One of the charms of summer is the abundance of fruit that comes our way. Among the seasonal treats are Golden Kiss and Honey Kiss melons, specialty fruit with distinctive, punched-up flavors.
The firm-fleshed, striped Golden Kiss has a deep, almost creamy flavor, while the crisp Honey Kiss delivers the rounded sweetness of honey.
Keep the Golden Kiss on the counter until the green stripes on its skin begin to brown and it feels slightly soft to the touch. Brown spots on the oblong Honey Kiss indicate high levels of sugar — good eating.
The melons are available at Don Quijote ($1.28 to 1.48 on sale, $2.99 regular) and Marukai ($1.49). Later in the season, be on the lookout for the possible appearance of the Sugar Kiss melon, an especially sweet variety with soft flesh.
———
Joleen Oshiro, Star-Advertiser
Buy a cookbook, meet a chef
Celebrity chef Michael Mina and Food Network star and restaurateur Ayesha Curry will stage a joint meet-and-greet for sales of their cookbooks from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday at The Street at the International Market Place.
The chefs will have 100 copies of each book for sale; buy one and you get to meet the authors.
Curry’s autobiographical “The Seasoned Life: Food, Family, Faith and the Joy of Eating Well” ($27) features recipes and stories from her life. “Michael Mina: The Cookbook” ($50) contains the chef and restaurateur’s most requested master recipes, followed by flavor variations.
Those who purchase a $37 Street Party pass will have access to a VIP line for the meet-and-greet and receive a $5 discount on Curry’s book and $10 off Mina’s. The pass provides food and drink sampling from all The Street’s hawker stations.
———
Erika Engle, Star-Advertiser
Coconut meets a Hershey’s Kiss
Just for summer, Hershey Co. has a new, limited-edition “Flavors of America” candy collection inspired by iconic U.S. summer destinations, including Hawaii.
The collection features six classic products paying homage to flavors associated with the destinations.
The Taste of Hawaii is represented by nonchocolate coconut-cream Hershey’s Kisses encasing a whole roasted almond, sold in a 10-ounce bag that retails for about $3.89. It tastes a little like haupia.
Here are other states and the flavors honoring them:
California: strawberry-flavored Kit Kats inspired by the state’s strawberry fields
Florida: Twizzlers pay homage to key lime pie and the oranges the state is known for producing. Go tart with the key lime-flavored twists, or go sweet with the version flavored like an orange-cream ice cream pop.
Georgia: Reese’s honey-roasted Peanut Butter Cup with molasses
New York: Hershey’s Cherry Cheesecake Flavored Bar, with pink cookie crust blended into a white creme bar
Texas: a PayDay bar with barbecue-seasoned peanuts
Available in grocery candy aisles while supplies last.
———
Nadine Kam, Star-Advertiser