Happy Aloha Friday!

Welcome to this week's roundup of tasty tidbits specially curated for you from Hawaii to Istanbul and everywhere in between...

👋 Hi friends!

Happy Lunar New Year and Gong Xi Fa Cai to those who are celebrating the Year of the Snake! In Hawaii, we have some local-style Chinese recipes that we associate with the holidays, so I'm sharing these from 'Ono Hawaiian Recipes.

Next we travel to Japan for another holiday to welcome in the transition from winter to spring, Setsubun! My Japanese students mentioned that the tradition of eating an uncut ehomaki roll with seven fillings started in Osaka and the roll must be consumed facing the "lucky direction" (this year it is west-southwest). I'm going to try to make my own this year - I can use all the luck I can get. Here's a recipe if you'd like to join me!

👉 Is there a winter or springtime tradition that you look forward to? Hit reply and let me know, I always love to learn!

Meanwhile in Hawaii

Civil Beat reports that there's long been a loophole that allowed imported poke to be sold as local, but recent legislation has been introduced in both the House and Senate this session that will protect local fishing industry and consumers.
Foodland Hawaii stores are having their own Poke Bowl as a nod to that other big "Bowl" that's coming up soon.
Yes, I've got poke on my mind this week... 👇

📣 New on Shoyu Sugar

Central Maui's best poke spots

This week I took a look back at my last research trip to Maui, when we compared four of central Maui's best poke spots with a picnic at Iao Valley. Which was my favorite?

Read the article to find out!

Destination inspiration ✈

The Quirky Cork does it again! This time we're sipping our way between the terroir of Turkey vs. Australia with a comparison of the Semillon grape in her new Taste Off series.
Over in our Savor the Journey Facebook group, members are asking for and giving recommendations for upcoming travels including Modena, Italy, the Algarve, Portugal and Kalamata, Greece! Come join us for the latest tips.

Language News 🤓

Can you guess the hardest languages to learn (for English speakers)? The Duolingo Blog brings us the answer. I've actually studied two of them!
I've started a Language Learning hub page on my site to collect my latest articles and tips in one spot.
February is Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian Language Month) so I'm excited to share more with you throughout next month's weekly newsletters.

Feeling Lucky🍀

Does spending a week at a “hygge desk” in a cabin in Norway embracing the Scandinavian concept of hygge in nature sound like heaven? Apply here by 2/25 and win a trip for 2 including flights, ground transport and a six night stay at a cabin retreat courtesy of Opera.
Sumo Citrus is giving away roundtrip airfare to Tokyo for you and a guest, a 4-night, 5-day stay, and even a bit of spending money to make the most of your time in Japan. Enter here by 2/15.

Have a great weekend!

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