Guilty!

Umami would eat this . . .

"This" is, of course, the Denny's Fried Cheese Melt.  It consists of four fried mozzarella sticks and melted American cheese grilled (in butter???) between two slices of sour dough bread.  It comes with fries ('natch!) and a marinara sauce (vegetable group!)  For $4, you couldn't buy a cheaper coronary!

While Umami would eat this, the question remains . . . would he deep fry it?

Magic 8-Ball says . . .

"Very doubtful."

Well, that's disappointing.

What about dipping it in egg and making it a grilled cheese sandwich frittata?

Magic 8-Ball says . . .

"Signs point to yes."

!!

Stay tuned . . .

 

Merry Christmas to the C&D Staff!

The Land Use section deputies were in charge of the Christmas gift for the Counseling and Drafting Division staff.  Part I of the gift:  a gift certificate to the House Without A Key at the Halekulani.  Nice!  But not necessarily photogenic (the gift certificate, that is), so let's move on.


Part II of the gift:  Cupcakes from Hokulani Bake Shop!

From left to right, first box: chocolate and red velvet. 2nd box: strawberry guava (killer!) and chocolate. 3rd box: snickerdoodle (also killer!) and chocolate chocolate. 4th box is snickerdoodle and red velvets.

Here's a strawberry guava.  It's an outrageously red cupcake, with an intensely guava flavor.  

And, the last carrot (cup)cake.  Apparently, this was the one to get, because they were gone in the time it took for Umami to retrieve his camera.


Kelly needs to take some back to LA, so, just for her, two locations, both downtown.  Restaurant Row parking is much easier . . . 


Restaurant Row
500 Ala Moana Blvd. Suite 4-B
Honolulu, HI 96813
808-536-CAKE
Monday-Friday  9-6
Saturday  10-5
Closed Sundays

Pioneer Plaza - Downtown
900 Fort Street Mall
Monday- Friday  9-4

Christmas Shopping Adventures

Just some odds and ends from the season's shopping:

First, breakfast at Panya Bakery.  This is the egg white omelette with turkey, provolone, green onions, mushrooms.  Comes with toast and fresh fruit.  Umami probably fouled up the healthiness of the endeavor by having a side of bacon, but it was early in the morning and he hadn't completely woken up.  But two cups of coffee (Illy) later, he's good to go!

Williams-Sonoma, for some reason, had a bunch of Star Wars themed cooking items.  Cookie cutters, pancake molds, cupcake decorating cuts, and this snazzy number, a Star Wars apron.  Black with title logo and character heads (Yoda, Storm Trooper, Darth Vader, Boba Fett) embroidered.  Very cool.  $29.95 adult size in store (might be cheaper on-line before shipping).

Also very cool, even if it's also a little silly, this Darth Vader spatula ($12).  There's also a stormtrooper one, but that might be for completists.

 So wrong, on so many levels, but, seriously, "Try Me!?"  At Sam Goody's, if you must.

Finally, this is an odd little shirt in the Hot Topic window.  Umami's not a huge Hello Kitty fan, but he is a fan of cheeseburgers and food comas.  ($22 online).

Panya Bakery, Bistro & Bar
(Facing upper level makai parking, Diamond Head of Longs)

1450 Ala Moana Blvd.
Ala Moana Center, 2054B
Honolulu, HI 96814 USA
Phone #:808-946-6388
Fax #: 808-946-6988
M-Sat: 7:30am-10:00pm
Sun: 8:00am-8:00pm

For you Daniel Dae Kim Fans . . .

Here's a pic of Mr. Kim during a break in filming of "Hawaii 5-0."  He's standing in front of the "5-0 Headquarters" aka Aliʻiōlani Hale, current home of the Hawaii Supreme Court.

Ward Warehouse: Butter Melter and Pa'ina Cafe

The Most Amusing Thing

Umami was being completely unproductive when Trish called to see if he was up for some Christmas shopping.  Well, Umami was game (and, also, hungry), so agreed to meet at the Ward Shops.

As it turned out, Trish had a very successful shopping run.  Umami, not so much, but he was at least amused.  And they got to try Pa'ina Cafe.

The Most Amusing Thing?  This "Microwavable Butter Melter" at Executive Chef.  The idea is, you put  butter, or chocolate, or some other meltable thing in it (ice, for example), put it in the microwave, and it will hold the melted end product.  Umami thinks:  Isn't the name misleading?  Because it's actually the microwave doing the melting, not the cup.  The packaging should say, "Microwave NOT Included."  Still, all kidding aside, it would be useful for anyone who doesn't have a Pyrex measuring cup . . .

Pa'ina Cafe:  Hawaiian Poke Bowl

Pa'ina Cafe is a small take out window near Town & Country Surf Shop at Ward Warehouse.  It does various sandwiches, plates, etc. but they are known for their poke bowls.  The bowls come with choice of rice (white or brown) and choice of poke (spicy ahi, shoyu ahi, hot shoyu ahi, limu ahi).  Umami, however, wasn't fooling around and therefore chose the Hawaiian Poke Bowl:  brown rice, kalua pig, lomi salmon and spicy ahi ($7.25).  Very generous amount of pig, not too much salt or juice.  Lomi salmon was very tasty and this batch was pretty salty.  The spicy ahi was not really that spicy, but had good chunks of fish.  The brown rice is actually really good with these mains, because it's earthier, like poi, in a way that white rice isn't.

There are healthier options.  The Roasted Veggie with Portabella sandwich is supposed to be very good.  Umami will have to try it next; actually, there are a lot of things Umami wants to try next!

Executive Chef
1050 Ala Moana Blvd.  #1560
Honolulu, HI  96814
808-596-2433


Pa'ina Cafe (Next to Town & Country Surf Shop)
1200 Ala Moana Blvd.  Store #24
Honolulu, HI  96814    
808-356-2829

Tamura's Fine Wine & Liquors

Umami was killing time before dinner one evening and wandered into Tamura's.  Just to check out the wines and liquor selections.  It was an impressive array indeed.  But the best thing?  They sell Icees!

Tamura's Fine Wine & Liquors
3496 Waialae Ave.
Honolulu, HI  96816 
808-735-7100 

Restaurant Week: JJ Bistro

It's Restaurant Week in Honolulu, but, alas, Umami hasn't made it to d.k. yet!    But he and Trish did go check out JJ Bistro and French Pastry, which was running a four course prix fixe for $24.70.  For that price, you get . . . 

Sweet pea soup with scallop.  Cute little bowl/mug of soup.  The soup was thinner than you would expect, but with a delicate pea flavor, with hints of butter, and a scallop.  As it turned out, one cute scallop per bowl/mug.

Choice of appetizer.  Trish and Umami normally coordinate their orders to get as many different dishes as possible, so this is appetizer #1 . . . manila clams.

Appetizer #2 was the Bake Lobster Avocado:  lobster on French bread croutons with a sauce that was almost a cross between a guacamole and salsa.  A little of the sauce went a long way for the lobster, plus some sprouts for crunch.  Good fun.

Seafood Brioche

Inside the Brioche

Entree #1:  Seafood stuffed Brioche, served with leek, Shiitake mushroom, red bell pepper in chef's special black pepper cream sauce.

Entree #2:  Baked Lamb Wellington:  Rack of lamb with bell pepper & Cheese wrapped in puff pastry, served with side pan seared potato and black pepper cream sauce.  This was an interesting dish.  Umami is not normally a lamb fan (because sometimes the taste can be a little strong), but couldn't resist.  It's a neat little dish, worth trying.  Oh, if ordering the restaurant week special, this entree costs $5 more.

Dessert Case

Now, the interesting thing for this special is that you get one dessert with the meal, and one to take home!  Though you can eat both there.   Plus, a little baby creme brulee as well.  So, doing the math, that's six desserts between Umami and Trish!

From left to right:  Iced Drop Framboise, Red Velvet Cake, Creme Brulee.

Sorry this is so dark!  From left to right:  Chestnut cake (very delicate chestnut flavor, reminded Umami of the chestnuts from Shirokiya), Chocolate Pyramid (intense dark chocolate flavor that was awesome with coffee . . . they also have mini pyramids ($1) and raspberry chocolate pyramids).

It was a veritable dessert fest!

The restaurant does a smaller scale prix fixe menu daily; it's worth checking out:  www.jjfrenchpastry.com.  It's always fun to try a lot of different things, and the Restaurant Week special is a great excuse to do so.  And . . . six desserts . . . !!  Check it out.   

JJ Bistro and French Pastry 
3447 Waialae Ave 
Honolulu, HI 96816 
Tel(808)739-0993
Fax(808)739-0991 

Restaurant Week!

Restaurant Week is back, November 15-21!  It's one week of special deals and menus at participating restaurants, with some of the proceeds going to support the Culinary Institute of the Pacific.  Umami went last year and is looking forward to this year!

Here's the link:  http://www.restaurantweekhawaii.com/About.aspx?c_id=1.  Check out the participating restaurants for the various deals.  Umami is very intriguted by this one, from d.k. Steak House:

APPETIZER:
PEPPER CRUSTED FRESH HAWAIIAN AHI NICOISE

With Nalo Farms baby Arugula, Ho Farms Tomatoes, Haricot Verts, Roasted Fingerling Potatoes and Quail Eggs

ENTRÉE – CHOICE OF:

“VINTAGE NATURAL” 22 oz. BONE IN RIB EYE STEAK CLASSICALLY AGED FOR 28 DAYS  (NO antibiotics, NO growth hormones, All Grass & Pineapple-fed, All Natural).  Accompanied with some specialty sides

POTATO AU GRATIN - Scallop potatoes topped with Maui Onions, Nalo Thyme & baked with Parmesan Cheese

ASPARAGUS MILINANESE - Steamed Wailua Asparagus topped with an “Over Easy” local farm egg, topped with Italian Bread Crumbs and Truffle Oil

OR

KING CRAB & DILL STUFFED FRESH CATCH OF THE DAY

With roasted Kobaocha and Garlic puree, sautéed Nalo garlic Swiss Chard in a Thai Lobster Cream sauce.

DESSERT:

THE CHOCOLATE BOMB

Bittersweet Chocolate Cake, Semi-sweet Ganache & Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream

COFFEE or TEA

All for $42 per person (Food Only)!

Curry Potatoes with Greek Yogurt and Dill

Diced some potatoes and onions, cooked with a little butter.  Added salt and curry powder (could have used a lot more salt, but then Umami has a bit of a salt tooth).  Mixed some dill into the yogurt and topped the potatoes.  The yogurt is a little sweet, so, definitely, more salt on the potatoes!

Cafe Europa: Napoleon

Puff pastry, frosting, confectioners sugar.  (This one was exceptionally puffy!)  Ms. D calls it "a little piece of heaven."

Cafe Europa
801 Alakea Street, Suite #101
Honolulu, HI 96813.