GREAT EATS HAWAII: May 2012

Monday, May 28, 2012

KO'OLINA GOLF COURSE

KO'OLINA GOLF COURSE

KO'OLINA, HAWAII

COURSE IS IN GREAT CONDITION AND BEAUTIFUL.
HOLE 8, PAR 3

ORDER FROM THE CART AND YOUR FOOD AND
DRINKS ARE READY WHEN YOU DRIVE BY THE SNACK SHOP

CHEESBURGER IS $7.33 AND
PRETTY GOOD

MENU IS TOUCH SCREEN AND VERY EASY.
ORDER UP SOME BURGERS AND DRINKS
AND THEY ARE READY ON THE WAY TO 10TH HOLE

GPS SYSTEM TURNS INTO MENU AS YOU APPROACH
THE 9TH HOLE

GPS IN EVERY CART. HOLE LOCATION, DISTANCE AND
COURSE MAP ON BRIGHT COLOR SCREEN. TOUCH
PAD ALSO ALLOWS YOU TO ORDER FOOD AND DRINKS
FROM YOUR CART.

THE 12TH HOLE AT KO'OLINA IS SPECTACULAR

HOLE 18
I HIT MY BALL IN THE WATERFALL AND IT POPPED
OUT ONTO GRASS

HOLE 18 HAS WATER IN FRONT OF GREEN

APPROACH TO 18TH GREEN IS STUNNING

PAR 3 - 12TH HOLE IS BEAUTIFUL

Sunday, May 20, 2012

MORRISSEY
KAKAAKO WATERFRONT PARK AMPHITHEATER

I had to do some talking and promise a few bribes to get my wife and daughter to go to a Morrissey concert with me. I grew up listening to the Smith's in the 80's when Morrissey was something of a cult figure and rock god. I can remember pounding a few brews and closing my eyes listening to his melodic tunes. Always wanted to see him in person and really did not think it would ever happen in Hawaii. But Steven Morrissey did come to our little Island after only waiting 20 years. Just days after his 53rd birthday Morrissey did a show on Maui and one on Oahu. The Oahu show was held at the Kakaako Waterfront Park Amphitheater which I did not know existed until this night. The amphitheater is located on a small hill overlooking the ocean just minutes from downtown Honolulu. There is plenty of parking (free and paid) around the venue. You can bring something to sit on but that is about it. No chairs, coolers, outside food or beverages allowed. There are three or four food tents selling pizza, fried chicken and vegetarian things. Better to eat before or after the event. The entrance process may take some patience. We arrived an hour before the show to find a long line waiting to get in. The process takes time because they actually card everyone in attendance. Those over 21 are given a wrist band that allows them to purchase alcohol and sit on the left of the amphitheater. Those under 21 or with families are seated on the right side. There is a double orange fence and security guards separating the two sides. Roughly two thirds of over 21 on the left and one third of space on right with the under 21 crowd. I got a over 21 wrist band and walked over to purchase a beer. Had to finish it before returning to the under 21 side. There were a lot of beer taps and bars serving just about everything. A 12 oz brew set me back $7. I pounded it and went back to the family. Kind of liked the under 21 side. It was not crowded and very mellow. We laid out our blanket and stretched out without anyone really close to us. Loved this venue and will return again for more concerts. It is better than the Waikiki Shell because there are no sound restrictions. In Kakaako you can turn up the volume and rock. And rock Morrissey did. I loved the concert. Morrissey's voice is still there and he can reach the notes and melodies that made the Smith's one of the most influential bands in Great Britain. When Morrissey sang "Everyday is like Sunday", I got goose bumps and thanked the lord for this night. I looked over and both my girls were under blankets sleeping.

VIDEO BELOW.

MORRISSEY STILL HAS THE VOICE. HE TOOK
OF HIS SHIRT AND THREW IT INTO THE AUDIENCE

LONG LINE TO ENTER THE KAKAAKO PARK AMPHITHEATER

AMPHITHEATER OVERLOOKS THE OCEAN

ORANGE FENCE SEPARATES OVER 21 FROM UNDER 21

TERRACED OUTDOOR SEATING ON GRASS

GREAT PLACE TO SEE A CONCERT

AMPHITHEATER HOLDS AROUND 7,000 PEOPLE

THANKS FOR COMING BACK TO HAWAII MORRISSEY!

VIDEO OF MORRISSEY LIVE
"EVERYDAY SEEMS LIKE SUNDAY"

PAINA CAFE

PAINA CAFE

WARD WAREHOUSE

HONOLULU, HAWAII

Ever eat at a place and say to yourself; "I don't know how this place stays in business". Well this is what we said while dining at the Paina Cafe. How this place obtained and affords such a great location is beyond me. We walked in and found tables and chairs all over the place. There is a small counter with a menu above and another dozen or so special menus on top of the counter. People line up and try to figure everything out. With just one guy on the counter this can take some time. The guy at the counter did not even say hi. Just looked up. I ordered the Italiano Sandwich ($7.95). Turkey, Salami, Cheese, Sweet Peppers, Tomato, Pepperoni, Lettuce, Mayo and Red Wine Vinaigrette. Sounded delicious. What I got was a mini roll basted with enough mayonnaise to cover the Arizona Memorial. I unwrapped the sandwich to find mayonnaise oozing out of every corner and onto my hands. Mayo was everywhere. Made me sick. I removed the lettuce and tried to wipe off some of the mayo. No luck. It was engulfed in mayo. Had to take it out of the sandwich all together. I tried to get most of the mayo off the bread but again there was just too much and it hung around everywhere. I took around three bites of this mess and through in the towel. Offered it to my daughter who took on bite and then wrapped it back in the paper and tossed it. The large Poke Bowl ($7.95) was filled with fresh Ahi smothered in sauce. Served on top of your choice of brown or white rice with shredded Nori or Furikake. Turns out you choose your sauce (hot or mild) and also add different toppings. The menu's posted above do not tell you this nor did the counter guy. You need to pick up a printed menu that is back by the front door next to two miss matched trash cans. We did not see these menus until we left. The ordering process here is a bit confusing and there is nothing to indicate all the options available. The Paina Cafe also serves a wide variety of salads but get the printed menu because again there are a lot of options and toppings available for the salads. You can also order fruit, Acai Bowls and smoothies here. There are around a dozen different sandwiches on the menu. Recommend you say "light on the mayo" when you order one. I did not care for the decor, food or personality of the counter guy here. Overall it was a pretty bad experience.

PA'INA CAFE

PAINA CAFE LOCATED IN GREAT LOCATION IN CENTER
OF WARD WAREHOUSE

WALK IN AND ORDER AT THE WINDOW. MENUS
ARE POSTED ABOVE AND PRINTED ON SMALL SIGNS

BAR ON LEFT BUT THEY SERVE NO ALCOHOL

LARGE REGULAR POKE BOWL WITH SPICY TUNA

ITALIANO SANDWICH SHOULD BE CALLED
THE MAYO ITALIANO

MAYONNAISE WAS OVERWHELMING.
LOADS OF IT ALL OVER THE SANDWICH.
TRIED TO WIPE IT OFF AND THERE WAS STILL A TON

Saturday, May 19, 2012

OAHU COUNTRY CLUB - PUPU'S AFTER GOLF

OAHU COUNTRY CLUB

PUPU'S AFTER GOLF

The Oahu Country Club is nestled in the hills off the Pali Highway just minutes from downtown Honolulu. This private, membership only club is a bit dated inside but truly beautiful on the outside. The course wraps itself up the mountains with long narrow fairways that demand you hit the ball straight. There is not much water on the course but the location is often showered with light sporadic rain. The club has a very large and nice formal dining room that is open for dinner. After a round of golf you can eat in the lower dining room that has a small bar and a few television screens that are always tuned to golf or sporting events. Outside the bar is a small table where members congregate to smoke cigars, enjoy a cocktail and talk story. We ended up at this table and the cigars immediately were lit and the beers were flowing. My rich country club friend ordered appetizers for the table. Chicken Wings, Ahi Poke, Nachos and Pizza. The food came rather quickly and the waiter was professional. He called each member at the table by name and always checked back to see if anyone needed a refill. I loved the Ahi Poke. Fresh Ahi cubed and served with onion and seaweed. The shoyu based sauce was a bit sweet. The Chicken Wings come with BBQ Sauce on the side. Really wish they served them with some hot sauce. Also liked the Nachos with the ground beef and cheese. The pizza was thin crust and covered with ripe red tomatoes and fresh basil. Only complaint was how they clumped all the cheese in the middle of the pizza. Since there was no sauce, the pizza was a bit dry on the ends. Love spending time at the Oahu Country Club. The members that I have met up there have been polite and gracious.

CHICKEN WINGS SERVED WITH BBQ SAUCE. WHERES THE HEAT?

OAHU COUNTRY CLUB IS PRIVATE AND LOCATED
JUST MINUTES FROM DOWNTOWN HONOLULU

NESTLED IN THE HILLS OFF PALI HIGHWAY.
THE COURSE IS LUSH WITH NARROW FAIRWAYS AND
LOTS OF HILLS TO WALK UP

AHI POKE WAS DELICIOUS!

NACHOS WITH GROUND BEEF, CHEESE, GUACAMOLE AND SOUR CREME

MARGARITA PIZZA

Friday, May 18, 2012

HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS

HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS

NEIL BLAISDELL CENTER

HONOLULU, HAWAII

Enjoyed seeing the Harlem Globetrotters with my family and my daughters friend from her basketball team. While the Globetrotters are still entertaining they seem to lack that magic that I remembered as a kid. Many of the tricks and gags are the same. The water bucket chase is still a fan favorite. Never noticed this before but the Globetrotters play with the baskets lowered by about a foot. This is how they are able to dunk so often, hang on the rim and hit more shots. The team is now anchored by The Big Easy. He is no Meadowlark Lemon but he does pull of the part and keep the party going. The addition of a female Globetrotter increased the interest of my daughter and her friend. They were anxious to get her autograph after the game. The girls were able to get autographs of all the players on this traveling team. Great night of fun with the family. Wanted to show photos of the Elvis statue in front of the Neil Blaisdell Center. Nice tribute to the King. Elvis was instrumental in building the Arizona Memorial. He gave money from the first satellite concert around the world to help build the memorial. Video of the Globetrotters below.

HARLEM GLOBETROTTER - BIG EASY

VIDEO OF HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS IN HAWAII

ELVIS SCULPTURE OUTSIDE OF THE
NEIL BLAISDELL CENTER IN HONOLULU

SCULPTURE IS JUST TO THE RIGHT OF MAIN
TICKET BOOTH OFF WARD AVENUE

ELVIS - ALOHA FROM HAWAII
THE WORLD'S FIRST SATELLITE TV CONCERT
JANUARY 14, 1973
WITH SUPREME TALENT AND SINCERE HUMILITY,
ELVIS PRESLEY MADE HIS GIFT THE WORLD'S.
"THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH"
FROM THE PEOPLE OF TV LAND.

THE BLAISDELL CENTER IS A ROUND SAUCER LOOKING BUILDING.
CONSTRUCTED IN 1964 WITH WATER SURROUNDING THE MAIN
ENTRANCES INTO THE ARENA.

GLOBETROTTER BASKETBALLS AND PROGRAMS
WERE LATER SIGNED BY ALL THE PLAYERS

COURT SIDE SEATS WERE PRETTY DARN GOOD

Monday, May 14, 2012

MOTHERS DAY DINNER AT HOME

MOTHERS DAY DINNER

AT HOME

We rarely venture out for meals on Valentines or Mothers Day. Just not into the large crowds. I asked my wife what she wanted for her Mothers Day dinner and she requested the Pappardelle Pasta with Mushrooms that we enjoyed a few weeks ago. We invited her mother to join us and had a wonderful dinner at home. I served Boschetto Al Tartufo Cheese appetizer to start. This is absolutely one of my favorite appetizers. We discovered the cheese and preparation at Pearl Nightclub in Ala Moana Center. Simply toast some bread with a garlic/butter spread. Coat the bread with Raspberry or Strawberry Preserves and top with a slice of cheese. One bite will put you in cheese heaven. Guaranteed! My wife really likes the Shrimp Tempura from Costco. Simply bake the shrimp in the oven for a few minutes and you have a really good appetizer complete with dipping sauce that is included in the box. Our salad included bacon, avocado and crumbled Blue Cheese. The Pappardelle Pasta with fresh local mushrooms was again delicious. You can find the recipe on this blog. To kick up the dinner we enjoyed some large Alaskan King Crab Legs that we picked up at Costco. These huge legs are filled with the sweetest crab it town. No need for butter. Simply steam and serve. Finished the evening with a chocolate lava cake that was filled with a chocolate sauce in the middle. The chocolate oozed out when you cut into it. Very thankful for my Mom, my wife, my Dad's wife Heidi and my Mother in Law. Where would anyone of us be without a Mom. I love them all!

MOTHERS DAY DINNER

BOSCHETTO AL TARTUFO CHEESE.
THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE CHEESES.
VERY EXPENSIVE BUT WORTH IT FOR SPECIAL OCCASIONS

BOSCHETTO AL TARTUFO CHEESE SERVED WITH
GARLIC BREAD AND STRAWBERRY PRESERVES

SPREAD RASPBERRY OR STRAWBERRY PRESERVES ON
GARLIC/BUTTER TOAST AND TOP WITH CHEESE.
THIS IS ONE OF OUR ALL TIME FAVORITE APPETIZERS
AND GUEST ALWAYS LOVE IT!