Hawaii Mom Blog: November 2012

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November 30, 2012

Asuka Nabe + Shabu Shabu

At Asuka Nabe & Shabu Shabu, you can get a healthy, fulfilling meal for two for under $25.  The hubby and I went here for dinner the other night and shared the Asuka Nabe ($21.95).  It comes with everything you see below.  We also added a side order of Okinawa noodles for $2.95.  If I were to compare Asuka Nabe with my favorite nabe restaurant Ichiriki, I'd say that I like the broth better at Ichiriki, but value-wise, I got more bang for my buck at Asuka Nabe. 

They only accept reservations for parties of 4 or more.  It tends to get busy in the evenings, therefore if you can't get a reservation, you should try to go as early as possible.  Free parking is available in the Bank of Hawaii parking lot on Center Street.

Asuka Nabe + Shabu Shabu
3620 Waialae Avenue
(808) 735-6666
Hours: Mon-Sun 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Assorted Veggies

Chicken and Beef, Shrimp, Tofu, Sausage, Teba Boneless Chicken Wing, etc.
Ingredients cooking in the Asuka Nabe broth

Gokokumai Rice - the best rice I've ever had!
ASUKA Japanese Nabe + Shabu Shabu on Urbanspoon
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November 29, 2012

Surfers Healing - Waikiki Camp

Last year, a few months after DS1 was diagnosed with autism, I stumbled upon a show, The Swell Life, on OWN.

From the Oprah.com website:
The Swell Life chronicles a summer with world-class surfer Izzy Paskowitz and his wife, Danielle, as they raise their three children and run "Surfers Healing," a legendary surf camp for kids with autism. The couple support one another through major tests of patience as they care for their 18-year-old autistic son and inspiration for the camp, Isaiah, as well as their two other children, Elah and Elijah - all while running their legendary surf camp.

Fast forward a year later, DS1 was fortunate to participate in a Surfers Healing Surf Camp at Waikiki on November 17.

It was such an amazing experience.

All of the volunteers were so gentle and encouraging with all of the kids.

When DS1 went surfing, he "caught" a couple of waves and was given a medal.

After surfing, he rode in a canoe, played on the beach, and went surfing AGAIN!


It was such a sight to see him standing on the surfboard (with the volunteer surfer's help, of course) and he seemed to be having so much fun.

The entire day was full of heart-warming moments.

We saw so many kids with huge smiles on their faces throughout the day.  Many kept wanting to go back out into the water to surf; others had a blast doing Zumba on the beach.

The camp also offered lunch (including nitrate-free hot dogs!), snacks, drinks, and shave ice to all of the participants and families.

It was an unbelievable experience for not only the kids, but for the families and volunteers too.

Mahalo to Surfers Healing, all of the volunteers and sponsors, and the Paskowitz `Ohana!

It was a day we will never forget.

For more information on Surfers Healing or to find a camp near you, visit the Surfers Healing website.
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November 27, 2012

Sun Noodle and Ramen Lab presents: Ramen Night


Sun Noodle
 is the king of noodles.  They supply practically all of the ramen-yas in Hawaii, and they also supply to ramen-yas in Los Angeles and the New York/New Jersey areas as well (Sun Noodle has factories in both cities).  In addition to ramen and other Japanese-style noodles, they also make chinese style noodles, saimin noodles, and dumpling skins.  They also make a number of commercial noodle products (ramen and more) that we enjoy at home.  If you've ever eaten Chinese or Japanese style noodles in Hawaii, chances are you were eating Sun Noodle's noodles. 

When I heard that the executive chef of Sun Noodle was coming to Hawaii to make ramen for one night only, I made sure to mark it on my calendar right away.  I was not going to miss out on this opportunity to sample the creations of the chef of Sun Noodle.

On the evening of November 25, 2012, Sun Noodle and Ramen Lab took over Lucky Belly in Chinatown, for a special night of ramen prepared by executive chef Shige Nakamura. The set up was simple: 3 different types of  ramen on the menu, 250 servings total, first come first served starting at 5:00 pm.

We went at 4:15 pm to be on the safe side, and there were already two gentlemen waiting in line outside the entrance to Lucky Belly.  By 5 pm, the line had stretched past the entrance to Little Village Noodle House.  I think the folks who came later and didn't make the first seating had to wait over an hour to get in the door, and some who came even later were out of luck because they were sold out by 8:30 pm.

The portions were fair, and the taste and quality were magnificent.   Was it worth the forty-five minute wait?  Absolutely.  The three ramens were of a style and depth not found in the ramen-yas in Hawaii, and I hope Sun Noodle and Ramen Lab will put on another event like this in the near future.
 

The line early on - glad we were in the front end of it.
Tonkatsu Black Ramen - deep and rich pork broth topped with "Sumibiyaki" (Japanese-style charcoal grilled) char siu, "Kikurage" (Cloud Ear Mushrooms), Scallions & drizzled w/Chef's secret black garlic essence

N.Y. Heritage Ramen - Italian-inspired tomato broth topped with basil, crimini mushrooms, Italian sausage & Romano/Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese



Old School Tokyo Ramen - traditional chicken broth paired w/shoyu base topped with "Sumibiyaki" char siu, "Wafu" (Japanese-style) spinach and menma (bamboo shoots)
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Wicked - On Stage in Honolulu through Jan. 12, 2013

Long before Dorothy drops in, two other girls meet in the land of Oz. One - born with emerald green skin - is smart, fiery and misunderstood.  The other is beautiful, ambitious and very popular.  Wicked tells the story of their remarkable odyssey, how these two unlikely friends grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good.

It's hard not to use puns such as "bewitched" or "spellbound" to describe Wicked, but that's exactly how I felt during the performance.

I was captivated by the cast, the music, the costumes, and the sets, but most of all, I was captivated by the story.

During the opening scene, as the Munchkins celebrated the death of Elphaba the Wicked Witch, Glinda "floated" into the scene in her bubble.

Immediately it was evident that Glinda, played by Patti Murin, would steal the show, as she had a likable shallowness to her that often resulted in many laughs.

Soon after we were introduced to the emerald-skinned Elphaba, played by Dee Roscioli, who Glinda meets at Shiz University.

Roscioli did a wonderful job playing a character who was both hardened and vulnerable because of the harsh reality of her green skin.

She knew she was "beautifully tragic," especially when compared to her "tragically beautiful" sister, Nessarose.  She just wished others would accept her the same way she had accepted herself.

As the story goes on, we find out how Glinda and Elphaba become friends after initially loathing each other, how they both end up falling for a prince named Fiyero (played by local boy Cliffton Hall, who did a great job in portraying Fiyero's "scandalacious" perfection), and how Elphaba's wish to meet the Wizard finally came true, which eventually led to her demise.

Wicked did a fantastic job in intertwining the story and characters of The Wizard of Oz, and there were also a few surprises behind the history of a few of the characters.

Overall I thought the entire cast was great, but Murin's Glinda was definitely the scene-stealer.  

One of my favorite scenes - and the audience's too, was when she attempted to show Elphaba how to be popular, and one way of doing so was to "toss, toss" her hair.

As Glinda demonstrated the "toss toss," the crowd roared in laughter.

Disappointed with Elphaba's attempt at a "toss toss," Glinda demonstrated it again.

She was so serious and intent on showing Elphaba the proper way to "toss toss," that the crowd was in hysterics, and Roscioli couldn't help but crack a smile and laugh a little too.

Although I thought Murin was exceptional, my absolute favorite performance was given by Roscioli at the end of Act I.  Both Murin and Roscioli performed Defying Gravity, however, it was Roscioli's time to shine as she belted out her heart while hovering in the air.

It was a pivotal moment in the story, as well as for Elphaba herself. 

There were many other moving performances throughout the show (although at times it was a bit hard to hear the lyrics - not sure if it was a sound issue or simply where I was seated), and there were also many comedic moments that made the storyline even that much more enjoyable.

Whether it was because of the characters' use of their own special vocabulary (e.g. "disturberance," "festivating," "outuendo"), the humorous references to The Wizard of Oz (e.g. Dorothy's dog "Dodo," Elphaba mentioning "there's no place like home"), or simply the endearing quirks of each character, there was just the right amount of humor sprinkled throughout the story.

Wicked is indeed a very entertaining story about the history of Glinda and Elphaba, and it's also a very meaningful one too, as it stresses how important it is to look beyond one's differences, trust one's instincts, and believe in one's self.

Wicked is simply a beautiful story, and the entire cast and crew did an amazing job in bringing the story to life.

Wicked continues through January 12, 2013 at the Neal S. Blaisdell Concert Hall.

For more information, visit Ticketmaster.com/wicked.

Subscription packages and group sales are available now and can be purchased by calling (808) 593-2468 or online at www.broadwayinhawaii.com.

For information on $25 lottery seats, click here.

Thank you to the sponsor for providing complimentary tickets to the show.
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November 26, 2012

Sweet Home Cafe

I can't decide why I like Sweet Home Cafe so much - is it because of their delicious Taiwanese-style hot pots, or the free dessert that follows?  I don't think I'm the only one that asks myself that same question.  When the topic of "Sweet Home Cafe" comes up, many will often talk about the dessert first, and then the hot pot. 

At Sweet Home Cafe, you get to choose how much you want to eat, and how much you want to spend.  First you choose the broth that you want (there are over 5 broths to choose from, in the range of about $5 per broth).  Then you hand-pick the ingredients that you will cook in your broth.  The ingredients are portioned out on colored plates, and you are charged by the plate (similar to Genki Sushi).  After you choose your ingredients, don't forget to select your dipping sauces.  The sauces are free and you can take as many as you want.  You can even mix and match.

After you're done with your hot pot, the staff delivers the dessert - a bowl of shave ice with things like custard, condensed milk, tapioca balls, etc. in it.  For me, this is the highlight of my meal.  If I could just come here for the dessert, I would, but they don't allow that.  You must order the hot pot to get the dessert!

Now that the days and nights are getting "cooler", there's no better way to warm up than with a hot pot from Sweet Home Cafe. 

p.s. there is a 1 1/2 hour time limit per table, and the clock starts ticking once you sit down.

Sweet Home Cafe
2334 South King Street
(808) 947-3707
No reservations; first come first serve
Open daily: 4 pm - 11 pm

Self-serve assorted meats, seafoods, veggies, and noodles.  Pace yourself - often times your eyes are bigger than your stomach.
Help yourself to unlimited sauces
Here's a bird's eye view of what we consumed - two broths, and plate-fulls of assorted veggies and meats...
...and dessert! 



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November 25, 2012

Shakey's

I can't believe it's been over two years since I've visited Shakey's.

Unfortunately, after this visit, it looks like I may not be going back again.

We met a few others there at exactly 5pm on a Saturday.

We had a party of 8, and there were two other large parties (approximately 10 to 15 people) in the dining room, as well as several other smaller parties (e.g. families).

We put in our order right away - 1 Large Classic Family Meal Deal (1 large pizza, 8 pieces of chicken, and Mojos), and 1 Medium Classic Family Meal Deal.(1 medium pizza, 4 pieces of chicken, and Mojos).

It took FORTY minutes for some of our food to come out (families that arrived 20 minutes AFTER us got their complete orders BEFORE us), and an additional 10 minutes before the final plate of food (4 pieces of chicken and Mojos) to arrive.

FIFTY MINUTES.

Unbelievable.

Not once did a single employee come to our table to apologize for the wait.

The only positives about our dining experience were that the food was actually really good, and that my kids had a blast in the arcade area.

The food:

Medium Italian Sausage Pizza.

 Mojos and Chicken.
Large Pepperoni Pizza.
I've been to numerous other restaurants that apologized for any kind of delay, and it would've made a big difference if someone came by to apologize and/or let us know there would be a delay in getting our food to us due to a backlog of orders or shortage of staff (or whatever the reason was).

It's too bad, because Shakey's is a family-friendly restaurant and the food is quite good, and we most likely would've given them another try in the future if someone had at least kept us informed or apologized for the very long wait.



Shakey's: Waipahu Town Center, 94-060 Farrington Highway, Waipahu, Hawaii 96797, 808-677-1919


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November 18, 2012

Orchids Sunday Brunch

Every year DH and I have brunch at Orchids at Halekulani to celebrate our anniversary.

Although the price is quite high ($57 per person), the food is great, the service is excellent, and the view is amazing.

The layout changed since the last time we were there (according to one of the employees, customers complained about bottlenecks so they decided to change the layout), and there seemed to be a few less dishes than before, but overall it was still a wonderful brunch!











And even though it was a voggy day, the view was still amazing!

Orchids 2199 Kalia Rd., Honolulu, HI 96815 (808) 923-2311


Orchids (Halekulani Hotel) on Urbanspoon
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November 14, 2012

Chun Wah Kam - Aiea

For some reason I've been craving manapua, so the other weekend I finally satisfied that craving with a trip to Chun Wah Kam in Aiea.

I ordered an Original Steamed Char Siu Manapua for myself, and for the family I ordered Honey Garlic Chicken, Sweet Potato, and Pizza.

I also ordered a mini plate of Minute Chicken and Fried Saimin for the family to share.
The char siu manapua was delicious.  DH thought the other manapua varieties were pretty good too.

The chicken was pretty tasty, and so was the fried saimin, although it did seem a little bit too peppery.

Next time I'll have to try the Kalua Pig Manapua, since Nat said it's one of her faves!


 Chun Wah Kam: 98-040 Kamehameha Highway, Aiea, HI 96701, (808) 485-1107
Chun Wah Kam Noodle Factory on Urbanspoon
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November 12, 2012

Bravo Restaurant

My mother-in-law invited the family to dinner in her at Bravo Restaurant in Aiea. I've been to Bravo before on several occasions and have never thought highly of the experience. Tonight's experience was an improvement, due mostly to my choosing the right entree.

These complimentary garlic bread rolls are delicious - keep asking for refills!
Fried calamari appetizer - I've never been to a restaurant that uses calamari steak for their fried calamari appetizer.  Usually you get the rings and tentacles.  
Baked Rigatoni - excellente!  The cheese really makes this dish, and the baking process brings out the flavor of the meat sauce.
Mini Strawberry Pie - a great way to end the meal.


Bravo Restaurant
98-115 Kaonohi Street
(808) 487-5544

Bravo Italian on Urbanspoon
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November 5, 2012

Images from Dessert Fantasy 2012

Here are just some of the many decadent desserts that were on site at the 2012 Dessert Fantasy event - a fundraiser for United Cerebral Palsy Association of Hawaii.  On behalf of UCPA of Hawaii, I would like to extend a big mahalo to all of the volunteers, donators, sponsors, and attendees for making this event a huge success!

If you are interested in attending this event next year, it is always held on the first Sunday in November at Pacific Beach Hotel.  Check UCPA of Hawaii's website for more information. 
Pacific Beach Hotel's Mango Panna Cotta
Gros Bonnet Culinary Academy/Hale Koa Hotel's Green Tea of the Orient
The Alley at Aiea Bowl's Lemon Crunch Cake
Chocolate with a Mission's Yogo Nuts
Hawaiian Host, Inc.'s Chocolate Covered Macadamia Nut
Hokulani Bakery's Lilikoi with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting, Red Velvet, and Strawberry Guava mini cupcakes
Agne's Portuguese Bake  Shop's Red Velvet Malassadas (made on-site)
Regal Bakery's Assorted Donuts
Big City Diner's Roasted Macadamia Nut Brownies
Cupcake & Things Hawaii's Chantilly, Peanut Butter Surprise and Red Velvet Cupcakes
Nisshodo, Inc.'s Chi Chi Dango
Cake Work's French Macarons

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