Ep 6. Aloha State Favorites

In Cook's Country season 12 episode 6, Aloha State Favorites, the crew is in Hawaii to explore some of the local cuisine. The episode begins with host Bridget Lancaster making a traditional Hawaiian pork dish called kalua pig. She starts by digging a pit in the ground and building a fire to cook the pork underground. While the pork cooks, Bridget heads back to the kitchen to make some macaroni salad to go with the pork.

Next, test cook Dan Souza is tasked with finding the best way to make a Hawaiian classic, chicken long rice. He starts by soaking the rice noodles in hot water until they are softened. Then, he browns some chicken thighs in a pan and sets them aside. In the same pan, he sautés some onion and ginger before adding chicken broth and the softened rice noodles. After everything is cooked through, he adds the chicken back in and serves the dish with some green onions on top.

After trying some more Hawaiian favorites like shave ice and fish tacos, the crew heads to a local candy shop to learn about the island's famous chocolate-covered macadamia nuts. They meet with the owner who shows them the process of making the candy from start to finish. The host and crew try some of the nuts and give their honest opinions on the flavors.

To finish off the episode, the crew heads back to the kitchen to try their hand at making a popular dessert, haupia. Test cook Elle Simone works on the recipe, which involves making a coconut milk mixture and letting it set in the refrigerator until it becomes a solid. She then cuts the haupia into squares and serves them on a platter, topped with some sliced mango.

Throughout the episode, the crew learns about the unique flavors and ingredients used in Hawaiian cuisine, and they give their tips and tricks for how to recreate some of these dishes at home. Viewers are sure to learn something new about this beautiful island state and its delicious food.