Mixed Plate Friday

If you follow Jalna’s blog, you might remember this post about the cured pork strips they got. I remember eating this as a kid, it wasn’t an everyday dish. It’s pricey and also a bit of an indulgence since it’s got a lot of pork fat. It was such a coincidence that I had also bought a pack from Chinatown and it was sitting in my fridge waiting to be made.

I never made it before but remember the elements of it from my memory. I knew I wanted to make it with green beans but only with these flat ones. I don’t know why I had to be so specific with it. I didn’t have a real recipe to go off of, maybe what I had was more of a family dish. I blanched the beans fast kine and then stir fried the pork and beans together. I didn’t want to add too much seasoning because the pork is super flavorful (aka salty) so I added a dash of soy, oyster sauce and sugar. Oh I also started the stirfry with minced garlic. Look. It was damn delicious. I was trying to hold the dish on to last a few days. I ate it in one day. It was just that good. But it could be an acquired taste.

Another family dish I have been making on my own. Ong Choy! Crucial ingredient? Harm Haw. Gotta have that. I just fried up garlic and red chili pepper, add the shrimp paste and then add the stems first….cook for like 2 minutes and then add the leaves and cook down. I must have added some water to this too. I’m sure folks usually do a cornstarch slurry to make the gravy thick. I was lazy. Another vegetable dish I love.

Smoked Chicken Pasta | $18.50
with onions, roasted tomatoes, garlic and fresh herbs, in a white wine and chicken stock, tossed over linguini

I got this dish the other week at Murphy’s, it was one of their specials. Eh. Was alright, I mean, I keep comparing the food to the price because how can I not? The chicken breast was good, super moist and there was a smoky taste so I enjoyed it. Wish there was a bit more pasta. I don’t get why restaurants like grinch out on the cheaper stuff. I think customers are easily fooled if they see more pasta haha. And I am adjusting to a new contact power and it’s hard to see up close now…if not, I would have noticed it said chicken stock. Yeah, it’s sitting in a chicken stock. I wasn’t expecting that. Yeah, I wouldn’t get this again.

Apple Crisp a la mode | $8.00

It’s okay, their apple crisp always comes to save the day. It saved the day. I loved it. Warmed apple crisp ala mode. You can’t go wrong. Have a great weekend everyone!

Mixed Plate Friday

Popeyes 3 pc Tenders Dinner (Blackened) | $9.39

Did you know Popeyes started carrying blackened tenders? Been wanted to try it, it’s basically grilled chicken tenders. I really enjoy the seasoning and the chicken is not dry at all (though it might look it). I tried it with the Mardi Gras Mustard sauce and it went well together! I would definitely get this again.

Homemade Zenzai

I wanted to be ambitious and make the fresh strawberry mochi again. I didn’t. I got lazy and was too tired. So I had prepped a can of adzuki bean paste (just cooking it on the stove to remove moisture) and it was sitting in my fridge. I also had leftover mochiko that was sitting in my fridge. It wasn’t the full box so I didn’t know what to do with it (no, I am not making mochiko chicken – no frying for me). Sooo…I decided to mess around make my own zenzai and you know what? It came out really well. Super easy to make. I just mixed water with the mochiko I had, didn’t add else and rolled them into balls and boiled them in water and drained. I cooked down the adzuki I had with some water and added a pinch of salt…and reduced it until it looked like this. My coworkers enjoyed! And you know what? It also reheats well! The balls weren’t solid rocks after reheating.

I used this recipe as guidance.

Herb Chicken Breast Chimichurri Salad | $14.95
Chicken Breast seasoned with spices & herbs then charbroiled topped with our house Chimichurri sauce over crispy Romaine, sliced black olives, grape tomatoes, thin sliced red onions, corn kernels, bacon bits, and Parmesan cheese.

This was from a lunch order over the summer from Kahai Street Kitchen. I wish they had online ordering, I had to call early in the morning before they opened to order every single dish. The guy was kind of monotone on the phone and then I got to this dish. He then asked me, how do you want the chicken done. I was dumbfounded. I just sputtered out, how can it be done? And he says, rare or medium rare. I sat in silence and he starts laughing and I bust out laughing too. That guy was too much, he was so deadpan in his delivery of it too. Anyway, this was a good salad, lol.

Mixed Plate Friday

Birria Banh Mi | $13.00 (maybe?)
vietnamese inspired sandwich with birria meat, mayo, cucumber, pickled carrots, and daikon (radish), and a sprig of cilantro. served on a toasted baguette and a side of consomme

I wanted to try Cocina De Roja when they opened during the pandemic. A birria banh mi? Sign me up. How was it? Okay, nothing great. I rather just get a regular bahn mi. Also when I go look at their online order site now, it’s not even an option to order so maybe this was pointless?

Beef Stroganoff on House-made Fettuccine | $29.00
mustard sour cream demi-glace

Just sharing a picture of this beef stroganoff from Tango Contemporary Cafe in case any of you were curious how it looked. It wasn’t my dish but it was enjoyed!

Seafood Chow Mein | $12.95

Assorted Dim Sum

I don’t usually crave chicken feet but this time, I did and ordered it. This is the only way I will eat chicken feet, it has to be prepared in this manner. I will not digest any other way. I don’t know why, please don’t ask. I can never pass up dim sum and yes, I like to order seafood chow mein as an accompaniment. It reminds me of childhood so I enjoy it. By the way, this is from Ginger & Garlic. I guess the final question is, do you chicken feet?

Have a great weekend folks.

Mixed Plate Friday

Sushi Set #12 | $12.95
garlic salmon and spicy tuna bomb

I love getting sushi at Jay’s Sushi, the sushi tastes great and the prices are reasonable. I would definitely recommend them. They are also located next door to the best bubble tea place haha!

Kimchi Mandoo | $6.99 (sale price)

I went to Hmart in Pearl City last weekend and I was blown away. Oh my god, such a better store than the one in town. Just in terms of space and their offerings, makes it almost worth it to drive out there. They also had sample booths! Sample booths are so smart. This lady was making both the regular mandoo and kimchi mandoo and let me tell you, she was giving out huge pieces. But it works. I bought two bags because this mandoo was so good! I would definitely recommend it if you see it. I like to pan fry and steam…yum!

Roast Turkey Dinner | $18.00
slow roasted turkey, buttered corn, portuguese sausage stuffing, smashed potato, dinner roll, turkey gravy, cranberry sauce

Your eyes do not deceive you, we had ourselves a nice little thanksgiving feast in September. We got this plate from Hamada General Store, it was one of their daily specials. A bit of a funny story, we were actually eyeing out a sandwich place (what is with me and sandwiches lately?) who was offering a seasonal thanksgiving sandwich which was basically the contents of this plate. The sandwich is $18.50 (yikes) and when I went to their online ordering site, they charge $3.00 if you want gravy. What??? That’s $21!!!!! Then we saw this special for Hamada and decided to pay $18 for the whole she-bang. Best decision ever. This was DELICIOUS. The turkey was moist and the sides were all great. Would definitely get this again. Wish they would make it to sell on Thanksgiving.

Mixed Plate Friday

Ahi, Avocado, Tomato, Cheese | $8.85
smoked ahi gourmet spread, carrots, lettuce and sprouts

I was poking pretty hard on Earl’s prices two days ago but can you blame me? I got this sandwich from Andy’s last week and look at the price and size of the sandwich! Can always count on Andy’s to make a great sandwich. Great deal.

Chantilly Parfait | $5.49

I’ve told you folks about the Berry Chantilly Cake from Whole Foods. I loved the cake before but the most recent iterations have left me wanting more…almond! Well, I can’t just buy whole cakes anytime I have a craving so I was so excited to see that they sell a parfait version! It’s located in the cold cases by the cashier. Oh man, did this one deliver. The almond flavor was strong and greatly missed. I enjoyed every bite.

Char Siu & Roast Duck on Rice | $16.00

I’ve been wanting to try Sandy’s Cafe since they opened in the Chinese Cultural Plaza for years now. We did a take-out order in Chinatown so I decided to bite the bullet and order this. I read that their char siu and roast duck is good and sells out fast so I got them both! This whole plate is still cheaper than that Earl sandwich. Hahaha, sorry I keep dogging on the price of that sandwich but I just can’t help myself. The char siu was delicious, tender morsels of meat. Their marinade was a bit sweeter than I’m used to but I didn’t mind it! The roast duck was good too, not the best I’ve ever had but good.

Have a great weekend folks!

Mixed Plate Friday

Just wanted for be fancy…

Yummy soft tofu slathered in goma dressing and chili oil. Delicious!

Vegetable Board | $15.00

Grilled Marinated Vegetables, Quinoa, Avocado, House Pickled Vegetables, Roasted Beets, Grilled Asparagus

I had this over the summer for dinner at Tango Contemporary Cafe. I enjoyed it a lot! But gosh, was I eating healthy or what?

Lunch Bento | $10.00
marinated boneless short ribs, wing dings, kielbasa sausage, shumai, taegu, takuan, fishcake & kimchee

We ordered bentos from Taka’s Box Lunch for an office retreat and I thought the price was pretty good! I was trying to call them all day on a Friday and sent them a message on Instagram with no response. It was a bit frustrating but I finally got a hold of someone on Monday morning and was able to put my order in. I heard they are pretty busy on Fridays so I understand. The orders all worked out and I thought it was pretty good. I like laugh at wing dings and ribs – the “s” makes it sound like you get more than one. You don’t. It’s okay, still worth it.

Mixed Plate Friday

Just no.

Edomae Nigiri Sushi (9pcs) | $11.49

I got this set from Nijiya Market, I say this is a pretty good price for the sushi set! Tasted great, and yes, that’s oyster right there! Would definitely recommend this!

Yakisoba (Fried Noodle) | $7.49

Another dish from Nijiya and yet another winner dish! I enjoyed it!

For any Yoku Moku lovers out there, I saw this display at Nijiya University! No need to wait for Neiman Marcus and now no more Shirokiya (sad face).

Okay last share is purely silly, I’ve talked about my love of miniatures and found this cute miniature Yeti Cooler from a crafter online. I put the cooler onto my miniature cart from Daiso….but wait!

I added my cute Rement drinks into the cooler and yes…THERE ARE ICE CUBES INSIDE. It’s the little things (literally) that bring a smile to my face, it’s okay to surround yourself with things that make you happy. Happy Friday!!!

Mixed Plate Friday

Anko Spread with Butter

I got this so long ago from Costco, not sure if they even carry it anymore! I was super curious about it and I got curiosity got the best of me. I’m not a big toast person anyway but still got it. It’s good! I still have almost full jar in the fridge because like I said, I am not a big toast person lol. I enjoyed eating it with sliced fruits like below.

In June, I had this huge urge to adopt a cat. I don’t know why. I just really really wanted to so we visited the Hawaiian Humane Society and I was enamored with this cat. He was a new addition, rehomed (boo) but absolutely beautiful cat who was SO chill. That’s the kind of cat I need, chill. He barely moved lol but something in his face – is there a sadness? I don’t know. I even imagined taking him with me to work to chill as a work therapy cat. His name was Paco and I think I got to see him 2 times before he was adopted. I knew he would be a fast one to go, I hope his new family is treating him well. Oh, and I got over my urge of getting a new pet. For now.

Okay, can you see which sticker I am laughing about? Hint: it’s easier if you read it out loud. Another hint, I am an immature child with dumb jokes. Let me know if you got it. Happy weekend to you!

Clubs to Join!

As I promised, here are the Parks and Recreation clubs that may be of interest to you! All online through zoom and no cost!! Please join us!

Book Club

If you like reading and discussing books, here’s an online class for you! Participants, along with a moderator, will select a book and meet weekly to discuss it. Through discussion, we hope to gain a better understanding and appreciation of the books.

Registration Link

Movie Club

If you like watching and talking about movies, here is an online class for you! Discussions will occur virtually and will be moderated. We hope this discussion group will lead to a greater understanding and appreciating of the films we watch. Previous discussions have centered on Asian-American and foreign-language films. Please join us!

Registration Link

Atlantic Magazine Discussion Group

The group will select and read an Atlantic magazine article per week and meet weekly to discuss them.

Registration Link

Mixed Plate Friday

I went to Las Vegas in April, I’ll share some pictures soon although it felt like eons ago. Also, I came back from Vegas with Covid. I guess not everything that happens in vegas stays in vegas. Well, no one wore their mask in Vegas and every time a door opened, I got such a strong smell of pakalolo that I think perhaps I would have tested positive for it had a drug test been administered.

Anyway, obviously Trader Joe’s was an absolute must. This Cacio E Pepe sauce was kind of all the rage back in April so I got it. It’s not worth it. Don’t waste your time, luggage space and like chance of it exploding in your luggage. It’s super bland – it’s basically an alfredo sauce. Just go eat alfredo at a restaurant, it’ll probably be way better.

That’s me trying to make it look better with some steak. Also, these are not udon noodles – they are the special pasta that is like a thicker spaghetti and it’s hollow. Bucatini! That’s what they are called. Anyway, thumbs down.

Speaking of covid, during the last government free giveaway of covid tests – I placed my order and got this. I never got this brand before AND they only sent me two of these and these boxes only contain one test each. I was supposed to get 8 total tests! Well I submitted an inquiry with USPS and they took a while but came through and sent me my brand new 8 tests.

I wanted to post this because this test is AWFUL. If you ever have to buy a test, don’t buy this one. First of all, you can only use this test if you download an app on your phone and the app requires you to give your personal information. I hate that. Then, you see the testing stick on the box? It works as a bluetooth to your phone so basically you can’t touch your phone for 15 minutes because it is being used for the test result. It is all so stupid. And guess what? In the end, it tells me they couldn’t figure out a result with my test. WHAT A WASTE OF MY TIME. Anyway, I already have the app and have one more of these dumb tests left. Don’t use these.

Goteborg Musubi

My friend kindly shared some slices of goteborg sausage with me. If you didn’t know, the best place to buy it is at Times. They will slice it to the size you specify. Also, they tend to put these sausages on sale during big holidays so keep a look-out. I never cooked these before but it is really so simple and you definitely don’t need oil to heat it up. So fast and easy. The boys loved it cause it’s like eating crispy pepperoni – just add some hot rice and furikake on top and you’re good to go.