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Monday, February 20, 2017

SHREDDED CHICKEN ENCHILADAS

SHREDDED CHICKEN ENCHILADAS
DINNER AT HOME

Readers of my blog know that I complain a lot about the lack of good Mexican food in Hawaii.  Thats why you can find many recipes here that are far and away better than most places at a fraction of the cost.  I would go toe to toe with any restaurant with my Shredded Chicken Tacos (recipe below) and now I have turned that same recipe into Chicken Enchiladas and believe me they are great.  Used the same Shredded Chicken that I use in my Tacos and made a quick Enchilada Sauce using Tomato Sauce, Green Chilis, Onions, Garlic, Cumin and Chili Powder.  Added the sauce to the bottom of a pan and then filled sauce soaked flour tortillas with the Shredded Chicken Mixture.  Added a Mexican Cheese Blend and covered with more sauce and cheese.  Baked for 25 minutes at 350 degrees.  So easy and so delicious.  
Click link below to view Shredded Chicken Recipe;

SHREDDED CHICKEN ENCHILADAS
THESE ENCHILADAS ARE LOADED WITH FLAVOR
HOME MADE ENCHILADA SAUCE AND FLAVOR PACKED SHREDDED CHICKEN ENCHILADA


Saturday, February 18, 2017

VALENTINES DAY DINNER AT HOME

VALENTINES DAY 
DINNER AT HOME

Wow... I am one lucky guy.  Enjoyed an incredible Valentines dinner at home this year with three out of town guests who had never been to Hawaii.  Treated them to some great food and wine in the comforts of home.  My lovely Bride took care of the main courses while I did up the appetizers.  
This was pretty much a perfect meal for me.  Loved the food and love my Wife!

VALENTINE'S DAY DINNER

THE APPETIZER SPREAD FOR OUR OUT OF TOWN GUESTS
AHI AND KIM CHE TAKO POKE
TRUFFLE CHEESE WITH RASPBERRY JAM AND GARLIC BREAD
PROSCUITTO WRAPPED PEARS
SHRIMP COCKTAIL
WEDGE SALAD WITH BACON AND PARMESAN CRISP
FILET MIGNON WITH CRAB LEGS
CHOCOLATE LAVA CAKE, VANILLA ICE CREAM AND HAND DIPPED STRAWBERRIES 



MOKU KITCHEN - AGAIN

MOKU KITCHEN
660 ALA MOANA BLVD
HONOLULU, HI  96813
808-591-6658
HOURS:  Monday thru Thursday 11:00 AM - 11:00 PM
                 Friday and Saturday 11:00 AM - 12:00 AM

Back to Moku Kitchen in Kakaako for some lunch with the family.  This was my second visit to what is becoming quite the meeting place in Honolulu.  Once again the staff was friendly but this time I left somewhat unsatisfied.  We started with the Ginger Ahi Shoyu Poke ($14) which was delicious.  The Ahi was fresh and the light taste of Ginger came through perfectly.  The Taro Chips were also fresh and my Daughter loved scooping up the Ahi with the Chips.  The Roasted Squash Ravioli ($12) is a go-to dish at Moku Kitchen and their Sister Monkeypod Kitchen.  The Squash is sweet and pairs perfectly with the pasta which I learned is frozen Gyoza wrappers and not fresh pasta as I always thought.  My Wife who is trying the Nutri System diet right now went with the Vegetable Roasted Plate ($15) and loved it.  She said she would return again to eat the same dish.  I went for the Fried Chicken Sandwich ($14) and was hugely disappointed.  Did not like the taste of the sandwich at all.  Only ate half.  At $14 you would think this would come with a side but all you get is a small portion of Kim Che which I did like.  What was good about the sandwich was the Pickles and Tomato.  The Chicken was bland and the batter to me sucked.  Would never order this again.
Click link below to view Moku Kitchen menu and read a previous post;

GINGER AHI SHOYU POKE
ROASTED SQUASH RAVIOLI
VEGETABLE ROASTED PLATE
FRIED CHICKEN SANDWICH
I LIKED THE PICKLES AND TOMATO BUT NOT THE SANDWICH

Saturday, February 11, 2017

PHO SAIGON

PHO SAIGON
1538 KAPIOLANI BLVD
HONOLULU, HI  96814
808-955-1069
HOURS:  Daily 9:00 AM - 11:00 PM

With heavy showers pounding Honolulu the temperature dropped into the 70's on this day.
So cold we had to have some Vietnamese Pho to warm us up.  I love Pho and Pho Saigon on Kapiolani serves up one of the best bowls I have tasted in Hawaii.  Its up there with the best of them and far better than most.  We started with what I always eat at Vietnamese restaurants; Spring Rolls ($14).  Thought $14 was a bit high priced for an order of Spring Rolls as the last place I ordered them they were around ten bucks.  The Spring Rolls were lighter than most with not much crunch.  Flavor for me was just ok.  Always like wrapping these in lettuce with a bit of mint and hot sauce.  My Daughter ordered Rare Steak and Beef Ball Pho ($12) and she loved it.  I went for Rare Steak and Flank Steak Pho ($12) and thought it was one of the best Pho's I have tasted.  Great broth and nice portions of meats.  UPDATE 3/12/17 - Returned for second visit to Pho Saigon because I was craving a Banh Mi Sandwich.  Went for the Special Saigon Sandwich ($9) with Vietnamese Ham and Char Siu.  The bread was so fresh and warm that it made the sandwich.  A little crunch on outside but soft and warm on the inside.  The best thing about this sandwich was the Pickled Vegetables and Fresh Cilantro.  Really good but missing one thing to make it great.  What was great were the Make Your Own Grilled Beef Rolls ($20).  This was a great meat dish for twenty bucks.  More than enough Beef and Vegetables for a few people.  The Beef was marinated perfectly and grilled and charred on the edges.  The basket of vegetables served with the beef was awesome.  Fresh Lettuce, Bean Sprouts, Pickled Vegetables, Mint, Basil and Cucumbers.  Also served with Noodles and Peanut Sauce.  Wrap all this up in the Rice Paper and make a burrito.  So light, fresh and delicious.  The Papaya Salad with Shrimp ($14) was also light and fresh.  A little too much dressing for my liking on this visit but really good.  

PHO SAIGON

PHO SAIGON ON KAPIOLANI BLVD KEEPS PRETTY BUSY
FULL BAR PLUS BEER AND WINE AVAILABLE
PHO SAIGON MENU









SPRING ROLLS
I LIKE SPRING ROLLS WITH HOT CHILI SAUCE
YUMMY!
RARE STEAK AND BEEF BALLS PHO
RARE STEAK AND FLANK STEAK PHO
BEAN SPROUTS, JALAPENOS, LEMON AND BASIL GO INTO THE PHO
ADDED THE SIDES AND A BUNCH OF HOT SAUCE
NICE AMOUNT OF MEAT IN THE PHO
LIKED THE SPECIAL HANDLE ON THE SPOON THAT KEEPS SPOON FROM FALLING IN
PUSH BUTTON NEXT TO TABLE ALLOWS YOU TO NOTIFY THE WAITER WHEN YOU WANT SERVICE

 TRIED THE BANH MI SANDWICH SPECIAL ON SECOND VISIT

 THE FRESH WARM BREAD AND CRISP VEGETABLES MADE THIS A GOOD SANDWICH

 VEGETABLES FOR THE GRILLED BEEF MAKE YOUR OWN ROLLS

 LOTS OF GRILLED STEAK FOR THE ROLLLS

 RICE PAPER ROLLS WITH WARM WATER IN A SINGLE CONTAINER

 DIP THE RICE PAPER IN THE WARM WATER AND THEN FILL WITH BEEF AND VEGETABLES

 GREAT SELECTION OF FRESH VEGGIES MAKE THIS SO GOOD

 CREATE YOUR OWN BEEF ROLL

 WRAP IT ALL UP IN THE MOISTENED RICE PAPER

 FRESH - HEALTHY AND LIGHT MEAL THAT THE ENTIRE FAMILY LOVES

 GREEN PAPAYA SALAD WITH SHRIMP

 CRACKER TYPE THING SERVED WITH PAPAYA SALAD

COULD NOT LEAVE VISIT #2 WITHOUT SOME MORE OF THE DELICIOUS PHO