Eat your way through
‘50 Thrifty’

"50 Thrifty Big Island Restaurants," by veteran food writer Jessica Ferracane, is the newest in a series of guidebooks on budget dining in the islands, and makes a handy companion to a summer excursion.

"50 Thrifty Big Island Restaurants: Dining on a Budget, Island Style" By Jessica Ferracane (Watermark Publishing) paperback, 120 pages $6.95.

While it includes well-known favorite spots, like Ken's House of Pancakes in Hilo, it also helps point out ways to dine inexpensively at some of the Big Island's fancier spots, like Kaikodo.

At Kaikodo, Sunday brunch includes the likes of a smoked ahi pate ($5), or go for the high-end chicken salad ($11) including Farmer's Market tangerines, toasted almonds, avocado and tomato. Inexpensive, after all, is relative.

The book is divided by areas, with even coverage of Hilo, Ka 'u and Puna, Kona, and North Hawaii.

You may have to plan a special trip just to see Na'alehu's Shaka Restaurant, which Ferracane praises for its homemade tartar sauce, blue cheese dressing and biscuits.

You don't have to be a malihini to use the book. Hilo dwellers might be tempted to head to Kailua-Kona for a taste of Killer Tacos or Nasturtium Cafe's gourmet health food.