Pensive pets, Rijo

                                            

                                Pensive Penny.
                           Last night she stood on
                            the desk chair for 5 minutes
                             looking like she was
                              thinking of something.

Maybe it was the high Cirrus
"horsetail clouds" we saw
in the skies over Ala Moana
Park.

Hmmmm.  Perhaps not, but
they did look like tails of horses flying in the wind.

Pudgie, too, has lots to
think about.

Where the old Sears used to be.   Now there is a center walkway with young trees in the planters, getting ready for the new Ewa Wing.
We bought Pudgie 15 years ago in a pet store at the Mall.  So
many changes since then.

Because the Happy Hour at Rijo starts at 3 pm,  and it is nice and quiet and friendly there, we stopped over before picking up
Penny at Poi Dog day care.

The Ahi Poke looked
different, but was
tasty anyway.

Must be a different cook because
the Chateaubriand yakitori
was also different , but still
tender and good.

Also tried the Aburage Mac and
Cheese.  Couldn't find the aburage, which are fried sliced tofu.                        I was curious as to how it was going to be put together--maybe the mac and cheese stuffed inside a crispy aburage pocket, like an inari sushi?  Even the waiter couldn't find any.

Leaving Rijo you are in the old section
of downtown.  The old buildings are so beautifully designed.

Michinoku

Yesterday, R went golfing with his buddies so I decided on an egg for my lunch.

I had bought an hourglass egg timer (3 minutes)  and am still getting used to it.
Cover the egg with cold water in a pot and bring to a roiling boil, cover, and remove from heat and leave until desired hardness.
This time I tried 4 minutes.  With a 3 minute timer I had to watch the clock to add the extra minute.
A lightly firm soft boiled egg (?)  that was nice with toast, butter and apricot marmalade, and sautéed kale from Janie's garden.

                                                                             ***

Today was our monthly
luncheon at Michinoku,
with M and P and
grandma.

We've been coming to Michinoku
since it was still located on
Kalakaua Ave. where restaurant
Do-ne is now.
The sign is announcing the availability of Hamachi Kama, grilled with salt.

Three of us had the Hamachi kama,
(Hamachi cheeks), which is  so tender it 's almost fluffy.
It is a generous cut and served very hot. 

M had her usual Maguro Natto don.  
Diced maguro mixed with natto and nori ,  ginger,  egg, and julienned
daiko radish.

Grandma had her favorite
grilled salmon.

 

She and I (and Liz) like to put tea over the rice in our bowl when there is little left and enjoy it with the tsukemono (salted cabbage and cucumbers today).    We do this only at Michinoku because we feel so at home here.

R's mom.  Not bad for 97.

Hawaiiana Collectible show, Rokkaku

   The one day Vintage Collectibles and Hawaiiana Show at Blaisdell on Sunday was crowded with Vendors and people.
  
   Lots of old coins and jewelry like Mings, dolls, china, and even wooden hangers, comics … how true the saying, "one man's trash is another man's treasure".    
   Curbing my impulse to collect trash (which I am guilty of), I had a brief glimpse into the past among the myriad of Hawaiiana items on sale. 
                                                                                                              A couple of booths had those wooden perfume bottles that I was collecting years ago because of nostalgic rather than any artistic or monetary values, and because they were inexpensive and wooden.
            
     

They are simply carved from Monkeypod  and Milo wood,  and were probably made for the tourist trade.

Lunch at Rokkaku in
Ala Moana SC.

R couldn't resist the Tonkatsu
special.  The wooden stick is used
to grind the sesame for the sauce. I had a bowl of Bukkake
Udon, which I forgot to photograph. 

Their Noren (entrance curtain) from inside
the restaurant going out.

Kale, calamansi and summer rolls

Naginata practice.
Janie brought for everyone fresh kale and calamansi from her garden.  She said their calamansi tree is just heavy with this fruit that is great with any noodle (like pancit) or fried dish because of its tartness.  This fruit is a cross between the kumquat and citrus and looks like a lime.
We love to thinly slice the tender kale and mix it with our breakfast salad.

After a lively naginata lesson it was  relaxing to  cool down with a chilled martini and light Vietnamese Summer Rolls at Panya in Hokua.
Penny, as usual, behaved like a good dog, with maybe  one or two
small woofs at passing dogs.

The new Ewa section with its Bloomingdale and Nordstrom is progressing quickly at the Ala Moana Mall facing Piikoi and Ala Moana Blvd.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Happy St. Patrick's Day
Penny's grooming photo from
Aloha Dog

On the way to lunch, Linda and
I passed the St. Patrick's
parade getting ready in Waikiki.

Green Classic Cars.

Since we didn't want to get caught in  traffic in Waikiki, we headed to Paesano's in Manoa SC.
The Salmon Salad for Linda,  and I had the Salmon pasta.
I like this restaurant but today must've been an off
day.  The pasta didn't have much taste and the
coffee was watery.
But it was a fun lunch!

Old fashioned Corned beef with brown sugar and mustard glaze, carrots, cabbage and potatoes , from my mom's recipe.
Penny was happy it was only a green
bow tie and not a dress that she had to wear.

Penny and Tinchy. Restaurant DoNe

Penny and Tinchy.
Tinchy was my beloved squeeze and chew toy in my preschool days, I was told.  He's survived all these years to
meet Penelope, who just sniffed and sniffed
but didn't play with him.

Dinner at DoNe.  Didn't make reservations so we arrived when it                      opened at 5:30.  
          

Gyotaku on the walls.

Startled shrimp in the shoyu bowl.

Today's special menu.

Ahi  was  the sashimi special

I had the Kyushu Nanban style
chicken set.  The little flavored knots of  somen noodles were  refreshing.

The chicken was not tough or gristly, and the Nanban seasoning was light and spicy.

R enjoyed the Maguro Zukedon, flavored maguro sashimi over rice.  There is always a choice of pork or tofu with the salad.

Penny/Pudgie square off, Rijo, Stage Cafe, Penny bath

This morning, Pudgie bravely
advanced on Penny, seemingly
wanting to kick the bucket.

Dangerous, especially if Penny wanted to
play.  (She has a nasty habit of
pulling out the stuffing of her
toys)
But, the best defense is a strong offense  and a lot of
strident cheeps - at least with gentle Penny.
***
After our voice lessons (which are always fun) we went
to Inspiration furniture store.

The view of the Monkeypod trees lining Kapiolani Blvd. is always beautiful and sets off the furniture.

There's the Stage Cafe on the first floor.

There are dessert items
as well as quiche, soup
and sandwiches.

The Grilled Hummus Cheese
Ciabatta Sandwich to share and a
good espresso demitasse.

                                                                              *****
How convenient that the Rijo's bar  in Harbor Court downtown opens at three.    (The dining area opens at five.)

The view from the entrance.
It was the former
Palomino restaurant.

Ample seating at this hour,
but later it started filling up.

The Bar Menu

The Bartender.

Elit martini, which, unfortunately, didn't come with
Happy Hour prices.

The Ahi Poke over ginger
rice.  I will have this again.

Chateaubriand Yakitori.  So tender and nicely flavored.

 Rijo, according to the Bartender, was a castle in Hiroshima, known for the abundant and beautiful carps in its moat.

Driving through the old downtown business section with its beautiful buildings.

Time for a bath, Penny.
The utility room sink is
getting to be too small
for you.

Fastest drying method.
Shake and run, shake and run
like a little beserker.