Why We Eat Poke, with Sheldon Simeon

In this episode of Why We Eat, Sheldon Simeon of the restaurants Tin Roof and Lineage in Maui breaks down poke. While preparing three different poke styles, Sheldon spotlights poke’s cultural and historical significance, and evolution in Hawaii. This is why we eat poke.


Hungry? Sign up here for the MUNCHIES Recipes newsletter.


Follow Munchies here:

[bananaboysadventures]

Most “poke” shops in the mainland US treat the dish like a deconstructed sushi roll with all the same styles of fish, sauces and other ingredients. It’s interesting to see the traditional Hawaiian style which is very different and unique. I look forward getting to try the real thing someday.

[kaizerxl]

I love how he teaches his culture while he cooks

[shidinpisincrying]

I'll watch any Munchies video with Sheldon, dude's a dope chef and culture ambassador

[marylandlax]

I LOVE SHELDON! This man is a no bs type cook but also knows roots to a lot of his dishes, not trying to reinvent the wheel so to speak, gives a lot of inspiration as for home cooks

[KRayxKodessA]

I feel like I say it overtime, but I'll say it every time. MORE Sheldon Simeon! Dude's the best.

[Elupwehttam]

Classic Hawaiian Poke is so different from the ones here in the mainland. The mainland poke doesn’t have the freshness and the real taste like in Hawaii. And on top of that too, they put all these toppings on the poke and make it like a deconstructed sushi roll. That’s why this video is so great because this is how poke truly is, a simple and elegant dish that is delicious and so great 🤙🏽❤️

[ryanilac]

As someone who grew up in Hawaii, Braddah Man Sheldon speaks da truth about our culture, and how influences from other cultures brings such creativity and glorious umami flavors to such a simple but Ono dish

[VidVoyeur]

When I was a kid in Hawaii, the only time I had poke with rice is if and when there was poke with all the other food on the table, buffet style. Most of the time, the poke was sitting with the Uncles. They never ate it with rice, just drank beer with it. Same when I got older. Buy a half pound of poke from Foodland to go with beer.

[stevenbruno]

I miss living in Kailua and going to the liquor store by the Safeway and the back just being full of different styles of poke. You and some friends could get bowls and just drive down to Lanikai beach with some chairs and chill out for hours just enjoying life and fresh fish. For a place so expensive life in Hawaii was pretty simple

[Bmarhawaii]

No edamame, no tofu, no avocado, no sprouts, no carrots etc. Just how it was intended. For people not living in Hawai’i Sheldon just gave you a cheat code.

[ChaoticFrost]

This man seems so happy and relaxed and kind. I could watch this for hours

[chrisjenkins]

bro, i tell you this stuff is the ebst thing to have before/after going to the beach, going on a hike, late night snack with a beer. Mmmm! Gonna go hit up foodland right now!

[RJGuitz]

When I was a kid growing up in Kalihi, we'd get our weekend poke fix at Tamashiro's and head straight to Ala Moana beach park. Just chill there until the last bite was gone.

[plantybara]

I worked for a popular generic ass Poke chain in CA for a few years and I went from enjoying it - to getting sick of it even if it was free because I realized how unauthentic and commercialized it was. Worked both front of house, back of house, even cutting the fish. When I learned that real Poke was nothing like this Chipotle / Subway type style we were serving and that the fish we were serving was the lowest grades of fish - I began to lose interest in any food that used the same type of cheap fish, even in some cheap sushi restaurants. I lost the magic for it.. I'm hoping one day to go to Hawaii or find a nice mom/pop somewhere mainland to experience a true love for it. Till that day comes, this video definitely helps.

[IslenoGutierrez]

Many people don’t know that modern poke in Hawaii is a Hawaiian-Japanese fusion dish.

Ancient Hawaiians invented the original dish which consisted of raw cubed reef fish, limu (ogo seaweed) salt and crushed kukui (candle nut), but the Japanese in Hawaii switched the reef fish to yellowfin tuna (known as ahi in Hawaii) and added several ingredients that modern poke is known to have that the original Hawaiian poke did not have such as white onion, green onion, sesame oil and shoyu (soy sauce) .

[bgrwuho]

I love Poke. I generally eat the Japanese take on it but Hawaiian Poke sounds amazing. Hawaii is a beautiful place to just sit down and relax, enjoying the beauty of nature whenever you get the chance. The seafood on top of that is amazing. It's kind of a slowed-down and chill environment, though it's not all just resorts, partying, vacation homes and public beaches. There are still plenty of adventures to be had and exploration to be done. My personal idea of an amazing time in Hawaii is finding a more secluded area by the water, getting a bit buzzed on Pena-Coladas and then eating the delicious freshly-caught seafood. It really is amazing... makes all the happy feelings shoot up right to the brain and tingle for a long while. The alcohol helps when it comes to tasting the more subtle nuances of the food, and after you are done you can just stare out at the waves as they twinkle in the sunlight as if there were diamond dust in them. I love that time around 5-6 PM on a hot summer day, after a few drinks and an outdoor seafood cookout on the beach. The only thing you really need is some people you like to spend it with.

[ryuk-grimreaper]

That guy knew what Poke is and knows how to eat Poke.

[january]

in the Visayan region in the Philippines, we have a similar dish but we dress it in a sauce made from freshly grated coconut meat that is soaked in vinegar for a few minutes. you squeeze the coconut shavings that have absorbed the vinegar after 5-10mins
then we add the other ingredients
- diced prik kee noo chilli or hot thai chilli and ginger for heat
- chopped tomatoes and sliced cucumber
- salt to taste
we usually eat it when we go to the beach because sometimes fishermen sell their catch on the beach for cheap
or during outdoor bbqs

[PressStartFonzie]

Never had a poke bowl. Thanks chef for sharing its history and evolution. Will hope to try all 3

[ctgeblue]

I want to be his friend, so down to earth and I can listen to him share about food all day and of course eat his fabulous cooking! 😁