icy friday

Well, the weather dude was finally right...we had snow overnight! whoo!

Not enough to stay frozen but still snow.

In fact, while I walked in the morning, there was a little hail storm.

Even after living here for 9 years, seeing flurries or "snow" still gets me hyped.

This morning we had our nanakusagayu, hopefully this will prevent any other illnesses to creep in for the rest of the year.

On my walk, I went to Abientot and tried their salsa dog for lunch.

It was good, smoky sausage with a nice snap. Diced jalapenos, carrots & some lettuce all on a chewy baguette...yum!

The weather tonight is supposed to drop to -1C (30F)...I am secretly hoping there will be more snow.

Have a nice weekend!

this and that

Wanted to share with you a new candy I found while in Hawaii...Snickers Peanut Butter Squared.

If you like Snickers and Peanut Butter, you will enjoy this.

The original Snickers is topped with a layer of peanut butter then covered with milk chocolate.

There are two squares in a package...yummy. (It says you can save the other square for later, but I ate them both in one sitting...)

Dinner tonight (our first dinner from my kitchen) for 2011 is Sophisto Joes, which I've made before.

This time around I used a can of whole tomatoes, but the sauce was still a little sweet, so I should definitely cut the sugar back the next time.

The week flew by and we have a holiday coming Monday...ooh and tomorrow is the day to eat Nanakusagayu.

made it!

9 hours and 45 minutes (3 movies)...plus an hour or so bus ride, then a 10 minute taxi ride...

The last 10 minutes of our flight was major turbulence...thought I would lose whatever we had to eat. (TMI, I know)

My baggage came out WAY faster in Japan than in Hawaii.

It is cold here 7C (44F), kinda drizzly...am tired.

Hope to get back into the kitchen tomorrow.

odds & ends

Some random things...Some bon-bons Satoshi received while staying at the Halekulani.

Top: mai tai liqueur, caramel sea salt (though I think they mixed up the two fillings)
Bottom: rose, coconut

yummy!

Found some Vosges' at Whole Foods. Can't wait to try these.

The one with the organic mushrooms sounded particularly intriguing. (UPDATE: the organic mushroom is a bit grainy kinda disappointing.

The Marzipan Bar is a little on the soft side but had a nice almond flavor.

The Bapchi Caramel Toffee Bar is nice with a salty-sweet combo, probably my favorite out of these three.)

Duff Energy Drink. Didn't try this but saw it and thought of Rowena.

While waiting outside of Matsugen for soba, saw this sticker...

I think we all need to do this in 2011, don't you?

Matsugen's Seiro Soba, $8-something.

A little pricey but in Waikiki expect to pay.

The Hawaiian omlette at Cheeseburger Beachwalk.

I should've known there would be pineapple in there (grr!)...my eyes were only fixed on the portuguese sausage that was listed in the omlette...$9-something.

Satoshi had their loco moco....$11.95 (3 eggs, 1 whopping hamburger patty, lots of gravy...I think they needed more onions).

"how was it?"...I'd say it was good, he licked the bowl clean.

Yogurtland...now has popping li hing mui...by itself is okay.

Their pistachio yogurt is blah!

1/2 of a grilled steak wrap from Aloha Salads...grilled steak, grilled mushrooms, onions, melted provolone, sun-dried tomatoes, romaine with their Goddess dressing on a pita...yum!

1/2 of a curried chicken wrap, also from Aloha Salads...curried chicken salad, mango chutney, dried cranberries, julienned carrots, shredded coconut, red grapes and romaine on a pita.

I think they could have made the curry flavor a little stronger, but this was also yum!

It's a new year, what have you been eating?

Matsugen UPDATE: this shop is closed
255 Beachwalk
Honolulu, Hawaii
Phone: 808.926.0255

Cheeseburger Beachwalk
226 Lewers, 2nd floor
Honolulu, Hawaii
Phone: 808.924.5034

new years day

The first day of the New Year started off with this.

And some ozoni. Many families have their own recipes for this.

My mom's broth is easy. She uses the juice from the giant clam, and then adds some shoyu and sugar.

Buffet breakfast at the House without a Key @ Halekulani.

Kalua Pork Hash patties, papaya, portuguese sausage and crispy bacon among the foods there.

Dinner was another feast featuring leftovers from the day before and some new additions like...sake, ice cold.

Steamed opakapaka (which I think is tai in Japanese, snapper in English), lots of grated ginger and green onions.

After the fish is steamed, a hot shoyu sauce is poured over the fish, served with cilantro.

Spanakopita, a greek spinach dish...this was bought.

Baked ham, which was given to my parents by their friends.

Pineapple Shrimp, my favorite.

Baked cheesecake...with a lemon flavor...we liked this but thought it needed a "fruit sauce" (or chocolate sauce).

My "vacation" is almost over, glad my stomach decided to let me eat some. Thanks for all the well wishes.

new years eve

Thought I'd give you a little peek into New Years Eve, Hawaii style (well, Japanese American style).

We start off with this...kasane mochi (stacked rice cakes) to pray for a good year.

And a homemade kadomatsu.

Some of this.

A little nishime.

Baked ribs.

Kuromame (black beans).

Some tako (octopus) with su-miso (vinegary miso).

Inarizushi (cone sushi).

Soba (buckwheat noodles).

Chinese roast duck.

Some mac-potato salad.

And at midnight, some of this.

Hope your New Years Eve was a safe and happy one.

hawaii eats

In some parts of the world it is already 2011.

In Hawaii...we still have many hours to go.

This was one of the first things I had (when my stomach could handle)....bacon!

The BLT (bacon lettuce tomato) from Kua'Aina.

Actually had wanted the BLAT (bacon lettuce avocado tomato), but they had run out of avocado.

Oh well, just happy to have had my crispy bacon fix.

Happy New Year everyone!