 |
Culinary Trend: A Hula of a Time
Looking for something fun to serve guests at the next backyard barbecue? Say “aloha” to the Hawaiian luau. It involves the same BBQ basics we’re accustomed to, like grilled meats, fun drinks and grass skirts (OK, maybe that’s just when our crazy Uncle Al shows up), but tossing in a bit of Hawaiian flair will add an element of festivity that will make your party one for the books. There’s no need to be intimidated by thoughts of coordinating hula dancers or roasting a pig. Chef Ryan Kelly of Roy’s Hawaiian Fusion says that even though luaus are big deals in Hawaii, they’re also very laid back. “Luaus are traditionally done for weddings and special occasions in Hawaii, but that doesn’t mean they’re fancy. They’re really down to earth. People are just happy to be with friends and family.” Take these tips on everything from drinks to dinner, and gather up your gang for a late-summer luau. Cue “Tiny Bubbles!”
Mood Music
Creating the mood for your luau can be as easy as downloading some Hawaiian tunes to your iPod and making a “Luau Mix” that includes some cheesy but fun classics like Elvis’ Blue Hawaii album, Don Ho’s “Tiny Bubbles.” In addition to the traditional, Chef Kelly likes to throw some reggae into his mix and adds, “Oddly enough, Hawaiians love reggae music. It’s huge in Hawaii. They’re really into Bob Marley.” Another Hawaiian favorite is musician Israel Kamakawiwo’ole. Download his Alone in IZ World that includes his sweet, ukulele-accompanied version of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” now a popular song played at beach weddings.
Dance It Up
If you don’t feel like donning a grass skirt and coconut bikini top while doing your best hula to entertain your guests, you may want to consider hiring professional Polynesian dancers. Nani Blair, owner of Blair Entertainment and a member of the Wai Ki Ki dancers based in St. Petersburg, says that her group can provide entertainment for events of all sizes. “We can do parties that only require one hula dancer, like at a little girl’s birthday party, or a backyard luau. We adjust to any budget. We could have a full Polynesian band or we can just dance to a background CD.” Their typical “Luau” show costs $500 and involves two hula dancers in traditional costumes and one fire dancer. Blair Entertainment and Wai Ki Ki Dancers, 727-367-2295
We’ll Drink to That!
The most famous tiki drinks on Florida's West Coast come from Sarasota's own Bahai Hut, a bar that's been serving potent, tropical libations since 1960. Manager Tim McClenithan says that within the last 47 years of business, only seven or eight people have known his father's highly-guarded Mai Tai and Sneaky Tiki drink recipes (and we're not among them). But he does offer up some drink advice, "Most Hawaiian drinks start with rum as their base and then add different fruit juices. To garnish, you can stack cherries and pineapple pieces on a plastic sword and add a little umbrella. If you want to take the time to hollow out some coconut shells—go for it!" He also suggests serving a Mai Tai alternative that packs the same rum punch—Planter's Punch. "Combine orange juice, pineapple juice, grapefruit juice with grenadine and top it with Meyer's Rum. It's pretty simple!" Bahai Hut, 4675 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, 941-355-5141
Flower Power
Leis are a fairly simple aspect of the luau to conquer, but one question begs: Real or fake? If you’re OK with plastic, head to LTM Party and choose from a large variety of leis in every color and flower imaginable. For the best bang for your buck, go for the 144-count pack of “Poly” plastic leis for $29.99. There are also more upscale silk options like a Bougainvillea/Hibiscus combo for $9.95 each—a nice splurge for the host, hostess or guest of honor.
If you prefer the real thing, order leis made from real orchids from Beneva Flowers. They can make them in-house for a fee of $75 each or have them shipped in for approximately $35 each. And since we live in a tropical paradise, you can always opt for making leis yourself. Collect hibiscus, azaleas, bougainvillea or fragrant frangipanis from your own yard and string them together with a needle attached to fishing line. Time consuming? Yes, but it will be a luau you and your guests will never forget. LTM Party, 170 Shopping Ave., Sarasota, 941-366-1985; Beneva Flowers and Gifts, 6980 Beneva Rd., Sarasota, 941-308-5151
The Other White Meat
The word luau means “feast” in Hawaiian, so having an impressive array of food is imperative. Chef Ryan Kelly of Ray’s Hawaiian Fusion says, “There’s a lot of meat involved. Traditionally, a pig is roasted in an underground ‘imu oven.’ They put lava rocks and charcoal in the ground and wrap the pig in burlap and put a rack on top. If someone wants to do this at home, they’ve got a long day ahead of them!”
If you are up for the challenge of roasting a pig yourself, Oneco Meats, an old-fashioned butcher shop, is gaining a reputation as the best-priced place to locally purchase a pig. Owner Scott Heist says, “We get lots of requests for whole hogs. The price per pound varies, but the larger the pig, the cheaper the price. It’s about $1.89 per pound for a pig that’s 90 to 115 pounds. The smaller suckling pigs are about $3.19 per pound.” Once you’ve purchased your pig, the next step is to cook it. The pig is usually seasoned simply with Liquid Smoke and plenty of salt. If you don’t want to dig a hole in your backyard, you may want to consider building a large grill out of cement blocks and a metal grate (detailed instructions can be found on the Internet). The cooking process can take 10-12 hours, but that’s part of the fun (read: plenty of Mai Tai-drinking time!).
If you don’t want to go through the hassle of roasting the pig yourself, you can also hire someone to do it for you. At the Oaks Open Pit BBQ, owner Lynn Shindlebecker says they’ll buy the pig for you and cook it for an additional fee of only $50. “Doing it yourself isn’t easy. Call ‘The Pit’ and tell us how many people you’re having. That’s the easy way to do it!” They’ll even deliver it and serve it for an additional cost. If the thought of a whole pig doesn’t exactly sound appetizing to you altogether, there’s always Spam. Roy’s Hawaiian Chef Kelly is actually quite a Spam fan. “I love grilled Spam! Teriyaki-grilled spam is awesome. Serve it on top of white rice seasoned furikake (a bright-colored Japanese seasoning of mixed ingredients including dried fish and seaweed). It’s really good.”
Roy’s Hawaiian Fusion 2001 Siesta Dr., 941-952-0109; Oneco Meats 6132 15th St. E., Bradenton, 941-751-6328; Oaks Open Pit BBQ 6112 S. Tamiami Trl., 941-922-7778; Bahai Hut 675 N. Tamiami Trail, 941-355-5141
—By Amy Costantino Imerman, Photos by Gene Pollux
Read Next Taste Feature
To access all SRQ articles, become a magazine subscriber today!
|
|
