Address: Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows, 68-1400 Mauna Lani Drive, Waimea, HI 96743
Did you see the pictures? Eating at the Canoe House is superb and impeccable!
After the dinner, my husband and I are driving home and, in my mind, I am happily recounting the events of that day. I am mentally touching every moment and making sure it is safe in my memory. I think about our dinner. “What will you remember the most from our tonight meal at Canoe House?” — I ask my husband. “You will laugh at me!” — he says. — “Smoked potatoes!” And we laugh because it’s the same dish in my mind! It was not even an entree; it was a side dish I noticed on the menu and ordered out of curiosity! Sorry, chefs!
The Canoe House’s smoked potatoes were so good that we nearly leaked the serving bowl. I asked our waiter about the cooking method. He said they are cooked and mashed first and then placed into a continuously running smoker at the back of the restaurant. The level of smokiness was as delicate as a reminder of a campfire and charcoal roasted potatoes from my childhood. There was just enough butter and seasoning to emphasize natural flavors of potato. The texture was a combination of creamy fluffiness and chewable morsels. No wonder I wanted to recreate these smoked potatoes at home!
Yukon Gold mesquite smoked potatoes are now part of my Aloha! Tasting menu.