this week

Friday, my Aunty M invited me to have lunch at Gyotaku with her, Aunty M1 and my grandma's Hilo neighbor, C.

Growing up, whenever we would visit my Grandma in Hilo, I would have to go over to C's house to practice piano....

She recently moved from Hilo to Honolulu and living in a care home.

Every so often, my aunties take her out for lunch, sometimes shopping.

C is legally blind (I think, she can only see shadows), so eating was quite a challenge.

Since I was sitting beside her, I coached her as to where her food was as she ate.

I ordered the rainbow roll...it was delicious and just enough food for myself.

The weather has been blazing, so this was perfect...Thank you for lunch C!

We've been enjoying avocados from V.

I tried a new combo...croissant and avo...butter and buttery!

So good, thanks V!

Basically this week was more danshari (purging)...POGs milk caps...everyone used them to advertise back in the day...

Kerbangers...you could break bones with this toy...

Dinner with BFF at The Alley.

Furikake Ahi (tuna) sandwich was a little too fishy for BFF.

It was nice to get out for a bit...thanks BFF!

Christmas ornaments...most of the ornaments we grew up with were handmade from egg cartons, styrofoam, the flash cubes from cameras (back in the day when cameras had flash cubes!).

Even Hawaiian shells and nuts that we polished...good memories.

Sunday dinner at Aunty M1's.

Her appetizer was delicious!

Naan (flatbread), pesto, shrimp, lemon, arugula and a slice of apple...gotta try re-creating this!

We also found a box with lots of the Mother's Day and Father's Day cards we gave to our parents....

Highlights of some of the cards I gave them: "Kikaida loves Mom. Zaboga loves Mom"

"My Dad is a hard worker.... I think he is the best Dad in the world"

Tuesday, got a chance to meet up with L of Genki Tummy.

She is a research chef and food scientist at the new Culinary Innovation Center at Kapiolani Community College's Culinary Program.

The last time we met up was over 6 years ago!

It was nice touring the facility, seeing some of her upcoming projects in the works and I can't wait to try the curries and chutney she and her team created! (Thank you!)

On the same day, got to meet up with good friend G!

It is always nice catching up with her.

Thank you for dinner and great conversation G! (the Cobb salad at Big City Diner was HUGE!)

Wednesday, took some books to the library to be recycled.

Since I am technically not supposed to be lifting anything heavy, I was thankful they had a guy come out to the car to take them out for me.

Afterwards, I met up with V again since she had more avocados to share.

She had been craving hiyashi chuka (cold noodles) at Menchanko-Tei.

It was my first time here.

I didn't know this, but Goma Ichi closed in 2017! and Menchanko-Tei was given permission to use the tan tan men and other recipes.

(Back in the day, Goma Ichi was one of the first places that I tried ramen in Hawaii. The parking for the shop was junk but the food was so delicious!)

On this day, it was so blazing that eating tan tan men was unthinkable, so I hope to get back when it is cooler to try it.

After lunch, V and I walked across the parking lot to En Hakkore Cafe, which is located inside a Korean Supermarket.

She says that whenever she comes here, she has to have this....Pat Bing Su (azuki shave ice) to share!

Pour the espresso over everything, like affogato and dig in.

The espresso cuts the sweetness a little.

This is HUGE...I'm glad I got to try this.

V also shared some sakura manju that she made (so buttery, flaky and ono (delicious!)) and more avocados.

Thank you V!

Thursday, we had an appraiser come in to do a "time of death" appraisal.

We didn't know it at the time, but when my father passed away last year, we were supposed to get one done...still learning as to what things need to get done after someone passes!

Afterwards I met up with my Instagram friend @sunnyyelloww for coffee.

It was our first time meeting IRL (in real life).

She reached out to me last year as we had similar things going on in life at the time.

It was so nice putting a face to the name and I enjoyed chatting with her.

She gave us these Snack Addicted Beef Chips, I'll share these with Satoshi when I return to Japan in the Fall. (Thank you!)

Lunch was from Chubbies Hawaii, a food truck in the parking lot near Ohana Hale Marketplace, near Ward Avenue.

I tried their 50s burger...local grass fed beef, lettuce, tomato, cheese and their 50s sauce....I also added some avocado.

So good...I want to go back to try their Chub Fries.

Dinner was from Foodland Farms' Cold Bar.

I tried a little of this and that...$8.99 per pound can add up quickly.

I enjoyed the Beet Poke (poke that uses roasted beets instead of raw fish)...the least enjoyed were the roasted brussels sprouts which were hard.as.rock.

Whew! so that was my week (more photos here if you are interested) ...hope you have a nice weekend!

Gyotaku
1824 South King Street
Honolulu, Hawaii
Hours: 11:00-21:00

Menchanko Tei (UPDATE: 2022 out of business)
903 Ke'eaumoku Street
Honolulu, Hawaii
Closed Tuesdays
Hours: 11:00-14:30 (lunch), 17:00-22:00 (dinner)

En Hakkore Cafe (UPDATE: 2022 out of business)
825 Ke'eaumoku Street (inside Korean Supermarket)
Honolulu, Hawaii
Hours: 9:30-21:30

Snack Addicted
1234 Kona Street, 2F
Honolulu, Hawaii
Closed Sundays
Weekdays: 11:00-18:00
Saturdays: 11:00-16:00

Chubbies Hawaii : UPDATE moved to Kaimuki
960 Auahi Street
Honolulu, Hawaii
Closed some holidays*check their social media accounts for more info
Hours: 10:30-21:00