Aloha

Aloha! Feeling lazy about cooking today, and haven’t made it to the market so we head out for al fresco dining by the beach.  We order an eclectic mix of pupus including steamed clams, ahi sashimi, chicken wings and homemade potato chips.  So it’s no big news that seafood in Hawaii is local, fresh and abundant.  But, Hawaii is also home to some of the best fried food anywhere.

My country club in Honolulu makes what I believe are the best chicken wings and homemade potato chips in the world. The breading is light with plenty of nooks and crannies to maximize the surface area and crunch factor. Side note: I was so sad when my kids outgrew chicken fingers and moved on to wings, because they also make the best chicken fingers in the world. Seriously. Sometimes I’ll still order them “for my kids.” The potato chips are as big as teacup saucers and perfectly crunchy. They come to you warm straight out of the fryer.

Sparkling wine is the perfect accompaniment to this type of food. My go-to on the club’s wine list is Roederer Estate Brut. At a suggested retail price of $23.99 (but may be found for less), it’s a great everyday wine. It’s crisp, with green apple, pear and lemon on the nose. Light on the spice and yeast. The palate is subtle so that it doesn’t compete with the flavors of the foods, and the strong effervescence is a great complement to salty, fried goodies.