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I happened to pull into a parking space right in front of it, near Sweetgrass. It's called, "Le Umu Samoan Food". The door was open and a large Samoan family was in the doorway to welcome people. Super nice people and very hopeful. They have hot plates including coconut milk wrapped in taro leaves as well as corned beef in coconut milk. Mostly meat but they said chop sui is coming soon. They also have a great bakery. I got a small peach custard pie and it was delicious. They're having a soft opening now and a Grand Opening 11/7. Open Tues thru Sat., bakery at 7AM, restaurant 10AM. Take out only right now.
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I also stumbled upon the new restaurant a couple of days ago. Super nice Samoan guy gave me the grand tour and explained the menu. It's fun with authentic decor inside, felt like I should have brought my passport. Food was good, a new experience. A little pricey but I know the rent has been very high for that space with previous restaurants and I enjoyed supporting their efforts. Will go back with friends and dine in.
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Are you guys in the same pandemic I am in? Being greeted by a large family at an entrance would send me running screaming, albeit somewhat muffled through my mask. Bless them and bless their enterprise but seriously. And if you tell me stay home “if I’m scared”, to you I say “Yeah, don’t like virus-spreading zombies and if they come to my house I hit them in the face with a crowbar.” But you wouldn’t say that —no one is stupid enough to be saying stuff like that right now— so I think I can keep my crowbar where it is.
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(11-16-2020, 07:44 AM)Kelena Wrote: Are you guys in the same pandemic I am in? Being greeted by a large family at an entrance would send me running screaming, albeit somewhat muffled through my mask. Bless them and bless their enterprise but seriously. And if you tell me stay home “if I’m scared”, to you I say “Yeah, don’t like virus-spreading zombies and if they come to my house I hit them in the face with a crowbar.” But you wouldn’t say that —no one is stupid enough to be saying stuff like that right now— so I think I can keep my crowbar where it is.
Easy there. The family was behind a table set up in front of the door, well more than six feet away from me. I was barely inside the door, which was wide open. I got my food to go and the inside seating was not available yet. I was there less than ten minutes. Every one was wearing masks. They appeared to be following all covid guidelines.
This is a new locally owned business. Give them a chance.
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I love trying food from different cultures so am really up to visiting and getting some take-out. However, Kalianna, can you describe how cocunut milk is wrapped in taro leaves? I'm having a hard time picturing how that works.
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(11-16-2020, 09:35 AM)TomK Wrote: I love trying food from different cultures so am really up to visiting and getting some take-out. However, Kalianna, can you describe how cocunut milk is wrapped in taro leaves? I'm having a hard time picturing how that works.
Me too. They were called luau (not laulau) but I didn't try them or ask more questions. Sounds to me like the "cronut" I got in LA once that was a donut injected with sweetened condensed milk--one bite and I had a lapful of of sugar milk.
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They have hot plates including coconut milk wrapped in taro leaves
...
Kalianna, can you describe how cocunut milk is wrapped in taro leaves?
I hope you don't mind if I jump in here Kalianna.
Years ago on American Samoa, a family showed me how to make palusami (coconut milk and other items cooked in a taro leaf) from scratch. We picked the coconuts, and opened them with a machete. If I remember correctly we chose those with young pliable coconut meat, which we scooped out and sliced, then squeezed with coconut fiber to extract the white milk. It took forever. I asked my host if they did this every time palusame was prepared and they laughed "No way! We're just doing this for you! We buy it in a can!"
The taro leaves are stacked into the shape of a bowl so the milk/cream won't run out, then wrapped in aluminum foil and placed in the umu. It's delicious.
Here's a good description with photos:
https://www.polynesia.com/blog/easypalusami
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My tour guide told me the most popular side dish is onions cooked in coconut milk with taro leaves. i got one, it comes wrapped up in foil, ate it in the car, it was great. Also got some bread smeared in coconut cream, yum.
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HOTPE: Yeah, that!
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Apologies - a belated thank you for answering my question. I was picturing a ball of taro leaves with coconut milk inside it and couldn't figure out how that could work!
