WAILUA — Michael Sterioff of Passion Bakery Cafe said his ulu-based malasada using 30% Sustainable Boost ulu, or breadfruit, powder are great hot from the fryer at the Kinipopo Shopping Village.
“They’re alright,” Sterioff said, delivering a tray of the morsels from the backdoor of his cafe kitchen on Wednesday. “But, they’re especially good hot out of the fryer.”
Passion Bakery’s delivery of malasada was outside their normal Tuesday and Thursday offerings, but accommodated the “Grand Opening” being celebrated by Lourdes Torres, the owner and founder of Sustainable Boost, described as a “local food manufacturer, in the Kinipopo Shopping Village.
The main facility for dehydrating locally-grown products, and the machinery used to create the powders are located across the walkway from Passion Bakery Cafe, and Torres received support from Sterioff and the Passion Bakery ‘ohana in growing the facility.
“I’m really excited to be here to help celebrate Sustainable Boost and all of you vendors, farmers, and growers working day in and out to connect our different communities across the island with sustainable, locally-sourced, and organic products,” said Kaua‘i County Council member Kipukai Kuali‘i. “Food sustenance, or living off the ‘aina has always been a big part of growing up on Kaua‘i. The pandemic has also made it crystal clear that our food security must be a top priority for all of us; it must cause us to be more mindful; and even more practical about growing our own food and supporting our own local gardens.”
Chef Judy Martina of Haole Girl Island Sweets arrived with a tray full of banana muffins using Sustainable Boost Green Banana Powder in her creation that was quickly gobbled up by the guest list that included culinary creators utilizing Sustainable Boost powders and product, Mayor Derek Kawakami, and nearly the full council body.
“She’s been using powders for more than five years,” Torres said of Chef Martina. “And, she’s busy so she can’t stay. She just stopped by to drop off the banana bread.”
The gathering, due to its size, was moved to a grassy area under the shade of a small tree, where several vendors set up displays showing the range of products from food to skincare products that utilize Sustainable Boost products in their creation.
“Sustainable Boost and our partners believe that there has never been a more critical time to support farmers and food producers who use organic, regenerative practices,” Torres said. “We are fully committed and are passionate about coming together as a community to promote locally-grown, nutritionally dense crops, food security, and self-sufficiency.”
Seventeen Hawai‘i-based groups and businesses received special recognition from Kawakami for their support of local agriculture. These include Oasis on the Beach, Haole Girl Island Sweets, Cozy Bowl Noodle, Kokoleka Collective, Hawai‘i Peeps, Malama Kaua‘i, Raw Aloha, My Kaua‘i Honey, Ulu & Kalo Bakery, O‘ahu Organics, Inc., Tlaxcali Traditional Mexican Restaurant, Green Terra Hawai‘i, Rainbow Road Ice Cream, Passion Bakery Cafe, Nourish Kaua‘i, Chef Amanda Smith, and Biochar farms Kaua‘i.
“It is my honor and privilege to congratulate you for partnering with Sustainable Boost for connecting our community with sustainable, locally-sourced, and organic products,” Kawakami said in his individual recognition of the companies. “Farming and agriculture are at the root of our local culture. It boosts and diversifies our economy and gives jobs to our people.”
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
