12/05 Courtney Taira, King's Hawaiian Bread, Melissa Gerstein, The Moms

Courtney Taira - King's Hawaiian Bread

Our mouthwatering tale begins in the 1950's in Hilo, Hawaii. There Robert Taira, the Hawaiian-born son of Japanese immigrants opened his first bakeshop, Robert's Bakery, after graduating top of his baking class. The first round, soft loaves of Original Recipe King's Hawaiian Sweet Bread were made here. The loaves rarely ever made it home before being devoured, and a local traditional island favorite was born. (Or should we say baked?)

After nearly a decade of growing popularity, in 1963 the much-loved original shop expanded and moved to King Street in Honolulu, where it was renamed King's Bakery. It didn't take long for the new location to become a beloved institution as locals lined up around the block for Robert's famous breads and cakes which were prepared and served with Aloha Spirit, an expression of caring and sharing that is an essential part of island culture. King's Bakery was on the map and Original Hawaiian Sweet Bread was shipped to the mainland by locals and tourists alike as gifts to family and friends. But an entrepreneur at heart, Robert was inspired to spread the Aloha Spirit to the mainland. So in 1977 a new 24,000-square-foot bakery was built in Torrance California. And we called it, what else? King's Hawaiian Bakery.

Missing personal interaction with King's Hawaiian fans, Robert opened a family run bakery and restaurant in Torrance. The menu included Robert's legendary tropical cakes, along with traditional Hawaiian fare. In 1983, Robert responded to more and more requests for new ways to enjoy King's Hawaiian by baking up the 12-pack of Original Hawaiian Sweet Dinner Rolls. Always true to his original recipe – in 1986, Robert baked up Honey Wheat Round Bread, to the delight of bread-lovers everywhere. As more people grew to love King's Hawaiian, the business grew as well. So, an additional 40,000 square-feet were added to the bread bakery on Normandie Avenue in Torrance. Despite the giant addition, it was soon impossible to keep up with the growing number of new fans enjoying King's Hawaiian products every day, and Robert's company was destined for further expansion.

In 2002, not far from the existing sit-down restaurant and bakery in Torrance, King's Hawaiian opened The Local Place Bakery & Café. Today, three generations of the Taira family continue Robert's legacy of serving up irresistibly delicious breads and Hawaiian foods. And of course, there's Aloha in every bite™. What started as a small bakery in Hilo, Hawaii is now a national brand with products available in grocery stores across the United States. Look for your favorites in the deli section and in-store bakery of your local stores. But our bread rarely makes it to the table, so better yet, buy two!

www.kingshawaiian.com


Melissa Gerstein – “The Moms” - A Holiday Recipe for Success: A Mom’s Guide to Home Cooked Holidays

Moms go above and beyond to make every holiday the best for their family and friends, and the food they serve is no exception. As gifts are crowding underneath the tree and guests are crowding around the kitchen table keeping everyone (and their stomachs!) satisfied can be a less than joyful experience.
Join Melissa Gerstein, Co-Founder of the Lifestyle Brand & Event Company, “The Moms,” as she shares her favorite products and top tips to create easy and delicious home cooked meals for every holiday event. This mom knows the way to make every meal a joy, and she’s sharing her recipe for success to make this year’s home cooked holidays the best. THE MOMS are also seen on The Today Show, Good Morning America and Fox News.

About The Moms:  THE MOMS are a multi-platform lifestyle brand and event company with exposure on the web, television and in print.  For the past year, the moms co-hosted a half-hour TV show, Moms & the City and A Dad Named David (WNBC’s David Ushery). The show airs nationally in the top ten markets across the country every week and in New York City and London Taxis. In addition, THE MOMS write and produces daily online content for the New York Daily News, the nation's 5th largest newspaper website (22 million unique visitors a month). THE MOMS also contribute to BabyCenter, the most trusted parenting and pregnancy site. THE MOMS partner with other companies and non-profits to host events and satellite media tours.  Partnerships have included: Energizer, Build-A-Bear, and Coca-Cola for their brand of Mamarazzi® events where they bring the celebrity to the moms. This has included a mom blogger town hall event featuring Sarah Jessica Parker, Kris Jenner’s Book party, and a blogger roundtable discussion with Hugh Jackman and just recently an event with Emily Watson for War Horse.  Their Mamarazzi events are also streamed online to include moms everywhere across the world through social media.  THE MOMS are also seen on The Today Show, Good Morning America and Fox News.