Mom’s postcard from Hawaii

Mom is in Hawaii taking in the sun and building up her vitamin D levels. She had the nerve to send us all a postcard.
“Mom, the rest of us are here windblown, flooded, frozen, and poor and you’re in Hawaii.”
Mom’s Hawaiian food report:

Real Food in Hilo

Eating on the road and staying healthy at the same time is challenging. With few exceptions, I prefer my own cooking by far.
Imagine my surprise yesterday when I found “my” food at the Puka Puka Kitchen in Hilo, Hawaii.
Hilo itself is a comfortable spot. I has no pretense. I see reminders of a strong military presence in yesteryear. It even has a Catholic church with doors and windows open in the middle of the day…unlike California.
Anyway, to the food. On the waterfront there are two or three blocks of colorful shops, survivors of two tsunami events. This is where you find the Puka Puka Kitchen.
The Blue Book of Kona travel describes this eatery as a hole in the wall you don’t want to miss. Ditto!
If you love Middle Eastern or Indian Curry dishes, this is the place.
Tender, local lamb lured me in. Kona sheep are probably the only sheep in the US that munch on green grass year round. Many restaurants list lamb on the menu. Have to try it!

After ordering I can hear the guys in the kitchen chopping, sauteing and socializing. What a jovial crew! People coming through appear to be locals rather than tourists, like me. Locals know what’s there. Tourists look for more ambiance. I’ll take fresh flavorful food over glitz any day!
Here comes my plate. Loaded! Piled high! Thinly sliced bits of lamb are marinated, then sauteed. Golden garlic rice with its turmeric and cumin nestles in a pile beside the lamb. To the back of the plate rises a mountain of leafy green local lettuce and tomatoes. Mind you, this is January. The only local green I have at home is minor’s lettuce and I feel really fortunate about that.
It is all so pretty, I hate to dig in but alas, a raging appetite wins. Heavenly!
This plateful of goodness is $12.50, a steal in Hawaii.
Some sort of tropical fruit pie is billed as the desert. It is interesting, but not for a fully satisfied tummy.
Moral of the story:
If you are in Hilo, don’t miss the Puka Puka at 270 Kamehameha Ave.
They’re open Monday through Saturday from 11am to 2:30pm.
The Blue Book that led me there is:
Hawaii, The Big Island Revealed
by Andrew Doughty.
Aloha!
Jeanie (Mom)