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Monday, May 31, 2021

HOMEMADE CHILI AND CHILI CHEESE DOGS

LUNCH AT HOME

Craving Chili so I made a batch for Memorial Day.  I enjoyed my fave Nathan's Hot Dog in a Chili Bowl with Avocado, Cheese, Onions, Jalapeños and Sour Cream.  My gals went for straight Chili Cheese Dogs and loved them.

CHILE WITH AVOCADO, CHEESE, ONIONS, JALAPEÑO AND SOUR CREAM

CHILI CHEESE DOG

HOMEMADE CHILI WITH NO BEANS

 

FILET OF BEEF WITH BACON WRAPPED ASPARAGUS

DINNER AT HOME

Made this same dinner again because it was just delicious.  

FILET OF BEEF WITH BACON WRAPPED ASPARAGUS

BEEF FILET ON THE LANAI

 

WEDGE SALAD WITH BLEU CHEESE, BACON AND BEETS

APPETIZER AT HOME

Wow...this salad is so good.  A new family favorite.  Amazing how well the Beets go with Bleu Cheese Dressing.  Crumbled Bleu Cheese and Bacon add tons of flavor.


 

MIRO KAIMUKI

MIRO KAIMUKI
3446 WAIALAE AVE
HONOLULU, HI 96816
808-379-0124
HOURS:  Wednesday thru Saturday 5PM - 9PM / Sunday 10AM - 1:30PM, 5-9PM

We left Miro Kaimuki unimpressed and hungry.  Shocking when you consider that this restaurant was recently named one of the Best New Restaurants in the World by Conde Nest Traveler.  Yes, I wrote that correctly.....Best in the World.  The World.  I booked our reservation as soon as I read the Conde Nest review and was only able to get a reservation at 5:15PM on a Saturday.  I called a day in advance to see if we could add one more person to our table.  Without even checking my name or reservation the guy on the phone said "no".  Said they were fully booked and could not add anyone.  When we arrived for our dinner we were seated at a table for four and there were only two of us.  I think another person could have been added.  The staff was professional and knowledgable about the menu which is Prix Fixe for $70.  Now $70 is just the start.  There are many add ons which can take the tab much higher.  For example, if you want bread add $8.  Wagyu Beef add $35.  Foie Gras add $30 and Oysters around $4 each.  There are many more add ons but these were the ones we chose.
I also went for the Wine Pairing for an additional $35.  The wines were excellent and really was a highlight of the meal.  We started with the Fresh Oysters which were small but tasty.
Nothing really special.  The Kauai Prawns with Papaya and Almonds was pretty simple.  There was not much flavor.  The Sweet Peppers were a Curry bomb.  Overpowering Curry flavor that took away the flavor of the Peppers and delicious Onion Jam.  The Grilled Salmon with crispy skin was good but the Béarnaise Sauce was a bit bland.  Did not pop with flavor.
The Foie Gras which we ordered as an add on was the star of the dinner.  Perfectly prepared and unreal delicious.  I could eat five orders of this myself.  The Beef Cheeks were covered in Sun Flower Seeds which I thought was a bit odd.  Seems the Chef likes to incorporate seeds, almonds and nuts in many dishes.  The Beef was small and the last few bites were bitter.
The brown poi like sauce on the plate was terrible.  We upgraded to the Wagyu Beef and to our surprise it did not really taste that much different than regular beef.  Big disappointment.
We really wanted this to be a great dinner and have a new favorite restaurant close to home.
Wish it had been a little better experience at Miro Kaimuki.  Hurts me to write this after spending over $300 for dinner.

FRESH OYSTERS

MIRO KAIMUKI


BRIGHT, CLEAN WITH HIGH CEILINGS

MIRO KAIMUKI MENU

KAUAI PRAWNS

SWEET PEPPERS

SALMON WITH BEARNASE 

FOIE GRAS

BEEF CHEEKS

WAGYU BEEF

SORBET

MIRO DRINK MENU


BLT WITH AVOCADO LETTUCE WRAP

BREAKFAST AT HOME

Craving a BLT but had to keep it low carb so I substituted Lettuce in place of bread.
Topped with sliced Avocado.  Simply delicious!

BLT WITH AVOCADO LETTUCE WRAP

 

Sunday, May 30, 2021

HARBOR HOUSE RESTAURANT

HARBOR HOUSE RESTAURANT
74-425 KEALAKEHE PARKWAY
KAILUA KONA, HI 96740
808-326-4166
HOURS:  Daily 11AM - 6PM / Sunday 11AM - 5PM

Harbor House is one of my favorite spots in Kona.  The perfect spot for an ice cold Beer, Poke and Fish Sandwich.  Prices are reasonable and the service has always been good.  This is the kind of place you come back and back again because it is just simple and delicious.  We always start with the fresh Ahi Poke which is loaded with onions.  Everyone at the table went crazy for the Smoked Pork with Onions too.  The Calamari is also excellent and probably one of the best on the Island.  It has a fresh taste and the Calamari is meaty and not over battered.
The flavor of the Calamari shines through and is perfect when dipped in the horseradish and Ketchup blend.  Love it even though I am trying to stay low carb.  Only ate a few but I could finish the entire plate.  The Clam Chowder here is not my favorite.  Light on flavor and heavy on Potatoes.  The Fish Sandwich is one of the best in Hawaii.  Always fresh and served with Lettuce, Tomato and Tarter Sauce.  I went for the Fresh Catch with Salad which on this day was Ahi Tuna.  Delicious, large portion and the salad was huge too.  Our friend loved the Cheese Steak Sandwich which was served with a huge mound of French Fries.  I would not visit here without trying a Schooner of Beer on a hot Kona day.  The ice cold Schooners make me want to drink beer again.  

ALOHA FROM HARBOR HOUSE IN KONA

HARBOR HOUSE RESTAURANT IN KONA

GREAT VIEWS OF THE HARBOR

OPEN AIR ON THE DOCKS

HARBOR HOUSE MENU


ICE COLD SCHOONER

AHI POKE

CALAMARI

SMOKED MEAT WITH ONIONS

CLAM CHOWDER

FRESH CATCH WITH ALL SALAD

THREE PIECES OF FRESH AHI

GREAT FISH SANDWICHES

CHEESE STEAK

 

FAIRMONT ORCHID - HAWAII

FAIRMONT ORCHID - HAWAII
1 N. KANIKU DRIVE
WAIMEA, HI 96743
808-885-2000

 I love the Fairmont Orchid on the Big Island of Hawaii but I don't like the high price for the rooms.  Rooms are bland and a bit dated.  Good thing we spent very little time in the room because the grounds, beach and pool are beautiful.  In fact stunning.  Cannot beat the sunsets and evening beach views here.  Like being on your own little island.  We upgraded to the Gold Level which has a private lounge and concierge.  With COVID-19 protocols in place, I would not recommend spending the extra money for Gold Level.  Normally with private lounges there are breakfast, lunch and dinner buffets, complimentary drinks including alcohol and snacks.  This lounge had very little and everything had to be handed to you and be individually boxed.  A glass of wine set you back $12 too.  Total waste of money.  Service is excellent though with the staff always greeting you and making sure you are happy.  Dining here is expensive like the rooms.  The Halekai restaurant is ocean/pool front and a beautiful place to enjoy lunch or dinner.  The menu however is quite limited.  We had the Poke with Avocado ($19).  Probably the most bland and tasteless Poke I have ever tasted.  The Chicken Wings with Sesame and Soy ($18) were sticky good but I would have preferred a little heat or Buffalo Wings.  The Fresh Catch Sandwich ($28) was pretty basic and might be the most expensive Fish Sandwich we have ever ordered.  Dinner at Browns Beach House is always good and the views and location cannot be beat.  Sitting outside at sunset here and enjoying a drink numbs the pain of the high prices.  Food and service are both excellent.  I went for the Venison and loved it despite the $56 cost.  The Onion Soup ($16) was unique and delicious.  Served with cheese filled dumplings.  Everyone enjoyed the entrees here.  My Daughter loved the pool and jacuzzi during the day and night.  Evenings by the pool and lagoon here are magical with stunning sunsets, colors and a feeling of total relaxation.  Don't bother bringing pants, fancy shirts or clothes to the Fairmont Orchid.  Dress is casual with shorts, t-shirts and slippers being the standard.  

WELCOME TO THE FAIRMONT ORCHID - HAWAII

LOBBY VIEW

LOOKING BACK AT LOBBY AND ENTRANCE

WALKWAY TO OUR GOLD LEVEL ROOM


GOLD LEVEL LOUNGE

GOLD LEVEL STANDARD ROOM


TAKE A STROLL AROUND THE PROPERTY






HALEKAI RESTAURANT

HALEKAI MENU



BEAUTIFUL LUNCH VIEWS

AHI AVOCADO POKE 

BLAND AND UNSEASONED

SESAME SOY CHICKEN WINGS

FRESH CATCH SANDWICH

CLUB LOUNGE APPETIZERS

BROWN'S BEACH HOUSE OUTDOOR SEATING WITH MUSIC








BROWN'S BEACH HOUSE MENU

THE BREADS ARE AMAZING

AHI POKE

ROMAINE SALAD

MAUI ONION SOUP

PRAWNS

VENISON

SPECIAL OF THE DAY

KONA KAMPACHI


WINE AND CHEESE POOLSIDE