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.

Govinda's

Govinda's is a popular vegetarian "plate lunch" walk-in off the Fort Street Mall. It features lunch only/workday only veggie specials. The food is Indian-inspired and surprisingly tasty. We usual freak out at vegetarian places only because militant vegetarians freak us out.

But this place passes no judgement on the meat eating folks who want to get a fiber fill every once in a while. Specials today included Falafel and a cauliflower/chickpea flurry.

One pertinent question we want answered regarding Govinda's is: Where is the kitchen?????

The inside is mellow, and always busy.

The mantra.

Our food. $4.60 each plate. We recommend the ginger lime drink with the grub. Also, try putting the sunflower oil dressing on the salad and the cilantro salsa on the rice. Happy eating!

Harry's Cafe

Harry's Cafe (1101 Waimanu St, Honolulu, HI 96814),

adjacent to Harry's Liquor Store, has been a Kakaako Breakfast-Lunch fixture for quite some time. Christy, a chatty Korean woman runs almost all dining room aspects of this local diner. She works a million miles an hour at a million different tasks, hence the inconspicuous sign over the cash counter that says, "If Christy busy, help yourself to coffee."

The bargain early bird breakfasts start at $0.99 and run 5-8am. That's why Harry's Cafe is perfect for the McKinley student, Ward construction workers, and morning commuters on their way into or out of town.

Aside from the early bird menu, the main breakfast selections are where it's at. One can only guess what the "3-3-3" means. Or what about the "Breakfast Deluxe," which is a 3-3-3-3-3! We highly recommend the Kim Chee fried rice omelette, the "Omelette Blaster" or one of the pancake variants.

Above is an omelette blaster. A savvy customer knows to order fried rice scoops instead of the pictured white rice.

If you surf the Beach Park, don't waste your time outside at a Starbucks table afterward with the pidgeons and meandering Japanese tourists. At least give Harry's a try.

Turkey Day Getaway.

Thanks to everyone who made the beach weekend so much fun!

Pho One Kapiolani

Another neighborhood eatery off of Kapiolani, Pho One, has taken over the former location of Cuisine Tony, which never really took off.

All of this was due to Pho One leaving their former strip mall location after its condemnation was announced due to the construction of the future Ala Moana Nordstrom.

The former location was smaller and somewhat seedier. It was always quite full and a short wait before being seated was common. The new location is far more upscale, and prices have been driven up a buck or two, perhaps scaring off some of the former clientele. Medium and Large bowls are available in the $7 and $7.50 price ranges, respectively.

This one just has rare steak.

The chicken porridge was quite savory. It's definitely not diet food.

Haleiwa

One goal: one wave. Just one wave!

Ahoy, JP!

Small day play. Happy Turkey Day! Be safe.

"Point + Shoot" $10.99stuff.

Happy Turkey Day from Ala Moana!

Part of the miracle mile.