LIHU‘E — The colors and flavors of the season were in the air Tuesday as the Kaua‘i Made program hosted its annual trade show at the War Memorial Convention Hall in Lihu‘e. Maris Stevens, creator of Wooden Spoon macarons, had
LIHU‘E — The colors and flavors of the season were in the air Tuesday as the Kaua‘i Made program hosted its annual trade show at the War Memorial Convention Hall in Lihu‘e.
Maris Stevens, creator of Wooden Spoon macarons, had packages of the hand-made treats available in the predominant color of Halloween, which residents are celebrating today, and in flavors of pumpkin spice, caramel apple, and peanut butter.
Food appeared to have a large draw of customers who were invited to the trade show. Robin Savage of Savage Pearls in the Ching Young Village in Hanalei took advantage of talking with Marie Cassel of Sweet Marie’s, a Kapa‘a bakery featuring gluten-free products, and picking up products for her shop instead of waiting for delivery.
“You know how it is,” said Helena “Lynn” Carvalho, sales manager for Aunty Lilikoi Passion Fruit Products. “By the time you get to your last delivery, all you can think of is going home.”
Carvalho took advantage of the trade show to make new connections as well as meet clients in person.
Beth Tokioka, who spearheaded the Kaua‘i Made program, said about 70 invitations were sent out to buyers on Kaua‘i as well as on O‘ahu, Maui and the Big Island.
“We have the central buyer from Costco here today, and we’re expecting buyers from O‘ahu and Maui later,” Tokioka said. “We even have a person from South Dakota who heard about this on the radio.”
As she spoke, a local shop owner walked into the show area, handing over his business card after hearing a discussion on the show on a local radio station.
“This is one of the ways we can connect the members of the Kaua‘i Made program with buyers,” Tokioka said. “On Dec. 18, we are scheduling another show, this time combining members of the new Kaua‘i Grown program with the Kaua‘i Made.”
Dr. Kani Blackwell, a founding member of the “Growing Our Own Teachers” program, now heads Dr. B’s Lei where a portion of the proceeds benefit the Growing Our Own program.
She said she recently received an invitation to participate in a Mainland trade show and was anxious to buy some of the products from the Kaua‘i Made program so she could promote them on the Mainland.
Kaui Tanaka of the mayor’s office was another shopper, seeking out new, unique Kaua‘i Made products the office uses to greet visiting dignitaries.
Maris spent some time explaining that the Wooden Spoon macarons are a French pastry she makes individually by hand.
Based out of the Verde restaurant in the Kapa‘a Shopping Center, Maris gives the macarons a touch of aloha by infusing Pacific Rim-inspired purees into the creamy ganache centers.
These include mango, lychee, pineapple, lilikoi and haupia and offer a tropical taste when sandwiched between two cookie domes.
She also offers more traditional flavors such as chocolate, tiramisu, espresso and honey-vanilla.
Visit www.kauaimade.net for more information.
