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Tuesday, December 31, 2013

COCINA MODERN MEXICAN KITCHEN

COCINA MODERN MEXICAN KITCHEN
HONOLULU, HAWAII

COCINA MODERN MEXICAN KITCHEN
327 KEAWE STREET
HONOLULU, HI  96813
HOURS:  Tuesday thru Saturday 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM

All I want is a frickin taco.  A real simple shredded beef taco with lettuce, cheese, salsa and some good hot sauce.  You can find great tacos on every other street in San Diego or Los Angeles but in Hawaii that are non existent.  I was excited when we learned that the site of the Whole Ox had been replaced with a Mexican restaurant.  Well, make that a Mexican joint as this place is not a restaurant.  It consists of a takeout counter and a bunch of benches.  The walls are bare except for the hand written menu board that is the focal point and place where you order your food.  Cannot explain what it felt like walking into Cocina.  Kind of like a big garage or big back yard.  In fact, you pick your drink from an ice cooler just like you would do at a backyard party.  The gal at the counter was smiling and very friendly.  Really made us feel welcome here.  She also delivered our food and checked to make sure we were enjoying our meal.  This was very good service and she should be commended.  We started with the Chips and Salsa ($4).  A nice bowl of thickly cut tortillas fried up to perfection.  Served with a mild salsa that really did not pack a whole lot of flavor.  It was not bad but did not add a kick or flavor to enhance the dishes.  The Beef Cheek Burro ($13) had some pretty good tasting meat inside but the other ingredients to me did not come together to make this a burrito worth $13.  The Fish Tacos ($13) were a bit bland.  Tasted mostly the thick flour tortilla.  The Pollo Asado Tacos ($13) had an overwhelming Chipotle flavor and again the thick tortilla taste really came through.  I have read many reviews where people rave about these tacos.  This is great and I hope they enjoy paying over $4 for small two bite tacos.  This meal for three set us back $47.  To me that is a little expensive for tacos and a burrito.  I do not want to dog this place, but it is just not what I want in Mexican food.  Perhaps I am not accustomed to these flavors as I grew up eating San Diego, Baja and Los Angeles Mexican food.  I left this place and was still craving a taco forty seven dollars later.

COCINA MODERN MEXICAN KITCHEN

COCINA MODERN MEXICANA KITCHEN IN KAKAAKO
ORDER AT THE COUNTER AND TAKE A SEAT AT THE INDOOR/OUTDOOR BENCHES
NOT YOUR AVERAGE TACO MENU
BURGER, TORTA, BURRITO AND SOME OTHER SPECIALTIES
CHOSE YOUR DRINK FROM COOLER IN FRONT OF COUNTER
COCINA MODERN MEXICAN KITCHEN MENU
TACO MENU
THIS IS NOT TACO BELL
SMALL PLATES AT COCINA MODERN MEXICAN KITCHEN
CHIPS AND SALSA
THICK CUT CHIPS
MILD SALSA THAT DID NOT PACK A LOT OF FLAVOR
BEEF CHEEK BURRO
THIS IS A $13 BURRITO
BEEF CHEEK, PICKLED ANCHO, SMOKED CHEDDAR, REFRIED BEANS AND CORN RELISH
FISH TACOS "VERACRUZ STYLE"
FISH TACO WITH SALSA AND CHARRED POBLANO CREMA
POLLO ASADO TACOS
POLO ASADO TACO WITH CITRUS MARINATED CHICKEN BREAST, AVOCADO-CORN RELISH,
CHIPOTLE, TOMATILLO SALSA AND COTIJA

Sunday, December 29, 2013

RICO RICO PERUVIAN ROTISSERIE CHICKEN

RICO RICO PERUVIAN ROTISSERIE CHICKEN
HONOLULU, HAWAII

RICO RICO
946 COOLIDGE STREET
HONOLULU, HI  96826
808-383-9179
HOURS:   Sunday thru Friday 10:30 AM - 8:30 PM
                  Closed Saturdays

We cruised up to Rico Rico on a Saturday and the window in front was open.  A friendly gentlemen named Carlos who was working here informed us that the restaurant was closed on Saturdays.  He asked if we had eaten here before and we told him no.  Carlos asked if we had a microwave oven at home and I told him yes.  He handed me a bag and said to heat this up at home.  Actually gave us some chicken to try at home for free.  I thought this was one of the best examples of great service and told Carlos we would return.  Return we did and there was Carlos along with others who greeted us like family.  The girl at the counter asked if we had eaten at Rico Rico before.  We said no and she took time to explain the menu and side dishes to us.  Another smiling face behind the counter welcomed us as did Carlos and another gentlemen that may have been the owner.  All smiles and all customer orientated.  This was a great start.  We chose to eat inside as it was a bit windy at the outdoor tables fronting Coolidge Street.  The indoor seating fronts King Street across from the baseball field right before Longs.  Our food was delivered to our table lighting fast.  At Rico Rico you get fast food like service but the food is fresh.  We started with a side of Neddie's Slaw (.99 when you order with a bird) and the Ko's Kale Salad ($1.99 with bird).  Both were super fresh.  The Kale Salad was a bit lemony according to my girls but the loved the fresh flavor.  The Whole Bird ($14.99) is marinated in flavorful spices overnight and then cooked slowly over kiawe wood and charcoal.  The result is a moist and delicious bird that lacks all of the grease you get with a Huli Huli or Costco Rotisserie Chicken.  These birds are never frozen and free of antibiotics, steroids or hormones.  You can taste the flavor in the meat from the first taste to the last.  The herb seasoning is good and it permeates the entire chicken.  As we enjoyed our chicken which was more than enough for three people several of the employees checked in with us to make sure we were enjoying our meal.  We told them yes and we were not lying.  I found a red bottle on the counter and found it to be a vinegar chili sauce.  Added it to the chicken and "bam" the flavor was taken up a notch.  This is exactly what I wanted with this chicken.   We tried the bright yellow Peruvian Yellow Pepper Sauce that is provided with every chicken but really did not think it enhanced the flavor of the chicken.  Thought the chicken was better without the yellow sauce.  The red sauce however made me want to come back for the chicken and rice.  The rice served under the chicken is filled with pieces of corn.  Adds nice texture to the rice.  We liked the food and service at Rico Rico.  These guys really want to serve fresh quality food and provide great service with a smile.  That is worth coming back for.

 RICO RICO PERUVIAN ROTISSERIE CHICKEN 

RICO RICO IS ON THE CORNER OF KING STREET AND COOLIDGE ACROSS FROM LONGS
GREAT CORNER LOCATION WITH INDOOR AND OUTDOOR SEATING
CHICKEN NEVER FROZEN AND FREE OF ANTIBIOTICS, HORMONES AND STEROIDS
SPECIAL CEVICHE ON SUNDAYS PLUS HOME MADE ICE CREAM
ORDER AT THE WALK UP WINDOW
RICO RICO MENU
CHICKEN AND SIDES
OUTDOOR SEATING ON COOLIDGE STREET
SMALL INDOOR DINING ROOM
RICO RICO DINING ROOM
PERUVIAN FLAG ON EVERY TABLE
 NEDDIE'S SLAW AND KO'S KALE SALAD
WHOLE RICO RICO PERUVIAN ROTISSERIE CHICKEN SERVED WITH RICE
CHICKEN IS WELL SEASONED, MOIST AND FRESH
PERUVIAN RICE WITH A LITTLE CORN
PERUVIAN YELLOW PEPPER SAUCE WITH TURMERIC
VINEGAR BASED SAUCE WITH CHILI REALLY KICKED THE TASTE UP A NOTCH
CHICKEN IS MOIST AND FLAVORFUL  ALL THE WAY THROUGH
RICO RICO ROTISSERIE CHICKEN IS NOT GREASY

Thursday, December 26, 2013

CHRISTMAS PRIME RIB DINNER AT HOME

CHRISTMAS PRIME RIB
DINNER AT HOME

Very lucky and blessed to enjoy Christmas at home in Hawaii.  It was another 80 degree and sunny day when we sat down with family and friends to enjoy a huge 12lb Prime Rib.  Wow…what a feast.  There was not one thing on the table that I did not enjoy.  Wishing you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.   MELE KALIKIMAKA and HAU'OLI MAKAHIKI HOU!!!

CHRISTMAS PRIME RIB DINNER

CHRISTMAS FEAST

12LB PRIME RIB
INSERTED GARLIC INTO PRIME RIB AND THEN COATED WITH MIXTURE OF SALT, PEPPER,
GREY POUPON MUSTARD, HORSERADISH, FRESH THYME AND ROSEMARY
COOKED IN OVEN UNTIL INTERNAL TEMPERATURE WAS 125 DEGREES
KIM CHEE TAKO POKE, SEARED AHI SASHIMI AND SPICY AHI POKE
ROASTED BRUSSELS SPROUTS WITH GARLIC, BACON AND SHALLOTS
CREAMED CORN
BUTTON, OYSTER, CREMINI AND SHIITAKE MUSHROOMS SAUTEED WITH RED WINE, CREME
AND FRESH THYME 
ROASTED BEETS SERVED WITH BLUE CHEESE DRESSING
FILIPINO PANCIT FOR GOOD LUCK AND HEALTH
TWICE BAKED POTATOES WITH CHEESE AND CHIVES


ALASKAN KING CRAB LEGS
LOOKING DELICIOUS ON THIS SIDE OF THE TABLE
LOOKING GOOD ON THIS SIDE TOO
LOVE THE VIEW FROM MY SEAT
PRIME RIB PERFECT MEDIUM RARE IN THE MIDDLE AND MEDIUM ON ENDS
I ADDED A LITTLE HORSERADISH TO MY PRIME RIB
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!