fete hawaii & honolulu coffee

Met up with family friend, D, for lunch at Fete Hawaii.

When we got there the place was pretty empty but when we left it was packed!

I ordered the Eggplant Tartine : Grilled Fête toast, red pepper feta, Babaganoush, fried zucchini...delicious!

D chose the Brunch Sausage Sandwich : Italian sausage, sunny local egg, cheddar, maple syrup, brioche bun, field greens, frites,
bread & butter pickles, ketchup

D's sandwich was messy eats, but he said it was delicious.

Bummer that the ketchup they served the fries with was a bit watery...

D also gave me these macarons from Honolulu Coffee.

They were delicious, most were cream filled.

My favorite was the coconut (not pictured).

Downtown is still quite scary to me with all the homeless walking around, but it was nice to meet up & catch up with D.

Thanks for today, D!

Fete Hawaii
2 North Hotel Street
Honolulu, Hawaii
Phone: 808.369.1390
Hours: Mondays-Thursdays 11:00-22:00
Fridays: 11:00-23:00
Saturday 11:00-23:00
Pau Hana (Happy Hour) Mondays-Saturdays 14:00-17:30
Closed: Sundays

lee's & scratch

Last year I raved about the transfer system on the bus here.

So far on this trip home, I've ridden the bus twice.

On one of my trips, I stopped off in Chinatown to pick up a custard tart from Lee's.

The price went up from $1 to $1.25, still relatively cheap and still delicious.

And then I stopped into Scratch Kitchen and Bake Shop to purchase this peanut butter and chocolate chip cookie..$2.75

At least they don't make you buy 3 now...loved the amount of peanut butter and chocolate in there, super rich!

Both were great for breakfast.

The weather is still hot and very humid in Hawaii with hurricanes/tropical depressions coming around almost every week...gah!

I've been hearing from friends in Osaka that it is getting cooler in early mornings and evenings, guess Autumn is approaching...

scratch kitchen & bakeshop

I wrote about Scratch earlier this summer.

Since Satoshi was coming for the week, I asked Rex if he would like to meet up at Scratch for lunch.

He said he had some time, so Satoshi and I met up with him for a late lunch.

I ordered the Calentado--Spice rubbed shredded beef, sofrito rice, deep fried jalapeno, salsa verde

This oozy egg surprised me.

Also, that deep fried jalapeno surprised me too, I bit into it thinking it was fried okra...

I loved the spice rub of the beef, smoky and the combination of flavors were tex-mex.

Apparently this is a breakfast dish served in Columbia.

Satoshi went with their Creole Shrimp 'n Grits--Smoked cheddar polenta, andouille, fried eggs, red eye gravy

He really enjoyed this. Of course he ate the shrimp heads too.

At first Rex said that he was going to order the Tiramisu pancakes, which he had tried before.

Instead he tried their BC Burger--Big Island beef, crispy bacon, smoked cheddar, spicy guac, "bacon" english muffin, crispy smashed taters

He said he was glad he chose this.

Chef Chan sent out these baked goods---carrot cake scone with a cream cheese topping, peach & marscapone turnover, bacon chocolate chip cookie and a peanut butter honey muffin--which, even if we were full, we demolished them! Thank you Chef!

This is another great place to gather for brunch. I'm glad we got to check it out and I'm glad Rex got to meet Satoshi.

We'll be back.

Scratch Kitchen & Bakeshop (UPDATE: 2019 this location closed)
1030 Smith Street
Honolulu, Hawaii
Phone: 808.536.1669
Hours: Day: Tuesdays-Sundays 8:30-14:30, Night: Thursdays-Saturdays 17:30-21:30
Closed Mondays

scratch kitchen & bake shop

While Rex and I were having lunch, he was telling me about his architect friend that had designed and had just opened Scratch Kitchen & Bake Shop.

He mentioned that everything he had there was good, especially the bacon chocolate chip cookies.

On the way home after lunch, I had stopped in to see if they still had these cookies, but they were all sold out.

So, while on the way to an appointment, on another day, and while riding the bus, I stopped off, picked up some cookies, then hopped back on the bus and was off to my appointment.

3 cookies for $4 plus tax. The guy working there mentioned if I was going to eat them later, I should warm them up in the toaster.

So, the next morning, that is what I did.

They are the chewy type. I think it could've used a tad more bacon, but overall I enjoyed these.

I hope to go back there to try their brunch or lunch...I'll be back!

Scratch Kitchen & Bake Shop (UPDATE: 2019 this location no longer in business)
1030 Smith Street
Honolulu, Hawaii
Phone:808.536.1669
Day: Tuesday-Sunday 8:30-14:30
Nite: Thursday-Saturday 17:30-21:30

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cheap eats

I think I've told you about Lee's custard pie...well, the other day while I was in Chinatown, I went to see if they had something smaller than a whole pie.

And they did!

Custard tarts and only $1 each!

Ice cold from the fridge, this was nice for breakfast, though I wish I had bought a couple more...

the pig & the lady

Met up with my Flickr friend, Rex.

His photography is currently being shown at The Pig & the Lady in Chinatown.

I had wanted to check out their food there and also check out his show, so this meet up was perfect.

Rex ordered their weekly Banh Mi, which I think was a beef carpaccio.

I went with their Le Saigon Banh Mi--pork belly, ham, chicken liver pate, pickles, roast pork drippings...this sandwich was huge!

Sweet, salty, a little puckery & spicy.

All sandwiches come with an herb salad and either shrimp chips or their pho broth.

I had chosen broth, but I guess our waiter didn't hear me...(insert pouty face) so they served me shrimp chips.

Which was still delicious...

His photos titled "Rides" are up until the beginning of August or so, so if you have a chance to check them out, please do so.

My favorite shot is this one

Thanks Rex for a great lunch, it was nice catching up with you.

I'll be back!

The Pig and the Lady
83 North King Street (Pacific Gateway Center Building)
Honolulu, Hawaii
LUNCH:
Monday-Friday: 10:30-14:00
Saturday (Brunch menu): 10:00-14:00
DINNER:
Tuesday-Thursday: 17:30-21:30
Friday-Saturday: 17:30-23:00
Phone: 808.585.8255

sing cheong yuan bakery

Last week, I had an errand to run near Chinatown, so I decided to check out Sing Cheong Yuan Bakery.

I think this is the place my Aunty picked up the toong mai we tried earlier this year.

The reason I wanted to check out this place was because I was interested in trying their char siu jin dui.

I don't quite remember where I had heard about this, but it was intriguing to me because most jin dui I've tried was sweet not savory.

I bought 2 char siu jin dui and 2 ma tai soo. ($1-something each)

The size of these jin dui were impressive.

Upon cutting it though...big disappointment.

Little to no filling at all...total rip off.

On top of that these were really REALLY oily...blah!

The ma tai soo on the other hand were packed to the gills!

Ma tai soo is a savory pie crust manju if you will, filled with water chestnuts, char siu, green onion and other savories.

The outside was really flaky and the filling with it being a little on the sweet side was delicious.

I also bought some peanut candy.

This was really good, nice crunch from the peanuts, and it was chewy but it didn't stick to your teeth. ($.60/piece, I think)

And their egg tarts were fantastic.

I especially liked their flaky crust. ($1-something)

Other than that jin dui, I would definitely go back for other items.

I'll be back.

Sing Cheong Yuan Bakery
1027 Maunakea Street
Honolulu, Hawaii 96817
Phone: 808.531.6688
Open 6:30-17:30 daily

toong mai

Toong Mai is a Chinese puffed rice cake.

The true way to puff the rice is with hot sand, but I think these days people puff the rice in hot oil.

My aunty bought my mom a tub of this from Chinatown.

A hint of ginger and some peanuts make this stuff addicting!

She said she thinks the place starts with an "S". I think I know where she is talking about and hope to check it out soon.

Thanks Aunty!

hawaii shops

If you like checking out the vendors in Chinatown, but maybe don't like the parking situation there, then check out the Chinatown Marketplace located in the City Square Shopping Center in Kalihi.

This place opened recently and there is lots of free parking and quite a number of vendors. An eating area is also in the works.

There is no main phone line and I think each vendor has their own hours and days off.

We'll be back.

Chinatown Marketplace (next to DMV)
City Square Shopping Center
Kalihi, Hawaii
Phone: none listed

lee's bakery & kitchen

Yesterday, my cousin P and her family, brought over this custard pie along with lunch from Tanioka's.

The custard pie was from Lee's Bakery in Chinatown. I think this might be the place that Kirk said makes awesome doughnuts...

Anyway, the pie was eggy and rich, like custard pies should be. Plus, it was still warm, I think it had just come out of the oven...mmm!

The crust was flaky but not "the best", the filling on the other hand was delish!

Thank you P!

Lee's Bakery & Kitchen
126 North King Street (Chinatown)
Honolulu, Hawaii
Phone: 808.521.6261
Mondays-Saturdays 5:00-17:00, Sundays 5:00-16:00

foodie flurry thursday in kobe

The weather has taken a 180 and is back to cold. Yesterday Satoshi had the day off, so I suggested we go to Kobe, and on the way to the station there were lots of flurries.

In fact, for most of the day there were flurries (woot!)

The place I wanted to check out for lunch was the Syaarii Bar (shah-ree). I had seen these foods items on the same show but different episode from the one I learned about kimu-taku gohan on.

Syaarii (sometimes written shari) is the term that one uses at the sushi bar to mean rice.

We had variations of their main 3 types...the mokamusu, a crispy rice wafer filled with rice, which kind of looks like macaron...we tried the karikari (crunchy) ume (pickled apricot) with shiso (perilla) and the sobameshi (fried rice with chinese noodles, a famous Kobe food).

The syaarii moka, which are like mokamusu but with the addition of savory toppings, we tried the mentaiko (spicy pollack roe) salad & hanryu (korean) yakiniku (grilled meat).

The syaarii roll are rice and savory toppings wrapped with a thin soy sheet, the taste was like the wafer but was pliable. We tried the puripuri (plump) ebi fry (fried shrimp) & yawaraka buta no aburiyaki (slightly grilled tender pork).

Everything is well seasoned and for the mokamusu & syaarii moka, the rice is separated by plastic sheets so as not to make the shells soggy.

We also had some vegetable consomme with it...total 2220 yen (about US$22), a little pricey but a neat food experience.

Since we were in the area, I wanted to check out Kobe's Chinatown.

I had recently seen some lup cheong on one of my Flickr friend's photos and wanted to find some here, I don't know why I haven't check this area before because I found some under the name of xiang chang.

The best part is that this meat shop, Ekiseigo, makes their own, fresh! You should know that xiang chang is the fresh version of lup cheong. Lup cheong is smoked and cured.

Anyway, I cut my two pieces into halves and froze three of the pieces.

I'll use the one I have out in something soon. I hope it tastes like the lup cheong that I know...2 pieces for 940 yen (about US$9.40)

Satoshi on the other hand, still hungry from lunch, had an egg roll made by the meat shop...150 yen (about US$1.50)

The last part of our adventure happened at Mariage Frères, a French tea salon.

It was my 2nd time here but Satoshi's first.

He chose the Savarin--a brioche soaked with Marco Polo tea (a fruity tea) then topped with white chocolate, strawberries & pistachios, and a pot of Assam Nonaipara.

I chose a raisin scone which came with Marco Polo tea jam , Darjeeling Imperial tea jam and some butter, and a pot of Pleine Lune (a black tea with spices, honey & fruits). The tea jams are jellies made from sweetened teas...total 3200 yen (about US$32).

All in all it was a great day, lots of good food and lots of flurries.

It is Friday here, I hope you have a good weekend.

Syaarii Bar
Mosaic Harborland 2F
Kobe, Hyogo
Phone: 078.360.2336 (UPDATE: 2013 this shop is no longer at this location)

Ekiseigo Seiniku Ten
Chinatown
Kobe, Hyogo
Phone: 078.331.5058

Mariage Frères
BAL Kobe
Kobe, Hyogo
Phone: 078.391.6969

hawaii eats...and shops...

Thursday, I met Nate at Chinatown. It was an amazing adventure, looking at all the different kinds of fish, meats and produce. Most of the stores around Chinatown are of East Asian roots, so you can find pretty much everything you need to cook Thai, Vietnamese and Chinese dishes.
We visited Nate's cousin's shop on Hotel Street, and there he picked up some things to bring back with him to Okinawa. We also checked out some other shops where he picked up more things to bring back with him.
Lunch was at Eastern Food Center, I had the Gau Gee Noodle Soup (US $4.50), a rich, salty broth with Gau Gee, Choi Sum and Hong Kong style noodles (kind of stiff, but I like it that way, better than soggy) was just enough food for me.

Thanks for taking me around Nate, it was a fun, foodie adventure!