Sisters with food companies wow judges at contests

Laura Cristobal Andersland was 11 when she developed her own seasoning mix while making spaghetti for the family dinner. That longtime secret recipe became a commercially produced Hawaiian Rub, which recently won a gold medal at the international Scovie Awards in New Mexico.

Andersland, who formed Salty Wahine Gourmet Hawaiian Sea Salts of Kauai almost 10 years ago, also won a slew of second- and third-place prizes in September at the contest, which recognizes the best fiery foods and barbecues in the world. (The Scovie Awards evolved from the National Fiery Foods & Barbecue Show; before 1996 the contest was called The Fiery Foods Challenge.) Six countries and 31 states were represented in the 121 companies entered for the 2017 competition.

About 80 to 100 judges, mostly food professionals, rated the products in blind taste tests based on eye appeal, aroma, flavor and heat scale, according to the Scovie Awards organization.

The only other Hawaii winner was Anders­land’s sister, Lori A. Cardenas, who has won numerous medals for her Aunty Lilikoi Passion Fruit Products in Waimea, Kauai. It was Cardenas who inspired Andersland to start her own family company after she retired from the rental car business.

Cardenas started the Aunty Lilikoi line with husband E. Tony Cardenas 17 years ago. At the 2017 Scovie Awards, she won first place for her Passion Fruit Kiawe BBQ Sauce and second place for her Passion Fruit Wasabi Teriyaki Sauce. At last year’s Scovies she won two first prizes and two second prizes, among a plethora of other international accolades earned since 2004.

The sisters, who are a bit over a year apart in age, grew up learning to cook from their grandmothers.

“I remember being 5 years old and stepping on stools, and we’d be making rice and stirring pots,” Andersland said. “We had two amazing grandmothers that taught me and Lori how to cook. We just had a blast; it was something that just clicked in both of us.”

She came up with her Hawaiian Rub recipe when she was making spaghetti, which in her case entails making her own Italian seasoning, combined with premium sea salts, garlic, onion, pepper, paprika and vinegar. Her dinner was so good, everyone wanted her to cook all the time after that, Andersland recalled, laughing.

About 85 percent of the ingredients used in her 25 products are of Hawaii origin, including herbs, spices, sugar and fruits. Her products range from Island Volcano Seasoning, a spicier version of Hawaiian Rub, to fruitier combos like Passion Fruit-Orange-Guava-Pepper; both have won various Scovie Awards.

Making tropically infused seasonings evolved from having the ingredients in her own backyard, behind an old plantation house. Andersland said fruit trees like lychee, mango and avocado were a candy substitute, so it was a natural progression for her to use these things in cooking and “playing in the kitchen.” Her company motto is “Making eating healthy fun.”

Andersland taught her son Sean, 29, all her techniques two years ago, and since then he has taken over production. He’s developed six other flavors on his own, including the prize-winning Island Volcano.

“I was bragging up and down, left and right, how wonderful it is to have my son take over and surpass his mother with his blends. So Salty Wahine will live on. I was just a proud mama!”

In December both sisters’ companies won a variety of honors at the 2017 World Hot Sauce Awards in Louisiana. Most notably, Salty Wahine took the world championship in table seasoning for that same Passion Fruit blend and second place for her Island Curry and Island Volcano seasonings.

Aunty Lilikoi won the grand prize for its website; and a divisional championship for its Passion Fruit Wasabi Mustard blend, in addition to several other awards.

Find Salty Wahine products on Oahu at Foodland Farms in Ala Moana Center; in Waikiki at ABC Stores, Food Pantry and Whaler’s General Stores; and at the Aloha Stadium Swap Meet in a Hawaiian products stall. Mail order: saltywahine.com or call 378-4089. Find Aunty Lilikoi Passion Fruit Products on Oahu at Island Vintage Coffee, Aloha Tower Marketplace and 754 Bannister St. in Waikiki; at Whole Foods Markets; and at T.J. Maxx stores. Mail order: auntylilikoi.com or call 866-545-4564.