In Maui, farm-to-table dining is about more than just tropical fruits. It’s also about the vegetables. Hawaii has many that are tempting the palates of vegetarians, vegans and meat eaters alike. When you visit, do not miss the farmer’s market in Lahaina which is located near Honokowai Beach. Honokowai Beach offers a handful of picnic tables, barbecue grills and restrooms where visitors may enjoy their market finds.
When you stay with us at the Maui Kai, you should bring your fresh local finds back to your oceanfront condo. We have barbecue grills located by our pool and each condo has the perfect indoor space for whipping up a vegetable delight. And we do mean delight! There are plenty of seasonal and year round veggies at the market to choose from too!
Now is an ideal time to buy fresh ginger, luau leaves, avocados, taro, squash and zucchini. You might want to take a chance on cardoons too. They grow very well on Maui and many home chefs claim the vegetable tastes a lot better than your average artichoke. Although most people would swear by looking at cardoons, that they’d taste more like celery than artichokes.
If you decide to go for the cardoons, make sure that the farmer wraps them for you before placing them into a market bag. Why? The vegetables’ exteriors sport spikes that may easily puncture market bags as well as break human skin. The good news is the spikes aren’t hard to remove. A few deft swipes with a vegetable peeler should do the trick. Afterward, the spiky peels may be tossed in the trash.
Preparing cardoons is as easy as whipping up a crudités platter. Cut them into sticks along with your other Honokowai Beach finds and you can serve them with an assortment of dips. Or if you prefer, cube the cardoons and create vegetable kabobs for the barbecue grill. To learn more about grilling cardoons or other local vegetables while you’re on Maui, please contact us.