Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 26, Number 1, 1 Ianuali 2009 — Come for the soup, stay for the smoothies [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Come for the soup, stay for the smoothies

By Francine Murray Bruadcast/Media Cuurdinatūr Red Ginger Cafē & Gift Shop is tucked away in the bedroom community's Mānoa Marketplace. I was drawn in like a nroth to a llame as soon as I glimpsed the day's special, honremade ehieken nrulhgatawny. Nothing wanrrs on a rainy Mānoa day like honrenrade soup, mmm good. Upon entering the hunrble storefront, I was pleasantly surprised by the wann and inviting amhianee. It's dēcor of rich woods and fresh flowers, with contenrporary touches of stainless steel, are like a frne boutique. The cafē is also a gift shop full of aloha 'āina, the eeofriendly treasures including stunning jewelry creatively crafted of recycled glass, organic candies and toffees by Madison and Marcela, candy by Yumnry Earth, loeal teas in island flavors like Hawaiian Vanilla fronr the Tea Chest, and Teaposy, a line of organic tea that

blossonrs when brewed, turning into beautiful flowers. The artsy aronratic beverages are conrprised of silver needle white tea, one of the highest in antioxidants and infused with jasnrine and other natural flavors, sure to delight all the senses. The walls are adomed in cute, colorful and trendy individually handcrafted bags and purses nrade fronr recycled juice pouehes. Providing an attractive way to carry belongings, a livelihood for the crafters and saving the 'āina by reducing what goes into landfrlls,

Red Ginger Cafē is the exclusive retailer of Encore bags in Hawai'i. The cafē's nragnetisnr is the fresh mea 'ai. "The food is what everyone conres for. ... We try to make unique specials every day," the o wner Melanie Kawai say s . The fanrily business serves sandwiches, soup, salads and snroothies nrade with organic or loeal ingredients. The Turkey Cranberry Delight is their nrost popular itenr. It ean be ordered as a wrap or a sandwieh, and is served with lettuce, tonrato, organic carrots and clover spouts, dressed in creanr cheese

and topped with fresh cranberries. It was a delectable delight, and understandably a crowd pleaser. The hypnotic essence of ehieken nrulligatawny frlled the roonr. "My husband is the soup nraker and we have a big following for our fresh honrenrade soups," Kawai says. "It's a race for our custonrers to make sure they get sonre!" The Red Ginger Aeai ean be nrade into a snroothie or a parfait. The tiny dark purple aeai berry is packed with antioxidants, amino acids, fiber, protein and essential onregas. Blended with hanana,

strawberries and a splash of cranberry juice, this purple pleasure is a delicious treat, and the reason I'll keep going back. Choose your own parfait toppings fronr green Granny Snrith apples, granola, dried fruit, honey, craisins, strawberries and bananas. The all-natural snroothies and parfaits are nrade with fruits and organic soyrrrilk, no sherbet, yogurt or sugar. If you have sweet tooth, the cafē serves Coldfyre Cookie Crenres, with organic Kona coffee in the Moeha Latte Kudasai and Kahuku bananas in the Macadarrria Nut Banana Cookie Crēnre. The gournret eookie sandwiches are delicious, and the owner of Coldfyre Cookie Crenres, Gerry Nakashirrra, shares the cafē's nrission to support loeal businesses and fanrrs. Red Ginger Cafē, a Native Hawaiian-owned business, opened four nronths ago. So far, it's real good. Visit the cafē where aloha is served and healthy never tasted so good for sonre aloha 'āina shopping and natural nourishnrent. Phone orders are welconred, eall 988-0588. ^

E PŪ PA'AKAI ■ LET'S EAĪ!

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Red Ginger Cafe & Gift Shop Mānoa Marketplace 2752 Wooellawn Drive, Building 5, just 'Ewa of Longs Drugs 988-0588 Monday - Friday 9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Saturday - Sunday 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Forthose with a sweet tooth, Red Ginger Cafe & Gift Shop offers Coldfyre Cookie Cremes. - Photo: > Francine I Murray