GREAT EATS HAWAII: HUAHINE

HUAHINE

FRENCH POLYNESIA

After Tahiti, Huahine (Wahine) was our second Island in the Society Islands to visit. Not knowing much about the Island, we hired a tour guide to take us around the Island. Lucky for us there was no other people on our tour so we had the Jeep and Guide to ourselves for the entire day. Our Guide was from Franch and had lived on Huahine for eight years. She was very knowledgable about the Island and spoke broken but good English. Turns out her and her husband visited Huanhine from their homeland of France - fell in love with the place and stayed. He is a French trained Chef cooking in a Bed and Breakfast and she does the tours and takes care of their two small children. Life here is very simple and uncomplicated she told us. No stress and plenty of family time. Living here is basic with food from the sea and vegetables and fruit from the land. Throughout our tour she would show us how local farmers live and work on their land so that they can provide food for their families. The Island has an abundant array of fresh fruits and vegetables growing virtually everywhere. Vanilla is also grown here and it has become vital to the Islands economy. We visited a farm and learned how Vanilla is grown and harvested. The highlight of our visit was unplanned for our Guide who took us to a restaurant/hotel on the beach which was supposed to be a stop for a drink only. We offered to buy our Guide lunch here because it was so beautiful and she accepted. The kitchen and restaurant seemed closed though so she went inside and found an employee and asked if we could have lunch.

The employee returned to our tables with menus and the rest of the day was pure heaven. Relais Mahana Restaurant became one of the best stops on our entire French Polynesia trip. This meal was one of the memory book. Great food, incredible view and an experience I will never forget. I had a similar lunch on the Island of Roatan many years ago but I think this even topped that great experience on the beach. With my cold Hinano Beer in hand I went through the menu knowing I wanted nothing else but fresh fish from this Island. I ordered the fresh fish with Sun Dried Tomatoes and an Olive Tempenade. The fish was so fresh and delicious. One of best ever. Amazing. My Daughter ordered the Fresh Poki and it was delivered in a wooden boat. Looked amazing and tasted more amazing. Hands down one of the best Poke's of our lives. My Daughter devoured the entire boat with me getting a few bites in while she was distracted. We ate a lot of fresh Poke and Sashimi in French Polynesia and this was by far the best. Wow....I want some of that Poke right now.

The Fish and Chips with Fresh Fish, Calamari and Shrimp had the best batter ever. So light but tasty allowing the flavor of the seafood to come through. Probably some of the best Fish and Chips I have ever tasted. This restaurant for us was a perfect 10.

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