The Story of Aunty Maile's Hawaiian Sauce
Aunty Maile’s Hawaiian Sauce started over thirty years ago on the islands of Hawaii. My dad learned to make this special sauce by watching and learning from the great cooks in his family and from friends. He took the best ideas from all of them and perfected his own recipe to make this special blend of sauce.
When dad moved to Chicago, he met a beautiful woman who worked near his office. One day she invited him to an office pot luck luncheon. Dad brought his Hawaiian chicken teriyaki dish and it was a big hit with everyone. Mom went to his office and asked for the recipe. He told her she could have the recipe but only if she allowed him to ask her out on a date. Dad’s very respectful but he’s no dummy. He knew a good opportunity when he saw it! I guess you could say; “the rest is history”. They’ve been married nearly 25 years now. Mom says she still doesn’t know the recipe but I think she does. It’s just easier for dad to cook. Mom’s no dummy either.
Mom and dad have been hosts to many parties for family and friends. In fact, many of their friends have asked them to cook for special occasions, like 18th birthdays or baby adoptions, etc. and they always did it out of love.
At every party, people would say, "You should bottle and sell that sauce" or "Don't keep this a secret. Put it on the grocery shelves." Every gathering is a labor of love for mom and dad. They feel it is their mission to bring people together to enjoy each other's company and form lasting friendships. It also doesn't hurt that my dad plays guitar and sings Hawaiian music. Our friends are musical too. Our parties are awesome with great food, music and fun.
The sauce was also named after me, Maile, their second oldest daughter. By the way, that’s my picture on the label. Maile is a fragrant leafy vine that’s grown in Hawaii. It’s used for special occasions like weddings and graduations.
You may wonder why we used “Aunty Maile” instead of just Maile. When someone in Hawaii calls you Aunty or Uncle (even if you aren’t related), it’s a sign of respect and endearment. While I’m still young, mom and dad know that this sauce will be in our family for a long time. They have challenged me to live up to the name and earn the respect.
