Living Foods at the Shops at Kukuiula in Poipu, Kauai has reopened under new ownership and a new team!
Living Foods is a new organic market, café and restaurant located in The Shops at Kukui’ula on Kauai. A welcome addition to the Poipu area, Living Foods features a vibrant selection of ready-made to-go items, as well as curated essentials for weekly grocery needs. The onsite café, open daily, features coffee and fresh baked goods, while the all-day restaurant offers such signature dishes as Chilaquiles, Bibimbap, and Smash Burgers.
Living Foods was founded with the goal of providing everyday healthy food options to the Kauai community, alongside upscale groceries in a fun, casual café and restaurant environment. At Living Foods, Ohana means bringing guests together around socially conscious products and high-quality ingredients sourced directly from local farmers, ranchers, and artisans, reports Living Foods.
Originally founded in 2021, Living Foods aims to bring the Kauai community together through healthy food choices, upscale groceries, and a fun, casual café and restaurant. A welcome and inclusive environment for Kamaaina and tourists alike, stop by for carefully curated items to go or stay awhile for a coffee or glass of wine.
“We are thrilled to welcome Living Foods to The Shops at Kukuiula,” said Stacie Chiba-Miguel, regional manager at Alexander & Baldwin, owner of the Shops at Kukuiula. “Residents and visitors will have more shopping and dining options at The Shops and can enjoy the new offerings of restaurant-quality ready-to-eat items while shopping for local and organic fresh produce.”
The Living Foods owners and management team has over 30 years of experience in the Kauai restaurant industry and will be led by Nicole Freeland (Managing Partner), Matthew Duncan (Assistant General Manager) and Mark Arriola (Executive Chef).
The Living Foods team!
About Executive Chef Mark Arriola
Originally from Corpus Christi, Texas, Chef Mark began his hospitality career shucking oysters at Frenchy’s Crab House on the Gulf of Mexico. After graduating from Colorado Mountain Culinary Institute in 2000, Mark worked at the Keystone Ranch (then rated by Zagat as the top restaurant in Colorado). From there, he relocated to Maui to work with Peter Merriman at Merriman’s Bamboo Bistro. In 2003, Mark was given the opportunity to open SOGO Market Café in San Antonio Texas, a small gourmet market featuring scratch-made dishes and local ingredients. Eight years later, he returned to Hawaii to helm Merriman’s Fish House in Kauai, with a focus on developing relationships with local ranchers, fishermen and farmers. In joining the Living Foods team, Chef Mark draws on these relationships and experience with local sourcing, building a cafe, restaurant and grocery concept that reflects the unique flavors of Hawaii.
About Managing Partner Nicole Freeland
“We look forward to offering premier food items and first-class customer service to our guests. Our new ownership and team are excited to be part of The Shops at Kukuiula ‘ohana and are ready to serve the community.” – Nicole Freeland
After growing up in Austin, Texas, Nicole began her hospitality career in New Orleans after pursuing undergraduate and graduate studies at Tulane University. Shortly after graduation, Nicole visited Hawaii in pursuit of her first half marathon. Her passions for both running and the island persisted, and she relocated permanently to Kauai in 2011. Initially hired as a bartender at the acclaimed Beach House restaurant in Koloa, Nicole earned her Level 2 certification from the Court of Sommeliers and eventually became the property’s General Manager. After a decade on the island, joining the opening team for Living Foods is an opportunity for Nicole to share her passion for fitness and healthy living, as well as her knowledge of Kauai’s unique food culture.
Living Foods
2829 Ala kalanikaumaka 24
Koloa, Hawaii, 96756
Open 7:00am – 10:00pm Daily
On the Web: http://livingfoodshawaii.com
Location at Google Maps