Rice, a staple of Hawaii and is as important as Poke in modern day eating. But it wasn’t the first starch to arrive in the fields, but the islanders who lived with it have made it a necessity with their love for it. The draw of rice started with the chinese who planted rice fields and used it in their cuisine and served it at their eateries across the island.
There is not that strong of a regionality when it comes to rice as it is the silent yet high in demand food that supports on the sidelines to make a complete Hawaii meal with the fullest experience. Hawaii rice dishes are distinguished from its steamed rice and fried rice that mark Hawaii’s flavors. The rice is mixed with all sorts of ethnic foods that are shared by many ethnicities through Hawaii’s melting pot. Medium Grain Calrose White Rice, the rice of choice would be called by locals as just plain White Rice or Hawaii Sticky Rice. The process is simple...the rice is washed and thrown in a rice cooker with water and it finishes when the rice cooker beeps to show that the rice is done. Rice made its name through its flexibility in becoming a variety of Musubis that uses rice as a platform and a ingredient on top wrapped in dried seaweed, Plate Lunches in its traditional two scoop rice, two sides, and entree, and in a particular variety of local fried rice. Japanese on the island used it for sweet sushi that has different characteristics to the more vinegar strong traditional sushi. Brown rice, later on health trends got people interested and a variety mixed with White Rice emerged called Hapa Rice. It isn’t too uncommon for food establishments to offer white, brown, and hapa rice. Steamed Rice (aka. Laikiku Rice) got its name as a laid back side. Laikiku Rice, (La-ee-kee-kuu) lai means peaceful and kiku means to lean back. In many school cafeterias in Hawaii had Spanish Rice (aka. Portuguese Rice, Pocho Rice) as a common steamed rice food that was served, so as many students grew up their families had their own recipe, and some even had ethnic steamed rice mixes like the Puerto Rican families made Gandule Rice (aka. Puerto Rican Rice), or the Okinawan’s made Jushi Rice (aka. Okinawan Rice). Some even stepped out of the recipe boundaries, particularly a few families in Waianae that were hapa (mixed ethnicities) and had made several types of steamed rices they called Laikiku Rice. A grandma from a family that was Hawaiian-Chinese descent had created Luau Rice out of left overs of Squid Luau to feed the kids a snack with their kalua pork. The lady had put it “Nothing goes to waste, everything is eaten, or repurposed, especially ono stews” this saying would go for Beef Rice (aka. Paniolo Rice) from Beef Stew and Curry Rice from Beef Curry as well.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Hawaii BlogThe Hawaii is run by the Imagine Hawaii's team of writers.
Article ListState of Hawaii
Flag of Hawaii Hawaiian Nene Goose Hawaii Days New Years Day Martin Luther King Jr Day Presidents Day Kuhio Kalanianaole Day Memorial Day Kamehameha Day Independence Day Statehood Day Labor Day Veterans Day Thanksgiving Day Mele Kalikimaka Day Hawaii Cuisine Hawaii Food Pioneers Hawaii Cuisine Story Innovations of Hawaii Food Soup Wars in Hawaii Hawaii Establishments Hawaii Convenience Stores Hawaii Super Markets Hawaii Cooking Styles Style of Kauai Style of Oahu Style of Maui Style of Hilo Style of Kona Style of Lanai Hawaii Food Guides Guide to Hawaii Juices Guide to Hawaii Coffees Guide to Hawaii Sodas Guide to Drive Inn Burgers Guide to Saimins Guide to Hekka Hot Pots Guide to Grilled Sticks Guide to Malasadas Guide to Hawaii Pancakes Guide to Ensemadas Guide to Hawaii Fried Rices Guide to Loco Mocos Guide to Hawaii Gravies Guide to Hawaii Stews Guide to Guide to Pokes Guide to Lomis Hawaii Umeke Bowls Saimin Bowls Hawaii Sushi Bowls Hawaii Granola Bowls Hawaii Poke Salad Poke Bowls Oahu Regional Poke Maui Regional Poke Hilo Regional Poke Kona Regional Poke Hawaii Sauces Lets Talk Mayonnaise Hawaii Loco Moco Lets Talk Loco Moco Loco Moco Bowls Pohoe Red Gravy Kalima White Gravy Hawaii Saimin Lets Talk Saimin Saimin Secrets at Home Prawn Saimin Hawaii Saimin Chef Hawaii Rice Lets Talk Fried Rice Hawaii Filleter Hawaii Pokemasters Hawaii Chop Suey Manapua Deliverers Hawaii Okazuya Going to Hawaii Okazuya Hawaii Regional Okazuya People of Hawaii Okazuya The Okazuya Experience Nostalgia of Okazuya Challenges of Okazuya Hawaii Musubimasters Hawaii Barbecue Starting Hawaii Barbecue Hawaii Regional Barbecue Hawaii Barbecue Experience Hawaii Grillmasters Hawaii Imu Pitmasters Hawaii Imu Oven Hawaii Psychology Hawaii Figures James Cook Kamehameha Kuhio Kalanianaole Hawaii Psychology Hawaii Citizenship Hawaii Social Life Collection Obsession Rain Sun and Rainbows Island House Humidity The Spirits of Aloha Ohana Hawaiian Island Fever Hawaii Martial Arts Lua Martial Arts CategoriesMatt MaedaCook, artist, and writer |