. But, I prefer the simple kine, like in my Ahi Poke recipe. Ahi Masago Poke This is my version of Alicia's Market "Wasabi Ahi Masago Poke" Alicia's Market is my first stop in Honolulu after I leave the airport. First Stop Honolulu: Alicia's Market Yellowfin Tuna I start with 1.5 lbs of chopped sashimi grade tuna My Ingredients Low Salt Soy Sauce White Sesame Oil I start with 4 TBS of soy sauce and 2 TBS of white sesame oil. As you mix in, the tuna will absorb the liquid, you can add more in later. Add in a sweet white onion and green onions The secret is washing the onions with water a
Read more