poke-available lots of places?

My Husband and I are planning a trip to the BI/Maui in December. We had never heard of poke before we saw Sam Choy (is that his name?) make it on a Travel Channel Show. We have got to try this stuff, it looks delicious!

We%26#39;ll be spending most of our time on Maui, probably near Lahaina. Is poke available only at the super-expensive places, or is it served at moderately-priced restaurants also? Is it served as an appetizer only?

I swear, after reading about all the local foods, I could do an ';eating-only'; tour of Hawaii.

poke-available lots of places?

Poke is available at virtually every major grocery store in the state and in all fishmarkets (don%26#39;t miss the smoked au/ahi or taegu either). There are dozens of types.

It is almost always served as an appetizer whether at home or in a restaurant; but there are local-oriented places that quick-fry it (cooking outside only) into an entree.

It should not be as expensive as sashimi on any menu; and frankly, many stores have much better poke than most any restaurant can offer.

poke-available lots of places?

We bought Ahi poke in Kahalui. Ate it next day at our cottage in Hana. It had onion, soy and wasabi - VERY good!

haffy, we usually get our poke in the fresh fish section at Safeway in Kihei. There%26#39;s also a Safeway at Lahaina.

You will find that the poke at Safeway and Foodland is much cheaper than the poke at Eskimo Candy, Costco, and other markets. There is a very good reason: both make their poke from previously frozen fish. This is, as Lilo would say, an abomination. Sometimes Safeway does have fresh fish poke, but not for $5.99 a pound. Ask them before you buy. Poke needs to be made from fresh fish. And I never, ever buy any fish from Star Market, the other major market on island. I%26#39;ve had way too many bad experiences with their fish to attempt to eat it raw!

At better restautants the poke will be fresh, but at other places always ask. I know several moderate restaurants where the employees won%26#39;t eat thier poke, and of they won%26#39;t, I sure don%26#39;t want to eat it!

We stopped of at Costco before heading to Kapalua. We purchased the Ahi Poke as well as Pog, Chocolate Mac Nuts, and fresh Pineapple. Costco also has a great local flower and lei selection. My hubby thought the Poke was great. He%26#39;s trying to figure out how to get our local costco to carry it. Good luck to him and to you also....

I loved Eskimo Candy%26#39;s Poke in Kihei, it will be my first stop off the plane. They had 3-4 different fish/sauce combos their, and they all rocked! I liked the one with tobiko in it. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. We tried some off the grocery store fresh and frozen, but they weren%26#39;t even close in flavour and quality, so we skewered them up and threw them on the grill and made delicious tacos.

Ok, a little bump up the ladder for this post, if you please. The question remains....what the h is poke ? Humor me, please! I%26#39;m a naive man from THE EAST! LOL!

Poke is...

Chunked (say about 1/2 inch cubes) of raw fish or other marine meat mixed together with a variety of types of spices and other ingredients.

It is generally served fresh and chilled as a pupu (appetizer) or side dish.

One classic ahi poke is raw tuna chunks, minutely diced kukui nut, some chopped seaweed (limu or ogo), a little shoyu and a pinch of salt; maybe with some Hawaiian peppers or chili water.

There are many, many types. I happen to enjoy tako poke made with baby octopus.

If you happen to be on Oahu, you are at the poke capital of the world. Must see/sample locations:

Haili%26#39;s (and others) in the Ward Farmer%26#39;s Market.

Tamashiro%26#39;s Fish Market, in Kalihi...a great sightseeing experience.

Alicia%26#39;s in Kalihi Makai.

Thanks very much, amberloo, for that info.

Doubt the missus will try it but I sure will

and also will try and fit a visit to Tamashiro%26#39;s Fish Market in Kalihi into our travel plan. Where is Kalihi?

Another vote for Eskimo Candy%26#39;s poke, its ';broke da mouth'; good :)