(virtually) in Hawaii

I’m ingesting so many coconut products I might as well be in Hawaii.

From homemade coconut milk (in morning shakes) to coconut water (as an alternative to plain water) and coconut oil or cream (applied after body brushing), I’m in a raw coconut dream state. Not to mention a little coconut/chocolate coma from Snake & Butterfly every now and then.

Serendipitously, when I walked into Whole Foods earlier to get ingredients for chicken stock, a scent wave of distinctly Hawaiian origins enveloped me. What was it? Why, the incomparable aroma that only comes from fresh tuberose! Tuberoses always make me think of Hawaiian leis, though I’ve never actually had one made of them.

And when I think about Hawaii, I contemplate the really terrific fish you can only get there. Has anyone been to the outstanding restaurant, Pacific’O, on Maui? I daydream about their ultimate fish dish, The Vana, I had OVER TWO YEARS AGO. I still think about it almost every time I eat fish. It was total nirvana on a plate (Indian spices dusting a perfectly cooked piece of Hawaiian fish with an impossibly long name). I’ve got a photo of it somewhere; I’ll try to dig it up along with a photo of the menu section describing the dish.

Back to the subject of tuberoses however…

I had a major miss last time I bought tuberoses; the buds never opened and turned brown after a few days. Such a waste. This time, however, the buds were partially open and the telltale scent of the Hawaiian tropics was in the air. I felt compelled to buy some (the price was great) and today’s warmer weather is awakening my inner travelista. Time to start a little Internet research for a future trip! Not technically on our travel horizon but maybe the Lottery Gods will find me and treat us…