Maui, also called the “Valley Isle”, is the second largest island of Hawaii.  South-west Maui has golden sand beaches, vibrant coral reefs and oceanfront luxury resorts.  The topography of north-west Maui is defined by the West Maui Mountains and their highest peak of Pu’u Kukui.  In the south-east, the dormant Haleakala Crater dominates the landscape.  The eastern coastline of Maui is undeveloped, rugged and beautiful.  The famous Road to Hana is a long winding route passing one-lane bridges, beautiful waterfalls, dense rainforests and a rocky coastline.

The Russian cuisine reflects the ethnic diversity of Russia and the influences of the western cuisines.  The Vinegret, a traditional Russian salad, is made with beets, carrots, potatoes, peas, onions and pickles, and flavored with the olive oil and vinegar.  Our recipe recreates the flavorful Vinegret we degusted as we traveled through Russia.  The Vinegret, an easy to make vegetable salad, is nutritious, colorful and delicious.

Our journey to Maui, a beautiful island in Hawaii, includes the degustation of a wonderful Hawaiian delicacy, the Lilikoi Butter.  The Lilikoi Butter is made with passion fruit concentrate, egg yolks, sugar and butter.  It has a silky and creamy texture, and tastes wonderfully with a fresh brioche or a plain yogurt.  In our recipe, we use a passion fruit concentrate produced by Perfect Purée of Napa Valley.  Our Lilikoi Butter has a soft texture and is lightly sweet and tangy.  A fresh brioche from Le Panier, a French bakery in Seattle, is an ideal pastry to serve with the Lilikoi Butter.

Corsica, also called l’Île de Beauté, delights with shimmering Mediterranean Sea, red granite cliffs, pristine beaches, medieval sites, forested mountains and beautiful villages.  Located in close proximity to mainland France and Italy, Corsica radiates beauty, energy and independence.  The island’s topography is comprised of nature reserves, Marine Park, forested mountains, picturesque bays and fertile countryside. The distinctive allure of Corsica is revealed in its walled medieval cities, seaside towns and captivating hilltop villages.  The island’s beautiful and fertile lands contribute in maintaining Corsican traditions of extraordinary cuisine.