Food from around the world is so fun to explore. Often, regional dishes reflect the beauty and the unique features of that area and often include an interesting background story.

My daughter and son-in-law introduced us to a special dish from Hawaii during our recent visit there that brings comfort food to a bowl.

The dish – Loco Moco – was reportedly created in 1949 in Hilo, Hawaii, at the Lincoln Grill Restaurant. Owners, Richard Inouye, and his wife, Nancy, were responding to a request from some teenagers from a local sports club – who were requesting an alternative to a sandwich that was inexpensive and could be quickly prepared.

They asked Nancy to start with rice in the bottom of a bowl, add a hamburger patty, and cover the whole thing with brown gravy. Eventually, a fried, sunny side up egg would grace the creation’s top.

But the name – Loco Moco – adds another fun fact.

The teens named the dish after one of their members, George Okimoto, whose nickname was “Crazy,” because of his crazy teenage antics. Another member of their group, George Takahashi, (right), who was studying Spanish in high school, thought of using the name, Loco, which is Spanish for crazy. They added, “Moco,” to the name which, “rhymed with loco and sounded good.”

I’m wondering if the boys chose “moco” as a variant of “moto” in George’s name to complete the naming for their crazy friend?

To qualify as the genuine dish, the ingredients must be assembled in order, and the egg must be sunny side up. Stacking a second layer is allowed to retain the name, but layers must be in the order of rice-hamburger, patty-gravy, sunny side up egg.

Below is “Keeping It Reele’s” version of stacking a Loco Moco

Variations in choice of meat, or any other ingredient, require a different name such as, “Spam Loco,” “Kalua Loco,” or “Shrimp Loco.”

Loco Moco can be found in restaurants all over Hawaii and has been featured in several cooking shows.

Does Loco Moco fit into a foodtalk4you style diet? As a regional treat? Absolutely!

Our eggs were organic and locally farm raised. The meat was organic. The gravy and white rice were treats.

Yum!

Aloha – in health –

Deidre

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Mahalo – that’s thank you in Hawaiian!