GRILLED SHRIMP AND SHRIMP TEMPURA TACOS

DINNER AT HOME

Taco Tuesday at Casa de Santos so I made two types of Shrimp Tacos.  Grilled Shrimp and Shrimp Tempura.  These were oh so good.  I love Shrimp Tempura Tacos but my Grilled Shrimp Tacos were just as good. For the Grilled Tacos I simply spiced up the Shrimp with Flavor God Taco, Ghost Pepper and Chipotle seasonings and then grilled them.  Both tacos included White Sauce (Mayo, Yogurt and Lime Juice), Cabbage, Cheese, Pico de Gallo, Avocado, Cotija Cheese and Hot Sauce.  

GRILLED SHRIMP (FRONT) AND SHRIMP TEMPURA TACOS

 

SAUSAGE AND BEEF STUFFED ZUCCHINI - AGAIN!

DINNER AT HOME

We loved this dish so much that I made it again.  Sausage and Beef Stuffed Zucchini topped with Parmesan and Mozzarella Cheese.  

Click link below to view previous post on Sausage and Beef Stuffed Zucchini

https://greateatshawaii.blogspot.com/2020/09/sausage-and-beef-stuffed-zucchini.html

SAUSAGE AND BEEF STUFFED ZUCCHINI

TOPPED WITH MELTED PARMESAN AND MOZZARELLA

HOLLOW OUT AND SEASON THE ZUCCHINI THEN COOK ON GRILL

FILL WITH SAUSAGE BEEF AND SAUCE.  TOP WITH PARMESAN AND MOZZARELLA

BACK ON THE GRILL TO MELT THE CHEESE

A NEW FAMILY FAVORITE

LOW CARB DINNER

 

PORK LOIN WITH HONEY MUSTARD GLAZE

DINNER AT HOME

I don't cook Pork Loin too often but after this I will be.  This came out so moist and flavorful that I wanted to kiss the Chef (me).  I put a dry rub on the Pork Loin and let it sit for a few hours.  Then basted with a Honey, Mustard, Soy Sauce mixture.  Placed a cup of Beef Broth and cup of Water in the pan and cooked covered for 20 minutes at 375 degrees.  Uncovered.  Basted again and cooked uncovered for another 15 minutes.  I went a little over on temp and pulled it out at 150 degrees.  Should have been 145 degrees.

Did not matter because this came out perfecto!

PORK LOIN WITH HONEY MUSTARD GLAZE

PORK LOIN AND FRENCH ONION SOUP ON THE LANAI

 

FRENCH ONION SOUP

DINNER AT HOME

Boy was I surprised how good this French Onion Soup came out.  Absolutely delicious.  I read a bunch of recipes and combined what I liked about each one of them into my own concoction.  Probably could not duplicate this again because I did not write down what I was doing and did not use exact measurements.  Just winged it when I came home and saw a huge bag of onions on the counter.  My Wife said they were on sale so she bought the big bag.  With this many onions in the house I had to do something.  French Onion Soup came to mind.  Topped the soup with garlic bread an Gruyere Cheese.  Entire family loved it and we all agreed it was better than most restaurants we have visited.

MY NEW FAVORITE FRENCH ONION SOUP

DREW'S FRENCH ONION SOUP

SO CHEESY AND SO GOOD

LARGE BAG OF ONIONS

I THINK I USED FOUR OR FIVE ONIONS AND 5 CLOVES OF GARLIC

COOKED THE ONIONS DOWN IN BUTTER AND OLIVE OIL

ADDED WHITE WINE TO DEGLAZE.  ALSO TABLESPOON OF BROWN SUGAR
AND PEPPER

TWO CONTAINERS OF BEEF BROTH, BEEF BULLION BASE, FRESH THYME AND BAY LEAF GOES INTO THE POT.  SIMMERED FOR A FEW HOURS

REMOVE TYME SPRIGS AND BAY LEAF

PUT SOUP IN OVEN SAFE DISH

TOP WITH GARLIC BREAD

GRUYERE CHEESE

PLACE IN BROILER TO MELT CHEESE AND BROWN UP A BIT

INTO THE BROILER

CHEESE IS MELTED - LETS EAT!

DELICIOUS AND BEAUTIFUL FRENCH ONION SOUP

MAILE'S THAI BISTRO

MAILE'S THAI BISTRO

1200 ALA MOANA BLVD

HONOLULU, HI  96814

808-591-2488

HOURS:  Monday thru Thursday/Sunday 11AM - 9PM

                 Friday and Saturday 11AM - 10PM

www.mailesthaibistro.com

www.yelp.com/biz/mailes-thai-at-ward-honolulu-2

www.facebook.com/mailesthai/

DATE NIGHT AT MAILE'S THAI BISTRO

First week of our relaxed lockdown and I was finally able to get a hair cut and go out to dinner with the 

family.  We went to Maile's Thai Bistro because we love the food and Maile plus wanted to give her 

our business to support.  We started with an off the menu special - Garlic Butter Clams.  Wow these were good.  I ended up eating three orders of them.  Because of COVID-19 everything at Maile's is being served in plastic, paper or styrofoam.  Even the utensils are plastic.  While this takes away the presentation it did not take away the great flavors.  We wanted to keep it light for dinner so we did not get our normal dishes which are Evil Jungle Chicken, Ong Choi Beef, Curry and Seafood Combination.  My girls absolutely love the Cold Tofu here and they finished it off in seconds.  I did not even get a bite.  Next up were Spring Rolls which the entire family loves.  We wrap them in lettuce and add cucumber, mint and hot sauce.  Yum.  Also enjoyed the Green Papaya Salad which is also a family favorite.  The star dish of the night was Hamachi Kama.  Damn this was delicious.  Covered in fried garlic and so moist and flavorful. Finished our meal with Maile's French Fries which are the best.  So light and crunchy.  Maile joined us for a few drinks which was nice.  She is such a hard working person and someone who I have known, admired and respected for over 20 years.

GARLIC BUTTER CLAMS

COLD TOFU

SPRING ROLLS SERVED COVID STYLE

LOVE MAILE'S SPRING ROLLS

GREEN PAPAYA SALAD

HAMACHI KAMA

MAILE'S FRENCH FRIES

THE ENTIRE FAMILY AND MAILE

DATE NIGHT WITH MY GIRLS

 

PASTRAMI AND SWISS CHEESE SANDWICH

LUNCH AT HOME

I was craving a Pastrami and Swiss Cheese Sandwich and dreaming about our trips to the Carnegie Deli 

in New York where we would share giant Pastrami sandwiches.  I made my own version that was not quite as big but just as flavorful.  Used Jewish Rye Bread and made my own Russian Dressing.  Also put a little Deli Mustard with Horseradish on the bread.  Oh so delicious!

PASTRAMI AND SWISS CHEESE SANDWICH

JEWISH RYE BREAD AND HOMEMADE RUSSIAN DRESSING

 

BLACK TRUFFLE, MUSHROOMS AND PANCETTA WITH PAPPARDELLE

DINNER AT HOME

Used up the last of my Truffles making this delicious pasta dinner.  This time I added Truffle Butter to the sauce and it really made a difference.  Also added Mushrooms and lots of Parmesan Cheese.

BLACK TRUFFLE, MUSHROOMS AND PANCETTA WITH PAPPARDELLE

BLACK TRUFFLE AND MUSHROOM PASTA AND CAPRESE SALAD ON THE LANAI

 

CAPRESE SALAD WITH AVOCADO

PRE DINNER SALAD AT HOME

Loved this simple salad containing small Mozzarella Cheese Balls, Cherry Tomatoes, Basil, Red Onion, Avocado and fresh Basil from our garden.  Drizzled a Balsamic reduction and Olive Oil over everything.

This is so fresh, light and flavorful.  Lucked out with some super sweet tomatoes from Whole Foods.

CAPRESE SALAD WITH AVOCADO

OPAKAPAKA WITH SWEET CHILI SAUCE

LUNCH AT THE OFFICE

A guy drives to our office in a small car and parks in front of our door.  He opens his trunk and there are 

7-10 different lunches which he sells for just $5 each.  The menu always changes and includes fresh fish, steak, chicken and pork dishes.  I went for the Opakapaka with Chili Sauce and was not disappointed.  

The fish was super fresh and cooked perfectly.  Not too much breading and covered in sautéed vegetables. Cannot beat this lunch for $5.

OPAKAPAKA WITH SWEET CHILI SAUCE

 

ALEJANDRO'S WET CARNE ASADA BURRITO

ALEJANDRO'S 

2831 KALIHI STREET

HONOLULU HI

808-777-0038

www.alejandrosmexicanfood.com

www.yelp.com/biz/alejandros-mexican-food-honolulu

www.facebook.com/AlejandrosMexicanRestaurant/

www.instagram.com/alejandrostacos/?hl=en

Alejandro's is my go to place for a Carne Asada Burrito.  Best in Honolulu if you ask me.

I always get mine "wet" which means with Enchilada type sauce poured over it.

ALEJANDRO'S WET CARNE ASADA BURRITO

 

SWEET AND SOUR PORK

DINNER AT HOME

I love Sweet and Sour Pork but the problem is most Chinese restaurants in Hawaii don't make it that well or they let it sit out too long.  I also hate when there is more breading than pork and when the pork is hard as a rock. Also don't like soggy vegetables and a sauce that is too sweet.  Thankfully my Wife learned to make Sweet and Sour Pork and her recipe totally rocks.  The pork is very lightly coated in corn starch after marinating overnight in Soy Sauce, Egg Whites, Green Onion and Spices.  She makes a sauce out of Sugar, Water, Apple Cider Vinegar and Soy Sauce.  She keeps the vegetables a bit crunchy too.  This version is light, fresh and you can really taste the pork.  Love it!

SWEET AND SOUR PORK

PORK MARINATES OVERNIGHT AND THEN LIGHTLY COATED IN CORN STARCH

ONIONS, CELERY AND BELL PEPPERS

PORK FRIED IN CANOLA OIL

DEEP FRY UNTIL GOLDEN BROWN

THE PORK IS READY

SAUCE WITH FRESH HAWAII PINEAPPLE

SWEET AND SOUR PORK PRODUCTION LINE

MIX THE PORK AND VEGETABLES INTO THE SAUCE

HOMEMADE SWEET AND SOUR PORK

SWEET AND SOUR PORK ON THE LANAI