Big Island Of Hawaii

[mavie]

Visiting Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii very soon. I've searched this forum and found some very helpful suggestions on gluten free eating on the BI dated 2007 and 2008. Roy's, Thai Thai, some others.

I found user kenlove to be very helpful.

Is there any new news to report on the gluten free front near Kona or elsewhere on the Big Island?

Thanks!

[burdee]

I've never visited the Big Island, because I'm a Maui gal. I just returned from my 7th Maui vacation at the end of October. However I depend on the 'Down to Earth' store on Maui for stocking my condo with gluten free and allergy free foods, as well as healthy organic produce, for breakfasts and some lunches. Down to Earth also has a store in Hilo on the Big Island, if you happen to visit Hilo.

Again I don't know which restaurants on the Big Island will guarantee gluten and/or allergy free meals. However, I learned that any better restaurant's chef will gladly prepare allergy free meals if I notify the chef ahead of time (like the afternoon before an evening dinner or even a day or two before a planned meal) what allergy restrictions I have (gluten, dairy, soy, cane sugar, eggs, vanilla and nutmeg). My husband has 6 additional allergies which I don't have. We're a real challenge for chefs! However, we receive praise and appreciation from managers, waiters and chefs, when we make our reservations 6-24 hours ahead of time and either meet with the chef or manager and/or provide a list of our food allergies. Often we ask to see the menu and choose an entre that can be easily changed to fit our needs.

We also carry laminated allergy cards (on which I listed our allergens and various foods which contain those), which we hand to the waiter when we order our meals. Those cards stay with our entrees throughout the preparation process. That prevents a clueless waiter adding an allergen containing sauce or addition to our allergy free entrees.

We've eaten in 7-10 different restaurants every time we visit Maui. I have NEVER experienced contamination or gotten sick from a Maui restaurant meal after I use my approach.

SUE

[Jestgar]

I was there last month. I'm not really a restaurant person, but I had no trouble finding food in the grocery stores. Loved the taro chips, lau lau, and fruits. Watch out for the soya, it's in a lot of stuff.

[kenlove]

Hi,

I'm still here in Kona!

Personal I dont trust the Thai places -- what I asked them to make sure there was no flour in what I ordered they took the flower off the table. --- really. I also think they use a lot of soy mixed with the fish sauce here.

On the bright side -- just call where you want to go and set it up ahead of time.

More expensive places like Merrimans is great. My son is a chef at Mauna kea hotel,

also Four Seasons, Fairmont -- all the places can make gluten-free meals that are really good.

At Managos out south you have to make sure you tell them no breading and to use a different pan -- they do and its always a good piece of fish.

Royal Kona resort is ok and will make gluten-free meals if you tell them in advance. Chef Zach Or Mike Lamb can help.

Let me know where your staying and I can try to offer other ideas.

There is a new Is;and Naturals health food store with a decent gluten-free selection but nothing in the deli I would take a chance on.

Saturday Keauhou Farmers market you can find a lot of fruit that we sell there

or a new market starting tomorrow at the sheraton,

Hope to meet you.

Ken Love is my real name

  mavie said:

Visiting Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii very soon. I've searched this forum and found some very helpful suggestions on gluten free eating on the BI dated 2007 and 2008. Roy's, Thai Thai, some others.

I found user kenlove to be very helpful.

Is there any new news to report on the gluten free front near Kona or elsewhere on the Big Island?

Thanks!

[mavie]

  kenlove said:

Hi,

I'm still here in Kona!

Personal I dont trust the Thai places -- what I asked them to make sure there was no flour in what I ordered they took the flower off the table. --- really. I also think they use a lot of soy mixed with the fish sauce here.

On the bright side -- just call where you want to go and set it up ahead of time.

More expensive places like Merrimans is great. My son is a chef at Mauna kea hotel,

also Four Seasons, Fairmont -- all the places can make gluten-free meals that are really good.

At Managos out south you have to make sure you tell them no breading and to use a different pan -- they do and its always a good piece of fish.

Royal Kona resort is ok and will make gluten-free meals if you tell them in advance. Chef Zach Or Mike Lamb can help.

Let me know where your staying and I can try to offer other ideas.

There is a new Is;and Naturals health food store with a decent gluten-free selection but nothing in the deli I would take a chance on.

Saturday Keauhou Farmers market you can find a lot of fruit that we sell there

or a new market starting tomorrow at the sheraton,

Hope to meet you.

Ken Love is my real name

Thanks Ken!

We are renting a house 5 min above (in the hills) Kailua-Kona. We have a full kitchen so I expect us to be cooking in quite a bit although finding something quick and easy is ideal. We stayed in Kauai last year near Kapaa and found a great taco place called Verde. The owner/chef was great and made sure everything was on the up and up for us.

Speak foodie to me!

[kenlove]

Gonna be easy with a full kitchen. The island naturals store as well as the other healthfood store near walmart of safeway ( cant remember which since I wont shop at either) should keep you in gluten-free items. Just make sure you come to the farmers market.

Daniel Theibault's across the street from Merrimans will also do gluten-free meals -- Waimea is a long drive but we will do it for occasions or stay at my sons place near there.

SLOW FOOD annual meeting next Sunday -- not sure what foodie events will be here when you are but there is usually something.

take care

Dont get to Kauai too often and will have to check Verde next time.

  mavie said:

Thanks Ken!

We are renting a house 5 min above (in the hills) Kailua-Kona. We have a full kitchen so I expect us to be cooking in quite a bit although finding something quick and easy is ideal. We stayed in Kauai last year near Kapaa and found a great taco place called Verde. The owner/chef was great and made sure everything was on the up and up for us.

Speak foodie to me!

[kenlove]

Old thread but new topic.  

New restaurant in Waikaloa Village, Pueo Osteria has a great  selection of gluten-free on the menu and the staff is very aware of our needs. Chef Jim Babian the owner is always willing to work on special requests if there i enough warning.