Forty-eighth "new thing" and first "new thing" for December: Kaimuki Walking Food Tour. I love walking and I love food. This first "new thing" for the new month, was fun, entertaining, yummy, and new! This morning I was lucky enough to participate in a new to me experience: the food tour. I have heard of food tours in other cities but for some reason never gave it much thought in the place where I live. My friend Fall has been giving food tours in Kaimuki, O'ahu sporadically throughout the pandemic. She leads a small group of folks (who have signed up online) through the historic and eclectic streets of Kaimuki. Throughout the tour she tells stories and provides information about the places you visit along with humorous anecdotes that keep everyone smiling.
Apparently, I am not aware of all of the things that Airbnb has to offer. It's not just an App on your phone. (Newsflash!) I learned that there are vendors of all sorts providing experiences for people who sign up for things from Massages to Yoga classes, to Painting, to Sailing, to Food Tours! Now that I have opened this Pandora's Box, I want to try ALL. THE. THINGS.
For my first venture into an Airbnb Experience, the Food Tour was the perfect entry point. How can you go wrong supporting local small businesses and learning more about a community (whether you live there or not)?
First stop on the Food Tour, Kaimuki Community Park, where each of the participants of the tour met and Fall began our official Sip and Sample Experience off with some small bites from Tamuras. Our tastebuds were awakened with a medley of onolicious Garlic Shoyu Edamame, Ahi Poke, Hawaiian Chip Company Original Taro Chips, Shrimp Chips, Lotus Root Chips, and washing it all down with local favorite, Hawaiian Sun Lilikoi Juice. This was just the start to a two hour flavor extravaganza!
Second stop on the Food Tour, Kaimuki Superette. I have been here for lunch once or twice in the past but experiencing the choices that were curated just for our tour, was extra special---everything tastes better with new friends and outside at a picnic table. The highlights from this pit stop along the tour were the Tako Roll (think Lobster Roll but with Octopus), the mountain apple Kimchi, and Portuguese Sausage Fried Rice with soft egg and avocado. Mouthwatering...or as is said locally---broke da mouth.
Full bellies and big smiles, we walked further down the main road of Kaimuki's restaurant alley. We passed murals by local artists on the side of buildings, smelled the aroma of coffee from local coffee shops such as Bean About Town. The sights and sounds were just as flavorful as the food and beverage we had just Sipped and Sampled.
Our stroll through the streets brought us to our next destination, the Crack Seed store. Our Sip and Sample Experience host had gone out of her way to take the time to prepare a goodie bag sampling of treats to include Li Hing Mui and assorted local style candied treats.
The remnants of sugar on our lips readied us for a quick stop at a new (and soon to be favorite) local charcuterie shop called Bubbly and Bleu. Here you will find all the fancy jams, cheeses, breads, and chocolates you could dream of---for entertaining guests around the holidays or for yourself on a Tuesday night. I needed to be dragged out of this shop before I bought one of everything. The only thing that could persuade me to leave? Coffee.
Via Gelato was the grand finale on the Kaimuki Sip and Sample Food Tour. It was the perfect complement to our delectable farm to table meal and local sampler appetizers in the park. Coffee and Gelato...did someone say Affogato? Enjoying this treat (even on a full stomach) was amazing, just like the Food Tour. Fall highlighted some of the best people, places, and things in Kaimuki and did it with humor and a friendly attitude. If I didn't already know her, I would want to after participating in this Airbnb Foodie Experience.
Who: Anyone who will be on O'ahu (residents or tourists) and can sign up on the Airbnb App on their phone.
What: A Sip and Sample Walking Food Tour through Kaimuki.
When: Weekdays around brunch time.
Where: The energetic, bustling, colorful, food loving town of Kaimuki.
Why: Food, Fun, and Fall (the person, not the season).
How: Sign up via Airbnb Experiences with Fall.
Would I Do It Again: Yes. My stomach would not forgive me if I passed up this opportunity in the future.
"People who love to eat are always the best people." ~Julia Child
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