RIB EYE STEAK DINNER

RIB EYE STEAK

DINNER AT HOME

There is nothing better than a Grilled Steak over the Memorial Day Holiday.  We cooked up this delicious steak dinner at a fraction of the cost of a restaurant and it was delicious.  We use generous amounts of salt, pepper and a pinch of brown sugar to season the beef and then sear both sides until there is a nice char.  Finish in a 400 degree oven with a little butter on top and you have a delicious steak that will compare or be better than most restaurants in town.   Served with Garlic Mashed Potatoes and  sautéed Broccoli with Carrots.  

SIDE STREET INN

SIDE STREET INN

1225 HOPAKA STREET

HONOLULU, HI  96814

808-591-0253

HOURS:  Monday thru Thursday 2:00 PM - 12:00 AM

                 Friday and Saturday 2:00 PM - 1:00 AM / Sunday 1:00 PM - 12:00 AM

www.sidestreetinn.com

www.yelp.com/biz/side-street-inn-honolulu

Absolutely love the Side Street Inn.  This is my "go to" spot for a great meal or to entertain out of town guests.  Cannot get enough of their Fried Rice and Pork Chops.  Don't know what it is about this place that makes it so great.  Maybe it is the miss matched chairs and tables, shabby walls and ceiling, boxes stacked up near bar or just the crowd of locals and tourists who flock to this place to enjoy incredible food.  

Click links below to view additional posts on Side Street Inn;

https://greateatshawaii.blogspot.com/2015/03/side-street-inn.html

https://greateatshawaii.blogspot.com/2012/06/side-street-inn-original-once-again.html

https://greateatshawaii.blogspot.com/2011/07/side-street-inn-kapahulu-revisited.html

https://greateatshawaii.blogspot.com/2011/04/side-street-inn-honolulu-hawaii-wow.html

SEARED AHI

HOUSE SALAD

SPICY CHICKEN

THE WORLD'S BEST FRIEND RICE

BONE IN KALBI RIBS

LILIKOI RIBS

SIZZLING RIB EYE

PORK CHOPS

OPAKAPAKA

AINA HAINA CHOP SUEY

AINA HAINA CHOP SUEY

AINA HAINA SHOPPING CENTER

820 W. HIND DRIVE

HONOLULU, HI  96821

808-373-1303

HOURS:  Daily 10:30 AM - 8:30 PM

www.yelp.com/biz/aina-haina-chop-suey-honolulu

After spending a week in China, I was craving Chinese food.  Since I had not been to Aina Haina Chop Suey for years we decided to stop in for a few dishes.  The restaurant was bright, clean but pretty empty while restaurants nearby were kind of busy.  The restaurant is being run by the Son and Daughter of their parents that started the restaurant many years ago.  The parents have retired and it seems the Son has a good handle on customer service.  The menu had been updated a bit since our last visit and from what I can tell they do a good amount of take out business.  On this visit we ordered the Fried Rice with Char Sui and Shrimp ($13.75).  The rice is a bit dry but it works well with the sauces from other dishes.  The Sweet and Sour Pork ($12) is one of my favorite dishes.  For some reason I crave this stuff.  The Mongolian Beef ($13.50) is also very good. Just wish they could make this dish spicy.  Next time I will ask if they can add a little heat to some of the dishes as I love spicy Sichuan style Chinese.  This was a very good meal served super fast.  Food was on the table within 10-12 minutes from ordering.

Click link below for previous post on Aina Haina Chop Suey;

https://greateatshawaii.blogspot.com/2014/04/aina-haina-chop-suey.html

AINA HAINA CHOP SUEY SWEET AND SOUR PORK

AINA HAINA CHOP SUEY

CLEAN AND BRIGHT LITTLE SPOT IN AINA HAINA SHOPPING CENTER

AINA HAINA CHOP SUEY MENU

SHRIMP AND CHAR SUI FRIED RICE

MONGOLIAN BEEF

GYOZA DINNER AT HOME

GYOZA

DINNER AT HOME

My lovely Bride started making Gyoza from scratch and she has now perfected a delicious recipe with Shrimp, Pork and Vegetables (Shiitake Mushrooms, Carrots, Napa Cabbage, Green Onion, Garlic and Ginger).  These are so much better than frozen Gyoza.  Served with a great tasting sauce of Rice Wine Vinegar, Soy Sauce, Ginger, Green Onion, Sesame Oil, Garlic and Chili Oil.

Love these!

DAVE SHOJI RETIREMENT PARTY

 DAVE SHOJI RETIREMENT PARTY

STAN SHERIFF CENTER, HONOLULU, HI

It was an honor to attend Coach Dave Shoji's retirement party at the Stan Sheriff Center.

There has been no greater coach in Hawaii sports history.  He took this small Island in the middle of the Pacific to the national stage and established a volleyball culture and tradition that is among the best in the World.  He accomplished all this with a very humble and quiet demeanor off the court and an intense winning attitude on the court.  Dave racked up one of the best coaching records in NCAA sports with a 1202 -204-1 record.  1200 wins in "any" sport is amazing.  He won Four National Championships and was named Coach of the Year 5 times.  Plus;

25 Conference Players of the Year

107 Conference All Academic Players

86 All American Selections

8 National Players of the Year

5 Olympians

Named one of All Time Greatest Coaches by USA Volleyball

Named Coach of NCAA 25th Anniversary team

Thanks so much Coach for making our Wahine Volleyball program one of the best in the country.

Wishing you all the best in the years ahead.

THE ENTIRE FAMILY WAS OUT IN FORCE TO SUPPORT COACH SOHJI

PRIVATE PRE-PARTY HELD AT THE STAN SHERIFF CENTER

GREAT MUSIC - THIS GUY WENT FROM HAWAIIAN TO CHEAP TRICK!

MET UP WITH OUR OLD FRIEND JACK ITO

COACH DAVE SHOJI

LARGE CROWD OF FANS AND SUPPORTS FILL THE STAN SHERIFF COURT

EVERYTHING DAVE

LARRY BEIL AND JIM LEAHEY

PULLMAN GUANGZHOU BAIYUN AIRPORT, CHINA

 PULLMAN GUANGZHOU BAIYUN HOTEL

GUANGZHOU AIRPORT, CHINA

When I booked the Pullman Hotel via Expedia while in China, I did not know it was located at the Guangzhou Airport.  Thought that I had read it was 15 miles away.  Turned out the hotel is "at" the airport.  You can literally walk out the back door and walk across the street to the ticket counters.  The Pullman being first class actually puts you and your luggage in a golf cart and drives you to the entrance.  The most convenient airport hotel ever and probably one of the best.  Loved my stay here and wish I could have spent a few more nights.  The rooms are large, clean and bright.  We stayed on the Executive floor level so our room included access to the lounge where you can enjoy afternoon drinks and food as well as breakfast.  While the food spread was no where near the quantity and quality of my stay at the Marriott in Shunde, China it was ok.  The hotel staff is excellent and many speak some English.  We dined in several restaurants and the food was good.  Loved the lobby bar with a pool table.  

THE HOTEL IS LITERALLY AT THE GUANGZHOU AIRPORT

HUGE OPEN LOBBY

SECOND LEVEL 

PIANO PLAYER IN EVENING FILLS THE LOBBY WITH MUSIC

COFEE AND PASTRIES IN THE LOBBY

LOBBY BAR

THE POOL TABLES GOT QUITE BUSY

NICE BAR AREA

CLEAN AND COMFORTABLE ROOMS

BED WAS SO COMFORTABLE

WORK AREA

WALK IN CLOSET INCLUDED SLIPPERS, SAFE AND YOGA MAT

BEVERAGE CENTER

COFFEE AND TEA

COLD BEVERAGES

VINO!

EXECUTIVE LOUNGE 

RELAXING IN THE EXECUTIVE LOUNGE

HOT AND COLD SMALL PLATES SERVED IN AFTERNOON

BREAKFAST IN THE EXECUTIVE LOUNGE

MAIN RESTAURANT SERVES BUFFET AND ALA CARTE MENUS

AFTER A WEEK IN CHINA, I WAS CRAVING A CHEESBURGER

IS THAT REAL CHEESE?

CHINESE RESTAURANT IN HOTEL

MENU IS ON IPAD

SWEET AND SOUR SHRIMP

SPICY BEEF WAS NOT SPICY

ABALONE

GUANGZHOU AIRPORT IS RIGHT OUT THE BACK DOOR

HOTEL TAKES YOU TO AIRPORT VIA A GOLF CART