YAKINIKU DINNER PARTY

DINNER AT HOME

We had not seen some of my Daughters high school friends for two years due to COVID.

One was off to college in Japan, One in Korea, One at USC and others at Santa Clara U, University of Hawaii and Seattle U.  Getting them all back together for a dinner didn't seem like it would happen but it did!  Seeing the gang again was awesome because as you get older you never know when you will have these opportunities again.  We decided to go with a Yakiniku dinner so everyone could pick their favorite foods.  Started with fresh Ahi Sashimi with Avocado which everyone loved.  Next up I served my homemade French Onion Soup covered in Mozzarella and Gruyere Cheeses.  Home run!  They loved it.  Made some BBQ Teriyaki Chicken just to have some chicken on the table.  The star of the show was the Ribeye, Lobster, Mahi Mahi, Shrimp and vegetables.  

Click links below to view previous Yakiniku posts;

https://greateatshawaii.blogspot.com/2021/04/yakiniku-dinner.html

https://greateatshawaii.blogspot.com/2016/11/yakiniku-dinner-at-home.html

YAKINIKU DINNER PARTY

OUR DISTINGUISHED GUESTS

SASHIMI APPETIZER

SERVED UP MY HOMEMADE FRENCH ONION SOUP

CHICKEN AND GREEN ONION PATTIES

TERIYAKI CHICKEN

THE TABLE IS READY.  LETS YAKINIKU!

LOBSTERS

RIBEYE

FRESH LOCAL MAHI MAHI

KAUAI PRAWNS

THE VEGGIES

NOW WERE COOKIN'

MORE MEAT PLEASE

TIRAMISU AND LILIHA BAKERY COCO PUFFS FOR DESSERT 

THE IOLANI REUNION - ALL IN COLLEGE NOW

 

FRENCH ONION SOUP

DINNER AT HOME

Made French Onion Soup again on a cool Hawaii night.  Wow...this hit the spot and was so delicious.  Entire family loved it.  Highly recommend you try this recipe.  I top with Garlic Buttered Baguettes and a blend of Mozzarella and Gruyere Cheese.

Click link below for recipe and step by step guide to making French Onion Soup;

https://greateatshawaii.blogspot.com/2021/12/french-onion-soup.html

https://bellyfull.net/french-onion-soup/

FRENCH ONION SOUP

STUFFED ZUCCHINI WITH BEEF AND PEPPERONI

DINNER AT HOME

I have been making Stuffed Zucchini since going on a low carb diet over a year ago.  This batch was by far the best.  Super delicious.  After hollowing out the Zucchini, I seasoned it and rubbed a little Olive Oil all around the inside and edges.  Grilled the Zucchini on both sides until it started to brown a bit.  Then I filled with Meat Sauce that I had made earlier in the week for Spaghetti.  Topped with Mozzarella and Parmesan Cheeses and a layer of Pepperoni slices.  More Mozzarella and Parmesan on top of the Pepperoni.  Placed in 375 degree oven for 35 minutes.  

STUFFED ZUCCHINI 

MAHI MAHI WITH PAPAYA SALSA

DINNER AT HOME

We eat a lot of Mahi Mahi living in Hawaii.  Search this blog and you will find dozens of posts on Mahi Mahi preparations.  Of all the Mahi Mahi I have ever eaten at home or in restaurants, this was the ABSOLUTE BEST.  Probably because the Mahi Mahi was caught the day before by a friend who gave us the fish.  I made a simple Beurre Blanc sauce with White Wine, Shallots, Cream, Lemon Juice and Butter.  Topped with a Papaya Salsa with a touch of Balsamic Glaze.  

MAHI MAHI WITH PAPAYA SALSA

FRESH MAHI MAHI CAUGHT THE DAY BEFORE IN HAWAII

 

BEEF AND BEAN BURRITO

BREAKFAST AT HOME

Opened the refrigerator and saw the leftover Refried Beans and Ground Beef from our Taco Night.  Grabbed a low carb tortilla and made a quick Burrito.  Delicious!

BEEF AND BEAN BURRITO

LOW CARB TORTILLA OF COURSE

 

ARANCINO AT THE KAHALA

ARANCINO AT THE KAHALA

KAHALA HOTEL & RESORT

5000 KAHALA AVENUE

HONOLULU, HI  96816

808-380-4400

www.arancino.com

https://www.yelp.com/biz/arancino-at-the-kahala-honolulu

https://www.facebook.com/arancinokahala/

https://www.instagram.com/arancinokahala/?hl=en

We waited weeks to get a reservation at Arancino at The Kahala on a weekend and the only time available was 5:00 PM.  This place is booked weeks in advance and I can see why.  The food and service here is exceptional.  We eat out often and most times our conclusion is that we should have stayed home and cooked.  Thats not the case here.  I found myself telling my Wife "this is why you go out to a restaurant" after one bite of the Carbonara Pasta with shaved Truffles.  Enjoyed every dish starting with the Caprese Salad.  Super fresh local tomatoes with Burrata.  Just wish they would have added a little Balsamic.  The Arancino con Fegato e Tartufo was beautiful and delicious.  Risotto was cooked perfectly but there was not much Foie Gras in that little ball.  The Sauce di Vongole was perfecto.  Large meaty Clams in a delicious broth.  I could have eaten five orders of this.  As for the pastas here, they were all perfect.  The Carbonara with Truffles shined and I am already making reservations to return and order this again.  I also could not stop taking bites of my Daughters Spaghetti di Ricci di Mare with Uni and a white wine tomato sauce.  So delicious.  The Tagliatelle ai Frutti di Mare was a bit too lemony but really good and perfectly cooked.  Would have liked a little different sauce to make this dish really pop.  Our friend who ordered the Tagliatelle alla Bolognese said it was delicious and devoured it all.  This was an exceptional dinner with great service and food.  Could honestly say this is now one of my faves in Honolulu.

Click link below to view previous post on Arancino at The Kahala;

https://greateatshawaii.blogspot.com/2015/02/arancino-at-kahala-hotel-and-resort.html

ARANCINO AT THE KAHALA

LOCATED JUST OFF THE LOBBY AT THE KAHALA HOTEL

PIZZA OVEN AT ARANCINO

ARANCINO AT THE KAHALA MENU

SEASONAL TRUFFLES FOR ONLY $30

A BAG FOR YOUR MASK.  THIS WAS A FIRST

INDIVIDUAL BREAD PLATES

INSALATA CAPRESE

ARANCINO CON FEGATO E TARTUFO

TRUFFLE PARMESAN RISOTTO WITH FOIE GRAS

SAUTE DI VONGOLE

TOASTED BREAD FOR THE CLAM BROTH

SPAGHETTI ALA CARBONARA WITH SHAVED TRUFFLES

TRUFFLES SHAVED AT THE TABLE

SPAGHETTI AI RICCI DI MARE

TAGLIATELLI AI FRUTTI DI MARE

TAGLIATELLE ALLA BOLOGNESE

DATE NIGHT AT ARANCINO AT THE KAHALA

HEY..SHE CRASHED OUR DATE NIGHT

THE KAHALA HOTEL AND RESORT

 

PRIME RIB AND LOBSTER

LUNCH AT THE OFFICE

Enjoyed our office Christmas Party that was partly catered by Kahai Street Kitchen.  They did an incredible job with the appetizers and main courses.  I purchased the Sashimi and Poke Platters from Nico's Pier 38 and the desserts from Diamond Head Market.  Everything was delicious.  Boy did I go off my low carb diet for this.

Click link below to visit Kahai Street Kitchen;

https://kahaikitchen.com

PRIME RIB AND LOBSTER

SASHIMI AND POKE PLATTERS FROM NICO'S PIER 38

BRUSCHETTA WITH AHI DIP

PIPIKAULA ROLLS

VEGETABLE SPRING ROLLS

BEETS AND VEGETABLES

AU GRATIN POTATOES

LOBSTER TAILS WITH DRAWN BUTTER

PERFECT PRIME RIB

FRESH FRUIT PLATTER

DIAMOND HEAD MARKET CAKES

CHOCOLATE GANACH

DIAMOND HEAD TORT (MY FAVE)

CARROT CAKE (MY SECOND FAVE)

STRAWBERRY SHORT CAKE