For the best plate lunch and Polynesian bread go to Tita’s Grill and Catering in Kahuku. The food is home cooked, prices are affordable, and the portions are HUGE!
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Posted in Best Of
Chocolate, desserts, and sweets don’t do it for me. I am a savory snack, chip connoisseur. I’m a connoisseur and yes maybe a little bit of an addict too.
In college I had a $10+ a week habit with Terra Chips, which were about $5 for a tiny bag. I was hooked on Lay’s Kettle cooked chips for about a year when they first came out. I could eat an entire bag in one sitting. Hot mochi crunch, Baked Lay’s, chips and salsa, french fries, tater tots, name a savory snack, I love it. I am always on the hut for my next fix and recently came across an AMAZING find, Have’a Corn Chips!
I found my new addiction at Kailua Whole Foods for $2.19 for a teeny tiny 4 ounce bag the last time I was craving some chips and salsa. Not a Spanish chip “Have’a,” but simply “have – a – corn- chip” from Laguna Beach, California. The ingredients are simple: corn, soy bean oil, soy sauce, salt, and lime.
These chips are light, crispy, tasty, and VERY addicting! These are hands down the best bagged tortilla chips I have ever had. The only bad thing is they only come in a 4 ounce bag, which I guess is good because you can’t eat too many. But, I’ve been buying them 3-4 bags at a time, so maybe the small bag size is irrelevant?!! They do sell these chips online by the case, 24 bags for about $45. I have highly considered ordering some, but fear too many bags of chips in the house will only be trouble!
Posted in Best Of, Foodie Finds
Steve and Megan have been lunching frequently at Umeke Market’s downtown location on Bishop Street, and I sometimes get to tag along. If you can over look the high prices, Umeke Market is a great choice for delicious and healthy food.
I love love turkey burgers and have to say that Umeke makes a pretty mean turkey burger! For $9.95 The Dirty Bird is made with free range turkey, turkey bacon, over-hard egg, provolone cheese, lettuce, tomato, organic ketchup and Veganaisse, all on a soft bun, and served with Kettle chips.
This turkey burger is massive in size, juicy, and super delicious. This burger has many layers of goodness with the turkey bacon, provolone cheese, fresh veggies, and what really sold me on this burger was that fried egg! I love eggs and that really pushed me over the edge on LOVING this burger.
Also, the crispy Kettle chips that come with the sandwich are a great accompaniment. This burger is definitely meaty and filling enough for the carnivores, but fresh and gourmet tasting for the health conscious. You could even share this burger and a salad with a friend and be completely satisfied.
Posted in Best Of
Okay, what the heck was I doing in Missouri? And where the heck is Sikeston?!! Well, my little sisters happen to go to college in Cape Girardeau, Southeast Missouri State University and about an hour and a half away from there is a famous country restaurant called Lambert’s Cafe, “the only home of the throwed rolls,” which has some of the best southern-home cooked food I’ve ever experienced.
I have to refer to Lambert’s as an experience because that is what this place is, an experience like no other. I grew up in Texas and got to sample some pretty good southern and home cooking, but Lambert’s is in a league of its own. First of all, this location in Sikeston is literally in the middle of no where, surrounded by flat farm land and fields. Secondly, this restaurant is ALWAYS crowded! There is always a wait, usually hours during normal meals times, so we decided to go at around 3 pm to avoid the crowds.
Luckily, we got in after about a 15 minute wait and that’s when the madness began! This place is simply a large room with huge bench/booth type seating with large family style tables, wall to wall decor, and non stop action. We were greeted by our happy and loud waiter and he brought us all waters in huge Big Gulp insultated mugs. The servers here make your dining experience one of a kind by throwing rolls, pranking customers, and even singing songs.
My mouth dropped when I looked at the enormous menu of choices like fried catfish, hot beef sandwich, chicken and dumplings, roast beef, and BBQ ribs. And, I could not help but be distracted by one of the waiters throwing hot rolls at customers!!
Yes, this is that place! When you want some bread, you put your hand up, and someone will throw you a hot steaming dinner roll that is really the best dinner roll I have ever had in my life!! The rolls are massive, made fresh hourly, and taste like a hybrid between a southern biscuit and a dinner roll in one. They are served with unlimited butter and honey. This is the funniest thing I’ve ever seen because they throw the rolls fast, sometimes at your head, and sometimes people don’t catch it and rolls go flying everywhere.
After the initial shock of where the hell we were, we all ordered our food and that’s when the food frenzy began. They have what are called “pass arounds” aka huge tubs of food that waiters bring around to your table like fried okra, fried potatoes, macaroni and tomatoes, and black eyed peas. These pass arounds come with your meal at no charge, are unlimited, and never stop coming! My favorite pass around was the FRIED OKRA!! I almost died and gone to heaven when the waiter came by with a vat of some of the crispest and tastiest fried okra I ever had. The okra is literally spooned out onto the table in heaping amounts and eaten off the table!!
When our entrees finally arrived, I was already half full from all the rolls and okra, but Lambert’s is not for the weary and like an athlete ready to win a race, I was ready to continue on the feeding frenzy. My huge portion of fried catfish, green beans, and peaches came out and I had my game face on. Next thing I knew a waiter came by and served me up a huge portion of the fried potatoes, and I was set.
All the food I tasted that day was unbelievably tasty and auethenically home cooked. In the end, my skinny brother Ryan took first place and ate more food and more rolls than all of us!!
If you’re ever in the middle of no where in Missouri, you have to make the trip out to Lambert’s. Lambert’s is for serious eaters only, no dieters will survive in this place. To this day, I dream about Lambert’s, their fried okra, their rolls, and am trying to figure out how to get myself back there!
Posted in Best Of, The U.S. of A.
Fettuccine Alfredo w/ A’akukui Ranch beef meatballs & Foccacia bread
Steve accidently discovered Kauai Pasta in Lihue one day while he was driving around, killing time before a seminar. This quaint, modern bistro is oddly placed off the Kuhio Hwy next to random businesses and local eateries and can be easily missed.
The food here is unexpectedly excellent! Kauai Pasta uses fresh quality ingredients, sauces, dressings, and desserts are made daily, and the menu is diverse and affordable.
The next time Steve and I went to Kauai we headed directly to Kauai Pasta right from the airport to grab lunch. The lunch menu serves Italian inspired appetizers, salads, paninis, and pasta. Check out photos from our lunch and try not to drool!
Posted in Best Of, Foodie Finds, For the Foodies
My new favorite noodle spot is Marukame Udon on Kuhio Avenue in Waikiki. Despite the parking issues and usually a long line out the door, Marukame Udon is worth the troubles. Delicious, fresh udon noodles are made in house and the prices are extremely affordable.
Posted in Best Of, For the Foodies
Morimoto Waikiki’s Tempura Calamari Salad is my best of salads, and one of my favorite things to order at this trendy eatery. Paired with an ice cold glass of wine or to start off any meal, this salad is a must order at Morimoto Waikiki.
The large helping of fresh greens are delicate and go very well with the crispy, crunchy bites of calamari. The light, but zesty miso dressing is perfectly flavored on the entire plate, and the crispy onions that top the salad is the icing on the cake.
I am very hard to please when it comes to vegetation, and so for me to rave about a salad is rare. This salad will not disappoint, and you will eat every last morsel on your plate.
If you are lucky enough to afford the ridiculously expensive food at Nobu, then you know what I’m talking about when I say, “Yellow Tail Sashimi with Jalapeno.” This is one of Chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s signature dishes, an always order, and a must try if it’s your first time at Nobu.
The combinations of super delicate yellowfin tuna, yuzu juice, and spicy jalapenos makes this dish fresh, simple, but with a kick. These tiny pieces of heaven will go down too easy, and you will be craving the flavors until your next visit to Nobu.
Yes, ALL THE FOOD at Nobu is really that good, no…EXCELLENT, no… AMAZING! Yes, believe the hype, I’ve been there too many times to count and can tell you first hand that this restaurant pays attention to fresh quality ingredients (this point is an understatement), decadence, creativity, and you will have one of the best meals of your life here.
The Nobu dining experience is constantly changing depending on what’s in season and the fresh catches of the day, which keeps me coming back. The yellowtail sashimi dish barely scratches the surface of the over the top menu at Nobu, and yes you might have to save up a month’s rent to enjoy it, but it’ll be worth it!
Posted in Best Of, For the Foodies
I am a little mad about only now finding out about Bruno’s Forno on Maunakea Street because I didn’t realize what I was missing: homemade lasagna noddles and fresh baked breads! Yeah, so who’s been holding out on me?!
Bruno’s has been around for a couple years serving authentic Italian food for lunch 7 days a week from 9 am to 3 pm and dinner Thursday, Friday, and Saturdays from 5 pm to 9 pm. Located in the heart of Chinatown near all the Asian hustle and bustle, I guess I overlooked this cute, clean Italian spot.
Homemade, homemade, and homemade is what sold me at Bruno’s with their high quality cheeses, fresh ingredients, and warm and friendly service. For my first visit to Bruno’s Megan and I shared the Lasgna Funghi and their Italian Panini.
The lasagna funghi ($8.50) was absolutely delicious! It was not your typical lasagna with multiple layers, but two layers of homemade noodles. The sauce was a unique mix of a white sauce, red sauce, and what seemed like a pesto sauce with portobello mushrooms and fresh mozzarella cheese. I was thoroughly impressed with this dish and my only complaint was that I didn’t have more to eat.
The Italian panini ($8.00) was made with salami, fresh mozzarella cheese, all on fresh baked homemade wheat bread. There was a taste of sauce in the sandwich that I think was a spread of pesto and olive oil. This sandwich was toasted, so served warm, and every bite was really enjoyable. Both lunch entrees came with a fresh mixed organic green salad and the lasagna dish also came with fresh baked ciabatta bread.
If those two dishes didn’t sell me on this place, Megan decided to spurge (on the calories) and ordered a slice of their lemon cheesecake ($3.50). The cheesecake was creamy and homemade tasting with just the right amount of zesty lemon flavor, and just the thing to roll me out of there with a huge smile on my face.
Only after my first visit, I am completely sold on this place and can’t wait to go back again. Great Italian food is hard to come by in Hawaii, and I am very appreciative of a good Italian meal!
Posted in Best Of, For the Foodies
People who’ve been to Sanoya Rahmen on King Street either hate it or love it. Sanoya’s menu is quite large with dishes ranging from all types of ramen, curry entrees, chicken katsu, and much more. They serve only water and soft drinks. In my experiences the service is borderline terrible, but some of the dishes make up for the poor service. I only come to Sanoya for two things, the Mabo Tofu Ramen and the gyoza.
Mabo Ramen at Sanoya
In my opinion, Sanoya has the best Mabo ramen on the island and super inexpensive at about $7 a bowl. I hear the noodles are Sun brand noodles made especially for Sanoya, taste fresh, are served al dente, and the serving are so large that you can hardly finish your bowl.
The gravy on the Mabo is my favorite with chunks of ground pork with a whole lot of chili spice. I aways order my Mabo ramen with extra mixed vegetables and this really makes the dish with a heaping pile of fresh veggies like broccoli, cabbage, carrots, etc.
You can’t eat a bowl of Mabo ramen with out some of Sanoya gyoza on the side. The gyoza is pan fried and slightly crisp. It also tasted freshly made with lots of garlic and ginger for flavor.
I’ll keep coming back to Sanoya for the Mabo ramen and you should too if you like spicy noodles and are looking for great prices and huge amounts of food, just don’t expect good service.
Posted in Best Of, For the Foodies
