A few weekends ago at a friend’s wedding, I was sitting next to some recent mainland transplants who were lamenting the sad state of the produce at one of the major supermarkets. “Have you tried any of the local open markets?” I asked, and drew some blank stares in response. Hawaii has some of the best and most abundant produce in the world, thanks to its clean water, rich soil, and year-round excellent weather. What to do with all these fresh, organic goodies? That’s where The Hawaii Farmer’s Market Cookbook comes in. This excellent new publication from Watermark Publishing was created by the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation in celebration of the third anniversary of the Kapiolani Community College open market (the first in the state) and includes recipes that have made it through the rigorous testing of Les Dames d’Escoffier. Mouth-watering color photographs accompany the more than 100 recipes, and information on the local farmers’ market circuit (including market schedules, vendor profiles, and seasonality charts) make this cookbook a gift worth giving. Available locally at Bestsellers, Borders, and Native Books, as well as online at Amazon.com.

—, 12/12/06