Why We Eat Poke, with Sheldon Simeon 

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.

I love how he teaches his culture while he cooks

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

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

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

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 🤙🏽❤️

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

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.

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

Love these breakdowns and history!

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.

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

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

The entire video is amazing. It did not only share the recipe but also the culture and history behind it ❤️

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!

Thanks for the history about the dish. I have always enjoyed it. Now it’s nice to really know more about it

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.

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.

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! 😁

Beautiful ❤✨love learning the history behind poke and how it was originally like before everything else where the roots come from the tradition it’s very beautiful and delicious

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

Lomi poke is great! Lovely crunch mildly choky flavor but compliments other flavors of sauce and ahi oil. I had it from foodland, kahuku supperette as well as this lovely spicy squid poke from kahuku! Best part is next to giovannis shrimp truck too 🥰only in Oahu. Any shoyu poke is pretty great too from just about anywhere

Thanks Chef Sheldon, you teach us how to cook and how to embrace the history value behind the dishes

Thank you Sir 😘 Bless you and your Culture! From one Native (American) to another. Keep spreading the Love! Keep sharing your Traditions! Blessings to All 🙏

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

Beautiful video, Chef! I get to teach a class on Poke tomorrow and this was very informative. My institute students are going to be stoked! Thanks from UTAH!!!

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.

LOVE ME POKE ... BIG ISLAND HILO SIDE ... THE BEST. THANK FOR BRINGING THIS OUT TO THE WORLD!

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) .

Thank god for this video… as a Hawaii local that lived in NYC I remember seeing “poke” dished out like chipotle or subway.. pick your rice, pick your topping, pick your sauce.. heartbreaking I couldn’t choose between inamona, shoyu, wasabi poke etc.. but I guess like you said.. that’s evolution and inspiration I guess. Gives me a reason to always go home for visit lol

finally some real poke with that seaweed. i remember picking up a thing of poke and a case of beer at safeway...

More episodes of Sheldon please🔥

Had seared ahi poke on a sizzling hot plate at Roy's and it was amazing.

This guy is so chill and calming to listen to lol

WE LOVE YOU SHELDON!! (you were adorbs on Top Chef)

Point 1 great that you mentioned Sam Choy he deserves alot of credit fir bringing more interest to the awesome food in Hawaii and thanks fir not making Poke with mayonaise. Mahalo.

Kept teaching us your culture 💕 it’s a blessing.

Amazing. Thank you for a well-spoken and well-paced presentation that felt like educational and heart-felt journey. I like the original version more, I've been mixing the usual US mainstream pokebowl anyway.

Awesome vid 🤤

Did he just say "wok hei"?? I love him.

My favorite Top Chef alumni. I love Sheldon

Bradah man keep it goin spreading da Aloha 💯🤙🏼

Hell yeah! I love Sheldon! The best!

Keep it Up Thanks for delicious Food 🔥❤

He really brings the Hawaii breeze to me, wuuu that Umami, taste like sea. nice

Love this 🤙

cool video. loved him as a contestant on TC

Thank you for repping us chef!!! Made us hungry 🤤🤙🏼

Thank you! Going to HI next year and can’t wait to eat Poke in HI!

Just like ceviche, I can eat poke any day. Been blessed to eat it in Oahu.

Dope!!🔥🔥

This is the most politely said rant ever :D

More Sheldon please. Continue on.

You’re the best Braddah! 🤙

I just made poke today :'). Unimprovable timing!

Love him!

I love poke. It’s amazing.

Foodland poke is better than any Poke I've ever had in the mainland lol. Poke, shoyu, furikake and rice is all you need babyyyyyy

Went to Hawaii a few months ago on a solo trip, Ate sooooo much different Poke.

Sheldon! Yassss more Sheldon please 🤙🏼🤙🏼🤙🏼

Im absolutley entranced by Hawaiian culture (he haumana au ōlelo Hawai'i) so anytime Kumu Sheldon drops a video I watch! I never knew how ancient Poke is, and tbh Ive never really cared for it...but that probably because they arent using reef fish but tuna. I think Id be much more likely to approach if it was like triggerfish or somethibg

Im a filipino and proud to say i love to eat poke... Hahaha

Honestly this looks extremely yummy. Never had poke…would love to try authentic poke.

what an OG

You’re the man Chef

Nothing is better than the spicy poke from food land in Hawaii 🤩

Looks like Ceviche or Aguachile Holmes !, I'm down to try!

Being of S.E.Asia descent, that crushed roasted candlenut topping on the old style is very surprising. Never thought of candlenut that way. Never saw poke over rice but i often see poke over salad in thouse chic healthy eating establishment. Definitely would love to taste the original, with various flavour of many limu (instead of shredded nori/hijiki)

where can I get cheap tuna or salmon? I'm thinking Costco but, was wondering elsewhere...

I think in the US add the rice, lettuce etc...to fill the bowl and charge more..

Whelp, now I have cravings for some Tin Roof lolol

Sarap nga nyan poke hehe

I wonder if he owns the Tin Roof on the pier in Imperial Beach, CA???

I usually chop up raw salmon and add rice vinegar, soy sauce, lemon juice, sesame oil, and some pepper or chili powder as a snack 😋

Amazing Love Hawaiian Poke 👍❤🍣🍣🍣🍚

So beautiful how he expresses his culture through food.

what brand are those INDUCTION cooktops?

Love poke in its original form. Hawaii style.

Poke is so good

nice Sheldon is always fun

Now I want to taste the real thing in Hawaii. I’m a fan of Poke 🤤😋

Limu poke n spicy(Hawaiian chili peppa) poke fo me.. broke da mouth 😋

Thank you braddah Sheldon keep it local keep it simple a little go's along ways.

Where can I find this in TX? I need it

Love poke 😋

You know, I would absolute love to see, an Australian take on this. I'm going to have to have a peek around the internet. Because a touch of honey, a touch of lemon myrtle pepper, and some of the popping inner cells of the Australian finger limes, would be phenomenal.

Yum!

sobrang sarap talaga ng poke !! maalat alat at maasim asim . umaga hangang gabi, poke is da best.

Misono UX... nice knife!

I can tell he been making poke for years👍🏽

🚀Your joy is contagious. Mahalo from Hong Kong 🥢

Hawaii foods are good I notice there a poke place by where mother lives.

i was stationed in hawaii and I always went to this grocery store in Nanakuli that made the absolute best Poke !!! I miss it so much, mainland just doesnt do it like hawaii

Nice break down bruddah. I’m old sku. If no more limu, I no like. Nah jk, grind em all. Shoots 🤙🏽

You know how you can tell Sheldon ain't in Hawaii for this shoot?!?!? lol. Fish, hashi, green onion

His voice reminded me of popular radio DJ.

I love poke

Sheldon, please do a video Lomilomi salmon!

Lol when he said inamona, I thought he was cussin' coz he's Filipino. 'inamorin 😂

Good as always. Wish you had a chance to show off other fish/seafood for the poke. So many other varieties that they need to be introduced to.