According to Top Chef alumnus Sheldon Simeon, Hawaiian food and Hawaii food are not the same thing. The talented chef and owner of Tin Roof in Maui explains the difference in his new cookbook, Cook Real Hawai’i.

Hawaiian VS. Hawaii Food

Although Hawaiian and Hawaii food may be interchangeable terms to many, Sheldon Simeon wants to teach people the difference. Hawaiian food, he says, is the cuisine of the indigenous population, the kanaka, while Hawaii food is what the chef often refers to as local food. It’s the unique blend of cultures that inhabit the Hawaiian islands. It’s the undeniable influences of Filipino, Chinese, Japanese, and other migrants who have made Hawaii their home. Hawaii food, says Simeon, is an adaptation of ingredients that thrive on the tropical islands.

When people migrated to Hawaii, they brought a piece of their culture and cuisine with them. That was before the Internet when you couldn’t just ask Google how to substitute herbs and spices in recipes. Newcomers had to adapt their native recipes and cook them with whatever ingredients were available. That’s how Hawaii food was born, says Sheldon.

Sheldon Simeon’s Journey to Hawaii Food

As a third-generation Filipino-American who grew up in Hilo, Hawaii, Sheldon witnessed the mixing of different cultures and cuisines firsthand. The darker and saltier Filipino soy sauce his family would typically use had to be replaced with more readily available Japanese alternatives that were thinner and less salty. They also had to swap white vinegar with apple cider vinegar. This “mix match of things” ultimately became its own cuisine, Sheldon explains. That’s also pretty much how the native language of Hawaii came to be. The pidgin language is a unique blend of the different cultures that call Hawaii their home.

Simplicity Is Key In His New Cookbook

When Sheldon Simeon set out to write his upcoming cookbook, his goal was simple: create a collection of recipes that are simple and easy to make. Instead of offering complex techniques and ingredients that are hard to find, he wanted to focus on recipes that will bring people and families together.

To Sheldon Simeon, cooking real Hawaii food isn’t about following complex recipes and sourcing specific ingredients. Instead, it’s about following an instinct and getting the true “sense of aloha and ohana.” Even if you’ve never been to Hawaii, his cookbook aims to transport you there through your taste buds and your heart. “It’s true paradise,” he says, and we’re inclined to believe him.

Everyone loves pancakes, right? Pancakes are the perfect breakfast companions, but there’s no doubt about the fact that every person in your family has their own requirements when it comes to this sweet treat. Some people love to top their pancakes with fruit, others can’t get enough of chocolate sauce, and that’s before we even mention those who love other toppings such as peanut butter, banana, lemon and more. This can cause pancake carnage in the mornings, but this sheet pan pancake could solve all of your pancake problems.

All in One

Although many people assume that you have to cook pancakes individually, that isn’t the case at all. It’s super easy to cook one giant sheet pan pancake at home, and all you have to do is make your pancake batter – using all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda, eggs, buttermilk, and butter – and then pour it into a greased baking tray.

Four Different Options

While you could simply top your section of pancake with whatever you want once it’s cut up, it’s super easy to decorate your sheet pan pancake before it goes into the oven. You can create four different options, including a cinnamon bun pancake, peanut butter pancake, strawberry chocolate chip pancake, and a blueberry lemon pancake. All you have to do is arrange these ingredients within the four corners, so you are then left with four quadrants that can then be sliced up for those who want to eat them.

Baking It All

Once you have topped the pancake batter, it’s time to bake it in the oven. It should take just 14 to 16 minutes in a 450-degree oven to cook this deliciousness, but it’s a good idea to broil the pancake for an extra 2 minutes once this is done to ensure that it’s cooked and crispy. Then, all you have to worry about is eating it.

So, who wants pancakes?