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Sunday, June 18, 2017

TOP OF WAIKIKI

TOP OF WAIKIKI
WAIKIKI SHOPPING PLAZA
2270 KALAKAUA AVENUE
HONOLULU, HI  96815
808-923-3877
HOURS:  Daily 5:00 PM - 9:30 PM

It has been over twenty years since I visited the Top of Waikiki and I can now tell you that was far too long.  Dinner here was unexpectedly delicious and the views of Waikiki still are amazing.
One floor below the Top of Waikiki sits Sky Waikiki with an incredible outdoor terrace bar that overlooks the Royal Hawaiian Hotel.  What a great place to enjoy a late afternoon or sunset cocktail.  The Top of Waikiki is a revolving restaurant with the entire place moving slowly around to allow you panoramic views of Waikiki.  We were seated at 6:00 PM which timed the dinner so we were facing the ocean right at sunset.  While the service here was a bit slow, it was not bad and we enjoyed the evening and the food.  Started with Foie Gras Brioche which was a miniature piece of Foie Gras.  Small but tasty.  The Korean Style Poke was out of this world delicious.  Served with lettuce to make small wraps.  The flavors here were amazing and I wanted to order three more orders.  Highly recommend the Poke.  I tried the Beet, Avocado and Goat Cheese Salad.  Liked the fried Goat Cheese Balls but only could eat one of them.  I just cannot eat too much Goat Cheese.  The Beets and Avocado were good but the dressing was kind of bland.  This would be perfect salad with a bigger dressing.  The Pear Salad was liked by my Daughter.  The idea is to break up the Lumpia filled with cheese over the salad.  She tried this and liked it.  My Wife loved the Panzanella Salad.  For dinner, I tried the Cioppino and requested no Mussels.  The waiter substituted more Clams in their place.  The seafood in the dish were good but the broth was not too flavorful.  A little more tomato and flavor in the broth would make this a great dish.  The Kurobuta Pork Chop was delicious and my Wife loved it.  The flavor of the meat was deep with the marinade.  The Soy Miso Braised Short Ribs were loved by my Daughter but she said there was too much Wasabi in the Mashed Potatoes.  I tried the Short Ribs and they were sweet and delicious.  Ended our meal with the Chocolate Cremeux Semifreddo which is the stupidest name I have ever heard for a chocolate dish.  The flavor of this though was amazing.  One of my favorite desserts in a very long time.  Tasted like a light chocolate ice cream mousse.  Yummy!!!!!  Entire family enjoyed our meal here and we would love to return with out of town guests.  The experience and food were both excellent.

TOP OF WAIKIKI

TOP OF WAIKIKI ON KALAKAUA AVENUE IN WAIKIKI
TOP OF WAIKIKI AND SKY WAIKIKI
THE ROOFTOP BAR AT SKY WAIKIKI IS ONE LEVEL BELOW TOP OF WAIKIKI
GREAT VIEW FROM SKY WAIKIKI OUTDOOR BAR
TOP OF WAIKIKI IS REVOLVING RESTAURANT
THE DINING ROOM IS CIRCULAR AND TIERED
GREAT VIEWS FROM TOP OF WAIKIKI
SUNSET PRIX FIXE DINNER AVAILABLE UNTIL 6:30 PM
JUNE PRIX FIXE MENU
PRIX FIXE TASTING MENU
APPETIZERS, SOUPS AND SALADS
ENTREES

FOCACCIA BREAD WITH MANGO BUTTER
FOIE GRAS BRIOCHE
KOREAN STYLE POKE
ABSOLUTLEY DELICIOUS
BEET, AVOCADO AND GOAT CHEESE SALAD
PEAR SALAD WITH CHEESE LUMPIA
PANZANELLA SALAD
KURABUTO PORK CHOP
SOY MISO BRAISED SHORT RIBS
CIOPPINO
DESSERTS
CHOCOLATE CREMEUX SEMIFREDDO

Saturday, June 17, 2017

OAHU COUNTRY CLUB

OAHU COUNTRY CLUB
150 COUNTRY CLUB ROAD
HONOLULU, HI  96817
808-595-6331

Nice to enjoy lunch, round of golf, pup's and then dinner at Oahu Country Club.  I love the BBQ Chicken Salad with Roasted Corn, Black Beans, Cheese and Tomatoes.  Really light and delicious and a perfect pre-round meal.  The course is in top shape for the Manoa Cup so it was nice to get out and play with tournament conditions.  I lost a bet and the round and had to buy my buddy and his Wife pupu's, drinks and dinner.  While I did not take photos of the dinner, it was excellent.

BBQ CHICKEN SALAD 
VIEWS OF DOWNTOWN HONOLULU
OAHU COUNTRY CLUB IS IN GREAT SHAPE FOR THE MANOA CUP


THE 18TH HOLE AT OAHU COUNTRY CLUB
THE 19TH HOLE VIEW
LOST THE ROUND AND HAD TO BUY DINNER BUT STILL HAPPY
STARTED DINNER WITH A LITTLE CHEESE

TUNA SALAD WITH SHRIMP

 TUNA SALAD WITH SHRIMP
DINNER AT HOME

I love a good Tuna Salad and have a recipe that is a winner.  I use the same basic ingredients for Tuna, Egg, Crab and Lobster Salads (see link below).  On this night I just used stuff we had in the refrigerator and the result was a delicious salad that the entire family enjoyed.
Click link below for World's Best Tuna Salad recipe;

TUNA SALAD WITH SHRIMP

Thursday, June 15, 2017

THE JOURNEY AT PECHANGA

THE JOURNEY AT PECHANGA
45000 PECHANGA PARKWAY
TEMECULA, CA  92592
951-770-4653

The Journey at Pechanga is just that....a journey up hills and mountaintops and amazing views of Temecula.  What a great course.  Especially when played with some great friends who enjoyed the 19th hole as much as the rest.  The golf course is adjacent to a huge Las Vegas style casino that is expanding by leaps and bounds.  A new tower is going up to accommodate the 50,000 guests the resort turns away due to lack of occupancy.  Loved the course, food and staff at Pechanga!

THE JOURNEY AT PECHANGA

THE JOURNEY AT PECHANGA IN TEMECULA, CA
NEW RESORT TOWER GOING UP NEXT TO THE GOLF CLUBHOUSE
BEGAN OUR DAY WITH LUNCH AT THE JOURNEY'S END
JOURNEY'S END MENU


ALWAYS LIKE TO START A ROUND OF GOLF WITH A LITTLE FOOD AND BUBBLY
THE WORLD'S ULTIMATE ICED TEA
TEA BAG PLACED IN HOT WATER TO STEEP A FEW MINUTES 
TEA IS THEN POURED INTO A CONTAINER OF ICE
LET CHILL AND THEN POUR INTO THE GLASS OF ICE
HAPPY GOLFERS
BEEF SANDWICH
I WENT LIGHT WITH THIS SEAFOOD SALAD