subject: Hawaiian Cuisine [print this page] Hawaii is sometimes forgotten about when people speak of the United States, which is a shame; it's one of the country's most amazing places to visit. With tropical weather, beautiful beaches, and a unique culture, Hawaii is a wonder to behold. The cuisine is part of the state's sense of identity, and contains dishes that simply must be tried. If you're unsure of where to start, just keep an eye out for these culinary gems.
Lomi salmon was introduced to the islands by western sailors, and has become a favorite side dish at luaus. Created using salted salmon, which is finely diced and mixed with tomatoes, it is a cold salad that also makes use of red chili peppers and Maui onions. Other ingredients include cucumber and green onion. It compliments the traditional raw ahi tunas and fragrant kalua pigs served during Hawaiian gatherings, and is an integral dish for many locals.
Poke is another raw fish salad, usually served as an appetizer. It's typically made of ahi, or yellowfin tuna, which is marinated in a mixture of sea salt, soy sauce, candlenut, seaweed, chilies, and sesame oil. Tomatoes and sweet Maui onions are included in the final mixture, and it's not uncommon to see poke served with Wasatch on the side. Poke uses raw salmon or cured octopus and you may find this more to your liking than their ahi dish.
If someone offers you a loco moco, don't worry; it's an amazing dish, in spite of its strange name. While variations on the dish abound, commonly loco moco makes use of fried egg, a hamburger patty, and white rice - with brown gravy to top it all off. One of the most popular meals among the islanders, is this unique dish that was created in Hilo, Hawaii, in the 1940s. Moco locos require little preparation time, making them an ideal lunch for workers on the go, and an easier fix than typical Japanese bento boxes. Other plates available include fish, bacon, spam, teriyaki beef, and oyster loco moco.
Hawaiians are famous for their love of Spam. While most people consider the canned meat product to be a last resort meal, the islanders treat it as a delicacy, and have whipped up several Spam-based dishes over the years. West Coast hipsters with wasabi addictions, may well pale in comparison to the food connoisseurs of the islands, as the Japanese influence on their cuisine has made fish-eating standard practice. Much like the chocolate and peanut butter question, Hawaiians have found an outstanding taste combination which has led them to create spam musubi. Grilled spam and a block of rice, wrapped in nori seaweed, comprise this sushi dish. They are inexpensive, easy to eat, and one of the most popular fast food items in the state. You can find them near cash registers in almost every major convenience store - and while you're at it, be sure to try some of the Spam products that can be found at Hawaii-based McDonald's!
