Hawaii's only all vegetarian natural food store has three locations around the island of Oahu. In addition to a thorough array of grocery shopping, each Down to Earth has a well thought out salad bar as well as a hot food bar open from early morning to late at night. While the salad bar selections remain the same throughout the day, the hot food bar changes from breakfast foods to dishes fit for lunch and dinner. The food here is always healthy, much of it is organic, and it's a really satisfying meal that you can enjoy inside or outdoors at tables, or take it to go.
Recommended for Farm to Table because: Down to Earth offers an abundance of locally grown produce and meals and snacks made with local ingredients.
Jade's expert tip: This is a really good meal option even though it's to-go style.
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Sitting inside of the luxurious Turtle Bay Resort on the North Shore, the Lobby Lounge is open from 6 a.m. to p.m. daily and turns from cafe to bar and lounge at 2 p.m. Enjoy freshly brewed coffees, latt�s, cappuccinos, espresso drinks, smoothies, beer, wine, and handcrafted cocktails like the Pupukea lychee and the skinny lilikoi chi chi. Signature dishes include citrus ponzu calamari, grilled Kahuku honey and mango glazed chicken. Find a seat on the comfy couches or exotic wooded tables and look out the full glass wall at a panoramic view of the ocean. They feature live music and hula on weekends.
Recommended for Farm to Table because: Lobby Lounge and the rest of Turtle Bay has revamped the menus to feature an abundance of locally grown ingredients.
Jade's expert tip: Arrive in time to watch the sunset through the huge glass wall.
A beautiful, pale room, accented with gleaming wood and sprinkled with flowers and artwork, welcomes guests to this exceptional place. Using a wide array of locally grown ingredients, the Pineapple Rooms combines gourmet cooking with the locovore movement. The exhibition kitchen makes the most of fresh, regional ingredients, crafting such delicacies as kiawe wood-grilled mahimahi, ginger-crusted onaga, and roast duck prepared three ways. You'll also find grilled beef and lamb chops, along with "da bag," a foil packet of seafood, kalua pork, and vegetables that's dramatically deflated tableside. If you make it to dessert, don't miss the sorbets or cr�me br�l�es, infused with tropical fruits.
Recommended for Farm to Table because: Alan Wong blends gourmet cooking with fresh and healthy locally grown ingredients.
Jade's expert tip: Just make sure you don't miss this place!
Lei Lei's Bar and Grill sits right on the golf course at Turtle Bay Resort on the North Shore of Oahu. Like a bar and grill would be, it's laid back and casual, yet somewhat upscale and classy. There's a putting green out front where the kids can hang out (in full view) if they get restless, and views of the golf course and the mountain range offer gorgeous sights. Unlike the other restaurants at Turtle Bay, this one isn't right in the resort. The full bar can serve up anything you'd like, but their famous for mai tais and Lei Lei's lemonades. The menu has a broad spectrum of great food - burgers, pastas, salads, local fish specials with sides of mashed potatoes, ribs, and the list goes on.
Recommended for Farm to Table because: Known for using local grass fed beef and local fish, Lei Lei's offers delicious food in an lovely golf course environment.
Jade's expert tip: There's a different menu for lunch and dinner.
Surfer, the Bar is Turtle Bay Resorts new endeavor into into a farm to table restaurants that also offers nighttime entertainment. Opening at 6 p.m. daily, Surfer is part bar, part restaurant and part night club. Great happy hour cocktails are offers along with the full bar and classic Hawaiian cocktails such as the lava flow and the mai tai - their strongest drink. Live music is offered on a regular basis and karaoke happens every Sunday night. Other forms of entertainment like "Talk Story" on Wednesdays offer guests an inside look at the life of people in the surf industry via live interview. Call ahead of time or check thke website for nightly happenings.
Recommended for Farm to Table because: Surfer, the Bar has revamped their menu and now feature a number of items made with locally grown ingredients.
Jade's expert tip: Happy hour is from 6 to 7 daily for appetizers and drinks.
This juice bar is famous with locals. You'll find a combo of treats, smoothies and juices. Lanikai Juice is located in the Kailua shopping center and is named after beautiful Lanikai Beach, a long, white sand stretch of heaven on the east side. The smoothies from Lanikai Juice are a wonderful treat on a hot Hawaiian day. They try to incorporate healthy ingredients such as the power food acai berry and many other healthy fruits and vegetables. There's several locations around the island, one in Haleiwa and one in Kahala. Hawaii has been hit hard when it comes to finding smoothies and acai bowls popular, and locals love this place.
Recommended for Farm to Table because: Lanikai Juice blends up delicious and healthy smoothies with locally grown fruits.
Jade's expert tip: Keep an eye out of the other locations in Haleiwa and Kahala as you explore the island.
The Heeia Pier General Store and Deli is a classic Kaneohe eatery enjoyed by dedicated locals for three decades as it served up local classic like plate lunches and loco mocos (beef patty, egg and gravy over rice). But recently top chef Mark Noguchi took over the classic eatery and put a modern sustainable and healthier take on the local comfort food. All of the beef is from the Big Island and grass fed, the fish is caught nearby, and other vegetables are all grown locally - a locovore's dream. Located ocean front on the pier, diners can enjoy casual - but really good breakfast and lunch right on the water.
Recommended for Farm to Table because: This oceanfront eatery blends a traditional local menu with locally sourced fish, meat and vegetables.
Jade's expert tip: Try the guava chicken.
If you can drag yourself away from the pounding surf of the North Shore, reserve a table at this this newly revamped and renamed upscale restaurant, which prepares local cuisine with fresh ingredients. Aim for a table by the floor-to-ceiling windows for a magnificent view while you dine. Based on the theme of going "locovore," the menu changes often according to what's in season, guaranteeing new pleasures with each visit. They also use as much locally raised and grown food as possible. Innovative entrees include Thai chili-braised fish with cucumber gazpacho, and seared scallops in "faux" polenta (sweet creamed corn). A five-course tasting menu is also available.
Recommended for Farm to Table because: Utilizing locally grown produce and proteins, Pa'akai is the newest farm to table restaurant on the North Shore.
Jade's expert tip: Explore the gourmet martini list and try some Hawaiian food.
Spare, contemporary design not only makes an unassuming backdrop for this appealing bistro; it also serves as a thoughtful counterpoint to a menu of simply prepared but complex offerings. Stellar ingredients step in to be given loving attention from the chefs, who turn out dishes like a grilled half-chicken with pancetta, slow-braised pork cheeks, black mussels with fennel-tinged homemade pasta, and crisp, creative salads. Even burgers are sublime. Good wines heighten the flavors, and outdoor dining lets you take in good weather with your great food. You'll need a reservation here any night of the week, so don't forget to call in.
Recommended for Farm to Table because: Town is Oahu's premier farm to table restaurant, serving everything local.
Jade's expert tip: Reservations are necessary here to ensure a table.