KAPAA — The latest version of “Tasting Kauai: Restaurants 2015 — An Insider’s Guide to Eating Well on the Garden Island” has been released. “I’m really excited about the second edition of our restaurant guidebook,” said Kauai food writer Marta
KAPAA — The latest version of “Tasting Kauai: Restaurants 2015 — An Insider’s Guide to Eating Well on the Garden Island” has been released.
“I’m really excited about the second edition of our restaurant guidebook,” said Kauai food writer Marta Lane, who wrote the 150-page book, illustrated with photographs by her husband, professional photographer Daniel Lane. “There is so much great food on Kauai, which is made by hand with local ingredients, and I’m thrilled to be able to share my favorites.”
A series of cocktail parties will be held around the island to celebrate the book’s launch, between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
The expanded and updated book is meatier than the last. There are 30 new listings, for a total of 93, an introduction to the Hawaiian language, a new category for eateries in the Central zone, and a glossary of Hawaii food. The entries are also longer.
“In the first edition, the descriptions were short, but readers wanted more,” Lane said. “This turned out to be a good thing because I was able to include things like family history and inspiration. We also added tips and quotes and all of these add a deeper layer, or as a foodwriter would say, complex flavor.”
And there are even more full-color photos of food.
“Daniel’s photographs are sprinkled throughout the book and include a warm combination of the people who make the food as well as the food they make,” said Lane, who writes two food columns for The Garden Island newspaper.
Lane highlights those who are dedicated to real Kauai cuisine — from food trucks to the finest dining rooms. She has a passion for sustainable agriculture and applauds those who work hard to source fresh, local food.
As she clarifies in the book’s introduction, “As a full-time food writer, many people think of me as a food critic. But I like to call myself a food profiler. Instead of focusing on what’s wrong, I choose to focus on what’s right.”
Readers will have a chance to meet the couple, as well as some of the island’s top chefs, at the book launch cocktail parties.
“I know it’s tricky for folks to go to a different part of the island, so we are coming to them,” Lane said.
Tickets are $35, which includes an autographed copy of the book as well as pupus and one celebratory cocktail at one of four restaurants highlighted in the book.
Reservations are required and must be made at tastingkauai.com. A portion of sales go to the Hawaii Foodbank, Kauai Branch.
