Plate Lunch, Mix Plate, Local Food |
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As a "Local" from Hawai'i we are accustomed to the different traditional ethnic foods as well as non-traditional foods that were introduced to the islands a long time ago. Local people mouths water whenever they here the words of laulau, poke, saimin, sashimi, katsu, patele, oyster chicken, adobo and so on. The Spam musubi and Japanese style bento, already made and packaged in a nice take out container are popular choices for lunch. Other popular choices consists of chili and rice, loco moco, manapua or some pork hash.
 Local Style Plate Lunch Island style dishes can be found at any drive inn or restaurant throughout the State of Hawai'i, California, and around the Las Vegas Valley. Many of these restaurant establishments have combined ethnic foods into one dish serving two scoops of rice, macaroni salad, kim chee, and miso soup along with the main dish. Where would we be today without the plate lunch or mixed plate? "American" foods are still part of the diet, but with a little twist on it. Take the All-American hotdog (a real "RED" hotdog) steamed to perfection topped off with kim chee. Sound good?
Home cooked traditional meals can't be beat. Fresh, flavorful and very satisfying. Chicken long rice, tripe stew, pork and peas, and kalua with cabbage are just some of the home favorites. On cold nights a bowl of Ox tail soup, Portuguese bean soup or saimin topped off with char siu, fish cake and green onion is the best way to warm up.
Along with our favorite foods are our condiments. How many of you prefer a big scoop of mayonnaise on your chili? Shoyu on your rice? Ketchup on your eggs? Chili pepper water on everything? Yeah, only in Hawai'i. What's your favorite Local breakfast? Portuguese sausage, eggs, corned beef hash and rice? How about some Vienna sausage or Spam to go with it? One thing for sure, Local people have a diversity of taste.
It's amazing that with a high salt, fat and starch diet the people of Hawaii still live longer than any other state in the nation. We go eat...
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