hilo

Over the weekend, I visited Hilo with my Aunties.

The weather wasn't forecast to be nice, so we often got caught in passing showers....

I was able to get my hands on some lychee from the Farmer's Market...so good!

We got to try some fruit mochi from Two Ladies Kitchen (Rainier Cherry (top), Mandarin Cutie (middle) and Saturn Peach (below))...all so good!

We were impressed with the rainier cherry, as the stem was still attached to the cherry but the seed had been pitted! The flesh of the cherry wasn't disturbed...amazing pitting technique!

I tried two different loco moco (for Satoshi)...a keiki moco (top) from Ken's Pancakes...meh! the patty was hard.as.rock. And Cafe 100's loco moco...

Cafe 100 apparently created the loco moco, so you know their version had to be good! (and it was! and it was only $3.50!)

Brought flowers to the family graves...

And visited with friends and relatives.

our main reason for visiting Hilo was to attend the hatsubon service for my Grandma, if you remember, she passed away last December.

I've written about hatsubon before here.

I also picked up some omiyage (souvenirs) for Satoshi and I to try when I get back to Japan.

Despite the off and on rain, it was nice to visit Hilo and reconnect with family and friends.

Thanks Aunty M for inviting me.

taste test

This past summer, I received two different beef jerky chips.

One from Mich, which is made by Chyler's and sold at Side Street Inn (on the left).

And one from Jalna's cousin, V, which is made by Paradise Jerky (on the right).

Chyler's was crisp but "softer" than Paradise Jerky.

Flavor-wise both were good!

I won't say which was better than the other because they were both delicious and good in their own way.

Thanks for letting us try these Mich & V!

bangkok chef

Finally got to meet Jalna of Photos by Jalna and her friend, Mich.

Jalna's as crazy in person as on her blog...so funny!

What was so cool was that it was so easy to talk with both of them.

We had originally planned to eat at Morning Glass, but they didn't have any tables open, so we ate at Bangkok Chef (next door) instead.

What was nice about this place is that they had lots of tables AND air-conditioning.

Jalna treated us to spring rolls, chicken larb, penang curry, rad nah, thai iced coffee and Mich treated us to a pannacotta mango thingy (no photo) (thank you!).

Everything was so good!

And everyone was way too generous...Mich gave me these beef jerky chips.

Jalna's cousin, V, gave me these other beef jerky chips, gummy bears and crispies.

And reader Ryan gave me a homemade ohelo jam that his mom made! So nice. Brought back memories of when we were small and had to pick ohelo berries on the side of the road by the volcano on the Big Island.

Jalna gave me two handsewn bags that she made too...so creative, yeah?!

All in all, it was a great meet up, lots of talking and lots of eating.

Thank you everyone!

mouth.on.fire.

Back in March, my Aunty came to stay with us and brought us all sorts of goodies.

One, was this.

Country Archer Beef Jerky Sriracha flavor.

We just opened it recently...Whoa?!

Mouth.on.fire.

Thanks Aunty!

oh em gee

I think we received these gourmet jerky crisps from my Aunty when she visted...

We finally opened it on Sunday...oh em gee!

These are awesome!

Super crisp like a potato chip.

It is actually thinly sliced beef jerky crisped up...brilliant!

So good with beer...thanks Aunty!