When Living Foods Market & Café Head Chef Justin Kai travels and walks into a restaurant, he’s on the lookout for food ideas and inspiration. Sometimes, he and co-owner Jeff Sacchini talk shop or trends with other restaurant owners and
When Living Foods Market & Café Head Chef Justin Kai travels and walks into a restaurant, he’s on the lookout for food ideas and inspiration.
Sometimes, he and co-owner Jeff Sacchini talk shop or trends with other restaurant owners and chefs. Awhile back, Sacchini and some other Living Foods employees went searching for inspiration in San Francisco. They found it.
That’s how the cafe’s new breakfast burrito was born, Sacchini said.
Robin Jumper, spokeswoman for the store, said the breakfast burrito has only been on the menu for about seven weeks, but it’s already “quite a popular item.”
Breakfast burritos include red bell peppers, green peppers, eggs, jalapenos, caramelized onions, mozzarella cheese, house potatoes and house made chorizo. The cost is $15.
“Almost everything, except the tortillas, is made in house,” Kai said.
The cafe menu offers classics as well, such as the breakfast pizza and the pitaya bowl. Breakfast menu items range from $5 to $15 and is served between 7 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
The cafe also serves lunch and dinner and offers a salad bar. The pizza selection ranges from Greek to primavera to milano. There are also numerous house specialties, including burgers, ahi wraps and fish tacos.
There is casual seating outside the cafe.
The store, which offers wide aisles and a relaxed atmosphere, also carries specialty foods and beverages.
Sacchini said the Market offers some of the most exclusive items on Kauai.
“If you find it here, chances are you can’t find it elsewhere,” he said. “If you find it elsewhere, you probably are not going to find it here. We try to be very exclusive with our selection. We try to differentiate and locally source.”
One of features that he’s most proud of in the market is the grab-and-go selection. It includes quick bites such as Marcona Almonds, sandwiches, pico de gallo, and greek salads — quick easy things you could take to the beach, Sacchini said.
“These are the best quesadillas you will ever have,” chimed in co-owner Howard Warner.
The market also offers a fine selection of specialty wines and beers. There’s even beer for those who live a gluten-free lifestyle, she said.
Juices are another thing that’s popular at the cafe, she said. Kauai Juice Co. juices sell really fast, Jumper said.
Living Foods Market & Cafe is in Kukuiula Village Shopping Center in Koloa. It is open between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. daily.
