Lilikoi Creations- what’s in a name?

I adore Hawaiian words.  With 13 letters total, 5 of which are vowels,  the rest consonants and an ‘okina (‘),  you can bet I was confused when I moved here believing all words sounded like a different hybridization of the last.  I had to see it all written and repeated many times before I would commit it to memory.   Lilikoi is the name for the Hawaiian passion fruit.  These gorgeous golden orbs  drop to the ground just at the peak of ripeness.  Finding a lilikoi when they are in season is like scoring that perfect golden egg in a easter egg hunt.  Filled with the quintessential tropical flavor,  as a chef,  I claim that what a lemon or lime can do, a lilikoi can do even better.  

Lilikoi infused fresh coconut water.

From a culinary standpoint, whatever a lemon or lime can do,  a lilikoi can do even better.

From curds to hollandaise, savory marinades, dressings and most definitely a shrub or fresh element to a cocktail,  lilikoi is a lovely as its name and when they are in season,  you can bet you will taste them infused in myriad forms into my cuisine.  A little aside,  we lived for 6 years in Florida and we had a lilikoi vine that never fruited.  I was perplexed as to what this gorgeous flower was because it never did anything other than produce fantastic blossoms.   If you’ve never seen a lilikoi flower, it is one of the most spectacular and intricate blossoms I have ever seen. How ironic that my Floridian Lilikoi never gave fruit… not its season or mine I suppose as I was raising my two daughters at the time and locked away in baby prison. (loving every minute but definitely not on a career track)

My Floridian lilikoi blossom never gave fruit- not its season or mine,  I suppose. 

My business is a culmination of the fruit of my passions;  an organic convergence of what I am passionate about which yields this fruit ( or in this case,  my career!)  based on all that I am passionate about-  beautiful food, ingredients,  inspired cuisine and healthy lifestyle.   So,  LILIKOI is a passionfruit,  LILIKOI CREATIONS is the business I have built around what is the fruit of my passions.  There,  now you know.  🙂

Lilikoi bounty in a basket by Paia Bay, North shore of Maui

Aloha and be blessed ~

Chef Maja