An outsider/insider’s guide to some of my favorite local food discoveries in Oahu, that the next lucky people to visit the windward side have a heads up on what to enjoy.

I realize it’s always difficult throwing a dinner party not knowing if one of your guests is vegetarian. It’s always a gamble if you know that a Vegi may be a guest among a group of carnivores, so what can you make that won’t break the bank but transcend feeding your kind animal-conscious friend a plate of bread and mash potatoes?

I was having a cookout the other day and as I was shopping for different BBQ delights, I wanted to give my guests a side different than your typical “potato or macaroni salad” you see sitting next to your hot dog at the party. I came up with the idea of incorporating, feta cheese and sun-dried tomatoes in with the quinoa. This dish is just delightful; it’s light, fresh, playful, and honestly my favorite alternative to a side I’ve tried to date.

For the last dish in our tribute to Arabic dishes I wanted to add “Pizza Lubnaniyya” meaning ( Lebanese pizza) that uses Za’atar a complex and delicious Middle Eastern condiment

On the same topic of Arabic cuisine, I found another deliciously simple recipe for pea stew, also known as BIZZELLA – a typical dish of Iraq.