Liliha Bakery LocoMoco

7 oz patty, two over easy eggs, double rice (instead of rice and toast), gravy.  $8.99. Nomx3

Anykine Grill

Umami has a new "go to" spot for brown and white food:  Anykine Grill.  It's located in downtown Honolulu on Bishop Street/Union Mall.  It's a small place with maybe six tables, that writes its specials on the windows.  Be sure to check the specials!

Umami and Ms. D, however, stuck to the basics when they went by the other day:  Chicken Cutlet ($8)  and Roast Pork ($8), gravy on the rice, natch!  Also natch:  Dr. Lois would not approve.

Roast Pork

Chicken Cutlet

Both plates were perfectly executed, the epitome of brown and white cuisine.   Good solid food, properly seasoned, generously sized portions.  Realistically, you get two (three, if you're Elle) meals out of one plate.

Later, Umami was passing by after a checkup with Dr. Lois and saw this on the Specials window:  "Oxtail Laulau."  This, he thought, is proof that the Universe has a sense of humor and, as a child of the Universe, I must go along with the joke.

Oxtail Laulau

Here, then, in all of its fearsome glory, is the Oxtail Laulau ($12).  The oxtail is smoked in texture, but with still a good amount of fat, so not too chewy.  It's beef and beef fat, so it is absurdly rich, much more so than a typical laulau (and that's saying something).  Plenty of leaf to pick up the juices.  It is a crazy dish, but well worth trying.  Realistically, you get three (four, if you're Elle) meals out of it.  Umami wouldn't eat it too often, but he would definitely eat it again. Don't tell Dr. Lois.

It's Not Boneless

Anykine Grill
1148 Bishop St
Honolulu, HI 96813
Neighborhood: Downtown(808) 526-3030
http://www.anykinegrill.com

Umami "Builds" a Guitar - Introduction

Umami's been fooling around with electric guitars and basses recently, spending money that could otherwise be spent on food.  Perhaps if he had to take the time to build one, it might slow the spending spree?  We'll soon find out, since Umami just got a Saga TC-10 Guitar Kit for his birthday!  (Thanks, Elle!)

Saga TC-10 Guitar Kit

For sale on Amazon at $107, it seemed a reasonable purchase for a learning experience that would, hopefully, result in a functional guitar.  The TC-10 is very, very similar to a Fender Telecaster.   (Here's link to Fender site:  http://www.fender.com/guitars/telecaster/).  It's not, of course; if it were, Fender's lawyers would soon be serving cease and desist orders on the offending party.

What's Inside the Box

The parts come mostly assembled.  The headstock and neck (top) come with fretboard, frets and nut already installed.  The body (lower right) is already shaped and has the pickguard held in place by a couple of screws (just for shipping purposes).

Unwrapped

The electronics are connected in sub-assemblies, so connection should be simplified.  That's in theory.  Whether that holds true in practice remains to be seen.  Elle says it's like the Millenium Falcon Lego Kit, but with way fewer parts.

So there are really only two decisions for Umami the Builder:  What shape for the headstock?  And what overall finish to guitar?  It's an interesting set of problems.  The Telecaster is one of the more traditional and classic guitars around.  Conceptually, it did not feel right to Umami to paint it over with, say, an optic yellow Pikachu.  Maybe a Stratocaster, but not a Telecaster.  Wouldn't be right.

So, what finish?  Natural wood?  Stain?  Dye?  Paint?  Satin?  Gloss?  Fade?  Burst?  What design?  None?  Abstract?  Pikachu?  How to deal with the design issues presented by the pick guard (so big!  so white!) and hardware (so cold!  so shiny!).

Can the design issues be handled on the fly?  Or must they be worked out in advance?  In the end, Umami decided on a fairly traditional "burst" finish (light in the middle, darker to the edges), but in green, which is not all that common, but which Umami had seen on a funky old Japanese guitar.  That's the plan anyway, but Umami's not very disciplined when it comes to artistic execution, so whether he follows that remains to be seen.

Next:  Headstock

HASR Bistro

Happy (Belated) New Year from Umami and Elle!  

Out and about in Chinatown last week and headed for dinner at HASR Bistro.  It's on Pauahi Street in the space formerly occupied by Grand Cafe, right next to HASR Wine Company.  Umami's heard good things about it and had to check it out.

The restaurant entrance is in a small courtyard that it shares with the wine company.  There are some tables in the courtyard for al fresco dining which would be nice option on a summer twilight.  This being winter, Umami and Elle dined indoors in the comfortable dining room.

Tequila Cured Salmon Tartare

The Tequila Cured Salmon Tartare ($10) has Cucumber Relish, Tarragon Aioli and Toast.  And Salmon.  It's pleasant enough but careful with the relish, since it tends to overpower the rather mild salmon.

French Onion Soup (Cup)

The French Onion Soup ($7 cup, $9 Bowl) was a light, flavorful soup, covered with some serious cheeses (look at that thing!).   Not as rich some others, but that's okay, considering what was to come.

Durock Pork Osso Bucco

What's "Durock" pork?  Umami didn't know, but a quick internet search dislosed that Durocs are types of pigs that produce a very high quality pork.  Durock Pork Osso Bucco ($23) is amazingly tender and subtle meat.  Comes with an excellent Hamakua Mushroom Risotto and Pineapple Chutney.  Umami's not a big pineapple fan, but the chutney added some welcome sweetness and acid to the dish.

Roasted Stuffed Organic Chicken

The Roasted Stuffed Organic Chicken ($23) came with a very, very good herb pilaf and madeira demi. What's it stuffed with, you ask?

Sausage en place

Kurobuta Sausage!  Kurobuta ("Black Pig") are, basically, Berkshire pigs, higher in fat (and, therefore, taste) and more tender than other cuts.  The sausage gave the the white meat chicken a richness that it would not have otherwise had.  A very clever dish.

Apple Tart

Alway room for dessert, so Umami and Elle split the Apple Tart.  Very thin slices of apple on a lot of so-so pastry, it was fine, but had Umami and Elle thinking back to Le Bistro's Apple Tarte, a lighter, buttery-er piece of dessert sin.

A very nice meal in a cozy little restaurant in Honolulu Chinatown.  With other intriguing menu options (Pekin Duck Confit Pot Pie!  HASR Cassoulet with Braised Veal, Duck Confit, Andouille, Bockwurst!) Umami will be back.

HASR Bistro
31 N Pauahi St
Honolulu, HI 96817

Le Bistro

Prime Rib Eye ($35).  Apple Tarte ($9).

Chicken Fried Chicken

Chicken Fried Chicken ($10.50) from Kakaako Kitchen.  It's very light, you can tell because it's tan and white.  Seriously, it is ....

Still More Lucky Belly

About a month after their first foray to LuckyBelly, Umami and Elle went back for a weekday lunch.  They were first in when it opened at 11; by 11:30 all the tables were full, but there were seats at the bar.  So the crowd's died down some, but still better to go early during mealtimes.

First up, a fine Bundaberg Ginger Beer . . . not too sweet, with a good zip of ginger, it's a bracing soda for a hot day.

Bundaberg Ginger Beer.  Bunda-bar!

And because it was a hot day, Umami and Elle passed on the ramen, in favor of trying other items.  Like the Pork Belly Bao:

Pork Belly Bao

Nice cuts of pork belly (with fat!), with cilantro and pickle, sesame seed and hoisin sauce.  Umami thinks the greens can be a little aggressive, to the detriment of the pork.  It's easily remedied, however, just take out what you don't want.

Beet Salad

Layers of Beet and Goat Cheese

The Beet Salad is layers of beet and goat cheese, looking a bit like a terrine.  The beets are cooked through (i.e., not crunchy) and cold, so a little off-putting to Umami, though Elle liked it well enough.  The green salad on the side comes with nicely sweet granola instead of croutons, which was a pleasant surprise.

Chicken Karaage Sandwich

The Chicken Karaage Sandwich is a nicely executed take on a Banh Mi, karaage chicken dressed with namasu.  There's a brightness to the greens, such that it would work really well with a batter-fried fish sandwich as well.  Oh, and this comes with a salad on the side as well . . . means the three dishes was a lot of food for two.  But you could do far, far worse for lunch than to get that sandwich.

Lucky Belly

50 N Hotel St
Honolulu, HI 96817

Lucky Belly

One of Umami's old favorite Chinatown places, Mini Garden, has given way a new eatery that seems destined to become one of his new favorite Chinatown places.  Lucky Belly first opened as a late night take out window in June of this year, but has since opened as full restaurant and bar.  And, as usual for all things food in this town, it was quickly mobbed.  Want to go for lunch?  Get there at 11?  Dinner?  Be prepared to wait an hour on a First Friday night.  Maybe more.

[Hint:  If it's too crowded, skip it, skip Little Village (which is also likely to be crowded) and go to Ken Fong down the street and have the Arp Tui Min - stewed duck noodle.  That's some serious comfort food too!]

Umami and Elle were, well, lucky, last Friday.  The Hawaii Theatre crowd had just left (for the Shaolin Warriors!) so there were two seats at the bar.  Elle ordered the Shrimp Kim Chee Bowl ($14), recommended by Mookie:

Shrimp Kim Chee Bowl

Mookie described the broth as "sort of a goma-miso" and Umami gets the miso part of the equation.  The sesame seed part was a little harder for him to pick up.  Regardless, the broth is elegant miso soup comfort food.  The ramen is perfectly done (i.e., what Umama would call "firm" and what in another language might be called al dente).  Shrimp very lightly tempura battered and, according to Elle, "sweet."  Kim chee and chili oil and shichimi give some heat.  Oh, and an egg.

Umami opted for the Belly Bowl ($14), because . . . well, why not?  No sense fooling around.  The Belly Bowl is like the Shrimp Kim Chee Bowl, but with pork belly, thick slice bacon, and arabiki sausage instead of the shrimp and kim chee.  

Belly Bowl

The best part is that the bacon (which has a nice, required, layer of fat) soaks up the soup.  It's so rich and full of bacon goodness that Umami took really small bites just to savor it as long as possible.  So good!

There are other menu items (featuring bacon!) that Umami and Elle will return to try.  Though maybe wait for the crowd to thin a bit when the next-big-thing opens up.

Lucky Belly

50 N Hotel St
Honolulu, HI 96817

Central at Caesar's Palace

Central is the 24/7 restaurant near the registration area of Caesar's Palace owned by Michel Richard (James Beard winner; owner of Central (D.C.) and Citrus (L.A.)).

Umami and Elle went in January of 2012 and thoroughly enjoyed it.  The Lobster Burger ($35 late night) is crazy decadent, with lump lobster meat, but also super rich and food coma inducing.  Which is fine for Las Vegas.

Lobster Burger!

Lobster Burger!

Central's concept is American-Favorites-with-a-French-Twist, so this time, Umami and Elle opted for comfort food:  Meatloaf ($24) for Umami and Fried Chicken ($23) for Elle.  There's only so much you can do with meatloaf and fried chicken before it becomes a parody of moodiness.  Does anyone really want "deconstructed" or "architectural" or "molecularly gastronomic" or "fusion" versions of meatloaf?  Of fried chicken?

Wisely, then, Central doesn't mess around.  The meatloaf is an excellent, albeit straightforward version of the classic.

Meatloaf, like a Bat of Hell!

The Fried Chicken is boneless, with a crunchily executed coating, so it's essentially a chicken katsu on steroids.

Winner, Winner, Fried Chicken Dinner!
(There's a second cutlet lurking underneath!)

 It's not cheap, but it is very, very good, and if you're in Vegas to live the life, why not?

Central
Caesars Palace (near Hotel Registration)
3570 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Las Vegas, NV 89109

  

Slater's 50/50 Burger

Umami and Elle were visiting family (Elle's) in Torrance, CA when they heard about a place that served a burger that was half beef and half bacon (!)!  The place is called Slater's 50/50, located in Anaheim Hills, off the 91 on Santa Ana Canyon Road east of Imperial Highway.

[Umami was amused to learn that Los Angelenos really do like the characters in Saturday Night Live's "The Californians," where everything revolves around freeways . . .

  

Really, they do . . . ]

So, Umami and Elle, after visiting the Fender Guitar museum in Corona, were driving back on the 91 west and took the S Weir exit, then west on East Santa Ana Canyon Road to Slater's, which is in a little mall at the corner with Fairmont.  [Really, it is]

Slater's 50/50

The 50/50 has the aforementioned 50/50 burger, a sunnyside up egg, avocado mash, pepper jack and chipotle mayo, all on brioche.  The waitress said the egg is a problem for some people, but since Umami and Elle can down a loco moco with no problem whatsoever, the egg on the 50/50 is also, no problem whatsoever.  And it makes the burger more luxurious, as well as giving it an additional "bacon and eggs for breakfast comfort food" quality.

Sheer luxuriousness

Their waitress said that the owner was, like, 28 years old and just really liked bacon with (in?) his hamburgers.  Now he's got three restaurants and has Umami thinking "Hey, why couldn't I think of that?"

Good stuff.

Slater's 50/50
6362 E Santa Ana Canyon Rd (near the 91 and Imperial)
Anaheim Hills, CA 92807