For Chinese New Year, my auntie used to make deep fried oyster rolls, kau yuk (pork belly) and gau with freshly shaved coconut that took at least a week to prepare for the whole family.
Luckily we found the Duk Kee Chinese Restaurant in Kaimuki, which fills the void of flavors associated with fond memories of relatives, who knew how to make these authentic dishes. Of course no one will be able to match my auntie’s specialties — they were out-of-this world wonderful — but this Cantonese neighborhood diner must be doing something right, as it always bustles with regular customers.
The restaurant is just as packed on Chinese New Year (on Friday this year) as it is on Jan. 1, says Anne Lee, a waitress there for 30 years. One of the most popular items for any special occasion is the barley-stuffed duck, bathing in a pool of oyster sauce with an egg stirred into it. We love it because the duck is fall-apart soft, pulling away from the bone in shreds that mix perfectly with the stuffing, dotted with garbanzo beans, ham bits and mushrooms. Mom always used to order extra gravy, which we’d soak up with rice on the side. It’s about $50 for a whole bird, or about $10 for a portion.
Another favorite is the kau yuk, with slices of tender pork interspersed with taro, covered in a rich sauce that’s thankfully not dyed the good-luck red. It’s $16 for a generous platter.
Duk Kee, at 1146 12th Ave., is open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Call 734-1337.
— Pat Gee, Star-Advertiser
BENEFIT SERVES ENDANGERED FOODS
The Ark of Taste, Slow Food’s catalog of more than 4,000 endangered foods globally, includes a list of items from Hawaii — ko (sugar cane), honey, Polynesian maia (banana), Manalauloa kalo (taro), poi, Hawaiian ulu (breadfruit), paakai traditional sea salt and Kona coffee.
On Feb. 25, Slow Food O‘ahu is presenting a benefit dinner with local Ark of Taste foods to send delegates to Italy in the fall for Slow Food’s Terra Madre, an artisan food festival.
The menu includes a ko cocktail, kalo and honey pupu, wild boar and ulu, fish with maia, a tasting of three poi varietals, Hawaiian vanilla mochi, Kona coffee and more.
Dinner runs 6 to 9 p.m. at Mud Hen Water, 3452 Waialae Ave. Cost: $105 plus fees. Reserve a spot at eventbrite.com.
YOUTH ART SHOWCASES VIRTUES OF LOCAL FOOD
Inspired by favorite foods made with locally grown products, artistic youth took to drawing and poetry to convey the importance of local agriculture. Their work is on display at the state Capitol through Feb. 23.
The Localicious Hawai‘i Art & Poetry Contest for grades K to 8 garnered more than 600 entries. Grand prize winner for art was Kaiulani Elementary School first grader Stesha- Lei Topinio. Grand prize winner in poetry was Jaiden Sams, a sixth-grader at Waimea Canyon Middle School.
The contest was held by Localicious Hawai‘i and the Hawai‘i Agricultural Foundation.
— Joleen Oshiro, Star-Advertiser
