HAWAIIAN STYLE PUPUS AT HOME

HAWAIIAN STYLE PUPU'S

SERVED AT HOME

Enjoyed the company of some good friends and had some great Island Style Pupu's at home.  Nothing like fresh Sashimi Grade Ahi Tuna coated in Cajun spices and pan seared for just a few seconds.  I also love fresh Poke from Foodland.  Especially like the Kim Chee Tako Poke.  Thinly sliced Octopus marinated in Kim Chee Sauce.  Hawaiian style pupu's can be just about anything.  With all of the diverse cultures in Hawaii you will be served Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Vietnamese and American favorites wherever you go.  

SEARED AHI WITH CAJUN SPICES

AHI POKE, EDAMAME AND
KIM CHEE TAKO POKE

SMOKED SALMON ON CUCUMBER
WITH SOUR CREME AND DILL

GREAT TASTING SNACKS FOR GOOD FRIENDS

MAI TAI BAR - ALA MOANA SHOPPING CENTER

MAI TAI BAR

HONOLULU,  HAWAII

Ahhhh....to be in my twenties again.  If I was, I would be hanging out at the Mai Tai Bar located in the middle of Ala Moana Shopping Center.  The waitresses are hot, the beer is cold and the people watching is second to none.  Add some great pupu's and good service and you have one of the busiest bars in Hawaii.  On this visit, a good friend was visiting from Maui and we only had about an hour before he had to catch a flight.  We tried the Carne Asada Mini Tacos ($7).  These are great.  Four small tacos filled with steak and topped with guacamole and green salsa.   We also tried the Fresh Seared Ahi Tuna ($12).  Perfectly seared on the ends with a slight bit of cajun spice.  Fresh and very tasty.  The Pupu Steak ($11) was a meal.  Large slices of steak served with white rice and sliced Daikon.  The Mai Tai Bar has several great Pupu specials for around $5.  The Calamari is excellent and so are the Onion Rings.  The music gets a bit loud here but it is all good.

MAI TAI BAR SEARED AHI TUNA

CARNE ASADA MINI TACOS

PUPU STEAK PLATTER

BUZZ'S WHARF - MAUI

BUZZ'S WHARF - MAUI

VIEW FROM THE ENTRANCE

BUZZ'S WHARF RESTAURANT

MA'ALAEA HARBOR, MAUI

Going to Maui on business once every month or so  is not bad work.  I always drive around and realize how lucky I am to live in Hawaii and marvel at Maui's natural beauty.  My favorite spots are Kapalua and Wailea.  This trip, one of my customers invited me (and paid) for lunch on Ma'alaea Harbor.  Ma'alaea is located in the middle of the Island between Lahaina and Wailea.  A perfect spot perched overlooking the small harbor.  Buzz's is around 42 years old.  It feels a bit dated inside, but the staff is courteous and seem to really care about your experience here.  We enjoyed a huge bowl of clam chowder.  This is real thick chowder filled with clams and a lot of potatoes.  The Seared Ahi Sashimi was AWESOME.  Lightly tossed in cajun spices and seared quickly to just cook the edges.  Inside the Ahi is red, raw and delicious.  Served with soy, wasabi and a bit of honey I think.  The Steamed Clams were small but they gave us a large bucket of them for around $18.  Served with bread for dipping in the sauce.  

I like Buzz's for lunch on Maui. 

CLAM CHOWDER

SEARED FRESH AHI SASHIMI

STEAMED CLAMS

HOLIDAY DINNER AT HOME WITH FRIENDS

HOLIDAY DINNER

AT HOME WITH FRIENDS 

Enjoyed a wonderful dinner and evening with friends.  My friend knows a wine distributor and he came supplied with a bottle of 2002 Opus One and a 1999 Dom Perignon.  Dinner began with Seared Ahi Tuna, Assorted Cheese, Salami and a Shrimp Civiche served in champagne glasses.  Dinner began with a Caesar Salad with Anchovies and Parmesan Crisps.  We followed the salad with a light pasta with butter, sage, Parmesan and local mushrooms.  The main course included Alaskan King Crab Legs, Filet Mignon, Twice Baked Potatoes stuffed with roasted garlic, butter, ham and cheese.  Also had some Asparagus and a tomato wedge crusted with Parmesan and bread crumbs.  Our friends brought great and tasty creme puffs for desert, but I was so full that I could not even look at them.  We lit the fireplace, kicked back with a glass of wine and enjoyed our beautiful Christmas Tree.  Truly a wonderful evening.

SEARED AHI

CHEESE AND SALAMI PLATTER

SHRIMP CIVICHE

CEASER SALAD

A LITTLE OPUS ONE

PAPPARDELLE WITH MUSHROOMS IN BUTTER SAUCE

ALASKAN KING CRAB LEGS

FILET MIGNON, TWICED BAKED POTATO, ASPARAGUS AND TOMATO

A LITTLE DOM TO CAP OFF THE EVENING