Archive | June 2013

La Cucina Ristorante Italiana

Jun10

When La Cucina Ristorante Italiana was opening up, I got really excited.  A lot of people in Hawaii are excited for an Olive Garden to open up in Hawaii but I don’t see what the big deal is.  The first time I got to try Olive Garden, I was super excited and thought everything was great!  Now that I’ve been to Olive Garden a few times, I am no longer a fan.  The last meal I had there was terrible and I will never forget it.

Anyhow, La Cucina Ristorante Italiana is very busy and they do not take reservations for less than 4 people.  This restaurant is also a one man kitchen so the wait for food takes a bit longer.  It’s a small space and there are only two tables against the wall that seat 2.  I went on a weekday right at 5:30 pm and got a table, thank god!  By the way, the street parking fronting these shops open up at 5:30 pm as well…I lurked around the corner until it was 5:30 pm exactly and made a run for it…lol.  Ohhh let’s get to the food pictures!

As Ina Garten would say, GOOD Olive OIl and Balsamic Vinegar for your bread

As Ina Garten would say, GOOD Olive OIl and Balsamic Vinegar for your bread

My attempt at an arty shot of water. This is the bottle they leave at your table for water refills. Love it.

This is the bottle they leave at your table for water refills. Love it.

Crostini Al Porcini - A nice slice of melted mozzarella lays hidden underneath a mixture of porcini mushrooms, basil and truffle oil. Delicious!

Crostini Al Porcini – A nice slice of melted mozzarella lays hidden underneath a mixture of porcini mushrooms, basil and truffle oil. Delicious!

Trenette Aragosta - it usually comes with tagliolini but I really wanted to try the trenette style pasta. It was a great choice.

Trenette Aragosta – it usually comes with tagliolini but I really wanted to try the trenette style pasta. It was a great choice.

I always try to get a fork shot of the noodles. Delicious looking right?

I always try to get a fork shot of the noodles. Delicious looking right?

I can’t wait to get back to this restaurant and try more dishes.  I gotta admit, the difficulty in getting a table has prevented me from returning as of yet.  If you’re going to take your guest to any Italian restaurant in Hawaii, you need to get them to this restaurant.  I really want to try their Osso Buco but have read that you need to order this ahead of time and I assume they will only put in this order if you have a reservation.  So when you get together a table of four, do it!

 

 

 

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Soondae

Jun9

130609-1Can you tell what that is in the picture?  Well I sort of gave it away in the title of this post but for those who don’t know Korean, this is Korean blood sausage.  When I talk about blood sausage, I get the inevitable “ewww” from people.  That’s okay with me because all that means is…more for me!  I don’t know when I tried this first, but I love it.  If you look closely, you will see that it is filled with various innards and noodles!  Yum yum yum.  This sausage is usually served alongside a seasoning salt.  Even more yum…hehe.

Fishcake Kimbap

Fishcake Kimbap

Here is some delicious Fishcake Kimbap.  Both I got from Keeaumoku Supermarket.  The way they roll this kimbap is so beautiful.  So simple yet you know it takes so much preparation of different ingredients to create this one roll.  Totally worth the $4 in my opinion!

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Snapshot – Downtown

Jun8

I used to work in downtown YEARS ago and loved every minute of it.  Downtown can definitely be a pain in the butt – I had to take the bus every single day because there is no parking but I didn’t mind.  The jobs I worked were all part-time and in customer service which for me meant, stress-free work!  Okay maybe not stress-free but I definitely was not in a big office making big business decisions.

Anyhow, I just wanted to share a quick snapshot I got of downtown when I was running errands one day.

Downtown Honolulu

Downtown Honolulu

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Snow in Chicago

Jun7

Wow, trying to blog everyday is challenging.  I will try my best though!  Not sure who is reading this out there…but I hope you will say hi sometime!  🙂

As promised, I wanted to share my snow pictures from Chicago.  It is definitely my favorite trip to the mainland of all time!  Not only did the snowy winter trip make me ecstatic but I just felt so stress free during this trip.  It was nice to have a nice and leisurely trip.  Well, on to the pictures!

Snow dusted pine tree - one of my first pictures of the trip!

Snow dusted pine tree – one of my first pictures of the trip!

The famous Crown Fountain in Millennium Park.

The famous Crown Fountain in Millennium Park.

Snowman - Hawaiian Style!

Snowman – Hawaiian Style!

I love trees in the winter...

I love trees in the winter…

Ice Skating at the Park!

Ice Skating at the Park! 

Snow falling from the sky! I was elated!

Snow falling from the sky! I was elated!

Another picture of the falling snow. Boy do I miss it.

Another picture of the falling snow. Boy do I miss it.

 

 

 

 

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Hot Woks Cool Sushi in Chicago

Jun6

I have been to Chicago twice in the past 2 years and may be going again near the end of the summer.  The first trip?  Strictly vacation.  I had a great time, the weather was brisk and I really got a feel for Chicago.  The second time was this past February to accompany my cousin to her Pharmacy School interview.  While this trip was unplanned, it could not have been more perfect!  One thing I have wanted to see in all my life was snow and this trip provided that.  Not only did I get to see and touch snow, on one of my last days, I actually got to see snow fall from the sky.  It really was a dream come true.  I’m sure I’ll post the snow pictures soon after this post.  It was pretty funny because when we checked into the hotel, I was told that it was a weird winter for Chicago and that this was the first snow they had all year!  Absolutely magical for this Hawaii girl.

Anyhow, I wanted to share some pictures from this restaurant with you.  I went to this restaurant on both trips and plan to go back if I go again!  When I look up the reviews for Hot Woks Cool Sushi, they are pretty mediocre.  This restaurant is also located right across the street from Cloud Gate so it is probably considered a tourist trap.  I don’t mind though – I’ve enjoyed both meals I had.

Tuna Avocado Salad - amazing dressing!

Tuna Avocado Salad – amazing dressing!

Caterpillar - Signature Sushi Roll

Harajuku – Signature Sushi Roll

These rolls include yellow tail, seared albacore, jalapeño, avocado, cilantro with orange and black tobikko outer covering.

These rolls include yellow tail, seared albacore, jalapeño, avocado, cilantro with orange and black tobikko outer covering.

HOT WOKS Noodles

HOT WOKS Noodles

House specialty. Stir-fry with chicken, shrimp, spinach noodles & mixed vegetables in sweet/tangy sauce. Includes jalapeno peppers.

House specialty. Stir-fry with chicken, shrimp, spinach noodles & mixed vegetables in sweet/tangy sauce. Includes jalapeno peppers.

I also appreciate this restaurant for their clean bathrooms!  After exploring Cloud Gate and the park, it’s nice to settle into a warm and cozy restaurant for some good food and a restroom break.  I think I’ve had good food for both visits, nothing to complain about.  Check them out if you are out in Chicago!

 

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Salt – bar & kitchen

Jun5

Disclaimer: Super old review and pictures.  Okay maybe not super old but I am pretty sure these pictures are at least 2 years old. If you have followed me at all, you know that I used to run a food blog and well, I haven’t updated that in years as well.  I’ve been more active on Yelp for sure.  Anyhow, this is a review of Salt – bar & kitchen.  I went to this restaurant when it was fairly new and I understand the menu has undergone some changes since then, but good food lasts the test of time!

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Fois Gras - so good yet so bad

Fois Gras – so good yet so bad

I can't remember what this was! Looks like grapefruit and raw fish - it wasn't very memorable as you can see

I can’t remember what this was! Looks like grapefruit and raw fish – it wasn’t very memorable as you can see

House Charcuterie Platter

House Charcuterie Platter – includes Head Cheese!

Pork Stuffed Calamari

Pork Stuffed Calamari

Bread Pudding (french toast, tarragon anglaise, kula strawberries)

Bread Pudding (french toast, tarragon anglaise, kula strawberries)

Salt provided a good experience.  We went fairly early so there weren’t a lot of customers yet.  The food was good but nothing was so good that made me want to rush back here to dine again (which I haven’t).  I’d say the best dish of the night was the bread pudding.  I mean, I don’t even like bread pudding and this dish blew me away.  And tarragon, who knew it would work so well with this bread pudding?  It was amazing.  My friend went back to this restaurant not too long ago and I heard that this dessert is no longer on the menu.  Now I’m bummed and definitely won’t be rushing back.

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Homemade Ahi Poke

Jun4

I have never made ahi poke before, I leave that to the professionals.  For this particular post, I decided to make a rendition of an ahi poke dish I tried in a restaurant.  I can’t remember where I tried this poke, but if anyone recalls where it might be – please let me know.  This ahi poke is very light on seasoning, if you’ve had ahi poke in Hawaii – I think you see that a lot of times they can be pretty saucy; like me.  😛

Anyhow, for this dish – the seasoning is minimal.  I don’t have the exact ingredients I used but I do remember creating a ginger infused oil for this dish.  Then I added some onions, cucumbers, tomatoes, ahi and probably just a touch of soy and salt.  I even plated it…too sad that I don’t remember what’s in it!

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Yum.  Can someone invest money for me to run a restaurant?  Or a food truck?  Anyone?

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Bichiumaya in Shinjuku

Jun3

Before I made the trip out to Japan, I had to do a lot of research on Japanese eateries!  The research definitely yielded some great rewards but in the end, I was unable to find a few due to the fact that I don’t know a lot of Japanese and being unfamiliar with the area.  One of my first meals in Japan was located right in my neighborhood, Shinjuku.  I found Bichiumaya thanks to the Tokyo Cuisine Guide.  His blog is so useful for us tourists – he shows a lot of pictures and tells you what you should order.  If I hadn’t read his entry, I would never have been able to eat what I ate there!

SURUMEIKA NO BUTTER SHOYU YAKI (Grilled squid with butter and soy sauce)

SURUMEIKA NO BUTTER SHOYU YAKI (Grilled squid with butter and soy sauce)

NEGI KAKE TSUKIMI NIKUTAM (Okonomiyaki with green onions & fried egg)

NEGI KAKE TSUKIMI NIKUTAM (Okonomiyaki with green onions & fried egg)

MOCHI CHEESE NIKUTAMA (Okonomiyaki with cheese & sticky rice cake)

MOCHI CHEESE NIKUTAMA (Okonomiyaki with cheese & sticky rice cake)

This was one of the best meals we had in Japan.  We didn’t realize how big the portions would be and had to get a take-out bag.  I felt so bad especially since I read that you aren’t supposed to do take-out in Japan.  The squid was the best squid I have ever tasted.  Perfect seasoning and oh so tender.  The egg in the second picture was really one egg that had two yolks!  I was amazed by that.  Wonderful food and start to my trip in Japan.

Shinjuku, Japan – April 2012

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Japanese Udon Salad

Jun2

One of my favorite go-to recipes is this Japanese Udon Salad.  I based this recipe off of a salad I tried from Your Kitchen.  Unfortunately, I think they stopped making this salad so it’s a good thing I make this myself!  It is very easy to make, here are the ingredients:

Japanese Udon Salad Toppings!

Japanese Udon Salad Toppings!

Sliced Cherry Tomatoes

Sliced Cherry Tomatoes

Japanese Cucumbers, sliced and de-seeded

Japanese Cucumbers, sliced and de-seeded

Sliced Aburage - parboiled

Sliced Aburage – parboiled

Corn - I used canned but you are more than welcome to use fresh!

Corn – I used canned but you are more than welcome to use fresh!

Wakame

Wakame

Finished Product!

Finished Product!

I buy the fresh packaged udon noodles in the refrigerator section of the asian supermarket and cook them for about 1-2 minutes and drain them.  Then I toss all the toppings and the udon noodles with a creamy sesame dressing.  I insist on using only Kewpie Sesame Dressing.  I find that they make the best dressing, they sell it in Don Quijote and Nijiya Market but is a bit pricey.  Though it does go on sale for about $4.00 at Don Quijote from time to time.  Right before serving, I add cilantro leaves to top off the salad.  It’s a small addition but makes such a great difference.  I hope you get to try this recipe and let me know what you think!  It’s perfect for the summer – cool and refreshing!

If you ever get out to Japan, I highly suggest getting the huge bottle of Kewpie Dressing!  It is so cheap and totally worth my suitcase space/weight.

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Rain in Japan

Jun1

The video I am going to share today took place in Japan – it was my first full day there and we were in Asakusa. The day was sunny and hot but we got to see the Meiji Shrine and the Sensoji Temple. When we arrived at the Sensoji Temple, out of nowhere, there was a huge downpour of rain. The locals seemed to know what to expect since they all had umbrellas while us tourists were all banished underneath a gate to wait out the rain.

As I was waiting – I received a golden opportunity to shoot this little scene. It was too cute and precious not to share.  Doesn’t this make you want to be a kid again?

 

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