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May 20, 2025

Vietnam Deli

This meal was complimentary, thanks to our sponsor. All opinions expressed are my own.


Vietnam Deli in Kailua Town — brought to you by the same owners as the Ripple of Smiles (formerly located in Kaimuki) — is bringing bold, plant-based Vietnamese flavors to the Windward side, and it's a welcome addition to the neighborhood. The menu is fully flexible, offering both traditional and vegan-friendly options — which makes it a great choice for mixed-diet groups.

Each dish on the menu can be made with regular proteins like chicken, beef, or pork, or with vegan alternatives such as tofu, vegan meat, or vegan fish. We opted for all vegan versions — partly because my husband doesn't eat meat, and partly because I was curious if the plant-based versions could really hold up. Spoiler: they absolutely can!

We started with the vegan spring rolls, which were fresh, crunchy, and paired perfectly with a savory dipping sauce. 


The banh mi with vegan fish was surprisingly good — a fun and unique take that still delivered the signature textures and tastes you'd expect from a traditional banh mi.



The pho noodles came with a rich, aromatic broth that was deeply satisfying, even without meat. It had layers of flavor and felt like a cozy, nourishing bowl.







We also tried the Favorite Sautéed Noodles with tofu. The dish was savory, well-seasoned, and packed with flavor — hearty and satisfying in all the right ways.





We washed it all down with a refreshing ginger lemonade and Thai iced tea, both of which were great complements to the meal.


Whether you're fully plant-based or just looking to try something new, Vietnam Deli proves you don’t need meat to enjoy delicious Vietnamese food. It's the perfect spot for a casual lunch or dinner in Kailua — and a great fit for the neighborhood’s laid-back, health-conscious vibe.








Open Tuesday - Sunday: 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM

Free Parking available behind the building.

 __________________________

VIETNAM DELI

573 Kailua Road

808-754-1056

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Mille Fête

I recently picked up some goodies from Mille Fête.  I got a nice selection of sweets and savories:


Classic Bells and Chocolate-PB Whistles
My faves were the Classic Bells.  I loved the dark chocolate coating, the moist chocolate cake, and the vanilla whipped cream center.  The Chocolate-PB Whistles were great too, especially if you love the ever-popular chocolate + PB combo.  It had a nice saltiness from the salted caramel.
Bubus
The Bubus were nice and buttery!
Robynne's Cake Chocolate Rum Raisin
This cake was made with ulu flour, making it gluten-free!



As for the savories, I got the Baked SPAM Bao, Japanese Potato Salad Bao, and the Kimchi Reuben, which was my fave of the savories.  The hand pie had a nice, flaky crust, and the filling was so tasty!

I also got some Crispy Chocolate Chip Cookies.

You can order online, which I was tempted to do because I wasn't sure how the crowds would be, but when we got there (around 1030am), there was no line.


Mille Fête
1113 Smith St
Honolulu, HI 96817
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May 19, 2025

First Annual Cuisines of the Sun® Golf Classic Hosted by Alan Wong on October 17, 2025


Last week I attended the launch party for the Fifteenth Annual Hawai‘i Food and Wine Festival® (HFWF).

Once again, they have a stellar line up of participating chefs in events starting October 17 to November 2, 2025 on Hawai‘i, Oahu, and Maui.  Chef Brian Hirata of Na‘au, will be one of the featured chefs in the inaugural Cuisines of the Sun® Golf Classic Hosted by Alan Wong at the Mauna Kea Golf Course.

Below is the full HFWF schedule

Island of Hawai‘i

First Annual Cuisines of the Sun® Golf Classic Hosted by Alan Wong

Friday, October 17, 2025

Mauna Kea Golf Course

 

Cucina: From Mauka to Makai

Saturday, October 18, 2025

Mauna Kea Beach Hotel

 

Kāʻanapali, Maui

First Hawaiian Bank Presents 27th Annual Roy Yamaguchi Golf Classic

Friday, October 24, 2025

Kāʻanapali Golf Course

 

World of Wagyu, Wine & Whiskey

Saturday, October 25, 2025 | 6:00 – 9:00 P.M.

Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa

 

Southern Seafood Sunday Hosted by Aarón Sánchez

Sunday, October 26, 2025 | 11:00 A.M.– 1:00 P.M.

Royal Lahaina Resort & Bungalows

O‘ahu

Slanted & Phan-tastic: A Celebration of Charles Phan

Thursday, October 30, 2025 | 6:00 – 9:00 P.M.

‘Alohilani Resort Waikiki Beach

 

FEAST Summit

Friday, October 31, 2025 | 8:00 A.M. – 4:30 P.M.

Sheraton Waikiki Beach Resort
Tickets to go on sale in June

 

Hawaiian Airlines Presents Decanted

Saturday, November 1, 2025 | 6:00 – 9:00 P.M.

Hawai‘i Convention Center

 

MatCHA Chai Brunch

Sunday, November 2, 2025 | 11:00 A.M. – 1:00 P.M.

Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa

 

Washoku to the World

Sunday, November 2, 2025 | 5:00 – 9:00 P.M

Halekulani

 


Ticket are on sale now at www.HFWF.me

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May 16, 2025

Roll Into Summer with Dumpling Factory’s Hot New Offers!

Dumpling Factory is now offering hot new specials through the end of August:
Photo credit: Dumpling Factory


Takeout: Customers who purchase four orders of dumplings to go will receive the fifth order free. This offer is only good on takeout orders.

Cook at home: Enjoy dumplings in the comfort of home. Customers who purchase Dumpling Factory’s frozen dumplings will enjoy $2 off their order

Located at 755 Kapahulu Ave #1 in the Wong Leong Building next to Pai Café, Dumpling Factory offers a modern twist on traditional Chinese dumplings, paired with a menu of bold flavors and shareable signature dishes such as Braised Housemade Pork Belly, Beef & Green Pepper Dumplings, Chicken & Shiitake Mushroom Dumplings, Shrimp Dumplings, and Spicy Sour Soup Dumplings with Thin Noodles. The eatery, which opened earlier this year, offers a carefully curated menu of freshly made dumplings, served boiled or pan-fried with prices ranging from $4.99 to $13.99. Dumpling Factory is open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. To place an order, call (808) 367-1640 or order online at www.dumplingfactoryhawaii.com.
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Finger Lei - Four Yarns

Links below are affiliate. 

In addition to the Eyelash Yarn Lei, I made some Finger Yarn Lei.  I used to make the two-color finger yarn lei often when I was in school, so if you're familiar with the process, it's the same exact thing, just with more yarn.  

I watched this video by Ben Franklin Crafts for a refresher (since it was years since I made finger yarn lei).

I used eyelash yarn and rattail (both bought on Amazon.com)

Even if you never made this type of lei before, the process is really easy to pick-up.  

This lei takes longer to make than the straw lei, but you use less of the yarn (one skein of yarn can make up to 3 lei).  


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May 15, 2025

Liliha Bakery - Pearl City

I often go to Liliha Bakery to pick up treats, especially the popular Coco Puffs!  I went to the Pearl Highlands location, and it sure was crowded - both the dine-in and the bakery take-out! 

I absolutely love chantilly, so the chantilly-topped Coco Puffs are always a must.

We also got a Guava Roll, and some pre-packaged goodies that are perfect for omiyage - Chocolate Chip Cookies Brownies, and Oatmeal Raisin Chocolate Chip Cookies.  

They also have a nice selection of savories which are perfect for a quick bite.

Next time I'll try more things (along with the Coco Puffs).

Liliha Bakery
1000 Kamehameha Hwy #210
Pearl City, HI 96782




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Takeshita Street in Harajuku


Takeshita Street in Harajuku is one of those places you have to experience at least once—a sensory overload of color, sound, fashion, and food. But for us, the main mission was simple (and sugary): a visit to Totti Candy Factory.





My son is a huge cotton candy fan, and the Totti Candy Factory is famous for its massive, rainbow-colored cotton candy—seriously, it's bigger than an adult’s head! Naturally, he had to try it. 


The line was long, but the moment he got his hands on that towering cloud of sugar, it was gone in what felt like seconds—faster than it took to wait in line!


While he was upstairs happily devouring his cotton candy masterpiece, I took his twin brother downstairs to Strawberry Fetish, another sweet sensation on Takeshita Street. They’re known for their beautifully glazed fruit-on-a-stick—juicy strawberries and grapes coated in a glossy, thin layer of rock candy. Simple, sweet, and totally worth it.

As we wandered on, still buzzing from the sugar rush, we stumbled upon something unexpected: the MiPig Café. One of the boys begged to go in, and before we knew it, the four of us were sitting in a cozy little room with micro pigs roaming around. 

Yes—tiny, adorable pigs. For 30 minutes, we sipped free drinks from the vending machine while petting some of the cutest creatures imaginable. It was surprisingly relaxing and such a fun, unique experience.


We had planned to explore more of Takeshita Street, but the crowds were intense—wall-to-wall people. After navigating the crush for a bit, we decided we’d had our fill (of sugar and crowds) and wrapped up our visit to Takeshita Street.


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