Food: Gettin’ Dressed

Forget ranch, Thousand Island and blue cheese. Who needs run-of-the-mill salad dressings when we’ve got tasty creations made especially for us in Hawai‘i? Here are just five of the Islands’ offerings.

Nalo Farms’ Maui Onion Dressing & Marinade

tastes like: A balanced mix of oil, sweet Maui onions, soy sauce and vinegar that serves as a savory complement to Nalo Farms’ gourmet greens or as a killer steak marinade.
find it at: The weekly farmers’ markets at Kapi‘olani Community College, in Mililani and in Kailua. $6

Swiss Inn Salad Dressing

tastes like: Lucky us, chef Martin Wyss continues to produce this robust and creamy blend made famous at his Niu Valley restaurant, which he sold in 2000. Toss it with lettuce or serve as a veggie dip.
find it at: Fujioka’s Wine & Spirits and R. Field Food & Wine Co. $3.89

Rainbow of Taste Hawai‘i’s Passion Fruit Dressing with Herbs

tastes like: Passion fruit pulp and Hawai‘i cane sugar create a subtly sweet dressing that lets delicate greens shine through.
find it at: Most major supermarkets, www.kauaikookie.com. $2.99

Sam Choy’s Wasabi Vinaigrette & Marinade

tastes like: A slightly sweet shoyu vinaigrette with a horseradish kick that’s perfect for seared ‘ahi.
find it at: Foodland, Safeway, Longs and Don Quijote, or at www.samchoy.com. $3.79

Hawai‘i’s Special Peppered Papaya Seed Vinaigrette

tastes like: The North Shore’s twist on the ubiquitous papaya seed dressing—an all-natural vinaigrette with a dash of chili pepper. Use to marinate shrimp to add bite to your barbecue.
find it at: Most major supermarkets, or at www.hawaiisspecial.com. $5.99