tasty treats

after yesterday's post about the culinary history of local food, i now have a craving for soda & cream crackers. since our supply from the last care package was finished off long ago (hint, hint) and the local asian market only carries the jumbo box of soda crackers (which go stale really fast), the ability to order direct from diamond bakery is a welcome option.

in addition to their famous soda/cream/saloon pilot crackers, the website also has a nice selection of cookies and, my favorite, the somewhat cheeky diamond bakery logo tee with the seemingly unintentional double-entendre.

the food of paradise

most people from hawaii are familiar with the origins of the plate lunch, but have you ever wondered just how all the other food you love came to be in the islands? rachel laudan's the food of paradise: exploring hawaii's culinary heritage traces the origins of local favorites like crack seed, malasadas, saimin & saloon pilot crackers (among other foodstuffs) and their journey to become part of hawaii's food culture.

laudan also devotes a section to the influence of native hawaiian foods and the agricultural bounty of the islands. the food of paradise has received many rave reviews and definitely deserves a place on every local cook's bookshelf.