maui culinary academy

 

in anticipation of the "top chef" finale tonight (sam was my man and since he was knocked out last week all i have to say is go ilan!), today's post is all about the culinary scene in the islands which we all know is foodie nirvana. the maui culinary academy is just one of hawaii's top notch cooking schools and straight out of their test kitchen is a gourmet product line developed by the students.

the line ranges from raspberry wine jelly (made from tedeschi vineyards' raspberry remnants that would have otherwise been scrapped) to mango sugar & thai basil sea salt. you can find the line around the islands (i've spotted it at na mea hawaii at ward warehouse) or click over to tedeschi's website to shop online.

class act

also, an off the beaten path lunch idea is the school's pa'ina food court where you can taste what the students have been cooking in class that day. there are six choices including farm to table's locally grown menu, sushi at raw fish camp, and freshly baked pastries at the patisserie. for those who prefer to indulge in a fine dining experience, the class act serves a four course prix fixe lunch menu every wed & fri for $25 (reservations required).

anyhoo, back to "top chef" . . . the finale was filmed on the big island and last week's episode featured the contestants putting their spin on the traditional luau for chef alan wong's birthday bash. if you want to whip up sam's ono sounding haupia, click over to bravo's website which has just posted the recipes online.

honolulu chocolate company

chocolate truffles

hopefully, your love connection is as steadfast and true as the combination of valentine's day and a box of chocolates. if you really want to splurge, stop by the honolulu chocolate company at ward center and worship at the altar that is their chocolate filled glass case. their specialty is artisanal chocolates with everything from decadent truffles (on the last trip home, i sampled one with li hing powder) to chocolate dipped strawberries made just for valentine's to tempt your tastebuds.

if you can't get to their shop, an edited selection of goodies are available on their website however ordering is a bit old school since you have to either fax or call in your order. and remember that valentine's is the shop's second biggest day of the year so don't procrastinate if you want to treat your sweet.

banner days

words cannot express how much i fancy my new banner so i will simply let the image speak for itself. one of the nicest compliments i have received over the past few months has been for the design of h|h but the retired banner (which was hacked together in an all night photoshop session) wasn't quite right and so began the search for a more worthy replacement.

i hope you love the new look as much as i do. it reminds me of my favorite beach in hawaii and makes me as happy as can be.

{mahalo steve!}

be back in the morning with more ideas for valentine's . . .

tamara catz resort collection

 

if you are lucky enough to be spending your winter holiday in hawaii, then you have to take a peek at the latest from maui designer tamara catz. the 2007 resort collection features tamara's trademark beachy bohemian vibe that can go from sightseeing around the island to lounging on your lanai.

her designs have been featured in vogue, in style, and have even made the pages of the sports illustrated swimsuit issue yet curiously she has received relatively little press in the islands and only a handful of local boutiques stock the collection. that doesn't seem to matter to those in the know who adore the hand done embellishments that are tamara's signature.

this more cosmopolitan tropical style may not be typical of hawaii and can be traced to tamara's stops around the world on her way to maui. she grew up in buenos aires and later moved to nyc to train at the fashion institute of technology in nyc (alumni include calvin klein, carolina herrera & michael kors). one day she moved to the islands, found love, and established her business in upcountry maui.

to see more stop by the online shop, use the store locator to find the stockist near you, or hit the eponymous boutique in paia when you are on maui.

island nomad

luana spa retreat

a few years ago i read a very evocative story in the newspaper about living in a yurt (the article is long gone but you can read this one to get a sense of what it is like). the coziness of the round structure and the thought of gazing at the stars through the skylight completely captured my imagination. sigh.

lucky me, it turns out there are a handful of yurt vacation rentals around the islands! the luana spa retreat in hana has a yurt located on its property with a panoramic view of hana bay. it sounds like a romantic getaway especially when you consider that there is a separate bath house (complete with outdoor shower) and that you can indulge in a massage at the spa which is just steps from your hideaway.

click here to read the reviews on tripadvisor before you go.

there is also this fabulous yurt nestled on the grounds of the kona kine coffee farm on the big island. it is luxed out with all the modern amenities you could want and features a wraparound deck with views of the pacific and nature as far as the eye can see. take a peek at the photo gallery for a little tour.

kona yurt

there is a three night minimum so do double check your dates on the availability calendar, but that just means you will have more time to lounge on the deck and soak up the view while you enjoy the complimentary organic coffee grown by the yurt's owner.