03Oct / 2022

Over Easy – Kailua, HI

This past week was the anniversary of my mom’s death. This was a big one. 20 years. This anniversary also marks the unfortunate milestone that my mother has been out of my life more than she has been in it. I am doing okay, I decided to make a day out of it and had a nice little brunch out in Kailua, hitting up the Target in Kailua and then do my leisurely visit to my mom’s grave. I bought flowers the night before at Costco and they looked wonderful. As we were leaving, we looked at some of the Japanese graves. I don’t know a lot about them but just see these huge granite structures everytime I visit my mom. I was told that the names behind the stone signal who is buried there. I wasn’t trying to be disrespectful, and I hope it wasn’t being so. It was just interesting to sort of piece together family histories through the listings. In fact, I found the grave for the Hata family. Yes, it’s probably the Hata family you are thinking about.

Anyhow, I’ve been wanting to try Over Easy for a few years now. I’m not much of a brunch person but since they get such high ratings on Yelp, I just had to give it a try!

Kailua Eggs | $16.00
sunny side eggs, bacon cabbage broth, portuguese sausage, rice (microgreens and dehydrated cabbage too)

Yeah, it’s as weird as it looks. I guess it’s like an ochazuke? The broth definitely did not have strong hints of any flavor, especially not bacon. They have dehydrated cabbage in it that is rehydrated with the soup. Just fancy term for pickling the cabbage perhaps? I think the dish was okay. Not great, not bad. I wouldn’t get it again. It was an awkward dish to share.

Kalua Pig Hash | $18.00
kalua pork, okinawan & fingerling potatoes, lomi tomato, OK Poultry Farm eggs, green goddess, cilantro

Best dish of the meal. Well, we only had two dishes so there was no real competition. The kalua pig and potatoes tasted great. Can’t go wrong with OK Poultry eggs and I love the cilantro sprinkled all around. I would definitely order this again.

All in all, glad to have tried it. Don’t have an urge to return again, I can find brunch food in town. They do not have any parking so you do have to find street parking. I went on a weekday after peak brunch time so I was able to find a parking stall pretty fast. Definitely was surrounded by tourists.

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30Sep / 2022

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!

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28Sep / 2022

Earl Kaimuki – Kaimuki, HI

I didn’t even know Earl moved from their original location to Market City! I haven’t tried their sandwiches in years but finally had a chance to during an office order about a month ago. Check it out!

Cubano | $12.50
sliced ham, braised pork belly, roasted garlic dijonaise, swiss cheese, homemade pickle and fresh lime

Drew | $15.00
pastrami, swiss, tomato jam, whole grain mustard, horseradish mayo, pickle, tomato

Fun Goat | $11.00
goat cheese, fennel onion marmalade, pesto, cucumber, tomato, mushrooms, spinach, EVOO and balsamic

Italian | $17.50
ham, capocollo, salami, provolone cheese, peperoncinis, EVOO, vinegar, lettuce, tomato, oregano & roasted garlic mayo

I got the Italian because why wouldn’t you get that Italian after reading that description? $18 for a sandwich was a hard sell. The sandwich was really good but I just couldn’t shake the price tag. I guess my thing would be, I don’t think it was worth the cost even as good as it was. Then again, I could eat a sandwich anywhere and still feel the same. I’m not a sandwich snob.

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23Sep / 2022

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.

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21Sep / 2022

Recipe: Chickpea Salad Sandwich

This recipe was trending a bit on social media – using chickpeas to make a mock tuna salad. I think it tastes great, does it taste like tuna salad? No. But it tastes good enough for me! Here is the recipe I followed: link here.

Let me do a quick rant about bread I bought at Sam’s Club. I bought it on I think Thursday night and this was Sunday morning.

At first, I thought it was like maybe a burnt mark or something? I don’t know, I was grasping at straws.

Definitely mold. I was so mad. But it was also not worth it to me to go back for $3 something. Ugh! I just gonna put bread straight into the fridge when I get it now. I went Longs on Monday morning and saw the same brand with the same marks on it on the shelf. Blah! Be careful!

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02Sep / 2022

Mixed Plate Friday

Maple Dijon Crunch Chopped Salad Kit | $2.98

You can find this salad mix at Sam’s Club. I don’t know if I shared this but I’ve been a Sam’s Club fiend for the last two years or so. It’s just an easier place for me to get in and out of for groceries and they have cool seasonal stuff and a lot more brands. Another plus? Super cheap salad mixes! I saw this last week and had to get it to try!

Well, it’s not bad but not great. Diced Apples? More like apple wedges. I mixed the entire salad together and tried it – to me it was a bit too sweet. So I removed the apples as I ate because I didn’t need it to be doubly sweet. I just noticed the salad mix has chicken in it and I could barely taste/feel chicken pieces. Hmm…buy at your own risk.

Mini Chicken Katsu Curry | $8.95

I finally got it Jalna! This time, Liliha Drive Inn gave me the right order! Pretty big portion for a mini. It tasted great and my craving was satisfied. Do I want it again…?? I’ll be good for now and hold off.

Wife Cake | Sing Cheong Yuan Bakery

Sorry I don’t have the price. They don’t have an online website and when I am in there ordering – I feel like pressured out to get my order in quick and get out. They always have a line but I lucked out on my visit when I got there I didn’t have to stand in line but boy did a line grow when I was ordering. Have you folks had wife cake before? I remember this from my childhood when my aunts got married, I guess it’s traditional to have these for weddings? How would I explain this? It’s like a Chinese style manju. I remember when I was a kid, I liked the wife cake and always wondered if I would like it now.

I don’t. Well not this one anyway. I wasn’t a fan of this filling, they called it the traditional wife cake. I saw other varieties but I decided to go for the traditional one since I figured that’s what I had before. I shared with my coworkers and one of them said it was a bit like fruit cake. I remember the one I had as a kid almost had a savory sweet filling. Maybe it was a different bakery? Different filling? I really can’t say.

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10May / 2021

Bob’s Bar-B-Que – Honolulu, HI

Kalihi is my hood. Yet, I can only report that I’ve been to Bob’s maybe once? What is it? I don’t know. I know I hate their parking lot (though they have expanded it) and I guess I have never craved their food. Well, on this fateful day, I needed food but didn’t know what. I did have a hankering for teri cheeseburger (what is with me lately?) and I looked them up…and ask and you shall receive. How was it? Delicious. My brother tried their bacon cheeseburger and fell in love, I couldn’t believe it. I guess this is going to become a mainstay.

Bacon Cheeseburger Combo | $10.35
w/fries and large drink

Teri Cheeseburger | $4.60

Really good, it includes mayo and some lettuce. I don’t recall any tomato but who needs that? It was good! Hit the spot. I would get this again.

Polish Sausage w/Baked Beans | $11.50

Interesting combo. I saw a picture and it looked like chili so I wanted to try it. I can’t refuse sausage and beans (sorry for the imagery). Well I only had a few bites of this to try, gave the rest away (not cause it’s bad, it’s good and it was gobbled up!). Delicious. It comes with mac salad but they serve it on the side separately (environmentalists beware). I like that they serve the mac salad separate, no mixing! I think it’s a little pricey but look at the portion!!!

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24Mar / 2021

The Social Eatery & Bar Honolulu – Honolulu, HI

I’m not a drinker. Never have been and probably never will be. But can I appreciate a good bar that serves great food? Absolutely. The Social Eatery & Bar is one of those places, hands down one of the best places to get food. Love that they open early so I can sneak in before all the rowdy drinkers, eat and then go home and probably sleep already because I am old (lol).

Pepperoni and Cheese Fries | $10.00
melted shredded cheese, nacho cheese, fried pepperoni, and marinara sauce

Do I even have to say more? Yes, it’s a heart attack on a plate but is this really a bad way to die? It’s greasy and good okay.

Fried Boneless Chicken Bites (Korean) | $15.00
sweet garlic soy with Korean chili flakes

Not your typical Korean fried chicken taste. Korean fried chicken is usually smothered in a very thick sweet and spicy sauce yeah? Hard to remember the taste of this too, it wasn’t bad but honestly not memorable. Wouldn’t recommend for $15 since that’s the case.

Garlic Bacon Fried Rice | $15.00
sautéed garlic, caramelized onions, bacon, corn, special sauce, 2 sunny side eggs

This is the for sure winner of the night and just…in life. I love a good fried rice but as simple as a fried rice recipe should be, I am easily disappointed by fried rice. I don’t know how to explain it but I don’t think a lot of care and finesse goes into the creating of fried rice in all restaurants. Sometimes, you can tell they are just throwing in old ingredients into the fried rice before it goes bad (and charging you extra for it to boot!). Now, when restaurants focus on the fried rice and treat it like the main dish that it is…magical things can happen. That includes this fried rice. Yes, $15 is a bit steep for fried rice but to me, it is worth it. What’s in this special sauce? I like make this at home because I cannot afford to pay them $15 each time I like eat it! They don’t list it in the description but get takuan all over the rice too which nicely offsets the smokiness of the bacon flavor. You may get this dish and wonder what the big whoop is about, ah well, guess you aren’t the carb queen like I am. I just appreciate simple good dishes. Give it a try folks.

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22Apr / 2020

Pancakes & Waffles BLD – Kalihi, HI

Pancakes & Waffles has been around for quite a while. I remember a long time ago, when I came back from an international trip, I asked my ride to take me there to eat. I just had to grind on some pocho sausage, eggs and rice. Don’t worry, I treated her to breakfast too. Anyway, can you believe that I had not tried their fried chicken and waffles until this past visit? The audacity.

Fried Rice Special | $8.25
*fried rice, 2 eggs, choice of bacon, link, spam, or portuguese sausage*

Your basic special. Nothing great about it but nothing to complain about either.

Grilled Cheese Benedict with Avocado Fries | $11.45
*choice of white or wheat bread grilled cheese sandwich, topped with a perfectly poached egg and covered in creamy hollandaise sauce*

Seasonal menu item! I only saw the sign near the door, it wasn’t even on their menu when you go up to order. I didn’t actually get this myself but it was gobbled up!

Honey Butter Chicken & Waffles (3 pcs) | $12.95
*crispy fried chicken thighs on a golden waffle*

The star of the show. Here it is guys. We got our own entrees but got this to share. Well, four people sharing this plate was JUST NOT ENOUGH. Yes, I had to order another plate. We loved the chicken, delicious! Nicely seasoned and so crispy. The waffle, nice to have it there but I don’t need it. I just need the chicken! Highly recommend the chicken. Actually, I think the second one we got was a fried chicken plate because we just wanted the chicken and not the waffle…haha

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06Apr / 2020

Recipe: Prime Rib

I should really post my recipes closer to when I make them. I made this back on New Years Day. Oh boy, thinking about that, feels like years ago huh? I hope you folks are holding on together alright during this pandemic. I am grateful that I am able to currently work from home. It’s been a tough few months for me and sometimes it’s not that easy to really reach deep in and be grateful for what I do have.

I have been following the orders to stay home pretty well. If I go out, I am going out to buy groceries (I am trying to stock up as much as I can so the trips are less). Still have TP and hand soap (knocks on wood). Hope you are all doing well.

I had my doubts when I first saw this recipe. You “cook” it for a very short time and then let is sit in the oven with the residual heat for 2 hours. The way I calculated it, it would only cook for 25 minutes. That’s nuts! That’s how long it takes to heat up like frozen fries…! Well I held onto my patience and followed through on the directions and behold…it worked! Isn’t it beautiful?

I don’t have a roasting rack so I made a “rack” of vegetables. I was all excited to eat the vegetables after but ummm…they didn’t work. I feel like my carrot was already junk but since the actual cooking time was short…the carrots were still hard. I never like recook them so I just let it go…

I pierce many holes into the meat and stuff each hole with a clove of garlic. Oh…I just love garlic.

Mix that soft butter with all the herbs and spices you want to create a lovely crust on your prime rib!

Can any dish ever go wrong with that much butter? No, I don’t think so. Do I need to remind you to scroll back up to see the first picture? I am tempted to repost it…

Prime Rib With Garlic Herb Butter

Ingredients:

1 cup butter, softened
7 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons fresh rosemary, finely chopped (I don’t think I had this so I used dried Italian seasoning)
2 tablespoons fresh thyme, finely chopped (I used dried)
2 tablespoons salt
1 tablespoon pepper
5 lb boneless ribeye roast, trimmed

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 500°F (260°C).
Mix together the butter, garlic, herbs, salt, and pepper in a bowl until evenly combined.
Rub the herb butter all over the rib roast, then place on a roasting tray with a rack.
Bake for 5 minutes per pound (10 minutes per kilo) of meat, so a 5-pound (2.2 kg) roast would bake for 25 minutes.
Turn off the heat and let the rib roast sit in the oven for 2 hours, making sure you do not open the oven door or else the residual heat will escape.
Once the 2 hours are up, remove the roast from the pan.
Carve the prime rib into ¾-inch (20 mm) slices.
Enjoy!

Notes:

This was the main recipe I used but I really just used whatever dried herbs I had, italian seasoning and thyme worked great!
I deviated from the recipe by piercing holes into the meat and adding cloves of garlic. How many did I do? Maybe about 15? It’s up to you how much you want to add in!
Main recipe inspiration: https://tasty.co/amp/recipe/prime-rib-with-garlic-herb-butter

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maybeitsjenny

Tag Archives: American Food

Over Easy – Kailua, HI

Mixed Plate Friday

Earl Kaimuki – Kaimuki, HI

Mixed Plate Friday

Recipe: Chickpea Salad Sandwich

Mixed Plate Friday

Bob’s Bar-B-Que – Honolulu, HI

The Social Eatery & Bar Honolulu – Honolulu, HI

Pancakes & Waffles BLD – Kalihi, HI

Recipe: Prime Rib

Prime Rib With Garlic Herb Butter

Ingredients:

Preparation:

Notes: