GREAT EATS HAWAII

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII FOOTBALL - ALOHA STADIUM EXPERIENCE

UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII FOOTBALL

ALOHA STADIUM EXPERIENCE

Very lucky to have some friends who have some VIP access at Aloha Stadium. Enjoyed the last football home game of the year for my Rainbow Warriors on the field and in the Press Box. This was a great experience from the tailgate party to the last second victory over UNLV. Enjoyed some incredible Shrimp Scampi and Rib Eye Steak cooked up by a local homebuilder and his friend in the parking lot. This was followed by some great homemade Enchiladas and a few cold beverages and something in a small white cup that was clear and refreshing. Think it had some pineapple in it. We started the game on the playing field with All Access Media Passes. Hung out on the Hawaii sidelines for awhile and then cruised up the elevator to the SkyBox Section that includes private corporate suites complete with televisions, full buffet, beer, wine and other beverages. This was a great place to hang out, eat and watch the game. Ran into the Stadium Manager and Assistant Manager and they were gracious enough to give us a full tour and introduction to a few of the corporate sponsors who invited us in for a cold one. Hard to get up and leave this place but we had to motor over to the Press Box to say hello to ESPN Radio Announcer John Veneri and OC Sports Television Announcer Rich Miano. Both Veneri and Miano were surprised to see me in the box but they were all smiles. Miano is like an orchestra conducted when he provides color commentary for a game. Always standing up and using his hands to motion his expressions even though nobody is watching. He gets into it and provides what I think is the best commentary we have had in years. The Press Box also includes a buffet but we were so full from the Skybox that we just passed by and grabbed a cookie. From the Skybox we went back down to the field to find another friend who had rented the field dugout for a Hospitality Suite. The small room below the field was enclosed and had several televisions, air conditioning, buffet station and open bar. You could sit inside this room and watch the game on t.v. or go out and sit in seats that are field level in the end zone. Pretty cool set up to party. From the party dugout we went to the UNLV sideline and watched more football. Met some really nice people who run the on field advertising for Aloha Stadium and then cruised over to the other end zone to talk with television announcers Nate Ilaoa and Leonard Peters. Nate and Leonard do the pre, halftime and post game show for OC Sports. Great guys with big hearts. This was a great night at Aloha Stadium and it was capped off with a last second pass that won the game for my Bows.

PRE GAME PARTY IN THE PARKING LOT OF ALOHA STADIUM

HAD TO GET A PHOTO WITH THIS LITTLE 4' 10" BALL OF RAINBOW WARRIOR PRIDE

THERE SO SMALL SO I GRABBED TWO

BOB THE BUILDER MAKING DELICIOUS SHRIMP SCAMPI

RIB EYE STEAK RIGHT OFF THE GRILL

BOB'S SHRIMP SCAMPI WAS AMAZING!

THE PLAYER WALK IS READY TO BEGIN

UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII CHEERLEADERS LEADING THE WAY INTO THE STADIUM

LETS GET READY TO PAR-TAY!

THE RAINBOW DANCERS

UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII BAND GETTING THE CROWD IN THE MOOD FOR FOOTBALL

LETS GO BOWS!

STOPPED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII CHANCELLOR TAILGATE AND MET UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT

U.H. ATHLETIC DIRECTOR BEN JAY ADDRESSES THE CROWD

WE LEFT THE CHANCELLOR TAILGATE PARTY WHEN I GOT A TEXT THAT SAID I HAD FIELD PASSES

MY ALL ACCESS MEDIA PASS ENABLED ME TO SEE ALOHA STADIUM LIKE NEVER BEFORE

ON THE FIELD AS HAWAII PLAYERS ARE ANNOUNCED

RETRO UNIFORMS FOR THE LAST HOME GAME OF THE YEAR

WATCHING THE GAME ON THE SIDELINES IS GREAT EXPERIENCE

PLAYERS WERE MOTIVATED FOR A WIN

COACH NORM CHOW WELCOMES SENIOR PLAYERS

A VISIT TO THE VIP SKY BOXES AT ALOHA STADIUM

FOUR SKYBOX SUITES ARE AVAILABLE TO RENT

SKY BOXES INCLUDE BUFFET

GRABBED A HOT DOG TO GO WITH MY BREW

ALOHA STADIUM SKY BOX SUITES

TV'S, COUCHES AND SEATING IN THE SKY BOX

NOT A BAD WAY TO ENJOY A HAWAII FOOTBALL GAME

MORE FOOD BEFORE WE MOVE ON

VISITED THE TELEVISION ANNOUNCER BOX TO SEE RICH MIANO

MIANO STANDING IN FAR CORNER WITH HEADPHONES

GREAT FIELD VIEW FROM PRESS BOX

BACK TO THE FIELD TO HANG OUT WITH UNLV PLAYERS

A VISIT TO THE DUGOUT SEATS WITH PRIVATE BAR AND BUFFET

DUGOUT SUITE INCLUDES BUFFET AND BAR

BACK TO THE SIDELINES

Sunday, November 23, 2014

LOBSTER AND SHRIMP RAVIOLI WITH ALFREDO SAUCE

LOBSTER AND SHRIMP RAVIOLI WITH ALFREDO SAUCE

DINNER AT HOME

Sometimes I want to hug myself :). On this night, I hit it out of the park with a homemade Alfredo Sauce that was the perfect compliment to some Lobster and Shrimp Ravioli that we picked up at Costco. Dish was so good that everyone wanted seconds and even thirds for my daughter. I simply melted a stick of butter and then added some fresh sage. Let the sage infuse flavor into the butter and then removed it from the pan. Added about 1/2 cup of cream and heated. I grated about 3/4 of a cup of parmesan cheese and added it to the cream and butter. Sauce was perfect for this Ravioli and so easy to make. Tasted like a 5 star Italian restaurant meal and we did it at home for around $10.

Clink link below to see an even better post on Lobster Ravioli:

http://greateatshawaii.blogspot.com/2015/02/giovani-ran-main-lobster-ravioli.html

LOBSTER WITH SHRIMP RAVIOLI WITH HOMEMADE ALFREDO SAUCE

EARL A SANDWICH EXPERIENCE

EARL A SANDWICH EXPERIENCE

HONOLULU, HAWAII

EARL A SANDWICH EXPERIENCE

1137 11TH AVENUE

HONOLULU, HI 96816

808-200-4354

HOURS: Monday thru Thursday 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Friday thru Sunday 7:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Seems like Sandwich Shops are popping up all over Honolulu. Out of three that we have visited during the past month (Earl, Kaimuki Superette and Sprout), Earl was by far the best. Located in Kaimuki near Big City Diner and in the location that used to serve BBQ, Earl delivers some pretty good sandwiches at reasonable prices. We arrived to find a family in front of us looking at the menu board. They had questions about everything. The bread, the toppings, the sauces, the tastes, the sides and on an on. I was getting impatient because they had not even ordered but were holding up the line. The gal at the counter to her credit calmly answered each and every question without interrupting or rushing the family. She was friendly and professional. The other guys in the kitchen saw what was happening and that there were more people waiting and came to the window to help. I placed my order with the guy and another gentlemen welcomed me and said he appreciated our patience. I ordered the French Dip ($9) and thought it was delicious. The Beef, Gruyere Cheese, Dijon and Fennel Onion Marmalade all worked together to deliver flavor and great taste. The Au Jus was not really needed. It was a bit bland anyway. The Jamestown ($8.50) included Turkey, Mayo, Dijon, Curried Yams, Lettuce, Tomato and Cranberry Sauce. Both me and my daughter thought that it was a bit too sweet with too much Cranberry Sauce. The CB Sauce made the bread soggy and took away from the great taste of the turkey and bacon that we added for an additional $2. What was really good here was the Spicy Caprese ($6). Spicy buttered Ciabatta, Vine Ripened Tomato, Mozzarella, Fresh Basil, Crushed Red Pepper, EVOO and a Balsamic Reduction. This was great! Incredible flavor that just popped in my mouth. Loved the Balsamic and Fresh Basil.