GRILLED MAHI MAHI WITH PAPAYA SALSA

GRILLED MAHI MAHI

WITH PAPAYA RELISH 

DINNER AT HOME

Staying with the low fat dinners and those green beans that we have been eating all week.  Once you buy those bigs bags of beans at Costco, you gotta eat them even if it takes a week.  Enjoyed some fresh Mahi Mahi that we cooked on the indoor grill pan.  Kicked up the eye appeal with a salsa relish and rice tower.  Then those left over green beans with mushrooms and bean sprouts on the side.  Papaya relish really goes well with the fish.  Just slice up onion, tomato, papaya and mix with a small amount of olive oil and balsamic vinegar.  Add cilantro and salt/pepper.  Really flavorful and delicious.

CORNED BEEF AND CABBAGE CROCK POT DINNER

CORNED BEEF AND CABBAGE

CROCK POT DINNER 

My wife picked up a 3 pound Corned Beef at Costco for $13.  The beef came with a bag of spices that we put in a crock pot along with carrots, potatoes, onion, cider vinegar and chicken broth.  Cooked on low in a crock pot for 8 hours.  We basically threw everything in the pot, set the crock pot on low and came home later in the day and it was done.  Added green beans that we have been eating for the past week and cabbage for the last half hour of cooking.  The Corned Beef came out moist, flavorful and delicious.  I mean really good and so tender that you could cut it with a fork.  This was a great meal for under $20.  Plus I can enjoy Corned Beef sandwiches for at least two days with the leftovers.

CORNED BEEF AND CABBAGE DINNER

CORN BEEF AND VEGETABLES IN CROCK POT
COOKED ON LOW FOR 8 HOURS 

CORN BEEF OUT OF THE CROCK POT

NICO'S PIER 38

NICO'S PIER 38

HONOLULU, HAWAII

The "new" Nico's Pier 38 is awesome.  Huge open air space with a great view of the harbor.  If you are fan of the old Nico's you should love the new one.  It is located directly across from the old restaurant and adjacent to Uncle's.  As you enter the large restaurant there is a counter where you order off the menu that hangs above.  Daily Specials are posted on a black board.  To the left is a small and bright fish market where you can purchase fresh fish and many different types of Poke.  It is a mini market within the restaurant.  The lunch menu features local favorites like Orange Fried Chicken, Pork Chops, Chicken Katsu, Loco Moco, Beef Stew and Combo Plates.  There are several fresh fish selections as well as Fish and Chips and Poke Bowl.  You can also get salads, sandwiches, burgers and pizza.  We arrived at 11:30 am and there was a sign that said Pizza was Sold Out.  I ordered the Nico's Pier 38 Fish Tacos ($8).  Fresh beer battered fish with shredded cabbage, lime marinade, onions and Nico's Tomato Salsa.  Served with some good home made tortilla chips.  I liked the tacos but wish they had more cabbage and salsa.  My friend ordered the Fried Ahi Belly ($10.25).  Tuna belly steaks that are fried and topped with a spicy tomato salsa.  Looked like he enjoyed it.  Nico's was popular with locals before, but I think this new large restaurant will put it on everyone's list of places to eat.  I certainly will be back with the entire family real soon.  Hope it is not too crowded.  UPDATE:  Went back again and enjoyed a Fresh Ahi Sandwich.  My friend had the Beef Stew and absolutely loved it.  By 11:45 am there was a line out the door.  Seems the word is out about the new Nico's Pier 38.  UPDATE: Went back for a third visit.  This time I realized that the food here is not that great and really nothing special.  We ordered the Margherita Pizza ($14).  Liked the flavor but wish the crust was thinner.  Tomatoes were cut in thick slices.  Took some back to the office and they loved it.  The Fish n' Chips ($9.75) was terrible.  One giant piece of fried fish that was raw inside.  Had to take it back.  This piece of fish could have been cut into three pieces and should have.  The Pesto Chicken Caesar Salad ($9.75) had good Pesto flavor but was a bit boring with just lettuce and chicken.  After three visits, I really don't think the food here is anything special.  The prices are reasonable and should be since you order at the counter and clean your own table when you are done.

UPDATE:  Back again.  Tried the Daily fish special ($12.50).  Fresh Island Ono with a Lobster Creme Sauce.  TOTALLY AWESOME!

Fish was cooked to perfection and sauce was out of bounds good.  I put Kilauea Fire Sauce on the rice and fish and it was fantastic.  Best dish I have ever had at Nico's.

UPDATE:  Have been back to Nico's on several occasions.  The place is busier than ever but i am still not a huge fan of the food.  I ordered the Fresh Fish Wrap ($12.95) and was served a tortilla filled with Mahi Mahi and a whole lot of mayo or some white sauce.  This was terrible and served with a pile of plain bitter lettuce.  My wife tried the Seared Ahi Salad ($10.95).  This was pieces of bland Ahi over some greens.

NICO'S PIER 38

THE NEW NICO'S PIER 38 IS AWESOME!

NEW LARGE AND MODERN SPACE WITH GREAT
VIEW OF HARBOR.  LARGE BAR AREA WITH FLAT SCREENS

LARGE BAR IN CENTER OF RESTAURANT

OPEN AIR SEATING WITH VIEW OF HARBOR

DINING AREA AND BAR

PESTO CHICKEN CAESAR SALAD

PIER 38 FISH TACOS

FRESH AHI SANDWICH

BEEF STEW

MARGHERITA PIZZA

FISH N' CHIPS

FRIED AHI BELLY

LUNCH MENU (CLICK TO ENLARGE)

DINNER MENU (CLICK TO ENLARGE)

FRESH ISLAND ONO WITH LOBSTER CREME SAUCE.
ADDED KILAUEA FIRE SAUCE TO RICE AND FISH.
BEST DISH I HAVE EVER HAD AT NICO'S.
MAYBE THE GUY WHO DITCHED MY REVIEW CAN EAT THIS!

 SEARED AHI POKE SALAD

 FRESH FISH WRAP WITH MAHI MAHI

 FRESH FISH WRAP DID NOT RATE HIGH ON TASTE

 MAYONNAISE COVERED EVERYTHING

 MENU SAID SALSA?

NICO'S FRESH FISH WRAP

CHICKEN AND SHRIMP STIR FRY - DINNER AT HOME

CHICKEN AND SHRIMP

STIR FRY

DINNER AT HOME 

We had two chicken breasts and some shrimp in the refrigerator so I whipped up a fresh stir fry using ingredients that we had available. Only had to pick up a few things at the store to prepare this dish.  I marinated the chicken in shoyu, garlic and ginger for less than one hour.  The shrimp were placed in olive oil with some garlic and ginger and marinated shortly too.  I cut up every vegetable I could find in the refrigerator and added some water chest nuts too.  Cooked the chicken and shrimp first and then set aside.  I undercooked them a bit because they would go back in with the vegetables later.  I cooked the vegetables so that they were still a bit crunchy and then added the chicken and shrimp.  Poured in 1/2 cup of Stir Fry Sauce that I bought at the store.  Mixed this all together and served with rice.  Excellent flavor, low fat and healthy!

CHICKEN AND SHRIMP STIR FRY

FRESH VEGETABLES, GARLIC AND GINGER

DICED CHICKEN BREASTS WITH GARLIC, GINGER, SHOYU AND OLIVE OIL

SHIRMP WITH GARLIC, GINGER AND OLIVE OIL

SAUTEE CHICKEN WITH LITTLE BIT OF OIL, GARLIC AND GINGER

SAUTEE SHRIMP WITH GARLIC AND GINGER.
REMOVE CHICKEN AND SHRIMP AND SET ASIDE

SAUTEE THE HARDER VEGETABLES FIRST

ADD IN THE COOKED CHICKEN AND SHRIMP.
POUR IN 1/2 CUP OF STIR FRY SAUCE

ADD BEAN SPROUTS AT END AND REMOVE FROM HEAT

MAHI MAHI COOKED IN PARCHMENT PAPER WITH VEGETABLES

MAHI MAHI WITH VEGETABLES

COOKED IN PARCHMENT PAPER

DINNER AT HOME

After the Italian Beefs, Hot Dogs and Pork Fat Sandwiches in Chicago, it is time to get back to some good and healthy low fat dinners.  This dish is simple and delicious.
Click link below for another version of Mahi Mahi in Parchment Paper:
http://greateatshawaii.blogspot.com/2014/11/baked-mahi-mahi-in-parchment-paper.html

MAHI MAHI WITH VEGETABLES

FRESH MAHI MAHI FILETS

TOP MAHI MAHI WITH VEGETABLES, SLICE OF ORANGE,
TYME, BUTTER AND WHITE WINE.
WRAP IN PARCHMENT PAPER

VEGETABLE MIXTURE - CELERY, FENNEL, CARROTS,
ONION, GREEN BEANS, ORANGES IN OLIVE OIL

BAKE IN OVEN FOR AROUND 12 MINUTES

FINISHED DISH RIGHT OUT OF OVEN

DELICIOUS, HEALTHY AND LOW FAT

TORTAS FRONTERA BY RICK BAYLESS - CHICAGO

TORTAS FRONTERA

BY RICK BAYLESS

CHICAGO O'HARE AIRPORT

TERMINAL 1, B11

Wow was I surprised and happy to find a Rick Bayless restaurant in the Chicago airport.  This little stand features Mexican Torta sandwiches with a gourmet flair.  I tried the Pepito Torta ($11).  Beer braised beef short ribs, pickled jalapeños, chihuahua cheese, black beans, cilantro crema and arugula.  This sandwich was excellent.  Only wish I had more flights to Chicago so I can sample the others.

BEER BRAISED BEEF SHORT RIBS WITH PICKLED JALAPENO

TORTAS AT THE AIRPORT

THE PEPITO TORTA

REALLY GOOD GREEN SALSA