Kouign Amanns and Nambuzara Yaki in Waikiki

M wanted Japaneese food for her birthday dinner and chose Suntory, at the Royal Hawaiian SC.

Detail of wood panels in the halls.  Little pieces of coconut shells.

We all opted for the Nambuzara Yaki Course.
Appetizers

Sashimi, which included Uni (sea urchin)

Clams

A salad

Fried dish.
I'm allergic to Shiitake mushrooms so this was substituted.

R is allergic to shellfish, so chicken karaage was his substitute.

The Angus Filet Mignon, which was cubed and cooked very quickly,  was so tender and juicy and delicious.
A rice set (rice, miso soup, and oshinko) and ice cream finished the course.
Thoroughly enjoyable!  It's no wonder Suntory has been here since the beginning over 35 years ago.

After eating, a little exercise is always good, so we walked across the street to check the new Waikiki Yokocho Gourmet Alley.

It finally looks competed, with all the restaurants seemingly doing well. 

I'm guessing this is a pork restaurant.

Many colorful ramen restaurants

                 Then on to the International Market Place to find ...

..B. Patisserie (of San Francisco). It faces Kuhio Avenue by Saks Fifth Avenue in the International Market Place SC.

Their famous Kouign Amann (originally from the coastal region of Brittany) is very popular.  According to Catherine Toth Fox, Honolulu Magazine's Food and Dining Editor,  the Black Sesame flavor is available in San Francisco only two days of the year, but all year long in Hawaii. (Back row)

Also has tea and crafted drinks.  I tried one with carrot, tea and spices.

  I don't think we did enough walking to use up any of the calories we consumed tonight!

Pudgie, crepes and Waikiki

I found a photo of the late Pudgie Lovebird.
I still find myself looking towards where his cage used to be.
We miss you, Pudgie.

Sunday, M made us crepes with her electric crepe maker.
She dipped the hot plate into the batter and just the right amount would stick to it and cook so crisply around the edges.

Just butter and brown sugar.  Reminds me of the lemon, butter and sugar crepes we would have in Harajuku in the cold winters.
Some Molinari salami and eggs and coffee too.

The other day we parked at the International Market Place in Waikiki and walked across the street to the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, the old Grand Dame of Waikiki.

We had heard of a new bakery there, but it was just a little area of the Veranda.  The ambience is great, though.

The little alley that leads out to the main Kalakaua Åvenue.

Stopped in at the Outrigger Hotel.  Pretty mural and canoe in the second floor lobby.

Heading back to the International Market Place.

Colorful red lanterns still up for Chinese New Years.

One day we had a craving for Mexican food, so headed to Azteca in Kaimuki.

 

Of course, a Margarita.

Loved the chicken and rice soup.

I had the steak Fajitas.
Should have ordered the Salsa Verde.

R's Ribeye steak was a bit dry.

Bye Pudgie

Our beautiful Pudgie passed away Feb. 10th.
His little life brightened our home for 16 years.

Penny really never got to play with Pudgie, because she was a bit afraid of the tiny Lovebird, who had a lot of spirit.

We had Pudgie cremated and when she was returned to us, it was in a small floral can in a velvet bag.

A bookmark with a poem and seeded paper heart came with the certificate.

                                                       Goodbye, Pudgie.

Poor Penny

Heading home this weekend we saw this very extended and heavy cloud over the Tantalus mountain range.

I looked it up but couldn't decide what type of cloud this was.
But it was a harbringer of windy and rainy weather to come, as it turned out.

                   Saturday started out with our naginata class having a little celebration for our Sensei, whose birthday was in early February.  She said to wait for her 90th birthday for a "big" celebration, so we
got together a little casual Wishing You Well party.

Kent Senpai making a plate for Sensei.

Little girls love birthday cakes!

Among the many delicious home made desserts were these
adzuki bean bars and black bean, konyaku, chestnut cup.

And Sunday morning, Super Bowl Sunday, R and I zipped out to the nearby Pint and Jigger to have an early breakfast.

Glad they started their brunch service.

I had the rich Monte Cristo, Black Forest Ham, cheese and turkey done French Toast style.

R's Brekkie breakfast.  Fried tomatoes, sausages, bacon, white beans and eggs.

Glad they started their brunch service.

At this early hour we were the only ones there, but there were reserved tables around for the afternoon football crowd.

                                 When we got home we found Penny lethargic and shivery with shallow breathing.  And then we noticed the big lump that wasn't there (not noticeably) yesterday below her left ear, where the lymph node might be.  She didn't eat.  

  So M and I, not really watching the Super Bowl anyway, took her to the 24 hour emergency Pet Hospital.
They were so nice and concerned and the Vet took her off for an exam and took a sample from the lump.
It most likely  is an infection and abcess in the lymph node, rather than the salivary gland (which would've felt more watery), so  she has to take  anti inflammatory and antibacterial pills until the results from a culture can tell us what is causing the infection.

Can't see it well, but there is a hard round lump under her jaw.
She's still a bit lethargic, but is eating.