Hawai'i: Hawaiian Crown (eats)
I randomly found this place on Yelp when we were searching for acai bowls in Hilo - it's a nondescript storefront that doesn't look open, so we definitely wouldn't have found this if we weren't searching specifically for it.
But once you're inside, oh boy! One of the owners was there and he was so sweet and so knowledgeable. He made a special acai bowl just for me (their regular acai bowls contain pineapple, and I'm allergic). The bowls were fresh and delicious, and they told us about their chocolate plantation and the drying process while we waited. There's a cute little shaded backyard overgrown with plants where you can sit and eat outdoors.
The most amazing thing about this place? They have UNSWEETENED CHOCOLATE. That's right, chocolate nibs that are just pure cocoa plant. No sugar or added ingredients of any kind. What does this mean? This is chocolate that I can actually eat!
*MIND BLOWN*
The little brown flecks you see on the bowls above are sugar-free chocolate nibs (you can buy them online here). I hadn't had chocolate in 3 years, so this was an amazing experience.
Highly recommend this place if you're ever in Hilo, and make sure you ask lots of questions of whoever is working there, and try out all their samples! They also sell pineapples, macadamia nuts, different chocolate bars and chocolate-dipped fruit, and mixing chocolate (their coffee drinks are half hot chocolate).
Check out my #ootd that day (and their lush patio):
