On My Plate

Julia's Banana Bread: Still no ka oi!

It's been awhile since I made the trek out to Kahakuloa, so with a hungry companion in tow, I knew it was time for a revisit, if anything, for this. So when I pulled around the corner on Kahekili Highway and saw this sign, I knew times had changed. Wow! I exclaimed. Talk about marketing! Cause if you recall from my last post about this spot, there was no bright green sign. The roadside stand was still green back then, but not this eye-catching fluorescent green. I was so giddy when I saw this, completely happy for Julia and her success--if anything, I get the most comments on that post I wrote about her famous banana bread and coconut candy. And when my companion saw the sign and mocked, Best banana bread on the planet?! I knew he had to try some... and fast.

All it took was one bite and he was a convert. Yes, still good. Rich, buttery, full of real banana flavor. A loaf is only $5 and it is served warm. Only $5?! my companion said. You should charge $10! Before things got too inquisitive with the girls behind the counter (my companion was giving them a hard time that they were out of freshly-made taro chips), more customers showed up. Tour vans and rental cars kept stopping by, sampling the goodies and leaving with a loaf or two.

One word of caution. Yes, the bright green sign may be pretty eye catching, but please don't park your car to the left of it. That I did and I got stuck on a slope. It took my companion and some other hefty dudes some pushing while I reversed full throttle to get me out of the dirt. But after that quirky escapade (ah, me and cars...) we headed on our merry way, digging into the loaf and relishing the warm treat, looking for the next stop on our list to enjoy our picnic (but that place, my friends, is my secret).

Thai food in Hana (no, really!)

Whenever I do the long trek to Hana, Maui, I usually don't do much planning. Yeah, no picnic lunch or even cooler in the backseat. Most of the time I have faith that I'll come across some yummy tasty treats along the way, whether it be from a roadside stand, an established restaurant, or even Hasegawa's General Store. Usually, if I don't find anything, I end up at Tutu's in Hana Bay, a lunch counter with takeout sandwiches, burgers, and ice cream. But this recent trip, we stumbled into Hana starving and found the Bay entirely packed with nowhere to park. Yes, hello, it was Aloha Festival's weekend! (I'm not kidding when I say I don't really plan). So my companion and I reluctantly headed out looking for somewhere less crazy.

Not too far away we pass a sign along the side of the road: Thai Food. We see a tent set up beyond a driveway and several outdoor tables. And yes, parking! Well, enough for three cars. So we stopped for a look-see. The menu was small, ranging from Barbecue Ribs ($10) to Spicy Red Chicken Curry ($8) to Summer Rolls ($3). Most of the food was ready made and kept warm on a steam table, but in the back we could see ribs being freshly grilled and Pad Thai ($8) newly stir-fried. The smell did it. Sweet, spicy and sour, that unforgettable pungent blend that makes Thai food so darn addicting. So we stayed. My companion ordered the pad thai while I got the red curry. The woman behind the counter asked if I wanted to also try another dish: Steamed mahimahi with noni leaves and coconut sauce in a banana leaf bowl. It looked so cute and perfectly assembled that I couldn't say no.

What a nice surprise. The pad thai was delicious, cooked just right and just fresh. The red curry was redolent with bamboo shoots, the chicken tender and the sauce nicely spicy. But the little banana leaf bowl concoction was definitely to die for. The mahimahi cooked so tender and flavored slightly by the coconut sauce, yet it tasted purely like mahimahi. The noni leaves added a nice subtle green texture to the dish, almost like lu'au leaves or spinach, but heartier. "Make sure you don't eat the bowl," the woman winked.

We listened to the neighbors chatting about the beach they were going to go to that day. The kids talking about their schools and the homework they needed to do. We watched cars slowly drive past looking at the handmade roadside sign, some choosing to stop and others choosing to go. So glad that we stopped. I never knew that eating homestyle Thai food on the side of the road in Hana, Maui, would be so unforgettable.

When we said goodbye to the owner and headed back on the road, out of town we saw even more signs: Thai Food by Pranea. We almost wanted to turn back and try everything else, go back and yes, actually stay for a good while. For this is Hana, Maui, folks. And there's really no need to rush anywhere else. Cause you are already here.

Good Eats at Takamiya Market

A favorite Maui place to stop by for some ready-made food is in sleepy Happy Valley, an old-time neighborhood in Wailuku. Takamiya Market has 'ono kine grindz packaged up and for a good deal. For less than $5, you can get a main dishes such as teriyaki chicken and ribs, deep-fried 'ahi, luau stew, chow fun, pork ribs, and more. These photos really don't do it justice, but simply show the wide selection of yumminess.

You can get everything you need here for a delicious lunch or dinner. There are also a number of basic sides such as rice, sushi inari and poi. I especially enjoy checking out the treats on the sale table--to go items that may not be super duper fresh but still good. I scored a breakfast plate with eggs, rice and meat for less than $2. These sale items are great for snacking or for a picnic on the beach.

Because it is a grocery store, you can get your canned goods and fresh vegetables. But I really like the goods in the refrigerated cases: marinated beef and pork cuts ready for the grill. I especially love the selections from the sea: seaweed such as lipoa, tasty fresh 'opihi, and don't forget poke by the pound. By the end of the day, the poke is nearly gone so come early for the good stuff.

With many independent grocery shops on Maui now long gone, it's nice to know that Takamiya's is still thriving. So forget the big box stores and check out a place that's been feeding Maui locals for over 60 years. Maybe I'll see you there at the poke counter.

Takamiya Market, 359 N Market Street, Wailuku, HI. T: 808.244.3404