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Sunday, July 30, 2017

SAKURA TERRACE JAPANESE CAFE

SAKURA TERRACE JAPANESE CAFE
1240 S. KING STREET
HONOLULU, HI  96814
808-591-1181
HOURS:  Closed Monday.  Tuesday thru Sunday 11:00 AM - 2:30 PM / 5:00 PM - 9:30 PM

Me and my Daughter seem to always be cruising to find a place for lunch on weekends.  On this afternoon we were cruising up Piikoi and turned right onto King Street as we have done hundreds of times.  We saw the Sakura Terrace sign and did not know what the place was all about but they had parking so we decided to try the place.  Is it Japanese or Korean we asked as we walked in the door.  That was surprising because my Daughter has a A in her Japanese class and should be able to read the sign.  We entered not knowing what to expect.  As we entered I saw a Sushi Bar and said "Japanese".
I looked around and the place was pretty packed.  To the right was a beautiful terrace full of diners.  Amazing that this little outdoor terrace is right on busy King Street yet you cannot see the cars and it looks very tranquil.  We were seated by a polite gentlemen and then served by a very friendly waitress who was awesome.  As we looked over the menu, we both thought everything looked so good.  We wanted about a dozen items off the lunch menu.  My Daughter wanted Sushi and so did I but then I saw the photo of Steak, Lobster and Crab for $30 and had to try this lunch set.  
We started with the Sashimi Moriawase ($25).  The presentation was beautiful with a large Shrimp in the middle and fresh Sashimi on the sides.  The Sashimi was cut a bit thick for my taste but it still was delicious and fresh.  This plate was empty in minutes and the waitress was surprised to return to the table and find that it looked like birds had devoured everything on the plate.  Next up was the Dragon Roll ($18) with Crab, Avocado and Unagi.  Wow...so delicious.  My Daughter was mowing through this and saying how Mom would love it.  As she kept eating she was about to swallow the last two pieces and I said "wouldn't you like to take that home to Mommy?".  She looked at me with a very guilty face and put the piece she had just picked up with her chopsticks back on the plate.  The Wafu Steak, Lobster and King Crab ($30) lunch came with Miso Soup, Salad, Pickled Vegetables, Rice and a Cold Tofu like Pancake.  While the Lobster was small the flavor was delicious.  Steak was perfectly cooked, well seasoned and very tasty.  King Crab sweet and delicious too.  This is quite a meal for $30.  Between the two of us we could not finish it so Mommy did get some Sushi and Steak too.  Really enjoyed the food, service and atmosphere at Sakura Terrace and will be back again real soon.  Something tells me that this may be my new "go to" Japanese restaurant.  UPDATE:  Went back to Sakura Terrace the very next day and once again loved our meal.  I had the Wafu Cobb Salad ($18).  Wow...this is a meal for two or three.  I ate about 1/4 of the salad and took the rest home.  Includes Crab, Shrimp, Bacon, Avocado, Tofu, Chicken, Salmon, Egg, Seaweed, Tomato and those large orange fish eggs.  My Daughter got the Spicy Ahi Don($17) and loved it.  She liked the cut of the Ahi and the fact that it was not overpowered with mayonnaise.  My Wife had the Unagi Bento ($20) which included Miso Soup and some really good Tempura.  She liked the light batter on the Tempura and said the Shrimp was huge.  Ended the meal with the Dragon Roll ($18) and it was amazing.  Entire family happy with this meal.

SAKURA TERRACE

SAKURA TERRACE JAPANESE CAFE
SUSHI BAR
THIS TABLE IS OURS
OUTDOOR TERRACE ON THE RIGHT
SAKURA TERRACE LUNCH MENU
ROLL SUSHI
SUSHI
SAKURA SPECIALS
TEISHOKU AND NOODLES
DONBURI


SASHIMI MORIAWASE
DRAGON ROLL


UNAGI DON MEAL INCLUDES TEMPURA AND MISO SOUP
UNAGI IS DELICIOUS

SHRIMP AND VEGETABLE TEMPURA

SPICY AHI DONBURI

 WAFU COBB SALAD

DRAGON ROLL

PASTA WITH TUNA AND TOMATOES

PASTA WITH TUNA AND TOMATOES
DINNER AT HOME

Driving home from work and for some reason a can of Tuna sounded good.  Got home and checked the refrigerator and pantry for ingredients and came up with a recipe that the entire family loved. Simply a can of Tuna, Capers, Cherry Tomatoes, Sun Dried Tomatoes, Garlic and Basil.
Wow this was delicious!


SALMON WITH HOLLANDAISE SAUCE

SALMON WITH HOLLANDAISE SAUCE
DINNER AT HOME

This is one of my all time favorite dinners at home.  Fresh Wild Salmon with Hollandaise Sauce with a bit of rice.  Discovered this recipe in the 1980's when I first moved to Hawaii.  They served this for breakfast at the New Otani Kaimana Beach Hotel.  Loved it then and love it now.


SMOKED MARLIN SLIDERS

SMOKED MARLIN SLIDERS
DINNER AT HOME

I discovered this recipe for Smoke Marlin Sandwiches while in Bali. Loved them so much that I ate one every day during my visit.  Now whenever I visit Kona there is a run to the market to buy Smoked Marlin.  You can use most any bread or rolls for this.  Always add butter and garlic spread to both pieces of bread and heat.  Top with Smoked Marlin, Capers aand Red Onion.  The kicker is a little bit of Horseradish.  
Click link below for previous post on Smoked Marlin Sandwiches;


BBQ CHICKEN DINNER

BBQ CHICKEN
DINNER AT HOME

I love BBQ Chicken cooked on the outdoor grille.  This little dinner is so satisfying and inexpensive. 


PEARL'S KOREAN BBQ

PEARL'S KOREAN BBQ
KAHALA MALL
4211 WAIALAE AVE
HONOLULU, HI  96816
808-735-2988
HOURS:  Monday thru Saturday 10:30 AM - 9:00 PM / Sunday 10:30 AM - 7:00 PM

One of the great things about living in Hawaii is Korean BBQ.  They are all over the Islands and a favorite of most locals.  Pearl's Korean BBQ which has many locations does a really good job.  I love their Spicy Cucumbers and Kalbi which is a bit charred.  One of these Plate Lunches usually serves two or even three in our family.  Shared this one with the entire family.

KALBI RIBS AND SPICY CUCUMBERS

HOAKALEI COUNTRY CLUB

HOAKALEI COUNTRY CLUB
KEONEULA BLVD
EWA BEACH, HI  96706
808-853-4343

Hoakalei Country Club is my absolute favorite golf course on Oahu.  There are 115 bunkers and water on almost every hole at this amazing track designed by Ernie Els.  Love the course, employees and even the makeshift Club House that is currently a trailer.  The new Club House is finally under construction and when it is finished, this will be the finest club on Oahu.  Food is already pretty good here but with the new Club House I am sure they will be getting even better.  
Click link below for previous post on Hoakalei Country Club;

THE 13TH HOLE AT HOAKALEI
15TH HOLE IS A VERY LONG PAR 5
17TH HOLE WITH WATER DOWN THE LEFT SIDE
I WAS ON THE 18TH HOLE WITH MY DRIVE AND MADE PAR! 
SPINACH DIP WITH CHIPS
AHI AND TAKO POKE
SEARED BLACKENED SASHIMI
STEAK WITH MUSHROOMS AND ONIONS

MID PAC COUNTRY CLUB

MID PACIFIC COUNTRY CLUB
266 KAELEPULU DRIVE
KAILUA, HI  96734
808-262-8161
www.facebook.com/MidPacificCountryClub/

Another beautiful day at Mid Pac Country Club.  This is a really beautiful course on the Windward side of Oahu.  When the weather is perfect, there is a feeling here that is amazing.  Having the Koolau Mountains as a backdrop adds to the beauty.  Love the Club House at Mid Pac.  Great employees and food.  Absolutely was in love with the Chili Nachos here and they took them off the menu.  Bummer!
Click links below for more posts on Mid Pacific Country Club;
https://greateatshawaii.blogspot.com/2017/05/mid-pacific-country-club.html

GREAT VIEWS AT MID PAC
AIM FOR THE PALM TREES AND STAY OUT OF THE WATER
THIS LITTLE ISLAND GREEN ALWAYS GIVES ME TROUBLE
LONG PAR 5 ON BACK 9 IS BEAUTIFUL
AVOID ALL THE BUNKERS 
VIEWS FROM THE CLUB HOUSE
19TH HOLE ENJOYED SOME FRESH POKE
YUMMY KAL BI RIBS

AHI AND VEGETABLE

AHI AND VEGETABLE
1210 DILLINGHAM BLVD
HONOLULU, HI  96817
808-845-3500
HOURS: Daily 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM

Ahi and Vegetable is a nice little place to eat when you want a little fresh Ahi and other healthy seafood dishes.  I love the Poke Salad shown here.


KFC ZINGER CHICKEN SANDWICH

KFC ZINGER SANDWICH
LUNCH IN KAILUA

Cruising to the Windward side of the Island and stopped by KFC for a quick lunch.  Saw they had a spicy Zinger Sandwich so I ordered one up with a side of Cole Slaw.  Topped the sandwich with Cole Slaw and made a delicious meal.  


Saturday, July 29, 2017

RESIDENT'S BEACH HOUSE

RESIDENT'S BEACH HOUSE
FOUR SEASONS HUALALAI
72-100 KAUPULEHU DRIVE
KAILUA-KONA, HI  96740
808-325-8000

Just past one of the pools at the Four Season Hualalai sits a little beachside bar that has to be one of the most comfortable and beautiful bars in all Hawaii.  With the ocean only steps from your table, the views are amazing and addicting.  I could literally sit at this place all day and night.  Love it.
Our golf group ended up here after a round of golf at Hualalai.  Food and service was excellent but be prepared to pay for this incredible view.  Place is not cheap.

RESIDENT'S BEACH HOUSE

THE RESIDENT'S BEACH HOUSE IS JUST BEYOND THE POOL TO THE LEFT
PATIO SEATING IS COMFORTABLE AND RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE OCEAN
THE BEACH HERE IS BEAUTIFUL
ENJOYING A COLD ONE HERE IS NICE
RESIDENT'S BEACH HOUSE MENU
A LITTLE AFTER GOLF REFRESHMENT
AHI SASHIMI SO FRESH
KONA BEER STEAMED SHRIMP
THE HUALALAI PIZZA
GRILLED CHICKEN NACHOS