Quick Pics: Hana Sushi

Umami and Elle have been going to Hana Sushi pretty much every Sunday.  And why not?  They can fill up on very good sushi for under $20 a head.

Nigiri Combo 2 ($11)

Umami really like the House Salmon (with sprouts and onion, in the middle) and, therefore, had another order on the side ($3.50).

Deep Fried California Roll ($8.95)

The Deep Fried California Roll is, essentially, California Roll Tempura.  And well done tempura at that, perfectly fried, served nice and hot.   The tempura does tend to obscure the subtlety of the other fillings, so be wary if that sort of thing bothers you.

Garlic Salmon Nigiri ($3)

Salmon Skin Maki ($6.70)

The Salmon Skin Maki is surprisingly meaty, because the eponymous skin still has a good amount of meat on it, which is then battered, and incorporated into a maki with cucumber, masago and sprouts.  Excellent beer fare.

Tamago Nigiri ($2)

For dessert, Umami and Elle split the Tamago Nigiri.  It's cold and slightly sweet and a nice ending to the meal.

Total tab, with tax:  $36.28.  That's why they go back every week!

Hana Sushi

377 Keahole St

Ste C3
Honolulu, HI 96825

Dessert: Umami versus Elle

Here's the difference between a sweet tooth and a salty one.  Elle, has a sweet tooth, and so makes this for dessert:

Elle's Choice

That's Graham Crackers, with Haagen Dazs Vanilla Ice Cream.  Very nice, very pleasant.

As compared to Umami, who goes for this:

Umami's Choice

Haagen Dazs Vanilla Ice Cream, again, only instead of graham crackers, Umami opts for Sour Cream and Onion Flavored Ruffles.  Which makes an ordinary dessert . . . extraordinary . . . -ly ridiculous.  But, seriously, vanilla ice cream and potato chips . . . if you haven't tried it, you ought to.

 

Korean Brand Beef Street Taco Kit

Elle found a Bamboo Lane brand "Korean Brand Beef Street Taco Kit" at Costco ($11.99).  It has the basic ingredients for twelve tacos, so which works out to be about $1 each.  Worth a try!

Bamboo Lane brand "Korean Brand Beef Street Tacos" Kit

Umami likes that the packaging makes it sound like Korea has a brand of beef.

Inside, there are two packs, each with ingredients for six tacos:  a small packet of shredded Monterey Jack and Cheddar cheeses, six packets of Sriracha, a packet with six small tortillas, and a pouch of precooked, marinated beef.  No vegetables; which is not surprising.

Fixins (clockwise from top):  Cheese, Sriracha, Tortillas, Beef 

Microwave the beef on high for 90 seconds and microwave the tortillas for a minute.  Add your own vegetables:

Fixins (from left):  Salad greens, cheese, lime, onion, tomatoes, beef.

The beef is credible enough, small chunks, some with scorch marks, marinated in a tasty sauce/marinade.  Umami supposes that the sauce/marinade is functions a source of moisture for the beef.  Fully dressed, with all the toppings, it makes a perfectly good taco.

A Perfectly Good Taco

There's nothing really Korean about this, of course.  Maybe, with the next pack, Umami will make one with kim chee, with some soju to wash it down!

Camille's on Wheels: Thai Chicken Quesadilla and Chocolate Dulce de Leche Pecan Pie

Umami and Friends went on a Camille's binge yesterday.  First, Umami put away a two taco plate, which looks basically like this.  Umami got one Quinoa/Portobello taco, but couldn't get his other favorite filling, Thai pork.  Instead, Camille changed it up and had a Spicy Pork filling instead; more traditionally Mexican in style, with jalapenos, etc.  and still very tasty . . . spicy, but without overbearing heat.

Ms. D and Makizushi split a similar plate, then, when Makizushi was out of the room, Ms. D and Umami went for another plate, Thai Chicken Quesadilla.

Thai Chicken Quesadilla

Camile normally has Shoyu Chicken as a filling option, so this, too, was a change-up.  The Thai spicing is more pronounced on the chicken than it is on the pork, and the quesadilla has a generous amount of cheese, which, for Umami, was almost decadent since the tacos do not have any cheese.  Hit it with some Sriracha for some heat, add a little avocado and the other vegetables, and it's a fine lunch.  Makizushi and Ms. Deb agreed.

For desert, Camille had a Chocolate Dulce de Leche Pecan Pie, which had to be tried.

Chocolate Dulce de Leche Pecan Pie

This is gooey, chocolatey, caramel-y mess, and Umami means that in the best way possible.    Umami picked up two slices to share and the reviewers (Umami, Makizushi, Ms. D, Lis, and Elle) were unanimous:  it's a winner.  It seems that the word is out on Camille's pies:  people buy multiple slices (last week, someone bought eight pieces of the mango pie, four for now and four for later?), so if you want one (or eight), don't be late.

Camille's on Wheels
On this occasion:  Punchbowl between Honolulu Hale and State Library, Main Branch

But no real fixed address, so follow on Twitter: @Camillesonwheel
(808) 282-1740

Hana Sushi: Hana Special

New location is just Ewa of Safeway in Hawaii Kai Shopping Center.  It's a conveyor belt sushi place, with good variety and reasonable prices.  Because of this,  there can be a line at prime dining hours, but Umami and Elle have been a couple of times and have always been seated without waiting.  Just lucky.

Foodwise, the nigiri is notable for large slices of fish and there are large variety of rolls.  The plates on the belt replenish fairly steadily, but the better way to go might be to order a combination plate, then supplement off the belt.  Umami really likes the Hana Special ($14.50):

Hana Special

It comes with two pieces of Lava Flow (Spicy Ahi on maki), two pieces ahi, two pieces hamachi.  The fish is very soft   The unagi is draped across crab salad and avocado rolls.  Finally, a piece of House Salmon, which has a generous amount of radish sprouts (and a strip of onion) on the salmon.  The sprouts give a welcome freshness and vegetable crunch to the salmon.  Umami and Elle went through two of these, plus three more plates:  three pieces of tempura roll, some toro (too much gristle, so be careful), tamago.  Tab for two:  $40.  Not  bad at all.

Hana Sushi

377 Keahole St

Ste C3
Honolulu, HI 96825

Bacon Spam!

Could there be a more perfect food than
Bacon Spam (technically, Spam, with Real Hormel Bacon)?

Umami had to get a can

In the frying pan, it looked like regular Spam.
The Real Hormel Bacon must be ground with all the other pork.

Frying, it smells like Spam, with delicate notes of Bacon.

It makes a nice Bacon Spam Musubi.
Also good in fried rice, but the bacon notes don't work in saimin.

Umami Goes Vegas (2011): The Guide

Venetian, on the way to the Palazzo . . . or is it the other way around?

Umami is back from another Vegas run, poorer and, as the song says, "older but no wiser."  He is, however, heavier . . . the result eating at these establishments:

Day 1
Cafe at Harrah's (Harrah's) (added 4/3/11)

Lagasse's Stadium (Palazzo Sports Book) (added 4/9/11)
Flavors Buffet (Harrah's) (added 4/17/11)

Day 2
Aloha Specialties (California Hotel) (added 4/22/11)
Sushi Roku (Caesar's Palace Forum Shops) (added 4/22/11)


Day 3
Studio B Show Kitchen Buffet (M Resort) (added 5/30/11)
KGB - Kerry's Gourmet Burgers (Harrah's) (added 8/7/11)


Day 4
Bouchon (Venetian) (added 5/7/11)
Maggiano's (Fashion Show Mall)


Day 5
Joe's Seafood, Fine Steak & Stone Crab (Caesar's Palace Forum Shops)
Sin City Brewing Co. (Flamingo)
Cafe at Harrah's (Harrah's)

Umami Goes Vegas (2011): Day 3: KGB (Kerry's Gourmet Burgers)

Dinner on Day 3 was at KGB (Kerry's Gourmet Burgers).  The eponymous Kerry is Kerry Simon, Iron Chef champion (over Cat Cora) and purveyor of . . . burgers.  KGB is an interesting place, decorated in a faux Communist Russia vibe (KGB . . . get it?), waitressed by a fanboy Stalinist dominatrix fantasies, and bathed in red light (which throws off Umami's food photography . . . sorry).

BBQ Bacon Burger

The BBQ Bacon Burger is $14 worth of Angus beef, homemade BBQ sauce, applewood bacon, smoked gouda, crispy onions, all on an onion roll.  The burger itself is dense, chewy, beefy.  The toppings are all excellent.  (Especially the bacon!)  

KGB (Kerry's Gourmet Burgers)
Harrah's Las Vegas
3475 Las Vegas Blvd South
Las Vegas, NV 89109
Hotel Phone: 800-214-9110