Jay Eats Worldwide

Someone asked me a couple of weeks ago, "what's saimin?" I grew up on noodles and my nieces are following the family tradition, they love noodles too.  I don't remember having a favorite noodle, except for spaghetti, and what kid doesn't like spaghetti?  Being Asian, we had ramen, soba, somen, and udon noodles growing up.  During my college years, I started eating Korean naengmyeon and Vietnamese pho.   But it was the summers I spent in Hawai'i having saimin that I remember the most and would now have to say was my favorite growing up.  It's probably because it wasn't something found in Los Angeles, except when my grandma would visit and bring frozen S&S Saimin packages for us.  I usually had to wait for the end of school and spending the summers in Hawai'i for saimin.  So, what is saimin?  It's really a cross of Chinese, Filipino, Hawaiian, Japanese, Korean, and Portuguese cultures and food.  How did they all ...

My first stop after leaving the airport in Kahului is heading to Tasaka Guri Guri at the Maui Mall. This is probably the most famous guri guri (pronounced goodie goodie) shop in Hawaii. It's a cross between sherbet and ice cream and dates back to the plantation days. I get my guri guri and Maui potato chips before heading to the hotel or meeting. See What Jay Eats... Strawberry Guri Guri "Standard Flavor" 2 scoops in a paper cup $1.20 Kitch'n Cook'd Maui Potato Chips Another childhood favorite... Pineapple Guri Guri "The other standard flavor" I even stopped on the way back to the airport... Trip Tally: 3 times (2 Strawberry and 1 Pineapple) Who knows how much longer they'll be in business? On that day, I'll be just as sad as when Sushi Nozawa closed... So Good, They Named it Twice! Photos by Jay Terauchi ©Jay Terauchi Jay Eats

Maui Style! I'm always asked how the food combinations of Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, etc. got put together all on one plate? Going back to the plantation days, it was the plantation workers who shared their lunches with each other. Sam Sato's Still family owned and operated It's off the beaten path and pretty much all local customers (so you know it's a good place) No line today, so let's see what Jay Eats... Sam Sato's is famous for their Dry Saimin with char sui (BBQ pork), bean sprouts, and green onions Saimin is a noodle soup originated in Hawaii during the plantation days. It's a mix of Japanese, Chinese, and Filipino ingredients brought together to form a unique dish not found in Asia. If you've followed my Hawaii Food Adventures, you know that I LOVE Saimin! Having spent summers in Hawaii growing up, saimin it's like having a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for lunch outside of Hawaii. ...