Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Aloha and welcome to Talking Story With Aunty Maile. We invite all of you to post your stories on the blog. Share your experiences with the sauce, cooking tips, recipes and of course we want all of the humorous stories as well. Be a part of the Aunty Maile Ohana (family).

If any of you have been to Hawaii, post your pictures and tell us about your travels. Try to make me as homesick as possible. It won't be hard to do. Mahalo (thank you).

8 comments:

  1. Aloha from out West! I’ve had the unique privilege of experiencing what I still call “Woody Sauce” for a while now. I met Woody through work when I visited Kansas City almost two years ago. While in the office I would hear about the legend of the sauce, everybody was a buzz with their stories and recipes. I knew I was in BBQ territory, and imagined that the stuff was probably good, but didn’t really know how much I was underestimating the power of the sauce.

    Woody and I got to know each other a little, and upon learning that like him I too was the cook in the family, he took it upon himself to help me up my game. A couple weeks after returning home I received a box in the mail. A couple bottles of unmarked sauce, the same bottles they use today. I already had a salmon dish planned for the evening, so I thought what the heck, I’ll toss a little of Woody’s sauce on there and see what all the hype is.

    Since then we’ve had teriyaki burgers, teriyaki chicken, teriyaki steak, teriyaki stir-fry, teriyaki potatoes (red potatoes, baked in the oven covered in the stuff, one of the recipes I learned from an employee while visiting Kansas City), I even made teriyaki tofu for that one crazy friend with all the issues. We lived and breathed teriyaki. I sort of overdid it, and my wife almost banned teriyaki for good, when I suggested that oatmeal would probably be great with Woody Sauce too! I had to lay off the teriyaki for a bit as it was starting to run my life. An unfortunate fortunate is that I didn’t have any way to replenish my stash and eventually ran out. As much as my wife loves the sauce too, she was sort of relieved that everything wasn’t teriyaki anymore.

    Then one day a co-worker, who originally transferred to KC, returned to our office and with him came a box, for ME! It was Woody Sauce, and life was good again! I wasn’t sure what I was preparing for dinner that night, but knew for certain it was going to be a teriyaki something or another! This time I took it slow, savoring every last bit, as I knew my supply was limited. A little here, a little there, life was perfect. My son still asks (in anticipation) almost every night if there is any teriyaki in the dish.

    Just before the launch of Aunty Maile’s, or Maile’s foods, I don’t know, it’s still Woody Sauce to me; I received a batch which included the not yet released Pineapple, Spicy, and Low Sodium sauces (I feel like a rock star!). My wife, unlike me, is one of those people who is totally consumed with her “intake” (which is health nut speak for what the heck your eat’n). So we tried the Low Sodium, twice. First time was salmon (we live in the desert where seafood options are low, so we eat salmon a lot). I wanted to make it all fancy like a restaurant, on a bed of rice with the veggies piled on top. Unfortunately the only fresh veggies we had were green beans or broccoli, and I needed more color. I found a frozen bag of peppers (red, green, and yellow). One of those ones that you put the bag in the micro and it steams them. Instead, I wanted to stir-fry them with the sauce, which is what I did. Note: The peppers didn’t go over too well; just not the right compliment to the fish, and my method didn’t leave them crisp, so we pushed them aside and devoured the salmon and rice. I had to remind la’ familia that not every dish is a winner; I’m merely a man! Second dish was teriyaki kabobs (both steak and chicken) wherein I redeemed myself!

    Since then, I’ve tried a little of the pineapple with chicken and pork chops, both a smashing success. This weekend we are hosting a small get together for Easter and am planning a multitude of options; chicken, steak, veggie burgers (that crazy friend is coming again) in all 4 varieties. Haven’t decided on sides yet, but the recipes on Mailie’s site have given me inspiration. And the best part of all….I can now get my Woody Sauce whenever I want!

    Mahalo Woody and the Maile family!

    Michael

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  2. Thanks Mike. It's great to have such enthusiastic fans but Aunty Maile Hawaiian Sauce in oatmeal? I must agree with your lovely bride about going overboard. Anyway, everyone knows it's best on Rice Krispies. Just kidding...really Mike, I'm kidding!!

    Appreciate your cooking tips and ideas. Send more comments on the other flavored sauces. They'll be available to everyone soon, about 1-2 weeks. Aloha and mahalo, Woody.

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  3. Aloha Woody,

    Dipping sauce for Rice Krispy treats, now you are talking!

    Great to hear about your headway and best of luck in Chicago! The pineapple is becoming a family favorite. You know, some people wouldn't think about adding fruit to their dinner (remember, I come from the Wild West where steak and potatoes are king), but some of my favorite cuisines include fruit. Like many Asian dishes include oranges and I had one of the best salads ever and it had strawberries in it. This seemed a bit weird for a westerner like me, but damn it was good. So when I got the pineapple sauce a light bulb went off. I grilled some pork chops with a little sauce and stir-fried some veggies; split green peas (that's what I think they are called, you know, the ones still in the casing), some red and green peppers, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, and pineapple chunks with the sauce, mmmmm delish! I cubed some red potatoes and put them in a steamer bag in the micro, and walla, dinner!

    It’s such an easy dinner and only dirtied the fry pan, so hardly any clean up too. It’s what my family calls “restaurant delicious”, and the best part, I come out the hero. I do try to make it look like I’m working real hard at it, and when I’m out back “checking on the grill”, I’m actually polishing off a cold one!

    Can't wait for the Rasberry!

    Maholo Woody!

    Michael

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  4. Mike: Great to hear from you. Your dinner recipe was short and sweet and I love the term,"restaurant delicious". Got to use that around my house. This is what our customers are looking for! A great dining experience that brings family together without breaking the bank, the clock and the dishwasher. My kind of evening. Aloha brother.

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  5. Aloha from Overland Park, KS

    I have had the fine honor of knowing Woody and his family for nearly 19 years and I can tell you that this sauce is made with a great deal of love.

    This is the best sauce I have ever tasted and I am not just being bias. It it the truth. I have used this on chicken, beef, pork, fish and vegetables. It enhances everything I have ever tried this with.

    I encourage everybody to try this sauce. It has got me spoiled that I won't eat any other.

    Pat
    Overland Park, KS

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  6. Mahalo Pat. I've always enjoyed what I did in my career so it wasn't hard to find the passion. But these sauces are what I was meant to do. Its taken my passion level up to new heights and I'm having the time of my life. As always, there's a special place at the table for you. With fond aloha, Woody.

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  7. Best of the Best! Those of us here in Arizona absolutely LOVE Maile sauce!! Couldn't live without it! We've know Woody and the Family for 100 years now! (Really just 22 or so) It's about time someone who knows how to cook develops a sauce based on taste!! It's here! Aunty Mailes Sauce is the best!!!! Keep on Keepin' on Elwood!! (From your favorite B-)

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  8. Hey everyone, just got news that our Aunty Maile's Hawaiian Pineapple and Raspberry sauces will be on the dining room buffet table for the Chicago Bears Football team while they are in training camp at Olivet Nazarene University in Illinois this Summer. Wow! Hope you guys don't mind our bragging for a moment but I lived in Chicago for 12 years and DA'BEARS will always have a special place on my grill.

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