Fish Hook Cafe

If you're a fan of Chef Elmer Guzman's Poke Stop, you must check out Fish Hook Cafe in Waikiki, his newest venture.

At Fish Hook Cafe you'll not only find poke, but also a variety of dishes utilizing locally-sourced ingredients.

Complimentary Banana Bread

Smoked Meat Hash

Poke Sampler with Hawaiian Taro Chips

Banana Foster Cheesecake

I ordered the Smoked Meat Hash.  It was so delicious - I ate the entire thing!  Smoked pork and assorted Kunia vegetables were topped with cheese and scrambled eggs.  Such a simple, yet satisfying dish!

Nat got the Poke Sampler, and the staff was really nice and allowed her to make a substitution - instead of Creamy Ahi, she got Garlic Ahi, along with Furikake Salmon, and Hamachi Poke. 

  

Fish Hook Cafe offers a variety of sweets in their display cases. I've had the cheesecake at Poke Stop before, so I knew I wanted to try the cheesecake again. We shared the Banana Foster. It did not disappoint. It was so good, I just wish I didn't have to share!

Service was excellent, and I'd gladly return again!

Fish Hook Cafe

2045 Kalakaua Ave

Honolulu, HI 96815
(808) 942-0999

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Visit Tokyo: Barley Wheat

We stumbled upon Barley Wheat near our hotel in Tokyo one day, and decided to go there for dinner.

Kobusihana, Highball, Gingakougen

Nachos

Penne Arrabiata

Lasagna

Steak

Spare Ribs

Spicy Taco Rice

Garlic Toast

Millefeuille Cutlet of Smoked Ham

I didn't have any beer - I ordered a Highball (since I couldn't get enough Highballs while in Tokyo), but those who ordered the beers enjoyed them.

The food was good - nothing outstanding, but it was satisfying.

Everyone ordered their own individual small plates for dinner, and I opted for the Spicy Taco Rice.  It was tasty and indeed a bit spicy. The portions are adequate enough for a kid or even an adult - if you're not that hungry and you're not sharing with anyone else.  

If you love trying out craft beers, give this place a try!

Barley Wheat

1-5-6 Shibadaimon 

1F Seiwa Bldg.

Minato 105-0012, Tokyo Prefecture
+81 3-6459-0089

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Par Hawai’i Pumps Up Support for Special Olympics Hawai’i Athletes

The return of Par Hawai’i’s annual Fueling Dreams campaign is helping Special Olympics Hawai’i athletes on their journey for gold. The 13th Annual Fueling Dreams fundraiser, now in progress through May 22, 2018, provides Hawai’i drivers the opportunity to support Special Olympics Hawai’i by making a monetary donation at any one of 45 participating Hele and 76 stations throughout O’ahu, Hawai’i Island and Maui. All donations received will provide opportunities for athletes with intellectual disabilities to train and compete free of charge.

Par Hawaii, marketer of the Hele and 76 brands of gasoline in the islands, has been a strong supporter of Special Olympics Hawai’i for well over a decade.

“Over the last 50 years Special Olympics Hawai’i has touched countless individuals transforming the lives of athletes with intellectual disabilities, the lives of their families and how we as a community engage with them,” said Eric Lee, Par Hawai’i’s Vice President – Retail. “We are honored to partner with them and to see the impact that the Fueling Dreams campaign has had on their lives.”

In honor of Special Olympics Hawai’i’s 50th Anniversary, Par Hawaii will hold drawings to give away three $500 gift cards. The more entry blanks you enter, the better your chances are to win a $500 Hele or 76 gift card. A donation is not required to enter the drawing. For a free entry blank, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to Special Olympics Hawai‘i, P.O. Box 3295, Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96801.

“We’re grateful for the continued support that we receive from Par Hawai’i and their team every year,“ said Nancy Bottelo, Special Olympics Hawai’i president and CEO. “The monies that are raised through Fueling Dreams play an important role in providing funds and driving awareness for our program and athletes.”

To date Fueling Dreams has raised more than $720,000 for Special Olympics Hawai’i. Special Olympics Hawai’i provides year-round sports programs for athletes statewide free of charge. Since 1968 Special Olympics has helped change attitudes about the talents of individuals with intellectual disabilities. Starting this July, Special Olympics will celebrate 50 years of creating a more inclusive, welcoming world for all.  More information on 50th anniversary events will be forthcoming.

For more information on Fueling Dreams please contact 808-695-3533 or visit www.sohawaii.org. 

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Hui Kakoʻo Benefit Concert Series Returns to Keauhou Shopping Center April 28 to Benefit The Food Basket

The Hui Kakoʻo Benefit Concert Series returns to Keauhou Shopping Center. On April 28 at 5 p.m., enjoy the music of Mauka Soul followed by Nā Hōkū Hanohano award-winning slack key guitarist John Keawe.

Admission is two cans of food that will be donated to The Food Basket, Hawaiʻi Island’s food bank. Bring more than two cans for a chance to win a prize from one of the concert sponsors. This family-friendly event is held in the Kai Maloʻo Reef Stage area, in front of Longs Drugs.

For years, Keauhou Shopping Center has been a proud supporter of The Food Basket and its mission to end hunger in Hawaiʻi county. To learn more about The Food Basket, visit hawaiifoodbasket.org.

Upcoming Hui Kakoʻo Benefit Concerts are scheduled on June 30, featuring slack key guitarist Ben Kaili, and on Aug. 25, with Nā Hōkū Hanohano award-winning singer Darlene Ahuna. For more information, visit keauhoushoppingcenter.com.

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Own Paddington 2 on Blu-ray Combo Pack DVD!

Disclosure: Complimentary product was provided for review purposes.

SYNOPSIS

While searching for the perfect present for his beloved Aunt Lucy’s hundredth birthday, Paddington sees a unique pop-up book in Mr. Gruber’s antique shop, and embarks upon a series of odd jobs to buy it. Hilarity and adventure ensue when the book is stolen and Paddington and the Browns must unmask the thief.

“Paddington 2” Blu-ray Combo Pack contain the following special features:

• Paddington: The Bear Truth
• How to Make A Marmalade Sandwich
• Music Video with Phoenix Buchanan
• The Magical Mystery of Paddington’s Pop-Up Book
• The Browns and Paddington: The Special Bond
• Knuckles: A Fistful of Marmalade
• The (Once) Famous Faces of Phoenix Buchanan
• Audio Commentary by Director/Co-Writer Paul King

“Paddington 2” Standard Definition DVD contain the following special features:

• Paddington: The Bear Truth 

“Paddington 2” will be available on Blu-ray Combo Pack for $35.99 and DVD for $28.98. The Blu-ray Combo Pack features a Blu-ray disc with the film in high definition and the special features in high definition, a DVD with the film in standard definition, and a Digital version of the movie.

Review

My kids are familiar with Paddington and his red hat, blue coat, and brown suitcase, through his numerous books.  

In Paddington 2, they watched his adventures in achieving his goal of getting a one-of-a-kind book for his Aunt Lucy.  He mistakenly ends up in jail, but makes the most of his time there, and ends up getting some help from surprising people in order to get released.  Paddington ultimately gives Aunt Lucy a gift, although not the one he intended, but he also ends up bestowing gifts of kindness and knowledge to several he meets along the way.

Paddington 2 is full of warmth and humor.  My kids laughed throughout the movie, and particularly enjoyed a peculiar way Paddington cleaned a window, and an ingenious way he used honey.  

Paddington 2 is wonderful for family movie night!

Own it now on Blu-ray Combo Pack DVD!

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Koko Head Cafe

It's been two years since I first visited Koko Head Cafe, so I thought I was overdue for another visit!

Breakfast Bibimbap

Hawaiian-Style Pancakes

Volcano Eggs

The Breakfast Bibimbap is a top-seller at Koko Head Cafe.  Crispy garlic rice is topped with bacon, Portuguese sausage, ham, kimchi, mushrooms ong choy, carrots, bean sprouts, and an egg.  So many ingredients in a single skillet!  The flavors were fantastic!

The Hawaiian-Style Pancakes were really good.  They were moist and complemented nicely by the fruit syrup and coconut.

The Volcano Eggs was recommended by our server.  Baked eggs in a spicy tomato sauce was topped with cheese and a choice of veggies or Portuguese sausage (my husband opted for both).

Koko Head Cafe is definitely one of my favorite brunch spots on the island!

Koko Head Cafe

1145C 12th Ave.
Honolulu, HI 96816
(808) 732-8920

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McDelivery Now Available on Oahu

Disclosure: Complimentary products were received.  All opinions are entirely my own.

Food delivery is a growing trend these days, as folks like you and me value time and convenience. McDonalds Hawaii has recently entered the food delivery market by providing us with a new and easy way to enjoy everyone's favorite burgers and fries - McDelivery! 

It's true! You can now get your favorite McDonalds foods and drinks delivered right to you via UberEATS. All you have to do is go to the UberEATS website or app on your smart device, select your desired food/drink/desserts (including McCafe items!), pay with your Uber account (total includes delivery price and booking fee) and wait for your order to be delivered right to you.

Thanks to our sponsor, we had lunch delivered right to our doorstep last Sunday afternoon.  

Our order arrived in sturdy paper bags designed specially for McDelivery customers. Drinks were secured nicely in plastic bags to avoid spillage.

My sons were so excited about having their favorite Happy Meal delivered to our house! 

The hubby and I enjoyed McDonald's SCR Pico Guacamole Artisan - Quarter Meal.  

A lot of people have asked me - how was the temperature of the food? Were the fries still hot?  The burger was still warm, and the fries, while not as hot and crispy as when consumed on the premises, were just as good as if I had driven down to McDonalds myself and brought them back home.  But with McDelivery, I didn't have to lock up the house, pack up my twin sons in my car, drive down the road, wait in the drive-thru line (or go into the restaurant, which is even more of a P.I.T.A.), etc.  For a majority of working moms like myself, the delivery price and booking fee is worth the hassle of cooking/doing dishes or driving to McDonald's!

Within the UberEATS website or app, you can:

• customize your drop-off location (add delivery notes for your driver)
• customize your burgers and fries (remove ingredients, add extra ingredients)
• track your order
• pay for your order utilizing your existing Uber account 

And don't forget - with McDelivery, you can get your McDonalds meal delivered anywhere, such as the beach, school, playground, etc. So long as your address is recognized on the map on the UberEATS website or app, you're good to go.  

Keep in mind - not ALL McDonald's menu items are available through McDelivery (e.g. fruit punch, soft serve cones), and McDelivery is only available at participating McDonalds locations.

The next time hunger strikes, give McDelivery a try!   

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