Degrees of Separation

If you’ve ever heard us say “Maui is a small world” you may have wondered what we meant. Well, here’s a recent example of just how small this great big world can be when you’re connected to Maui.

Let’s rewind to a few years back; do you remember the 1993 movie Six Degrees of Separation? The theory is – everyone on the planet is connected to each other in no more than six steps. In other words, you know person A, who met person B, etc. We don’t know whether it’s true, but one thing is for sure … Maui is way ahead of the curve on that one.

A few weeks ago, Greg was, as usual, coming in from a paddle at Canoe Beach in Kaanapali. He saw Russell – all the way from Hana in East Maui – serving his famous Huli Huli chicken for the community. They chatted for a bit as Greg bought some of the delectable chicken and decided to share some with our good friend, Gene. Although, a part time resident, we consider Gene one of our go-to “local” food connoisseurs as he’s usually on the hunt for the best bites and has made fast friends with many in the industry.

Not surprisingly, Gene LOVED the Huli Huli Chicken, becoming quickly obsessed with every aspect of how delicious it was, and tracked Russell down at his roadside stand in Hana. After many attempts to recreate the recipe but not quite getting it right, Gene finally decided to help Russell bottle it so that, ultimately, he could BUY a bottle of the wonderful sauce to make his own Huli Huli chicken, without driving to Hana every time he had a craving. The last we knew; Gene and Russell were still in the process of brainstorming this idea.

Fast forward a few weeks later to a conversation with our longtime Maui friend Marti, who recently moved back to Ohio. She talked about her recent trip back to the islands for a visit and mentioned she was delighted to run into old friends from Hana at the Honolulu airport.

They had a chance catch up, share a few memories and even go over some of their new endeavors. Turns out this longtime friend, with the help of some nice guy from the mainland are working on bottling the special sauce for his Huli Huli chicken recipe. So, who was the longtime friend and “nice guy” from the mainland? Why, Russell and Gene, of course.

Life on a little island is full of surprises, right? Ladies and Gentlemen, we give you Maui’s – Two Degrees of Separation!

Aloha, Greg & Leah

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IT’S MANGO SEASON! This Mango Cobbler with Cardamom is the perfect easy dessert recipe. Delicious mangos are topped with a yummy, crisp oat topping that’s absolutely irresistible. It’s perfect right out of the oven topped with ice cream.

The Best Mango Cobbler

Ingredients

Fruit:

4 cups mango (diced (about 4 medium mangos))
2/3 cup white sugar
½ stick butter (4 Tablespoons)
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1 tablespoon cornstarc

1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

Cobbler:

1 cup all purpose flour
3/4 cup old fashioned rolled oats
1/2 cup sugar
½ teaspoon cardamom
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 stick butter (cold, cut into small cubes)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375°F.
In a 10-inch cast iron skillet, add mango, sugar, butter, flour, cornstarch, vanilla and salt. Cook on stovetop over medium heat, stirring regularly, until bubbly and thickened.
Meanwhile, in a stand mixer with paddle attachment, add 1 cup flour, oats, sugar, cardamom and salt. Add the butter and mix until mixture holds together in coarse clumps, adding a splash of water, if needed.
When fruit is ready, drop large tablespoons of dough on top of warm fruit. Place into preheated oven and bake for 35-40 minutes, until the edges are bubbling and the top is golden brown.
Serve warm as is or topped with ice cream.

Enjoy!

The BEST Mango Cobbler Recipe (Easy Mango Crisp) from Platings and Pairings