Italian Foods

Italian Foods a lot to learn, there's more to it than pizzas, and calzones. I can put together anything because I've learned the proper way to use all the different heating methods, but to learn a specific style of cooking, you gotta learn from the best. I mean people that really know how to cook Italian foods. Watching the food shows is alright, Giada, Mario, Tyler, and all those famous t.v. chef celebs. But for some reason, I'll run into some Italian couple from the east coast, and they'll rip those t.v. chef stars to shreds with comments like..."They don't know how to cook Italian, those assholes only know how to put on a freekin show.. you want Italian? My Mama makes the best!" Okay, now I'm kinda afraid to delve into Italian cooking on camera, was flirting with that, but man, to get ripped apart by a true Italian? But what the hell, I cook local foods here, and some people rip my butt hole at times, "Hey brah dat not how you make squid luau!"

Maybe I can do Italian foods, I guess I'm sort of battle tested in some sense, but to be on camera and maybe mispronounce an Italian name for a dish? I'd get killed when some Italian sees me. Don't want a horses head in my bed the next morning. Heck I don't even have my own house and bed, but maybe the mob may just kill some cat and stick it in my backpack when I'm not looking.

So my foodie friends, my dilema is this, I want to do Italian food on my local food show and put it on YouTube, but man, should I even try? I know one time Emeril did sushi, and the pundits ripped him another asshole, "What does he know about Japanese food? He should stick to Cajun and leave that sushi biz to the real masters!" Oh wow! Maybe, I should just stick to having fun foods on the show, and not get too serious. But I'm running out of ideas. Should I see a real Italian? Should I hang out at an Italian dig? I don't know but Italian foods has been in my mind as of late. It's just an interesting cuisine, simple, and really tasty looking, I like the Italian herbs and spices. So, my quest to do Italian in front of a camera should be put on hold, I'll study some things about the culture first, learn to pronounce some of the items first. I can just hear it now, "That short Filipino/Hawaiian guy was tryin to cook Italian on his t.v. show, he should stick to whatever it is his family cooks, for crying out loud WTF is this world coming to?"

Maui- Lobster Season

Lobster Season in the islands runs from September 1, to April 31st. Spearing of lobsters is prohibited. Spiny lobster is the common species, the meat is sweet, great for grilling, steaming, boiling, baking, and even taking the raw meat that was chilled and cubing it up for some ceviche. Check the website for the Department of Land and Natural resources for more information on all open and closed fishing seasons. www.state.hi.us/dlnr

Photo belongs and is a copyright of Hawaii Fishing News www.hawaiifishingnews.com this photo is to help visitors to Hawaii become familiar with what a spiny lobster looks like.

Robert Jansen a diver got a state record 6 pound spiny lobster while diving in North Kona in 40 ft. of water. Dated September 4, 2005 just a few days after fishermen and divers can catch lobsters in Hawaiian waters, which ends April 31st. Story from Hawaii Fishing News.


Local divers use their athletic prowess to capture these creatures, divers with gloved hands will sneak up on them and put them in a mesh diving bag, other fishermen may use nets or traps. Diving at night can be beneficial for capturing lobsters, they love to hang out in crevices, if a diver gets lucky and spots one crawling in the open on sandy bottoms, the lobster is exposed and could be an easy capture. Divers at times may illegally spear a big lobster. Free divers frown upon scuba divers when hunting for them, the advantage of a tank diver being able to stay underwater for long periods of time gives the lobster a lesser chance for survival, thus the free divers claim that having a tank is not a real sport.


Without claws the spiny lobsters defense is its spines, the meat is very tasty because of the clean waters in Hawaii, the meat can be so sweet, once you try a spiny Hawaiian lobster, you may want to stock up on it. But fishing in Hawaiian waters is not as spectacular as it was before due to overfishing. Divers also claim that times have changed and in certain areas where they once dove lobsters are very rare. "Some may be taking lobsters when it's not in season, some are idiots and will take small lobsters and not let them mature, what a waste," says one local diver who has been diving for lobsters and crabs most of his life. "It's that way around the world, some people do not respect the ocean and the sea life, this is our way of sustaining, feels like it will never be the same again."


Spiny Lobster w/ Blackbean Sauce


1 Hawaiian Spiny Lobster 2 to 2 1/2 pounds
* Place lobster in a pot of boiling water, and cook until the shell turns color then remove quickly.


Ingredients.
1 cup of soy sauce
1/4 cup of water
2 tbsp. of sesame oil
1 tbsp. of oyster sauce
1 tsp. red chili flakes
1 tbsp. minced green onions
1 tsp. minced garlic
1 tsp. minced ginger
3 tbsp. fermented black beans


3 tbsp. of cornstarch
6 tbsp. of water


1. Remove the meat from the lobster and dice it, put it on a platter
2. Heat up a pot with all of the ingredients soy sauce, water, sesame oil, oyster sauce, red chili flakes, green onions, garlic and ginger and black beans. Bring to a boil, and stir.
3. Turn heat down to low, mix the cornstarch and water together then add that into the pot to thicken the sauce.
4. Pour over the diced lobster meat.
Serve with white rice.

Maui- Healthy Foods in Paia

Mana Foods in Paia has the best in natural foods, you can go there and shop for groceries or go to their deli and order something really fresh and above all healthy. Mana has been around for a very long time. If you are on your way to visit waterfalls in Hana or watching the windurfers and kiteboarders at Hookipa Beach Park, stop by Mana Foods on Baldwin Avenue right in the heart of Paia Town.

I suggest if you are a person with heatlh issues and can't find healthy foods on Maui, Mana Foods does have a wide range of items just for you. Lots of locally grown producer natural and organic, and free range meats. Grea spot for the vegetarian or vegan or raw foodist.

MAUI- Anti-Radiation Foods (Nuclear Fallout)

Nuclear Reactors Explodes! How do you keep your health in check, what is good to consume when there's a possible radiation spread thousands of miles, and your house is in its path? Expert health officials claim to take Potassium Iodide supplements. According to several news sources supplements such as Potassium Iodide is being wiped out and because of the shortage in supplies, the suppliers are exploiting the shortage thus raising the prices considerably. Expect bottles to be at $30.00 plus.

See Swanson Health Products http://www.swansonvitamins.com/

Visit Natural News http://www.naturalnews.com/

To protect the glands in your body, other sources that are natural that's safe to consume is sea vegetables, most notably sea kelp, or seaweed, if you've ever eaten sushi, the wrapper known as nori (noh ree) is filled with Iodine. According to naturalnews.com natural Organic Kelp Granules can provide 3mg of iodine (1/4 tsp) And the recommended daily dose is 150 mcg. 1 mg = 1000 mcg.

Most seaweed contain iodine, and cooking it does not remove iodine.

Eat some of these if still available in your local market in the Asian section.

Nori- wrappers, or sheets sold for rolling sushi


Kombu- made to put into soups

Maui- More Local Food Knowledge

Local Foods on Maui, this can be redundant, but it is what it is. Maui is a melting pot of different people and cultures, okay you know that already sorry eh? So let's treck over to Kahului to get a fix of Filipino foods from Paradise Super Mart located at 207 E Wakea Ave. Phone: 808-877-6767.

Find some very good delicious foods if you want to be a little risque, look for Pork Adobo which is a tangy braised pork with spices, I'm sure you'll like that. Fried fish with vinegar and onions, fried pork, various soups, and get this a hog blood stew called dinuguan. If you delved in Vietnamese foods, or Thai foods, you ain't seen nothin yet.

Go and check out Paradise and bring your gout medication because you'll be delving in very rich foods. Great grocery items too. check them out.

Various Filipino Savory Dishes in the Hot Bar

We like try your food!

The Village Cafe and Sweet Shoppe in Kapalua, a review by myself Chef Ron and Sascha Bauml, if you want good savory meals, this it the place to go, great brisket, sliders, fish n chips, and the sweet shoppe, get your sweet fix here. Located in the Adventure Center in Kapalua right off of Office Road, one of the jewels on Maui and the world. The Plantation Golf Course is home of the first PGA Golf tournament of the season every January. Also home of the famous Bay Golf Course with hole number 5 tee to green acrosss the bay.

The culinary experience in Kapalua is superb, with Merriman's, Sansei Seafood, The Pineapple Grill, and the Plantation House also. Come and sample each restaurant for its uniqueness, and enjoy the simple life Kapalua has to offer, no hassles in a relaxing atmosphere. Just 1 1/2 miles away is the famous Honolua Bay in the summers great for diving and snorkeling, and in the winters, home of great huge surf.

Stop by the Village Cafe and Sweet Shoppe soon on your next Vay Cay.

Mahalo

Chef Ron

Maui- Local Plates @ No Ka Oi Deli Lahaina

Local Maui Style No Ka Oi Deli an Icon! Some say it's the simple pleasures of life that makes life... well pleasurable, and being a Lahaina, Maui native, our simple plate lunches are just part of our culinary/foodie experience. And one of the local's faves is No (noh) Ka (kah) Oi (oy) Deli located on Wainee Street right across of the Mc Donald's in the Anchor Square complex. Thanks to Jason P. www.yelp.com for all the photos on this site. Oh yeah the real registered address is 222 Papalaua Street #104. Phone: 808-667-2244


What's good? Everything is good at No Ka Oi Deli, lots of good stuff on the menu. Saimin (Japanese noodle soup), Teriyaki Chicken plates, Salads, Club Sandwiches, and their famous Hop Wo Bread served every other Sunday, give them a call, go early in the morning before the roosters crow, buy some real butter and hot chocolate or coffee, the bread is the best and sold in those old school brown paper bags, open it up and the whole neighborhood can smell it. But this dig is one of my favorites. If you want low cals, don't go here... because the food is savory, filling and the best! Or No Ka Oi! Okay... the salads and sandwiches are low cal, but if you want to eat like a horse with no holds barred, hey pal, this is the dig! I'd go here before Aloha Mixed Plate for sure, but take nothing away from my friends at AMP, I like the food at No Ka Oi's better.