Yesterday I went to two events. At the second event, I bought a beef laulau plate. Laulau was what I was most excited to eat, and I saved one laulau to share with you.
People in Hawaii did not see me eat laulau until a few years ago when I started eating meat again.
Some people here have watched my eating change over the years. I used to chew a lot of gum, suck on butterscotch candies, and eat a lot of ice cream. Now I do not chew gum, I have stopped eating about ninety-nine percent of the added sugar I used to eat, and I eat meat.
So yesterday, I happily circulated money for a beef laulau plate.
Laulau is a traditional Hawaiian dish. Meat, traditionally pork, is wrapped in kalo leaves. The bundle of food is wrapped again in ti leaves and steamed for hours. Traditionally laulau was cooked in an imu, an underground oven.
The outer ti leaves hold the food together and keep the moisture inside while the laulau cooks. The ti leaves are not eaten.
The kalo leaves inside are eaten. After hours of cooking, the kalo leaves become soft, like cooked spinach.
Kalo leaves must always be cooked. Raw kalo leaves contain tiny crystals that irritate the mouth and throat. Long cooking breaks the crystals down.
The beef from the laulau give my body protein and iron. The kalo leaves give my body vitamin A, vitamin C, folate, and fiber.
I sat down at a table with family and friends with my laulau plate. I removed the aluminum foil, unwrapped the ti leaves, and took a big bite. The first bite was a large amount of meat with some kalo. It was delicious.
You are welcome to eat food that honors where you live.
Stacy 🌺
Information in this post comes from my learning and research.
https://youtube.com/shorts/abCUrsORfQA?feature=share
I share my experiences and my perspective. Eating and healing look different for everyone. If you are struggling with food or your relationship with your body, please find support. You don’t have to do this alone.