14Feb / 2025

Mixed Plate Friday

No. (Don’t go shopping hungry)

Remember the huge tree that fell over onto Keeaumoku/Kapiolani during the heavy rains for that ONE day? That was so crazy because I drive there all the time! Freaked me out a bit. I took a picture of it the day after as I was driving there (proof I drive there all the time lol). Isn’t that crazy? And the way it’s planted, I think it might belong to Pacific Guardian. I really hope no one was harmed because that tree looked like it crushed at least 2 cars.

Le’s Banh Mi – Saigon Special add Roast Pork | $11.50 + $2.00

When I say that Le’s Banh Mi is the best on the island, please take me seriously. I don’t think you can get a better banh mi anywhere else. We’ve talked about this. Have you tried them yet? They make their own bread and it’s so soft and light yet crispy. And the toppings, I love their pate and the roast pork is chef’s kiss. I just give them a call before I head in to get it…takes them about 10 minutes and it’s ready when I’m there! This was even good reheated because we couldn’t eat it right away.

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07Feb / 2025

Mixed Plate Friday

Pillsbury Zero Sugar Chocolate Fudge Brownie Mix

I saw this in the store and had to try it. Zero sugar you say? Intriguing! I think you can only find this at Safeway so that means you’re paying a lot more, this mix was almost $8.00 and it only yields an 8 x 8 pan, you have been warned. I only have a 9 x 9 pan so my brownies came out much thinner than the picture on the box.

Looking pretty good out of the oven! So what was the verdict? Honestly, it tastes good! Can’t really tell it’s zero sugar. Chan actually liked these brownies more than regular brownies cause he thinks it’s less sweet, in a good way. So yeah, if you’re craving brownies and want to watch your sugar – give this mix a try!

High Key Mini Chocolate Chip Cookies

These cookies tastes like it’s description. Oh if you can’t see the package, it says the cookies have less than 1 gram of sugar. Yeah, it tastes that way. Also, it’s made with almond flour. It tastes like that too lol. Hey, I’m trying my best okay? Have a great weekend!

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31Jan / 2025

Mixed Plate Friday

Kalihi Bar-B-Q Drive-Inn BBQ Chicken & Garlic Fish Combo Plate | $17.50

I saw someone feature this place on TikTok and I am so easily swayed because it looked so good. I was super craving it so I got it during my Saturday errands. I didn’t even know this place existed even though it is in my hood. I ordered it without knowing the price and wow $17.50!! But I guess it’s expected for a seafood combo plate. Yes, it was actually very good. Look at all that garlic, how can it be bad? BBQ chicken is on par with other BBQ places. I enjoyed it! And they give big portions so it’s more than one meal!

Pringles Mingles | Cheddar & Sour Cream

When I am hungry and go shopping, purchases like this happen. I was curious how this would taste. It was interesting cause it’s puffed up like a cheeto puff but it’s harder in texture. How do I explain that?? I guess cause it’s made of pringles material? It’s just okay, the seasoning isn’t great. I rather just eat the cheddar and sour cream ruffles, those are the best.

Chan and I recently celebrated our anniversary and I try to do thoughtful things and the gift for this anniversary was cotton so I decided to cross-stitch this for him. I’m not good with knitting/sewing, etc. Boy, did I fumble this a lot. It is not easy for me already and I was getting quite frustrated. I definitley used up too much of the thread from the kit and had to go on the hunt to find extra thread. Then I had to find a way to fit it into this frame lol. Don’t pay attention to it being crooked okay? I tried my best and this was made from hours and hours of my love. Cute yeah?

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24Jan / 2025

Mixed Plate Friday

Baked Charsiu Manapua (U-Choice In) | $3.25 each

I have resisted going to U-Choice In for many many years. For one, I hate the name of it. U-Choice In, what?? I would let them get away with Ur-Choice In but here we are. Chan’s coworker talked about how much she liked U-Choice In so we decided to give it a try during one of our Don Quijote runs. Well, I hate to admit this but this is probably the best baked manapua on the island right now. I do not like the Royal Kitchen one but this one…it’s perfect. They give choke meat inside and the bun is perfectly baked. Small kine cripsy on top but also super soft. It’s a bit pricey for one but you’re getting a pretty big one! I think it’s worth it. I’ve tried their white rice cake and pork hash too and those are good too! Don’t pay too much attention to the Yelp haters – try it for yourself! If you like baked manapua, you won’t be disappointed.

Ain’t no party like a tako party! Takoyaki party that is. Chan provided this wonderful treat for Christmas Eve! He has the fancy pan that we put on top of camper stove (is that the name of it?). He even bought all the toppings…and made yakisoba like I requested…

Doesn’t that look great?? All professional with the sauce, mayo, bonito flakes and even the nori topping! It was so good!

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17Jan / 2025

Mixed Plate Friday

Chan and I went over to a friend’s house for mochi making before the New Year. This is the first time I’ve ever been to one and wow…they have a freaking system for it! More like 4 systems, look at those mochi makers! They make a whole bunch to share with friends and family. I was a part of the assembly line to shape the mochi. They even bought a new contraption this year that also cuts the mochi down to size! What an efficient process!

Mini Garden Express Roast Duck & Chicken on Rice | $15.50

I haven’t been to Mini Garden Express in such a long time. We used to go to Ranch 99 all the time because they just had so much options for meals. Do we really need another Home Depot so close to the one in Iwilei? I don’t think so. Or could Home Depot have considered my feelings and kept the food court at the bottom and just built on top of it (lol)? Anyway, came here the other weekend to grab dinner. My god, the prices. I mean if I think about it objectively now, I guess this is actually a good price. You’re getting roast duck and shoyu chicken and roast duck is not cheap nowadays. They don’t make the best roast duck but it’s good enough. I used to get it with fried rice but I didn’t want to pay the additional $3, I’m broke right now okay? LOL.

Prime Rib

Christmas calls for a prime rib. Prime rib is so crazy expensive, I think this hunk of meat which wasn’t even that big cost me upwards of $83. It gets gobbled down so fast that I wish I just baked a chuck roast hahaha nah nah. Gotta do it up at least once a year. The cooking method is perfect as always – and because I was tired and lazy, I didn’t even do the slits with garlic inside and it still turned out good. Now I can be even lazier.

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10Jan / 2025

Mixed Plate Friday

Marron & Tiramisu Cream Bread

Were you folks into the Culinary Class Wars craze when the show first premiered? Chan and I was, it was a great show! I am so excited for season 2. I liked Edward Lee but I was actually happy Napoli Matfia won – though I wonder how he would have fared if he had to take part in the tofu challenge. Sorry, are these spoilers? You should have watched it already!

Anyway, one of the dishes Napolia Matfia won was for his chestnut tiramisu recipe where he utilized ingredients from a convenience store. Korea is so smart, they were able to turn it around and create the dishes for sale in their stores real quick. Of course it was always sold out. I never found the tiramisu dessert but found the bread and had to try it!

How was it? Eh, just alright. It’s a very rich and dense chestnut cream in soggy bread. Not great. I wonder if I would have liked the actual tiramisu dessert if I found it. Maybe I should have just tried the cheetos ice cream (lol).

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23Dec / 2024

Hamyang Family Dinner #2

Amazing banchan of course. Would you expect anything less?

Could even get all the banchan in one shot! Each banchan was delicious.

Fried Yellow Croaker

Sorry if the eyes freak you out. I’ve always seen this on TV but never had it myself. It’s super good. A bit dangerous since it’s so bony. You really have to be careful when you eat this dish. I guess that’s what makes each morsel taste so good.

Jeju Black Pig

So soft and tender! Delicious.

Miyeokguk (Seaweed Soup with Beef)

Yummy, such a nice warming dish. I know this is traditionally a birthday dish, I don’t think it was anyone’s birthday that night? Anyway, another wonderful dinner. Good times with such a warm and welcoming family, just warms your heart!

I’m going to take a brief break from posting during the holiday week so Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! See you in 2025 and stay safe!

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20Dec / 2024

Mixed Plate Friday

A bunch of bananas

Yup. Dole Bananas. After we returned our car in Jinju, I visited the emart before we loaded into the train to busan (ha-ha). I like bananas so why not. And they already yellow and Dole? Can trust right? The bunch of bananas had a bit of a journey. I may have dropped it here and there but they made it safely to Busan. After all that hassle, I tried a banana the next day and it was AWFUL. Oh my god I have never had a worse banana. Anyway, I think I tried a banana (non-Dole) at the airport lounge before coming home and that one was good. This was a big no-no.

Hawaiian Paradise Coffee Cafe

Look! A cute cafe in the Busan Train Station! It was pretty busy all the time. We don’t even have one of these here in Hawaii. I didn’t get to try it because I’m not much of a coffee drinker and there was a Krispy Kreme right across the way so I of course had to eat donuts.

Perilla Oil

Like I mentioned in the previous post, I learned the power of perilla oil during this trip. Just some oil in a dish with salt and you’ve got yourself liquid gold dipping sauce. We bought a pack of perilla oil at the Costco in Korea and it tastes SO good. I wonder if we have this brand here…

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18Dec / 2024

Hamyang Daebong Mountain Valley Monorail

Chan’s Uncle bought us all tickets to visit Hamyang Daebong Mountain Valley Monorail. I knew nothing about this and came into it blind, apparently it’s a fairly new recreation spot with the longest monorail in Korea. If you know me at all, I cannot handle any kind of rides. I get air sick and sea sick…motion sick in general but I popped my bonine and was ready.

Apparently you can zipline here too. Ha I say. Because I can’t.

Monorail

Here’s the monorail. It’s very small and VERY VERY SLOW. I have never wanted a ride to go faster in my life. It felt like you’re slowly clicking-clacking up the rails. It felt so long lol. I didn’t get sick. The ride down was worse because you’re basically squished into the seats in front of you.

Also! They weigh you before loading you into the monorail. Don’t worry, they basically weigh your group of passengers, not just one person at a time. Well, we got placed in a monorail with our own group which was completely fine with me. On the return trip, the guy doesn’t use a scale and said he uses his eyes and added two people to our rail. It’s okay, I came back alive.

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16Dec / 2024

Hamyang Family Breakfast #1

Breakfast #1 Spread

It wouldn’t be an overstatement to say that my favorite meals during the trip was cooked by Chan’s Aunt, particularly this Aunt. She invited us to breakfast twice and both times were immaculate. You can tell the dishes were all made with such love, so much variety and so much fresh options. I wish I could eat like this all the time.

I wish I had the names of all the dishes but I don’t, sorry! This was like stirfried sliced meat dish. There was acorn jelly on the table which I wouldn’t surprised if she made that herself from scratch. My favorite on the table was absolutely the sliced octopus. She serves it up with perilla oil and salt basically. This trip is what made me fall in love with perilla oil. Good perilla oil that is.

Yes, I know, it’s just a bowl of rice. Well not just. It of course has some good beans in it, so good. Everything was so good. Insert crying emoji here because I miss this food so much!

Then she served up sliced pears on the little forks. I really felt like I was in a Korean drama. My only complaint? The heat in the apartment! I guess older folks like it warm so not only is their heater on, the floor is heated and the couch was a heated stone. OMG, us “youngins” were dying of heat. I couldn’t stand it and just wanted to walk around outside to enjoy the actual cold weather!

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Category Archives: Snapshot

Mixed Plate Friday

Mixed Plate Friday

Mixed Plate Friday

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Mixed Plate Friday

Mixed Plate Friday

Hamyang Family Dinner #2

Mixed Plate Friday

Hamyang Daebong Mountain Valley Monorail

Hamyang Family Breakfast #1