Experience Volcano Festival
A group of concerned citizens and business owners in Volcano got together to “celebrate the best of what the Volcano Area has to offer!”
“This festival features art, food, culture, live music and much more. Watch artists in action, explore a winery, walk through a Hawaiian rain forest and stroll through a stunning orchid garden.”
This, hopefully an annual event, is slated for 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, July 27-28.
There will be shuttle parking at Thai Thai Bistro &Bar, Volcano Winery and Akatsuka Gardens. The participating restaurants offering specials and happy hours include Ohelo Cale, Lava Rock Cafe, Aunty Pon’s Thai food truck, Kilauea Lodge, Cafe Ono, Lava Lounge, “Chicken N Ribs” At Volcano Art Center and Tuk Tuk Thai food truck.
After receiving a stamp from seven locations — Volcano Garden Arts, Lava Rock Cafe, Kilauea Lodge, Volcano Winery, Volcano Arts center, Akatsuka Orchid Farm and 2400 Fehrenheit — you will be eligible for a special drawing featuring great prizes.
Everyone is invited to come up the hill and help the Volcano community celebrate its village.
For more information, visit www.ExperienceVolcano.com/Festival.
Hawaiian Granola
In May, Barbara Anderson of Hawaiian Granola sent three samples of different flavors of her granola to Madison, Wisc., for the 2019 International Flavor Awards. The Hawaiian Granola Macadamia Granola with Ginger took first place in the granola category and the Original Macadamia Granola with Coconut took second place.
Barbara developed variations of the granola recipe that she developed and served at the Shipman House B&B for 20 years. Presently, Hawaiian Granola is being sold at KTA Puainako, Waimea, Waikoloa and Keauhou, Island Naturals Kona and The Locavore Store. The Original Granola and the Original Macadamia Granola with Coconut are served at Mauna Kea Beach Hotel and The Kahala Hotel and resort on Oahu.
Beneficiaries of the Big Island Chocolate Festival
Proceeds totaling $18,000 from the 2019 Big Island Chocolate Festival were awarded to the culinary programs at Hawaii Community College Palamanui, Kealakehe High School, four Hawaii Island high schools and Maui Community College, plus Hawaii Institute of Pacific Agriculture, Waimea Country School and Kona Dance &Performing Arts.
Beneficiaries will use their funds for a variety of projects to benefit students: pastry class scholarships, the Healthy Eating Living Pono project, participation in culinary competitions, enhancing a school gardening program, nutrition experiences, nutrition increasing agriculture and nutrition experiences, plus expansion of dance performance space.
Popover
Recently opened at 399 Kawili St. in Hilo, which was formerly Hilo Bake Shop, is Popover.
Three generations, father Paul Bray Jr., daughter Barbara Townsend and grandson William Townsend are all bakers and, of course, have popovers. Barbara said when they first opened, many people came in to ask what popovers were. Now they just come in and order them, being hooked on their lightness.
In their display case, they also have cheesecakes, brownies, coffee cakes and doughnuts.
Popover sandwiches include scrambled eggs, breakfast potatoes, bell peppers, onions and Portuguese sausage with house sauce. The roasted vegetable popover sandwich includes mushrooms, onions, tomato, bell pepper, zucchini and sprouts with house sauce. The turkey sandwich has sliced turkey breast, avocado, lettuce, tomato, lettuce and sprouts with house sauce. The flatbread sandwiches include sunrise or Portuguese sausage, mushrooms, onions, bell peppers and eggs with mozzarella and cheddar cheeses.
They also have roasted veggies, BBQ chicken and spinach and mushroom flatbread sandwiches.
The special roasted coffee of the day I visited was Ecuadoran Zamora Chinchipe Natural.
This statement is from Popover: “Popover is a locally owned and operated bakery and cafe offering a selection of fresh baked goods, cafe foods like sandwiches, salads and flatbreads and some of the best coffee in Hilo. Pop on over and see the difference freshness makes!”
Popover is open 7 a.m.-3 p.m. daily and closed Sundays.
Cafe Boba
Located in the former Itsu’s at 810 Piilani St. in Hilo is Cafe Boba.
I noticed cars when I went past Cafe Boba, which has been open since early this year, so it piqued my interest to check it out. There is a large assortment of slushies, milk teas, iced teas and coffees. The cupbop menu includes C.B. Original, which is beef marinated with Cafe Boba special bulgogi soy sauce; C.B. Spicy pork marinated with Cafe Boba special spicy sauce; Teri Chicken, or chicken marinated with Cafe Boba special teriyaki sauce; Loco Moco; and C.B. Noodle, or Korean long rice noodle with Cafe Boba special Japchae sauce.
Cafe Boba, owned by James Shitabata, is open 9 a.m.-9 p.m. daily.
Correction
In my June 18 column, I had a recipe from “Appetizers &Beverages from Sante Fe Kitchens.”
Reader Dorothy Malinski emailed me that the Layered Chickpea Curry Dip had no chickpeas. Sorry, Dorothy.
I misspelled the chickpea for chicken and the recipe is actually Layered Chicken Curry Dip, not Layered Chickpea Curry Dip.
I have written several cookbooks and my pet peeve is when the titles of recipes are in script and in the lightest color possible. I was probably reading the cookbook in the dimmest of lights and that’s what my eyes saw.
Sorry!
Email Audrey Wilson at audreywilson808@gmail.com.