Sweet Tooth, Salt Tooth

It works out nicely that Elle has a sweet tooth and Umami has a salt tooth . . . for the most part, they leave each other's snacks alone!  A little ditty about salt




The song is actually called "NaCl (Sodium Chloride)," by the way, from Kate and Anna McGarrigle.   Umami really like the McGarrigles


And, a song about Sugar (sort of) . . .


Hah, bet you thought it was going to be "Sugar, Sugar!"by the Archies!

Umami Fervently Hopes So: "Your hangover makes you smarter*"

Or, should that be, "Umami Fermentedly Hopes So?" In any case, an amusing article:

Your hangover makes you smarter*: As is the case with many theories, the Theory of Hangover-Induced Neurosuperiority [THIN] has its detractors . . .

Popular chef raises awareness for honeybees - Hawaii News Now - KGMB and KHNL

Alan Wong and Adopt-a-Beehive:

Popular chef raises awareness for honeybees - Hawaii News Now - KGMB and KHNL

The comments are interesting too.  Did Einstein actually say "If the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe then man would only have four years of life left"?  Snopes has the scoops:

http://www.snopes.com/quotes/einstein/bees.asp

Quick Pic: B & D Island Twist Cafe

New place:  B & D Island Twist Cafe. Located on Union Mall, at (roughly) the corner of Bishop and Hotel, across the street from Executive Center/Downtown Long's/Downtown Ross, in the space previously occupied by Twin Pho and, before that, Kentucky Fried Chicken.

Panko Crusted Pork Chops with Portuguese Sausage Stuffing

Umami saw this on the specials board yesterday, but yesterday was lasagna day at Govindaji's, so he had to pass.  But today . . .

Two panko crusted pork chops on a bed of Portuguese sausage stuffing covered with brown gravy with onions and mushrooms.  Okinawan sweet potato macaroni salad.  And brown rice, as if it weren't healthy enough to begin with.  $8.  Can't beat it.  Umami, Ms. D, and Makizushi all rate it a Nomx4.  
Good stuff.  You'll need a nap, tho, so don't operate heavy machinery afterwards.

B & D Island Twist Cafe
134 South Hotel Street
Honolulu, Hawaii  96813

Signs of Umami-ness in the Universe

From the Umami Reader:

An article on miso in the NY Times, with an absolutely superb title:  "Umami Dearest"

And an article on the discovery of the fifth taste, National Public Radio.  "Sweet, Sour, Salty, Bitter ... and Umami"

Umami himself has been frequently called bitter, often salty, sometimes sour . . .  and, rarely, sweet.  Turns out, he was unique, just not recognized as such.

Hole in the Wall - Chili with Little Smokies

Chili with Little Smokies

With Camille's on Wheels gearing up for testimony on Bill 59 (aka "Da Food Truck Bill"), Umami, Ms. D and Makizushi were forced to find other lunch options.  The ended up at Hole in the Wall on Chaplain Lane.  Umami had always wanted to try the Chili with Little Smokies ($7.50) and finally gave in.

The chili is pretty good, more of a savory, rather than sweet, style.  With optional cheese and onions, and hit with a couple of shots of Tabasco, it's a seriously filling lunch.  Especially since it comes with two scoops of (oddly bland) mac salad.  Enough for two meals . . . and it's more economical and less guilt-inducing that way.  Umami's finishing the rest of his tomorrow.

Hole in the Wall
1154 Fort Street Mall (Chaplain Lane)
Honolulu, HI 96813
(808) 532-9911