Okonokai

I stopped at the Mililani Farmers Market for the first time in months, and was surprised to see Okonokai - it was the first day for the vendor!  I've seen posts come through my social media about the crackers made with limu, so I was excited to try them.

I was already familiar with the limu lepe-o-Hina used in the crackers, since we use the limu at Na‘au.

I bought all three flavors - Sea Salt, Spicy Gochujang, and Miso Cheezy.

My fave was the Sea Salt.  The crackers were thin with a nice snap, and just enough salt and umami.

I also bought some of the dried seaweed - perfect for soups or salads.

Follow Okonokai on IG to find out where to get them, or you can also purchase online!

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Akamai Foods at Mililani Farmers' Market

Whenever we go to the Mililani Farmers' Market, a must-stop is Akamai Foods for their juices and lemonades, which my kids love.  

On this visit, my son tried the Magical Lemonade, which was infused with vanilla bean and butterfly pea flower. This drink is good for stress, memory, and anti-inflammation.  

Akamai Foods is known for their Oatcakes, which we have yet to try - maybe next time!  

Mililani Farmers' Market
95-1200 Meheula Pkwy

Mililani, HI 96789

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Visit San Francisco: Ferry Plaza Farmers Market

For my 50th birthday, I flew to San Francisco with one of my BFFs for the weekend. San Francisco holds a special place in my heart, which is why I wanted to come here to celebrate this milestone!

Our trip began with a visit to the Farmers Market at the Ferry Building. Located along the scenic waterfront, this market offered an incredible mixture of fresh produce, artisanal goods, and gourmet treats. While we were here, we had to try the chilaquiles from Primavera. It was the perfect start to our adventure in the City!

Stay tuned for more stops on my San Francisco adventure!

 

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Visit Big Island: Makuʻu Farmers Market

I finally got to check out Maku`ʻu Farmers Market - a fairly large market that takes place in Pahoa every Sunday (currently open 7am-noon).  Although there are a few vendors selling produce and farm-raised items, I personally would not consider it a "farmers market," but just more a "market" in general, as there are more vendors selling gifts, souvenirs, clothing, and such than actual food items.  It really reminded me of the Swap Meet at Aloha Stadium, especially since there were also people selling their used items.  

Banana

Family Cookies

Until the picture

Pirozhki from Rush-in Cuisine

Smoked Meat Bowl

Papaya Salad

Of all the food I tried, I liked the Pirozkhi the best.  The Pilmeni was a generous serving of a dumpling-like dish that was stuffed with beef and turkey.  I was told to sprinkle on some rotisserie chicken seasoning and shoyu (which they had at the table), and it was served with sour cream and another sauce.  It was interesting, but not something I would order again.  I really liked the Pirozkhi, however.  

If you're looking for souvenirs, omiyage, Hawai`i-made crafts, or some interesting foods, check out Makuʻu Farmers Market!

There is a $2 entry fee per vehicle.

Makuʻu Farmers Market
15-2131 Keaau-Pahoa Rd

Pahoa, HI 96778

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Sage Creamery - December Flavors

It's not often that I can make it to the Mililani Farmers Market on Sundays, but when I can make it, I usually end up buying some Sage Creamery ice cream.

They had a bunch of holiday flavors I was eager to try.

Peppermint Truffle

The Peppermint Truffle Sorbet is vegan, and consists of Manoa Dark Chocolate.  It is rich with a nice peppermint flavor that is not overwhelming.  It's as indulgent as you could imagine a truffle sorbet could be.

La`ie Snow Cream

The La`ie Snow Cream, made with La`ie Vanilla Bean, was my fave of the holiday flavors.  It has such a creamy texture and a delightful vanilla flavor.

Campfire S'mores

My kids loved the Campfire S'mores - torched marshmallow ice cream with housemade chocolate chips and graham crackers.  Yum!

I was bummed they were out of the Frozen Hot Cocoa flavor, but all three flavors I brought home were fab.  

I'm always eager to see what flavors Sage Creamery comes out with!

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Visit Claremont: Claremont Farmers & Artisans Market

We had some time to kill in the morning, so we were looking for things to do on a Sunday in Clarmeont, and found online that the Claremont Farmers & Artisans Market takes place every Sunday in Claremont Village from 8am to 1pm.   

I always enjoy walking through open markets in other states / countries to see what different or unique offerings I'll come across.

The Claremont Farmers & Artisans Market is small in comparison to a market like the Kapiolani Community College Market, but in terms of the number of vendors, it's slightly more than a market like the Mililani Farmers Market.

Vendors line up on Harvard Avenue, and most of them are selling farm fresh produce - baskets of berries, colorful cauliflower heads, buckets of tomatoes and grapes, and more.

We bought some berries to munch on, and I was hoping there were food vendors or more ready-to-eat foods that I could snack on or bring back for omiyage, but the options were very limited.

It was still a nice stroll through the Claremont Farmers & Artisans Market!

Claremont Farmers and Artisans Market
Harvard Ave N

Claremont, CA 91711
 

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Little Sparrow

I've seen Little Sparrow pop up on @starsbeardsanddiamonds' feed numerous times, so when I saw them at the Mililani Farmers Market, I made sure to give them a try!

Little Sparrow specializes in Spaetzle, a type of noodle / dumpling popular in Germany and Hungary (spaetzle is German for Little Sparrow).

The O.G. Cheesy

Truffle Mushroom

I loved the Spaetzle!  The O.G. Cheesy was cheesy indeed, with a house blend of cheese and cheese sauce.  I added bacon for extra.

The Truffle Mushroom was amazing.  Layers upon layers of deliciousness - mushrooms, truffle oil, fried garlic, and black pepper lemon aioli along with a house cheese blend and fresh herbs.  I would totally order both varieties again.  The Spaetzle was large enough to share, or it makes for one very hearty meal.

I definitely look forward to trying more varieties!

Check out @littlesparrowhnl on IG to find out where they'll be!
 

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Daizu Tei Mochi at Mililani Farmers Market

On a recent visit to the Mililani Farmers Market, my youngest son asked for mochi, so we went to the Daizu Tei booth, and got a 6-pack of mochi:

Persimmon + White Bean

Chocolate + Banana

Strawberry + Azuki

Strawberry Chocolate

Mango

Pineapple Chocolate

We scored the last Persimmon + White Bean, and my son chose a lot of varieties with chocolate.

The mochi was a hit with the kids!  I cut them all in half so everyone could try different flavors.

You are encouraged to eat them right away, and if you can't, refrigerate them, and try to eat them up as soon as possible since there are no preservatives used in the mochi.

There was a long line in back of me as I was ordering, so get there early to be sure to get your desired flavors (there are many varieties to choose from!).
 

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Visit Hilo: Hilo Farmers Market

One of the best and longest-running farmers markets in Hawai`i is the Hilo Farmers Market.  We source produce there for our Na`au dinners, and it's always neat to see the array of fresh, vibrant produce.  

Starfruit, avocado, rambutan, persimmons, hoio, mango, and so much more can be found daily.

On Wednesdays and Saturdays are the "Big Market," where you'll find more than just produce vendors, as crafters, bakers, ready-to-eat food vendors, merchandisers, and more sell their wares.  

It's always a pleasure to peruse the market and see what fresh finds are out there!

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