ZED 451 - CHICAGO, IL

ZED 451

CHICAGO, IL

When friends recommended a place called ZED 451 I did not know what to expect. We had no clue what type of food or place this was. When they told us that a van would pick us up a our hotel and take us to and from the restaurant for free I was even more interested in finding out what this place was all about. The van arrived on time and we had a driver that was happy to be a tour guide on the way to the restaurant. This was really nice touch. We entered ZED 451 and were quickly greeted with warm smiles and a great welcome. The hostess brought us to the bar area to wait for our guests. A warm fire pit on one side and a beautiful glass enclosed wine cellar set the tone for what turned out to be one of the best meals of my life. The bar area was filled with thirty something men and woman sipping on Martini's and wine. Turns out there is a beautiful rooftop bar here that has dramatic views of the city and is quite the place when the weather is warm. Our guests arrived and we were seated at a large table in a beautiful circular room with two large half round buffet tables in the middle. I still had no clue on what was to be served here. Just saw the tables in the middle filled with salads. O.K. this must be a buffet. Great I am starving. We were lead to the "Harvest Tables" which were filled with salads, cheeses, bread and vegetables. Here are just a few; Turkey Cobb Salad with Mustard Dressing, Red Bliss Potato Salad with Sherry and Whole Grain Vinaigrette, Roasted Beets, Broccoli and Toasted Sesame with Miso, Sauteed Wild Mushrooms, Sweet Corn Salad, Chilled Raviolis with Pesto, Sliced Tomato, Mozzarella and Red Onion, Heirloom Tomato and Asparagus, Spicy Long Bean Salad, Ginger and Cucumber Salad and more and more and more.

The salads were all top quality and I enjoyed them all. After all this I still had no clue on what the main course would be as I do not recall ever looking at a menu. Then they came. The chefs in white coats and hats. Each one carrying a different meat dish on a skewer. One after another they circled our table. Non-stop for what seemed to be hours. As the wine flowed so did the food. I was totally blown away by the flavors of each meat course. They were all unique and bold. The service was impeccable and the company around us was to be enjoyed for a lifetime.

Are you ready for the main course items. Well here you go. All served table side and hand carved by the chefs; Rubbed Tuna Filet with Miso Soy Vinaigrette, Slow Roasted Beef Ribs with Creamy Horseradish, Grilled Bison Loin with Red Wine Chili Glaze, Buttermilk and Herb Marinated Bottom Sirloin (unreal good), Moroccan Marinated Chicken Breast, Oven Roasted Duck with Pistachio Orange Glaze, Whole Roasted Leg of Lamb, Crispy Tempura Mahi Mahi,

Jerk Marinated Pork, St. Louis Style BBQ Ribs, Chili- Rubbed Ribeye, Seasoned Rump Roast,

Citrus Atlantic Salmon, Linguica Pork Sausage with Homemade Honey Mustard (Awesome), Roasted Garlic Steak, Seared Venison and Tropical Seared Wahoo. ALL THIS FOR $49.

I LOVED ZEN 451. THE ATMOSPHERE, SERVICE AND FOOD ARE EXCELLENT. PROBABLY ONE OF THE NICEST AND TASTIEST DINNERS OF MY LIFE.

THE BERGHOFF - CHICAGO, IL

THE BERGHOFF

CHICAGO, IL

The last time we visited The Berghoff was years ago at lunch time during a large convention. The placed was so packed you were lucky to get a table. The waiters didn't really much care about service then. This time we arrived after the lunch crowd and found the place empty. I mean empty. There were only two other tables occupied. The Berghoff is somewhat of an institution in Chicago known for their Bratwurst, Hot Corned Beef, Wiener Schnitzel, Sauerbraten and Whitefish. They also have their own beer which is really good and served ice cold. We started with the Iceberg Lettuce Wedge Salad ($5.95). Crisp Iceberg lettuce topped with Maytag bleu cheese dressing, crispy pancetta, tear dropped tomatoes and a huge crispy parmesan wafer. The salad was delicious. One item on the menu caught my eye. It was the Alsatian Onion and Apple Soup ($4.95). Had to try it. This is a sweet onion and tart apple soup in rich broth topped with melted Muenster Cheese. The soup was very good but I did not like the sweetness of the apples after I ate about half. To finish our meal we tried the Hot Corned Beef Sandwich ($9.95). Hand carved, hot corned beef piled on homemade rye bread. This was a good sandwich but it was very dry corned beef. It was served with some of the best home made potato chips I had ever had. Crispy and delicious.  All meals come with a huge cone stuffed with bread. The lunch was good and not too expensive.

THE BERGHOFF CORNED BEEF SANDWICH

THE BERGHOFF IN CHICAGO

ONION SOUP WITH APPLES

WEDGE SALAD

GARDEN RESTAURANT - ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO

ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO

GARDEN RESTAURANT

Hidden away in the Art Institute of Chicago is a small restaurant and bar called the Garden Restaurant. This bright space looks like it opens up into the garden during warmer weather. I stopped in for a quick lunch and discovered the food was pretty good. After a nice glass of champagne I enjoyed a steak salad with asparagus. Sliced steak over a bed of greens with vegetables. It was very good but somehow I lost the photo. The best thing about this place is that is just seconds away from some of the greatest paintings on earth. My favorites are the French Impressionism paintings. Dozens of paintings from Boudin, Cezanne, Caillebotte, Gauguin, Van Gogh, Manet, Pissarro, Renoir, Seurat, Lautrec and my favorite Claude Monet. They have dozen of Monet's. This is one of my favorite places on earth. I could spend days here. You must visit the Art Institute whenever you visit Chicago. It is an absolute MUST DO.

KIM AND CARLO'S CHICAGO STYLE HOT DOGS

KIM AND CARLO'S CHICAGO STYLE HOT DOGS

CHICAGO, IL

What is the first thing you do when you arrive in Chicago. Go for the Chicago Dog of course. That is exactly what we did. Walking from our hotel to the Natural History Museum we found a small hot dog cart and ordered up a Chicago Dog. That is a hot dog with all the fixins. Mustard, Green Relish, Hot Peppers and a large pickle. This was a good dog but not the best ever.

KIM AND CARLO'S CHICAGO STYLE HOT DOG

KIM AND CARLO'S IS LOCATED IN THE MUSEUM DISTRICT OF CHICAGO

NOW THIS IS A HOT DOG STAND

J.J. DOLANS

J.J. DOLAN'S

HONOLULU, HAWAII

An Irish Pub with New York Pizza from two guys in Chinatown. Sounds crazy but this place works. Good Pizza, service and crowd. We had a great time at J.J. Dolan's and will be returning again this week. There is nothing and I mean nothing on the menu but pizza. Around nine specialty pizzas and then a large list of build your own type pizzas. We opted for three of the specialty pizzas. Pizza Margherita was by far our favorite. This is a simple pie with tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese and fresh basil served on a thin crust. Next time I would order this with extra sauce. We also tried the "White Pie" which is described as a Jersey Shore Classic. Mozzarella cheese and Ricotta Cheese served with what tasted like no sauce. The first bite of this pizza was not too great, but after a few bites the flavor was o.k. Our third pizza was the evening special. Sausage, peppers and tomato sauce. Like the Margherita this pizza was really good. The crowd here was hip and the server was really good. The bartenders made a point to visit our table to make sure we were happy with the food, beer and wine. Everything was good and I enjoyed the evening here with friends and family. Pizzas run around $16. There is only one size which is about 14". We had four adults and three kids with us. Three pizzas filled up everyone and we had plenty to take home.

SIDE STREET INN

SIDE STREET INN

HONOLULU, HAWAII

One of the best finds in all of Hawaii. This place rocks with great food. Side Street Inn is a hidden gem that it well known to locals and void of a lot of tourists. Located on a small street across from the Ala Moana Shopping Center and buried in an industrial area full of girly bars the Side Street Inn is a destination not to be missed when in Honolulu.  Parking is almost non existent here so they offer valet parking that is quick and courteous. The food is served family style in large portions. The Fried Rice is the absolute best in Hawaii. Full of meat and veggies and cooked perfectly every time. The steak and onions is awesome as are the Fried Pork Chops. The Spinach Salad is fantastic too. Just about everything you order here is great eats. We sampled the Steamed Clams, Chicken Katsu and a Steak that was just delicious. I really need to take notes next time we eat here. There are so many dishes that I would like to talk about. The problem is that the beer keeps flowing while the dishes come. We are having so much fun meeting people at the tables next to us and sharing food from table to table. The next day you wake up and say "wow" that was fantastic food.

BUFFALO BOYS HOAGIES - STEAK HOAGIES & WINGS

BUFFALO BOYS HOAGIES

HONOLULU, HI

I was excited when the food section of our local newspaper wrote about a new spot that specialized in Chicken Wings and New York style Hoagies. Finally some good New York style food in Hawaii I thought. After two visits to Buffalo Boys I am sold on the Hoagies but not the wings. And these are the only two items on the menu. There are Steak Hoagies, Chicken Finger Hoagies, Buffalo Wings and a few salads and that is it. Simple an not complicated.

During my first visit we tried the Buffalo Wings with "Hot" sauce ($7.99 for 10 pieces). The Wings took a while to come out of the kitchen, but when they did they were served steaming hot with a side of bleu cheese dressing and a very small bag of mini carrots. There were like four carrots in the bag. Not enough for me and my daughter. The Wings are very standard. Deep fried and covered in Frank's Hot Sauce. Kind of bland and not hot at all. If only they could have spiced them up or added something to the sauce. My daughter tried the Kids Combo Meal which includes a 6" Steak and Cheese Sub (just meat and cheese), French Fries and a drink. At $3.99 this is a good value. The thinly sliced beef had some flavor and the cheese was melted and gooey. The bread however was hard as a rock on top and crunched apart all over the place. It turns out this place gets their bread baked fresh from a local Vietnamese bakery that we visit quite frequently. As with the Vietnamese place, if the bread is not fresh it is hard as a rock on top. This ruins any sandwich. On my second visit the Kids Combo sandwich had a fresh roll that made a big difference. There are only two types of Hoagies served here. A 100% Sirloin Steak version and a Chicken Finger version. We tried the "Fire Hoagie" which is a steak sandwich with fried onions, hot peppers, melted white American cheese and a SECRET SAUCE. This is a good deal and served two of us for $8.89. This is a good sandwich and included two types of cheese. American and a Cheddar or Cheese Wiz. Next time I order it we will ask them to add more peppers. They add flavor but there was only a few on the entire sub. The Secret Sauce seems like some sort of mayo. We asked for some lettuce to be added to the Kids Combo sub and were charged an additional .65 cents. Thought this was a rip. The staff here is friendly and they did come around to see if we liked the food. I do like it and probably will return for another Fire Hoagie. UPDATE: THIS PLACED CLOSED DOWN.

LITTLE VILLAGE NOODLE HOUSE

LITTLE VILLAGE NOODLE HOUSE

HONOLULU, HI

We joined several couples for a Friday night dinner in downtown Honolulu. Since the Little Village has received many local food awards I was excited to try their food. When we arrived we were greeted and promptly seated at a large round table with a big turntable in the middle. Little Village is a BYOB establishment so our guests brought some beer and wine. The staff was quick to find some wine glasses for our table. The service here is really good. The food comes out fast and fresh. We were a bit limited on our selections since it is lent. No meat dishes were ordered. The restaurant is very accommodating when it comes to ordering vegetarian dishes. They do just about anything to meet your dietary needs. We tried the Lettuce Wraps, Mu-Shu Roll, Green Onion Pancakes and Pot Stickers for appetizers. All were pretty good for vegetarian with the exception of the Green Onion Pancake. Tasted like card board to me. For our main dishes we kept mostly to shrimp dishes. Spicy Shrimp, Walnut Shrimp and Sweet and Sour Shrimp. The Spicy Shrimp was "hot". I mean smokin hot. Hard to get this one down. I love the heat but it was a little overboard. I loved the Sweet and Sour Shrimp and my daughter devoured an entire bowl of the Shrimp with Black Bean Sauce. It was good. Nothing at our table really stood out. I thought most of the food was pretty bland. I need to go back and try some of the meat dishes before I write this place off.

LITTLE VILLAGE NOODLE HOUSE

LITTLE VILLAGE NOODLE HOUSE IN HONOLULU

BEACHHOUSE AT THE MOANA SURFRIDER

BEACHHOUSE AT THE 

WESTIN MOANA SURF RIDER

HONOLULU, HI

I was quite surprised when the Westin made their elegant and beautiful veranda into a steak house.  How could a major tourist hotel on Waikiki beach compete with Mortons, Ruth Chris and the other steak places in town.  Well, the Beachhouse does it well with their food, but quite frankly the service sucks.  The service is nowhere near what you receive and Mortons or Ruth Chris.  From the time we arrived to the time we left the service was way under par.  We had been seated for thirty minutes before our drink order was taken.  And we had to flag down the busboy to get the drinks rolling.  When the waiter finally arrived he was out of touch.  Did not know the menu and had zero personality.  Thank goodness for the beautiful view of the ocean from our great table near the end of the Veranda.  I was totally surprised when the wine came.  They poured just a few ounces into the glass.  Huge glass with very little wine.  There was about one ounce left in the bottle and instead of pouring it in the glass the waiter pulled back the bottle.  My guest asked what he was going to do with such a small amount of wine and politely asked him to pour it.  He did.  The service here is really bad.  Employees stand around and talk rather than take care of customers.  There is no feeling that you are appreciated as a guest.  The food is good but very expensive.  A bone in Rib Eye runs around $45.  This is just for the steak which is served ala cart with some terrible tasting seaweed thing.  The steak was cooked to perfection and delicious.  Made up for the poor service.  I tried the Ceaser Salad.  It was absolutely huge and big enough for two.  It was topped off with three large and fresh anchovies and a pretty good dressing.  My friends tried the tomato and onion salad with balsamic dressing.  They both loved it but said the tomato was too hard.  The Beachhouse is one of the most beautiful places to eat in Waikiki.  Sitting out on the Veranda overlooking the ocean is a great experience.  If they can only get the service on par with their competitors this place would be great.  I recommend the management dine at Ruth Chris in Waikiki.  Then they can experience what service is all about.

Click links below for more posts on the Beachhouse at Moana Surfrider;

https://www.greateatshawaii.com/2024/09/beachhouse-at-moana.html

https://www.greateatshawaii.com/2019/08/beachhouse-at-moana.html

TANGO CONTEMPORARY CAFE

TANGO CONTEMPORARY CAFE

HONOLULU, HAWAII

Tango is a rare gem located in the Hokua Condominiums at Ward Center.  We arrived at 11:30 am for lunch and the place was already filled.  The host gave us the option of sitting at the counter and we went for it.  Good thing we did because by 12:00 there was a line to get in.  I had no idea what kind of food was served here and had not talked to anyone who had eaten here.  The menu is part Japanese with Sushi and Tempura and part American bistro.  We started with the Onion Soup.  It was delicious.  Sweet caramelized onions topped with Gruyere & Parmesan Cheese ($5.50).  I would go back just for a cup of this soup.  We tried the Trio of Temaki Sushi ($9.00).  Three pieces of sushi; Spicy Tuna, Tempura Shrimp and Crab Salad.  It was o.k. sushi, but nothing to get excited about.  For the main course I opted for the Mahi Mahi Sandwich ($8.50).  Two fresh pieces of Mahi served on a Nori Roll and topped with a little Tarter Sauce.  The fish was fresh and perfectly cooked.  Served with French Fries or a Nalo Greens salad.  The fries were golden brown and delicious.  My friend tried the Grilled Pesto Glazed Salmon Salad.  It was huge and he said it was great.  Served with Nalo Greens and a mix of tomato and asparagus.   The salads are big and so are the entrees.  The Hamakua Mushroom Risotto with Asparagus seemed to be a popular item and looked great.  I can't wait to return to Tango for dinner with the family.  Most everything on the lunch menu is under $10 so it is a really good deal.  Dinner features Bouillabaisse, Sauteed Moi, Hoisin Glazed Salmon, Plank Steak (steak served on a cedar plank), Rack of Lamb, Pork Chops, Duck Breast and a Lobster and Goat Cheese Ravioli.  Dinner entrees run about $17-$20.

JOURNEY CONCERT VIDEO

JOURNEY

WITH ARNEL PINEDA

One of the best concerts and performances I have ever seen.  Arnel Pineda had everyone in the audience saying "Steve Perry Who".  Arnel can sing and entertain.  Don't know what this band would have done if they did not discover him on YouTube.  We filmed this on Saturday, March 28th in Honolulu, HI.  Enjoy the video

SENOR PEPE

SENOR PEPE

ALA MOANA CENTER FOOD COURT

HONOLULU, HI

Hawaii is known for not having very many good Mexican restaurants.  The last place you would think of munching down on some good Mexican would be the mall's food court.  Well, I am here to tell you that Senor Pepe has some of the best Fish Tacos on the Island.  They are really good and come with your choice of three sides.  There are 10 sides to choose from including beans, rice, potato, cucumber and Jicama, cole slaw and a few more.  For $7.79 (two tacos & three sides) this is a big plate of food and very filling.  The Fish Tacos are made with Mahi Mahi and are lightly battered and served with cabbage, white sauce and some fresh pineapple salsa.  There is a small salsa bar that contains three red salsas and one green salsa.  The "hot" salsa does have some good heat and was perfect on my tacos.  I really enjoyed the fresh sides too.  The cole slaw with chipotle sauce is a bit spicy and delicious as is the cucumber and jicama salad.  The other salad I tried was filled with garbanzo beans and fresh veggies.  All really good.  My wife enjoyed the typical refried beans and rice with her meal and loved it.  In Hawaii we can't be picky about good Mexican restaurants.  They just don't exist.  Senor Pepe for Fish Tacos is my new destination.  It is by far better than Wahoo's and most everyplace else that tries to serve a Fish Taco here.

RUBY'S DINER

RUBY'S DINER

Kahului, Maui

I was a bit skeptical when my friend recommended that we meet at Ruby's Diner for lunch.  Here we go with another 50's style diner with lousy food and corny service.  I was dead wrong.  Both the food and service were great at Ruby's.  I enjoyed the fish tacos.  They were huge and filling.  Totally surprised me and my guests.  The menu here is large and diverse and the prices are not too bad for Maui.  Since our entire table ordered the fish tacos (it was Ash Wednesday) I cannot comment on the other menu items.  I do know that we will return to Ruby's again the next time I do business in Kahului, Maui.

Click link below to view another post on Ruby's Diner Maui;

https://greateatshawaii.blogspot.com/2013/02/rubys-diner-kahului-maui.html

PIZZA MADNESS

PIZZA MADNESS

Kihei, Maui

When my friend on Maui told me the best pizza on the Island was located in the Maui Dive Shop in Kihei I was a bit surprised.  Turns out the owner of the dive shop wanted a place for him and his friends to enjoy a cold beer and pizza after work.  They built Pizza Madness and now you can eat pizza and buy diving gear in the same building.  We started with ice cold beers served in tall chilled glasses.  Fried Cheese sticks and pizza bread appetizers started our meal.  Then we ordered pizzas.  Beware the pizza's are huge here.  A medium is as big as many large at other places.  The pizza is good.  Thin crust with a nice sauce and all the toppings you are supposed to have at a pizza joint.  I asked for some hot sauce and the waitress brought me a small cup of Franks Hot Wing Sauce.  I placed this on my pizza and it was FANTASTIC.  When I told the waitress that the sauce really went well with the pizza she told me she had a customer that orders their pizza with the Franks sauce rather than the tomato sauce.  They may be onto something here.  We ordered three pizzas, two appetizers and beer for four guys.  The bill came to $150.  I think the pizza is very good.  Prices may be a bit high, but what the heck.  You are on Maui.

FIVE PALMS - WAILEA, MAUI

FIVE PALMS

WAILEA, MAUI

I have been eating and drinking at the Five Palms for around 15 years.  Me and my Maui friends call it the "secret spot" because it is tucked away in a quiet lagoon overlooking the ocean.  You would never find this place if you did not know where it was.  The atmosphere and view are second to none.  The food is good but has been getting pricey over the years.  I have enjoyed breakfast, lunch and dinner at the Five Palms.  Most recently we caught a quick breakfast here to start our day.  The Five Palms is definitely on Maui time.  Breakfast is not served until 8:00 am.  My friend ordered the 5 Palms Big Breakfast ($14).  This includes two pancakes, 2 eggs and your choice of ham, portuguese sausage or bacon served with steamed rice or roasted breakfast potatoes.  I opted for the traditional Eggs Benedict.  Lightly poached eggs over english muffin with Canadian Bacon and Dill Hollandaise Sauce.  The dish was perfect and served with roasted potatoes with onion ($13).  I have enjoyed burgers, fresh fish and salads here too.  All very good if you can handle the prices.  We often visit the "secret spot" for a cold beverage at the end of a days work.  This is a must visit when you are on Maui.  

THE COUNTER CUSTOM BUILT BURGERS

THE COUNTER CUSTOM BUILT BURGERS

HONOLULU, HAWAII

I guess the world has forgotten the Atkins Diet and how bad beef and buns can be to your diet. Burger Joints like The Counter are popping up all over the place.  We visited this one on Sunday afternoon and found a line of people waiting for a table.  Our wait was about 45 minutes from the time we signed in until the time we got a partial order.  Was it worth the wait.  Quite honestly No.  The Counter features 1/3, 2/3 and 1 pound burgers made to order.  You are given a clip board with a menu and you simply check off your ingredients.  There are 10 different cheeses from Gruyere to Jalapeno Jack.  There are 18 regular toppings and 11 premium toppings ranging from grilled onions to Roasted Chiles and Avocado, Kim-Chee and honey cured bacon.  Then you have around 18 sauces including apricot, roasted garlic, bbq, teriyaki and peppercorn steak sauce.  Choose a bun and you have built your own burger.  The prices range from $8.95 to $13.95 per burger.  I went with a 1/3 pound ($8.95) burger with Cheddar Cheese, onion, tomato, lettuce and jalapenos.  I chose the Red Relish sauce.  It took a long while to get our burgers.  While we waited the waitress forgot to notice that our order of Sweet Potato Fries and Onion Strings did not come out of the kitchen.  When we finished our burgers we told her that the side dishes never arrived.  She did not seem too surprised and said nothing.  The burgers are big and tasty but not worth an hour wait and almost ten bucks.  The kids meal mini burgers are tiny and cost $5.95 with french fries.  People are flocking to The Counter and waiting in line to try the burgers.  

BEEF WELLINGTON AND LOBSTER TAIL - VALENTINES DAY AT HOME

BEEF WELLINGTON AND LOBSTER TAIL

VALENTINES DAY DINNER AT HOME

Oh.....what a treat.  Beef Wellington and Lobster served with fresh vegetables.  The Beef was cooked medium rare and to perfection.  Covered in a duck pate and wrapped in puff pastry.  No restaurant in America is better than being at home with the ones you love.  This meal was truly memorable and delicious.  I thank my wife and daughter for preparing and enjoying this with me.  The dessert was sinful.  Chocolate brownie with a Hershey's almond bar in the middle.  HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!

ALOHA KAUAI PIZZA - KAPAA, KAUAI

ALOHA KAUAI PIZZA

KAPAA, KAUAI

Located in the Coconut Marketplace just behind our Kauai beach shack is a very small little pizza shop called Aloha Kauai Pizza.  We stopped by last week for a quick lunch.  You order at a window and then can sit on benches fronting the pizza stand.  This is not a restaurant.  It is a take-out only stand that measures about 15' x 20'.  The people working here are warm and friendly.  The menu is simple with salads, calzone, sandwiches, pasta and pizza.  Pizza's come in 7", 12" and 16" sizes.  We tried the "Local Boy" which the menu said was a "must".  This pizza includes Hawaiian pineapple, Canadian bacon, mozzarella cheese and tomato sauce.  We ordered the 12" which was $16.95.  This is a bit expensive for a small pizza, but I know the cost of doing business on Kauai is high.  As we waited for our pie, there was good live local music being played in the square that fronts the pizza stand.   We enjoyed the pizza but felt that it needed a little more sauce and flavor kick.  It was good and we will return again to help this family owned business that has been on Kauai since 1991.  

HOOTERS HONOLULU

HOOTERS

HONOLULU, HAWAII

What can I say.   Who does not like cold beer, girls and chicken wings.  The combination is perfect.  I like Hooters for the chicken wings.  We get them as hot as possible.  The fried pickles are also very good.  A visit to Hooters should always include an order of fried pickles.  They are great.  Dip the pickles in the ranch dressing and you will be hooked.  I also like the burger sliders for lunch.  

ISLANDER ON THE BEACH - KAUAI

ISLANDER ON THE BEACH

KAPAA, KAUAI

The best restaurant we have found in Kauai is right on the lanai of our beach shack at the Islander on the Beach.  We go to Safeway or Foodland and buy food.  Then cook it downstairs on the bbq's and return to our shack and eat on the lanai overlooking the ocean.  There is no finer place for me.  This dinner consisted of Alaskan King Crab Legs, Sliced Rib Eye, Ceasar Salad, corn, roasted maui onions and some plain old white rice.  Heaven on earth and blessed to spend the evening on the lanai with my beautiful wife and best friend daughter.  Oh....did I mention that the beach shack is available year round to rent.  Enjoy relaxing days and nights right on the beach on Kauai.  Simple, no frills life with nice pool and the ocean at your doorstep.

STEAK AND KING CRAB DINNER ON OUR LANAI AT ISLANDER ON THE BEACH

GREAT VIEW FROM OUR 3RD FLOOR LANAI

HUKILAU LANAI

HUKILAU LANAI

KAPAA, KAUAI

Next to our Kauai beach shack there is a oceanfront hotel with a nice little restaurant called the Hukilau Lanai.  We have eaten here several times during our Kauai visits.  This trip we stopped in for dinner on a Saturday night.  As usual the place was packed.  We did not have a reservation but arrived early enough to be seated.  After we were seated there was a wait and the bar was full.  The photo above was taken from our table.  Nice view of pool area and beyond is the ocean.  For starters we enjoyed the Adams Ahi Poki Nachos.  Crisp wonton chips layered with sashimi grade ahi poke, tomato, avocado and tobiko, topped with wasabi cream.  This dish has tons of potential but is a little too sweet for our taste.  The dish is full of furikake which is a sugared seaweed.  I loved the poke but could not eat the entire dish because of the sweetness.  Next we moved onto a nice Arugula salad which featured locally grown arugula, fresh beets, corn off the cob and a basil vinaigrette dressing.  This was a good salad but would be better if they added some other lettuce other than 100% arugula.  I liked the beets, corn and dressing. Entree items include Pasta, Steak, Prime Rib, Pork Tenderloin and fresh fish.  We tried the fresh Ahi Tuna served with okra gumbo and polenta.  I don't know if gumbo, polenta and ahi go together too well, but separately each was good.  The gumbo was spicy and full of flavor.    One good thing about the Hukilau Lanai is that they offer 20 different wines for under $20.  

SHAKA TACO - KAPAA

SHAKA TACOS

KAPAA, KAUAI

We are blessed to have a little beach shack on the beautiful Island of Kauai.  Not far from our place is a little taco shop called Shaka Tacos.  During our last stay we ventured into Shaka for the first time.  After several bad mexican food experiences on Kauai we were a bit skeptical and not too excited.  After looking at the menu which was posted on a large board, we were positive that this would be another waste of time and money.  The menu is very simple.  Tacos, Burritos, Tacquitos, Sopes, Quesidilla and Tortas done with veggies, shredded chicken, shredded beef, carne asada, pork, ahi or shrimp.  We opted for the chicken tacquitos ($7.00) and a shredded beef taco ($4.00) and carne asada taco ($5.00).  The food arrived quickly with a small pile of freshly cooked tortilla chips.  First bite was the shredded beef.  Wow....it actually had good flavor.  Next came the carne asada.  Wow....good flavor again.  Now onto the tacquitos.  Good flavor again.  All three were good.  I would order them all again.  The only thing missing was a good salsa or hot sauce.  If Shaka had some good sauce the tacos would be the best on Kauai.  Instead they offer bottles of Tapatio sauce (which I love).  The only other complaint would be the prices.  $7.00 for tacquitos and $5.00 for a small taco is just too much.  I will return again to Shaka Tacos.

SHAKA TACO

SHAKA TACO IN KAPAA, KAUAI

VINO ITALIAN TAPAS AND WINE BAR

VINO ITALIAN TAPAS & WIND BAR

Wow....this place was really good.  Exceptional food, wine and service.  

When you enter Vino there are large leather sofas and a small bar area. The space is decorated to be reminiscent of an authentic Italian Enoteca...a colorful, casual and rustic wine bar.  The crowd was a little older and all seemed to be consuming wine.  Once again we were hosted by Master Sommelier Chuck Furuya.  Chuck's wine pairings of one white from Italy and one red from France were fantastic.  Our party of five ate family style so everyone could enjoy a variety of dishes.  We started with Ceasar Salad with homemade dressing and a Spinach Salad.  Both were excellent.  We enjoyed the house homemade pizza of the day which was tomato, basil and several types of meat.  This is a very small pizza that is perfect as an appetizer for the table.  The tomato and basil flavors came through nicely.  One good thing about dining at Vino's is that you can also order from their sister restaurant next door called Hiroshi's.  With this in mind, we ordered the Froi Gras sushi from Hiroshi's.  This sushi is superb.  The Foie Gras melts like butter in your mouth.  This dish is a must.  The Spaghetti & "Il Grande" Meatball dish was by far my favorite ($16).  I cannot wait to return to eat it again.  This is Spaghetti and house made Pomodoro Sauce topped with two gigantic meat balls that are made with Maui Cattle Company beef stuffed with braised short ribs, brie cheese and sweet Maui onions.  When you bite into the meatball, you get an explosion of flavor from the meat, cheese, onions and short ribs.  Very unique dish that surprised everyone at the table.  Several at our table fell in love with the Tuscan Style Flat Iron Steak ($18) which is served with herb butter, swiss chard, vegetables and whole roasted garlic.   The pan roasted Onaga ($19) also was loved by all.  Served with a saffron risotto, shaved fennel, Hamakua tomato brodetto and sauce rouille.  This is a fresh and light fish that was served perfectly.  The only dish that didn't knock everyone socks off was the home made Ravioli ($8).  I liked the dish but felt that it lacked the bold flavors that we enjoyed with other dishes.  The Ravioli is filled with sweet fennel sausage, baby spinach, ricotta cheese and then covered with a marinara sauce.  Vino's was a great experience and I cannot wait to return.

HIROSHI EURASION TAPAS

HIROSHI EURASION TAPAS

Honolulu, HI

Wow.......This place is excellent.  When our friends asked us to join them for dinner at Hiroshi I had no idea what the place was all about.  Eurasian Tapas?  This place has been opened for years and I have never heard anyone recommend or say anything about it.  We went in blind not knowing what to expect and came out with eyes wide open with pleasure.  We started with wine selected by Master Sommelier Chuck Furuja.  Chuck is a warm and very personable gentlemen.  He took time to explain each bottle of wine and share some of his personal life with us.  This was refreshing and set the tone for what turned out to be a very enjoyable evening.  There were 6 people in our party and we decided to order a bunch of small plates and several large plates that would be shared family style.  We started with foie gras sushi.  This dish was off the hook awesome.  The foie gras melted in your mouth like butter.  Our two orders quickly became four as everyone enjoyed this dish.  Next up were Portuguese Sausage Potstickers.  Served with sweet corn, garlic chili foam and truffled ponzu sauce.  Awesome.  The Kampachi Carpaccio with tofu and ponzu vinaigrette was next.  This was also perfect and so good that we ordered more.  We tried the truffled crab cakes, steamed Moi served in a bag.  These were great too.  For the main course we ordered a Rib Eye Steak and Chilean Sea Bass that was cut into small pieces so we could share.  EVERYTHING THAT WAS SERVED WAS EXCELLENT.  There are few places that we have been that knock every dish out of the park.  Hiroshi did it again and again.  This was one of the best meals I can ever remember.  The service was excellent too.  Our server was always smiling and offering to accommodate every request.  The high level yet modest and sincere service from Chuck Furuya was amazing.  There are few Master Sommeliers that are as down to earth and humble.  Chuck is from Hawaii and he has not forgotten his roots or family values.

What a great night in Hawaii.  Our thanks to Tom and Arlene Norton for sharing this restaurant and evening with us.  

WAHOO'S FISH TACO

WAHOO'S FISH TACO

HONOLULU, HAWAII

As most of you know, I will eat at any Mexican restaurant at least once.  From hole in the wall dives to national chains.  I try them all.  When Wahoo's came to Hawaii I was very excited.  Finally a taste of California Mexican food with Fish Tacos.  Boy was I surprised.  This place absolutely "sucks".  The absolute worst Mexican food you can buy.  Yuck and barf are words that come to mind when we eat here.  This is the most tasteless Mexican food on the planet.  Taco Bell and Jack in the Box tacos are much better.  I tried the fish taco.  This is a small piece of fish that is covered in cajun spices and thrown on two tortillas with some cabbage.  If there was sauce you could not taste it.  Bland...bland....bland.  The taquitos were not much better.  Deep fried tasteless chicken served with sour creme and frozen quacamole.  They don't even serve hot sauce for the taquitos.  To get some bland sauce you need to order chips and salsa for around $2.75.  The salsa has no taste and no heat.  My wife tried the chicken enchilada.  We could not tell what was in the thing.  Chicken or beef.  The chicken was covered in cajun spices and served in chunks.  Again terrible.  My daughter tried the Maui Bowl which is steak marinated in teriyaki sauce.  This was so dried out and tasteless that she would no eat it.  Not even two bites.  She did like the black beans.  I also liked the cajun spicy white beans.  The large burritos were being served all around us and they looked o.k.  This is one place that I will not re-visit again.  One of my worst food experiences since writing this blog.