Image of Tasting Kauai.
Tasting Kauai. Photo: Marta Lane.

Put aside any pre-conceived notions that you might have had about eating in Hawaii; the Islands offer much more than poi and pineapple!

Connect with Farmers, Chefs and Restaurants on a Kauai Food Tour

Image of Tasting Kauai.
Tasting Kauai. Photo: Marta Lane.

Tasting Kauai proves island dining can be an exhilarating, educational adventure. The company offers five guided tours that connect you with farmers, chefs and some of Kauai’s best restaurants (note “best” doesn’t necessarily mean expensive). They’re among owner Marta Lane’s favorites; as a certified personal chef, food writer and author of Tasting Kauai – Restaurants: An Insider’s Guide to Eating Well on the Garden Island, she knows her stuff.

From Food Trucks to Fine-Dining

Image of Tasting Kauai.
Tasting Kauai. Photo: Marta Lane.

You’ll hook up with your Tasting Kauai guide at a designated meeting place, then follow her in the comfort of your own car to various spots (three to six, depending on the tour). They range from food trucks to fine-dining establishments, all offering ono (delicious) samples. Many of the eateries are small, tucked away and relatively unknown.

An Overview of Each Kauai Food Tour Offered

Image of Tasting Kauai
Tasting Kauai. Photo: Marta Lane.

On the four-hour Royal Coconut Coast Food Tour, for example, you’ll visit a family-owned taro farm, try traditional Hawaiian food and enjoy a private tasting with Jean-Marie Josselin, one of the founding chefs of the Hawaii Regional Cuisine movement.

Image of Tasting Kauai.
Tasting Kauai. Photo: Marta Lane.

The four-hour South Shore Food Tour features a gelato-making demonstration, samples of sushi and poke (seasoned cubes of raw fish) and a stroll through a popular farmers market.

Kauai’s biggest outdoor market is the focus of the one-hour Farmers Market Tour. You’ll “talk story” with vendors, find out what produce is in season, learn how to judge freshness and quality, taste exotic fruit (have you ever tried bilimbi or star apple?) and get cooking tips and a recipe that will impress your guests when you return home.

More Information About Tasting Kauai

Image of Tasting Kauai
Tasting Kauai. Photo: Marta Lane.

Regular tours are limited to 10 people; special arrangements can be made for custom and private tours.

Tasting Kauai – Restaurants: An Insider’s Guide to Eating Well on the Garden Island is available on Amazon.com; at various stores, restaurants and attractions on Kauai; and directly from the author. Lane has also released an interactive mobile app for iPhone and Android smartphones and tablets that’s based on the book. Free updates are available monthly. Check out the website for details about the book and app.