Page 9 - Dining Out - June 12, 2022

A la Carte
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A new creative and healthy dish
Story by KYLE GALDEIRA Photos by ANTHONY CONSILLIO
Even as part of the larg- est chain in the retail convenience indus- try with over 77,000 stores worldwide, 7-Eleven Hawaii is dedicated to its customers and their tastes by offering an array of locally inspired food and beverage selections.
This week, guests can enjoy a brand-new item that was crafted as part of the fourth annual 7-Eleven Ha- waii Healthy Bento/Entrée Development competition that took place via Zoom in December 2021. Students were challenged to make a plant-based entrée or bento with no more than 900 calo- ries, and at least two locally grown, caught or raised in- gredients — all of which must be cooked, chilled in the re- frigerator and reheated.
Avery Serna’s dish,Vegan Fried Tofu with Gomoku Rice Bento ($6.59 Oahu; $7.69 neighbor islands), was her- alded by judges who raved about the fried tofu with a sweet teriyaki sauce sprin- kled with sesame seeds coupled with rice, which includes carrots, edamame, onions, bamboo shoots and
shiitake mushrooms.
“I am passionate about
Japanese cuisine, and when creating the recipe for this contest and thinking about healthy pairings for tofu, my first thought was flavorful rice,” says Serna, who re- ceived his advanced train- ing certificate from Kapiolani Community College’s culi- nary program and hopes to move to Japan to specialize in Japanese cuisine. “The tofu is a soy-based marinade, so I needed something sweet to balance it against. The natu- rally sweet vegetables in the rice made the most sense. Even though it is vegan, I hope people feel the famil-
iarity and want to eat this product without feeling guilty about the nutritional side of it.”
Adds 7-Eleven
Hawaii food inno-
vation and devel-
opment manager
Debbie Lee Soon:
“Over the past four years, we enjoyed working with the stu- dents of Kapiolani Commu- nity College and Leeward Community College. To pre- pare for the recipe competi- tion, our team visits the cam- puses and shares about our food development process.”
Additionally, 7-Eleven Ha-
waii has introduced more products catered to specific dietary needs such as vege- tarian, vegan and keto options.
7-ELEVEN
HAWAII
Various locations statewide 7elevenhawaii.com
Sesame Fried Tofu with Gomoku Rice (Oahu $6.59; neighbor islands $7.69)
Celebrate Your Graduate!
PARTY PLATTERS
Party Platter A
6 Tekka Maki, 5 Ahi, 3 Ika, 2 Kanikama, 3 Tako, 4 Tamago, 3 Spicy Tuna, 2 Ikura, 2 Tobikko, 4 Ebi,
3 Onion Salmon, 4 Unagi, 2 Inari, 6 Kappa Maki
2022 Graduation Package
$130.75+tax
(Serves approx. 5 people)
Lau Lau · Kalua Pig · Char-Broiled Teriyaki Chicken · Squid Luau · White Rice Sweet Potato · Poi · Lomi Lomi Salmon · Macaroni Salad
Tossed Salad with Chef’s Choice Dressing
Haupia Square · 8” Round Dobash Cake from Napoleon’s Bakery®
Party Platter B
8 California Roll,
6 Tekka Maki,
6 Kappa Maki, 4 Ahi,
4 Ebi, 4 Ika, 4 Spicy Tuna, 3 Tamago, 3 Inari
Genki Set 3
2 Ahi, 1 Ika, 1 Ebi, 1 Tako,
1 Unagi, 2 Onion Salmon,
1 Ikura, 1 Tobikko, 2 Spicy Tuna, 1 Tamago, 2 Inari
Last day to order is August 31, 2022. While supplies last.
Order online at shop.acateredexperience.com or call (808) 677-7744 for more information
Order Now at https://www.genkisushiusa.com/
Avery Serna with his Sesame Fried Tofu with Gomoku Rice
Dining Out / June 12-18, 2022 / 9