Hawaii Visit and then some....

It was a busy past few months including a short trip back home to Hawaii to celebrate Christmas and New Years and now preparing to move back home this upcoming February.  I have neglected this blog I know but that does not mean I have not been eating and enjoying life!  Going back home always means a lot of potlucks, visiting family and friends, and enjoying the weather.  I was lucky to have missed the majority of the flash flood rain in December and blessed with beautiful sun and lots of vitamin D. 

One of the things I love about Hawaii is the feeling of ohana (family), particularly family get togethers which = lots of good food! We had a Christmas, New Years eve, and New Years Day potluck and in addition to a lot of talking, it was a lot of eating.  Example, one of my dinner plate (below in picture) consists of from top left to right, homemade maki sushi, konbu maki (seaweed wrapped pork), broccoli salad, grilled portuguese sausage, mochi rice with azuki beans, kalbi, steamed fish with rice noodle, and tempura. This was just the first plate, yes I did go back for seconds and  no that was not the end of the food. Although I didn't get to take a picture of the dessert table, it was just as full as the dinner table. Back at home for potlucks, the table is not for sitting around, no, its purpose is to hold the food.  You grab your plate and fork, go around the table collecting various goodies and then bring your plate back to the living room where you sit on the floor around a low table or lounge on the couch.  It's comfortable and relaxing, very nice close family feeling.  I enjoy that a lot! The night before we had stayed up till midnight playing fireworks as it was the last year to play without buying a permit, so New Years day was a rest and relax day.

New Year's plate

Happy New Years!

I was able to do some cooking, but since my time at home was so short not as much as I would've liked.  Besides, there are so many good places to eat at, might as well make it out.  I wasn't able to bring my camera for a lot of these outings so sadly they aren't documented, but know that it was all good! 

 Curry Fried Noodles

One other thing I love about home are the sunrises and sunsets.  I was able to wake up early enough to cath this sunrise off of Magic Island at Ala Moana Beach Park.  Every morning is a new day full of new adventures and surprises. Aloha until next time!

Early fisherman with Diamond head in the distance

Paddlers out for a morning paddle

Visit to the Islands- Part IV

Craving for saimen? Here's a place, Ramen Ezogiku in Puck's Alley close to UH.  They have some good ramen with side orders of mandoo for a reasonable price.  I haven't been there in a long time, but right around the corner is the famous Bubbies Ice Cream where we headed to after lunch.

Ramen time!

I had the Chuka Ramen which consisted of noodles, bamboo, one piece of Japanese char siu, and a piece of seaweed in shoyu broth along with a side of mandoo.  Our mandoo came out quickly and were fried fresh with nice fry marks on the side.  Our ramen followed not much later and they smelt great! The noodles were chewy, yet firm and had a good consistency to it which is a plus for me as I don't like mushy noodles.  The broth itself was also quite good, not too salty and flavorful.  It is a small restaurant and filled up quickly during lunch, but for the quality and prices of the ramen it is worth going to.  

Mandoo with dipping sauce

Chuka Ramen

Next stop, Bubbies!! It's been a super long time since I've had Bubbies and I was excited to go.  I shared a huge chocolate, oreo, coffee ice cream cake slice and ate my own guava ice cream mochi ...... YUM! I love mochi ice cream and Bubbies is the best as far as different types of flavors like Azuki Bean, Green Tea, Guava, Lychee, Mango, Passion, Raspberry White Chocolate, Sakura, Strawberry, and way more! It is home made too which makes it even more ono! It was a good way to end the afternoon.... high off of sugar.

First layer- chocolate, second layer- coffee, third layer- oreo all on an oreo crust!

Ezogiku

2146 Kalakaua Ave
Honolulu, HI 96815

Bubbies Homemade Ice Cream and Desserts

1010 University Ave
Honolulu, HI 96826

Visit to the Islands- Part III

Kuru Kuru time!!! For those of you that have not heard about this place, it is a boat sushi place out in Aiea and is always packed! I had heard about how great the sushi was there, but never tried it until this trip home.  We arrived at around 10:30 am and no, the place was not open at the time, but diners need to come early just to put in their name on a list for the 11 am opening.  The line and crowd was getting a bit large at 10:45, but my friend and I had gotten our name down for two seats at the belt.

Prices ranged from $2.40-$5.75 depending what plate color you chose and options for donburi are also available for $7.95.  The prices are a little higher then Genki Sushi, but the fish quality and selection are much better here.

Cute menu

The first round!

Somen salad

Mmmmmm!

I love sushi!

We ate till we were stuffed! Can I just say that I am a sushi lover, especially for good sushi!! There is currently only one Kuru Kuru on the island in Aiea, but one will soon open out by Kahala Mall so for all you east siders, you can now enjoy good sushi on that side.  The place gets packed and they are open both for lunch and dinner.  For good quality fish at a reasonable price, come here!

Kuru Kuru
98-199 Kamehameha Highway
Aiea, HI 96701-4821
(808) 484-4596

Visit to the Islands- Part II

Here are some things I ate here and there.......

Boots and Kimo in Kailua for some huge breakfast!

Pancakes with Mac Nut Sauce

Corn beef hash omelette

I love fresh cold mangos from home the best out of anywhere! The best feeling is having that juice roll off the side of your mouth as you bite into the juicy, orange, middle of that mango mmmmmmmmmm!

Scoop, slurp, mmmmm!

Late night plate lunch at .... (I don't remember the name). Literally a hole in the wall place that only opens at night for the night owls. Their menu consists of only several items.  It's so simple, cheap, and onolicious!

Shoyu chicken with beef curry combo

Whats being at the beach without a little bit of bbqing! We had kalbi, sausages, and shrimp kabobs all marinated in a special sauce by a friend. 

Kalbi, shrimp kabobs, sausage

Of course also need to hit up Zippy's for a late night ice cream fix! It never fails to amaze me that there are so many people at all times of the hour at this local joint.

Banana Split!

Ok, enough of food for now.  I enjoyed many other things including friends, family, the beach, and sunsets! So many things you take for granted until you do not have them right there. I am thankful for all that God has blessed me with.

Surfing into the sunset

Aloha 'Oe... until next time

Visit to the Islands - Part I

I just got back from a lovely 2 week vacation home to the island of Oahu! I apologize for the lack of posts while I was there, but to make it up I will be posting several blogs on my visit back.  It was bliss to just lounge, surf, and of course eat my little heart out.

The very first night I was lucky enough to be taken to one of my all time favorite restaurants, Roy's, out at Ko Olina.  I've only ever been to the Roy's located in Hawaii Kai which is fantastic, but the same great standard of service and food was here as well.  This night was special as I got proposed to! Yes, it was a very eventful vacation. So, now engaged I will happily begin to describe my eating adventures.  I didn't get the name of the dishes and the pictures didn't quite turn out as good as I would like, but then again everything that evening all went by in a blur of happiness.

The door awaits...

Upon arrival we were seated promptly as we had reservations and our waiter proceeded to lay our napkins across our laps and hand a menu to each of us while explaining the specials for the evening.  As we were deciding on our dinner, we were given a complimentary appetizer of edamame beans flavored ever so slightly with a spicy sauce.  It is one of the best edameme's I've ever had I must say. We took some time looking at the menu, but finally decided on two dishes.  I tried their classic four dish that included mahi mahi, seared ahi, opakapaka, and their signature miso butterfish.  It was delicious! I can not even describe how great each of the flavors of each fish tasted.  They all were unique and distinct and it's a shame, but I don't remember how they were prepared and it is not listed on their online menu.  All I can say is that if you make it out to Roy's, it is a must try dish! The other dish we ordered was a trio of large grilled prawns, pulehu ribs, and salmon. Delicious again! The ribs were cooked to perfection and were falling off the bone and the shrimp was flavorful and succulent.  We were full and completely satisfied with our dinner.  

Classic Four

Prawns, pulehu ribs, salmon

It was a perfect evening to a first day back in the islands! This was the first of many meals in Hawaii.  I ate and ate and ate.... what a life! More to come!

Roy's

92-1220 Aliinui Rd
Kapolei, HI 96707

(808) 676-7697

I'm leaving on a Jet plane....

Don't know when I'll be back again.... going back up to the mainland this afternoon, back to the cold wetness of winter sigh.  I had a last breakfast at Liliha Bakery, just down the street from where I live.  This is a wonderful bakery with awesome coco puffs, but their sit down counter top breakfast, lunch, dinner is also yummy. I had to go with my favorite breakfast, Portuguese sausage, eggs, and rice for my last meal here.  It came with their famous butter roll.

 

Da menu

Old school countertops where they cook right in front of you

 

Portuguese sausage, eggs, and rice & Loco Moco

Good last breakfast. Time to head back to the mainland where the rain and cold will welcome me.  Oh well, all good things must come to an end, but the good thing is that more good things will come as well!

Local Food Day

Tomorrow I fly back to the mainland so in light of that, today I ate at some of my favorite local food places: Helena's Hawaiian Food, Waiola Shave Ice, and Leonard's malasadas!!

Hawaiian food is best here at home and Helena's is one of the best. Today I had the kalua pig, lomi salmon, laulau, pipikaula, and haupia.  If you've been there before, you know it is a hole in the wall restaurant in Kalihi, across from Mitsu-ken and next door to Mitsuba, two other great local places.  Parking is limited so its best to get there early for lunch.  Everything is served on mismatched plates and family style and because it is a family owned business, everyone from the waiters to the tutu working at the register is friendly and welcoming.  Food is home cooked and did I mention, delicious!!

 

Helena's, love the comfy home feel

Let the eating begin!

 

Excellent pipukaula, haupia, and lomi salmon

Laulau, kalua pig, beef stew at the top

I had to get my favorite shave ice after lunch at the original Waiola's. Flavors today on the large cup were li hing and mango! This mom and pop store has been here for as long as I can remember and it's still the best!

Best shave ice ever with super fine ice!

 

Large li hing and mango and cannot forget da homemade musubi

Last stop, Leonard's for some fresh malasadas! Flavor of the month for the custard filled is lilikoi, YUM!

Got malasadas? 

 

Delicious sugarness

Two bites and I got to the lilikoi custard 

It was a wonderful day of eating local food.  Don't know when I'll be back again so today was an all out day of indulgence which I do not regret at all!

Helena's Hawaiian Food

1240 North School Street
Honolulu, HI 96817-2013
(808) 845-8044

Waiola Shave Ice

2135 Waiola Ave corner of Paani Street
Honolulu, HI 96805

(808) 949-2269

Leonard's Bakery

933 Kapahulu Ave
Honolulu, HI 96816

(808) 737-5591

Taste of Christmas

A little taste of Christmas at my house today! Heading off to Australia tomorrow morning. Next post will be from Down Under!

Yearly sign we make each Christmas

Turkey brined and roasted

Yum Yum!

Chicken Picatta

Merry Christmas!

Potluck Local Style

I love potlucks at home.  It is all about the food and boy do people from Hawaii know how to eat.  Especially around the holiday seasons there are many potlucks done family style with lots of food, friends & family, laughter, talking, and games.  Almost Christmas, Mele Kalikimaka!!!

The spread of food for the night

Somen salad with toppings of crab, spam, cucumber, egg, green onion

 

Homemade potato salad, kalbi, and chicken casserole

 

Pan spam sushi, Zippy's chili, salad, homemade dumplings

 

Deluxe local rice krispies treat

Homemade local food brings together families and a time of remembrance of Christ's birth.  Thankful for all of you and wishing everyone a Mele Kalikima!