Dragon Boat Races

Stone Brewery Trip Part 2

A phenomenal array of Stone Brews on tap is supplemented by a who's who of other top notch artisan breweries, both foreign and domestic.

Patio and beer gardens.

Pressed coffee and warm bread pudding ala mode.

Stone Brewery Trip Part 1

Stone has got to be one the best American craft breweries. I dig the piney, citrusy hops in the IPA and the Ruination IPA. The Levitation Ale is also one the finest session beers- low in alcohol, but big in satisfaction to the palate. Anybody visiting San Diego should take the drive out to San Marcos in North County and visit this amazing facility. It's top notch from the gift shop, to the indoor bar set to the backdrop of brewing vats, to the amazing outdoor beer gardens and firepit.

Count your blessings.

The miracle mile offers everything and more.

Jello Wrestling Party

Who still does this stuff? We do, though we don't participate in the wrestling. Wailupe Circle is the location of this annual event of water based craziness.

Shoe check-in.

Pizza Dogs!

Musical (classical) entertainment by this guy.

You are a terrible surfer, and you know it.

When you buy a used board, make sure you know the karma that comes with it!


This is the board that:
1) has blown many a set wave at Cliffs to the chagrin of others
2) has run over innocent competent surfers unapologetically
3) should not be purchased because the clueless owner should never have taken up our sport of aloha. It is the board of a she-devil. Can't you tell?

Atlantic Surfing Season

Our friend Mark in Rhode Island says, "the season is just getting good here in RI!"

Looks pretty, pretty good.

Week of Death

Vicious Kona Winds...
Triple Crown Surfing...
Thunderstorms...
Brown Water...
Humid, humid, humid...
The Honolulu Marathon...
Christmas work parties...
...more Christmas work parties
Cabernet and Chardonnay...
New Christmas Tree!
Decorations...
Christmas Shopping...

We are beat down and tired.

Finally, the trades are back! The South Shore is cruisable. More food reviews to come!

(Fingers Crossed)

Fishing

Michel's Colony Surf

We love Michel's (2895 Kalakaua Ave, Ph: 808-923-6552). This has to be one of the coolest, mellowest places to have Sunday Brunch. We probably wouldn't be caught spending $50-75 a head eating dinner at a French influenced restaurant with a Pan Asian fusion core, because we already know the best values for that kind of fare. ;-)

However, the Brunch here is money! For a top notch restaurant, prices are really not far off of usual brunch fare. Take Big City Diner or Pancake House, for example. We're gluttons for oysters on the half shell and Salmon Carpaccio, and Michel's drops the hammer when it comes to Sunday Brucn with a view.

Situated at the Colony Surf in Diamond Head, the view here is phenomenal during the day. Diamond Head is also the best place on the South Shore to watch the sunset. As an added bonus, you can watch all the stand up paddle (janitor-surfing) surfers practice their gig out at Old Man's, and say hi to your Haole Outrigger Canoe Club friends (it's nextdoor).

Oysters and a Bloody Mary. Start your Sunday with a bang.

Two thumbs up for the salmon. It could be a breakfast by itself.

Check out this half-eaten Crab Benedict.

Pho Thinh

Pho Thinh is our go to pho-institution for those late evening surf sessions: you know, the ones where it's dark and you're trying to paddle over the shallow reef back to the beach. Well after a rinse off shower, it does get a little chilly. So we warm ourselves up with a medium=$6 or large=$6.50 bowl of brothy gladness. This place is super clean and always has an open table. Service is impeccable. Prices are where they should be.

Hardcore Pho junkies will have the raw steak served separately and titrate the cooking by themselves in the broth.

Right next door is Chili in Hawaii. The trouble is that it closes at 6pm, so you'll miss it if you come to Pho Thinh for dinner.


Howard Dean likes Pho Thinh

Hawaii's PrinceBCS Bound?

It's Chili in Hawaii

It's Chili in Hawaii (2080 S. King St., Suite 105 Ph: 808-945-7070) is a little gem of a shop next to one of our favorite Pho restaurants, Pho Thinh.

We both love hot sauces, as an adjunct to breakfast or grilled meats, and this shop has plenty of hot sauce and more.

It's Chili in Hawaii is located on the corner of a non descript building in Moiliili. It's family run and the the service is friendly and chatty. Saturday features hot sauce tasting, freshly prepared recipes, and fresh tortillas.

Check out the fridge full of hot sauces. It's a bonafide tasting bar. A couple of the sauces are so hot, you need to try them on the tip of a tooth pick. A sample spoon may overdose you.

This is one of four walls of this stuff. Hot sauces, jerk sauces, rubs, New Mexico chiles, etc hail from all parts of the USA, Mexico, and the Caribbean. Tamales, cannee cactus, chopped chiles, and all other ingredients needed for hot and fiery food eater can be found here.

Their disclaimer.

Farrington Highway

Long right walls let you stall, trim and walk.

Drop in fade.

Fun stuff.

Need to go on another surf trip!

This beaut is a 9'4" volan glassed Dewey Weber.

Izakaya Nonbei

Izakaya Nonbei is a semi-discreet restaurant just across the street from the new Kapahulu Safeway. The parking lot is one of those weird ebb and flow situations: it could be really full, or really empty. The restaurant has a country inn feel- it's very comfortable and the service is friendly.

Izakaya Nonbei. 3108 Olu St. (off Kapahulu Avenue, between Mokihana and Charles streets / 734-5573)

Old school might be an accurate description for our experience. Patrons have their own sake bottles stored, the menu is very ala carte, and the seating is 1) either on the floor, or 2) on a sit around bar so you get to people watch while you dine. There is no sushi here, only sashimi.

We bumped into our friends, Bonnie and Jens Hing, who were also trying out I.N. for the first time.

While small in portion, the batter and consistency of the squid made this dish worth it- $5.95. We had already had 1/2 the plate when the photo was taken.

Hamachi Kama (cheek) $18 MP, with unfiltered sake ($13)was pretty good.

One of my favorites is the Katsutama ($8.95). It's cooked tonkatsu pork loin with egg onion sauce. You can add a bowl of rice if you'd like.