1. The humble potato chip meets fancy fungi in Torres Black Truffle Patatas Fritas — two guilty pleasures in a 4.5-ounce bag of bold, intriguing flavors. R. Field Wine Co. stocked the chips just in time for Super Bowl weekend and has had a hard time keeping them on the shelves ever since. You can’t quite put your finger on what raises the bar with each bite, but that would be the dehydrated black summer truffle and aroma factor. (The other ingredients: potatoes, sunflower oil and salt.) After we took photos, we put the opened packages on the newsroom’s communal food table for sampling, and a colleague blurted, mouth full, “Who brought? And why are they sharing? Too good to share!”
The chips are made in Barcelona, Spain, but thanks to R. Field, they’re just a drive away at the gourmet food and wine vendor inside the Aina Haina Foodland Farms — but only if your timing is right. I called the store (373-2231), and they put some bags on hold for pickup.
— Ruby Mata-Viti, Star-Advertiser
2. “It’s Really Nice!” — a little book based on a poem by the late Hawaii artist Louis Pohl — is a reminder of the simple joys of life. The gentle words and illustrations capture Pohl’s observations and appreciation for nature: “When you go to the beach/ And you walk in the sand/ It’s really nice.” There are even a few blank pages at the end for adding your own thoughts and illustrations. Published by Short Stack by Native Books (the first edition was by Little, Brown & Co., 1960), “It’s Really Nice!” is $11.95 at Na Mea’s Native Knowledge Center at Ward Warehouse and the Louis Pohl Gallery, 1142 Bethel St. A set of three illustrated cards with verses from the book is $14.95. Visit nameahawaii.com or call 596-8885.
— Nina Wu, Star-Advertiser
3. After you’ve splurged on the latest beauty elixir, you want to use every last drop. It’s maddening when you can still see some moisturizer/serum/conditioner at the bottom of a near-empty bottle but no matter how you thump or shake it, you can’t dislodge that last glob of pricey product. Available in 8- and 11-inch lengths, each comes with two flexible plastic spoons that fit neatly through narrow openings, giving you extra days of use before you need to purchase anew. Different combinations of Beautiscoops are available, starting at $9.99, at livebeautility.com.
— Donica Kaneshiro, Star-Advertiser
4. It’s hard not to smile and be happy when you see this sun pillow ($38) from the Kira Hawaii boutique in Mililani. The 12-inch sun has a cute, friendly face printed on one side and “you are my sunshine” on the other. The pompom tassels sewn around the edge of the pillow are a charming touch. Kira Hawaii is at 95-1249 Meheula Parkway in the Town Center of Mililani; call 382-7330.
— Nancy Arcayna, Star-Advertiser
5. Moiliili was my mom’s favorite stop to pick up flowers for Easter and other special occasions. With most of the old florists now gone, Le Flowers at 2567-B S. King St. has blossomed into my go-to stop for fresh-cut bouquets. And after a series of disappointing visits to Chinatown shops, it’s also where I buy lei.
Owner Candice Le makes sure there’s always an ample selection of the freshest lei in creative combinations. Prices on a recent visit included $5 for a ti leaf and orchid garland, $15 for Micronesian-style ginger and $30 for double ginger. Bunches of protea, sunflowers, anthuriums and other cut flowers were $5 to $10 — cheap enough to make uplifting blooms a regular part of your life. Le Flowers is open to 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. daily; look for easy parking in the back, off University Avenue. Call 955-8884.
— Christie Wilson, Star-Advertiser
“5 Things We Love” is a shortlist of newly discovered stuff you have got to see, hear, wear, use or eat. Please keep in mind that featured products may be in short supply and may not be available at all store locations; prices may vary. Tell us what you are loving by emailing features@staradvertiser.com.
