Starting the Chinese New Year with good food

Gung Hee Fat Choy 2017!
Year of the Rooster.
My feeble attempt at Chinese painting several years ago at the Museum of Art class led by Yuen.


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Sakura Terrace is pet friendly if you sit in the terrace area outside.
It's right next to busy and noisy King Street, but the palms give a feeling of privacy.

The Macadamia Nut Tofu is a nice starter.

                                         

Sukiyaki 

Butterfish and Vegetable Tempura set for M

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                                     The other day, Denise and I were talking about Korean food and she told me in very "delicious" terms about Duk in soup and dried daikon kim chee.
                          This, of course, started a craving for Korean food so R and I headed for Sorabol on Keeaumoku Street.

The appetizer selection, which comes with the meal, did have bean sprouts, spinach and daikon and Chinese cabbage kim chee.

The Mandoo and Duk soup was absolutely delicious!
We also ordered Meat Jun and Spicy Pork.


* * * * *
And...
to continue our international meals,
we met Denise and Jay at Ricardo's in Aiea for Italian food.

The rail construction has advanced considerably since we last came to this area.

A little stream behind the SC in which Ricardo's is located.

We were the first ones there, so it was empty, but it later filled quickly.
It's a charming neighborhood restaurant, informal and very tasty.

On Jay's recommendation, R ordered the Veal (nice and thick and tender) Saltimbocca

Jay has his favorite Saltimbocca with veggies, instead of pasta.

Denise and I had the Italian Sausage Anchovy, garlic , olive oil pasta.  She emphasized, and we got, lots of anchovies and garlic.
Very delicious and reasonable prices.  Great company.
What more could we ask for?

Kuma, stormy weather, Vintage Cave Cafe

Here is my hairdresser Mimi with her Pomeranian of 5 months, Kuma (bear).

He's a stern looking little Cutey - with markings more of a tanuki or wolf.    But so well behaved and friendly and, of course, CUTE!

Stormy weather over the weekend!
Strong winds and gusts of rain and high surf warnings.

Saturday, a water main in the Kahala area broke and caused a terrific traffic jam along Kalanianaole Hwy, H1,  and streets in the environs of the Kahala Mall also.
M and I, on the way to the Kahala Mall were stalled in traffic for an hour  just minutes away from the Mall.
We detoured and finally took Diamond Head road back down to town.

And in the evening the electricity in our area went out for several hours.
No lights, tv, or computers.
Luckily we had enough lanterns and flashlights and batteries handy.

It was a good time to try our candles.  
Actually,  our candelabra emitted enough dim light to walk about the living room area.

*****

Tuesday, Linda and I went to lunch at The Vintage Cave Cafe in the Ala Moana SC.

The interior is large with lots of tables.
The odd ladies painted on the walls and ceiling were a bit strange.  Going for a classical look?

The food , however, was good.

We both had their Bellini cocktail, which was refreshing.

The Mozzarella in Carrozza goes beyond just fried mozzarella.
So wonderful, with a crunchy cover and a bit of ham inside.

Linda's Shrimp Scampi looked and tasted good.
I had the all'Amatriciana,  so good with thinly sliced fresh vegetables and orecchiette in a light, slightly sweet tomato sauce.

What I was really waiting for was the Affogato.  I wanted to see how it differed from Harbor Restaurant's one.
In a bowl were three scoops of chocolate ice cream topped with a biscotti.  The hot espresso is poured over this.
Heavenly!!

As we were walking around the Mall, trying to get rid of some calories from lunch, we came across Maureen and Tom, friends from Zumba class, having waffle cones from the Gelato Bar in front of Nordstroms.
It's always nice to bump into friends from my classes like naginata or zumba abut we always agree it's easy to miss each other as we are not in our "uniforms". 

Hot soup and cuteness

Good Luck red jumps at you as you enter Bloomingdales.
Chinese New Years is about to begin and it's the Year of the Rooster.

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Along Kapalama Canal and looking towards Kalihi Valley.

In the Dillingham Shopping area is Utage, an Okinawan restaurant.
We were craving hot sparerib soup with vegetables and
 were lucky to have arrived at a slow interval.  Usually it is not this empty.

A lot of grated ginger to add to the soup.

Hot soup with daikon, greens, and konbu seaweed, along with pork spareribs.  A traditional Okinawan soup.

+ + + + 

When I need a dose of cuteness I visit Aloha Dog's Facebook page and scroll through the photos.
There was Penny!!
Most of the dogs are of the cute, cute furry white variety, but there  are velvety dark ones too!

Life's happy dining moments in the new year

Happy Birthday, Claire.
We all should be as joyful, curious, energetic, fun and full of life as we reach our 80's as you!

Harbor Restaurant.

Besides the very enjoyable conversation and laughter the food was so good.  Claire's pork was tasty and our Mahimahi was fresh.  

And of course, my Affogatto was a perfect ending.
We'll see Claire at dancing lessons and voice class next week!

                                                                         . . . . . . . . . .

I was so happy to find a new sweet!
It was an impulse buy at Kokua, a health food market, where we go to buy Penny's Raw Food meals.
Mmm.   Moist inside and a light semi powdery meringue cover.

And..
Our New Year's dinner with great friends Denise and Jay,
at Kincaid's.
We thought we should go before they close this year, but we were told that they had signed a new longer lease and will stay at Ward's Warehouse for a a few more years, if all goes as planned.

Kincaid's has been here forever, it seems, (since 1986), although we remember fondly Horatio's, before them.

Tried new cocktails.
I tried Supernova (vodka, stawberry puree, and sparkling wine float), which was a bit too sweet- like juice.
So I switched to Denise's Lavender Cosmo, which was a delicious mix of vodka, creme de violette, cointreau, fresh lime sour, and lavender sugar.

Thanks to the VOG, there was another lovely sunset.

Jay's Chargrilled Rib Eye steak, and Denise's Crab Cakes and Scallops

R's Filet Medallions.
I had the Prime Rib and Garlic Shrimp.
All wonderful.

Jay's camera caught the red sun beautifully.
We are thankful for a wonderful dinner together and are planning our Valentine's dinner next month.

Eating, again?

Beautiful desserts.
Halo Halo, a yummy layering of adzuki beans, rice crispies, jellied and cut fruits, cream, pudding and purple yam ice cream and shaved ice.
Buka Pandan, a first for me, was a green refreshing dessert featuring the fruit of the Buka or Pandanus palm in gelatin and strip form, and tapioca and ice cream.

The desserts were the ending of a satisfying lunch at Max's of Manila.   Always wanted to try it and finally we made it.

The restaurant started empty but gradually filled up by noon.

We also had the Pork Adobo, with chopped tomatoes and onions, and Nilagang Baka, a clear beef soup full of cabbages, potatos and greens.
We are definitely coming back for more.

                The drive back from Iwilei, where Max's is located next to Cosco, took us through Chinatown and downtown.  Always busy.

Yesterday, while at the Ala Moana SC, we stopped at Rokkaku's for a late lunch.    It was filling enough to last us through dinner.

M's Nabeyaki Udon.  Very clean and hot.  The shrimp tempura were crispy and fresh.

R had the Rokkaku Bento, with sashimi, tempura and Butterfish.

I had the Madai gashira.
When I order this, I always don't look at his little buck teeth.
The head is full of nice Omega 3 fish oils!
Hope it helps me get rid of the remnants of this cold I've been battling since last week.

What is helping my cold also, are these juices, both vegetable and citrus, from Pressed Juicery at the Mall.  Can something this tasty and refreshing be that nourishing?

This morning before Zumba (finally after two weeks) R and I went to Highway Inn for breakfast.

Just opened at 8:30 but soon filled up.
(President Obama also dined here on his recent trip)

The counter area with the little octopus hooks.

The mini LocoMoco-one egg, one beef patty, macaroni and potato salad.   Had  the Belgian Waffles. Definitely not the crispy, light type.
After breakfast we went to Zumba and the gym.  Like our server said, better after you eat this than before.  (Although I would've preferred to go home and sleep)

Cute sign above the sink in the Women's Washroom.
Nice after eating so much.