Photos taken from the Scenic Point on Oahu between Mile Marker 14 and 14.50 on Route 72 (Kalanianaole Highway).
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April 29, 2014
RumFire's Spiked Afternoon Tea
RumFire offers a Spiked Afternoon Tea menu from 1pm-4pm daily, allowing you to sip on tea cocktails and dine on light fare all in the presence of beautiful Waikiki Beach.
I had The Little Saigon Slider - Tamarind Marinated Chicken with Young Papaya Salad, and it was very delicious. I also had the Tatas, which were tater tots with White Truffle Oil and Parmesan Cheese. These were good too, but it took a VERY long time to for me to get them - much later than the rest of the meal (the server said the order for the Tatas got mixed in with another order).
The desserts (were VERY small - you could literally eat them in one bite), and it seems pricey for $5, but it also comes with a yummy scone. I had the Red Decadence, which was indeed very decadent - it's a good thing it was small because it was just the right amount of sweetness for me.
Sliders, sides, and desserts are $5 each a la carte, and tea cocktails are $10. For $20, you can get a tea cocktail, 2 sliders, a scone, and a dessert - that's a great deal!
RumFire's Spiked Afternoon Tea is the perfect way to spend a lovely afternoon with friends.
RumFire
2255 Kalakaua Avenue
Honolulu, HI, 96815
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| From top left counter clockwise: The Little Saigon Slider; Housemade Scone; Tatas; Desserts (from L to R: Red Decadence, The Tart, Chocolate Addiction) |
The desserts (were VERY small - you could literally eat them in one bite), and it seems pricey for $5, but it also comes with a yummy scone. I had the Red Decadence, which was indeed very decadent - it's a good thing it was small because it was just the right amount of sweetness for me.
Sliders, sides, and desserts are $5 each a la carte, and tea cocktails are $10. For $20, you can get a tea cocktail, 2 sliders, a scone, and a dessert - that's a great deal!
RumFire's Spiked Afternoon Tea is the perfect way to spend a lovely afternoon with friends.
RumFire
2255 Kalakaua Avenue
Honolulu, HI, 96815
Scoop of Paradise Factory - Waialua
After visiting Scoop of Paradise Factory in Waialua for the first time a few months ago, I knew I wanted to go back to try out their lunches, so that's what we did after a day at the beach recently.
Although the sandwiches were pre-made and heated, they were still quite tasty. I was a bit bummed that the Bacon & Brie was actually Canadian Bacon & Brie, but it was still very good.
Of course, the best part of the meal was the ice cream. I had the Pineapple Cheesecake, which was very, very good.
I had a taste of the Banzai Banana, which was very good as well, and my kids loved the Chocolate.
I do wish they offered waffle cones though!
Scoop of Paradise is a nice spot to enjoy some lunch and/or ice cream!
Scoop of Paradise Factory
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| Left from top to bottom: Philly Stuffed Focaccia Sandwich; Bacon & Brie Stuffed Focaccia Sandwich; Pizza Stuffed Focaccia Sandwich; Right from top to bottom: Chocolate; Banzai Banana; Pineapple Cheesecake Ice Cream |
Although the sandwiches were pre-made and heated, they were still quite tasty. I was a bit bummed that the Bacon & Brie was actually Canadian Bacon & Brie, but it was still very good.
Of course, the best part of the meal was the ice cream. I had the Pineapple Cheesecake, which was very, very good.
I had a taste of the Banzai Banana, which was very good as well, and my kids loved the Chocolate.
I do wish they offered waffle cones though!
Scoop of Paradise is a nice spot to enjoy some lunch and/or ice cream!
Scoop of Paradise Factory
66-935 Kaukonahua Rd.
Waialua, Hawaii 96791
Waialua, Hawaii 96791
April 28, 2014
Taiko Arts Center's Annual "Two Ladies Kitchen" Mochi Fundraiser
Are you a fan of Two Ladies Kitchen mochi but aren't planning to travel to Hilo anytime soon? If the answer is "yes", you are in luck. Next month you can get their ultra-soft mochi by supporting the Taiko Arts Center's annual fundraiser. The Center will be selling Two Ladies Kitchen's famous Strawberry Mochi ($10) and Assorted Mochi/Manju ($8) to support their taiko classes, workshops, scholarships, school and community outreach programs, youth programs, composition, collaboration, and more.
Dates of pick up are:
Saturday May 10 (Mother’s Day is May 11)
Pick up at Petrie Park (Kaimuki) or
Waimalu Elementary School (Pearl City)
Order deadline: May 3
Saturday May 17
(pick up & sales at Eisa Festival at KCC ONLY)
Order deadline: May 11
Friday June 27
(deliveries ONLY for orders of 10 or more within Honolulu proper)
Order deadline: May 20
Click HERE for information on how to order.
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| This is a picture of a 6-pack assortment that I bought from Two Ladies Kitchen in Hilo store a couple of years ago. The 6-pack being offered in this fundraiser may not be the same as what is pictured above. |
Paalaa Kai Mini-Mart
Nat, Hawaii Mom Blog contributor, once told me that her husband loves fried chicken, and that his favorite fried chicken is from Paalaa Kai Mini-Mart. Since I love fried chicken too (but probably not as much as Nat's husband does), I couldn't wait to try it out!
There were trays and trays of Fried Chicken, as well as lots of Musubis, Bentos, and more. It was so tempting to buy a little bit of everything, but I restrained myself and bought a 3-piece plate of Fried Chicken and 2 SPAM Musubis.
The chicken was quite tasty, and the SPAM Musubi was very good (one of the few times I ever eat SPAM is when its in a musubi).
I thought the chicken was good, but not the best I've ever had (although a friend told me I need to go back when the chicken comes out nice and hot - maybe then I'd change my mind).
Still, Paalaa Kai Mini-Mart is a great place to stop and pick up some "beach grindz" on the way to the North Shore of Oahu.
Paalaa Kai Mini-Mart
66-945 Kaukonahua Rd
Waialua, HI 96791
(808) 637-9182
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| Fried Chicken |
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| SPAM Musubi |
The chicken was quite tasty, and the SPAM Musubi was very good (one of the few times I ever eat SPAM is when its in a musubi).
I thought the chicken was good, but not the best I've ever had (although a friend told me I need to go back when the chicken comes out nice and hot - maybe then I'd change my mind).
Still, Paalaa Kai Mini-Mart is a great place to stop and pick up some "beach grindz" on the way to the North Shore of Oahu.
Paalaa Kai Mini-Mart
66-945 Kaukonahua Rd
Waialua, HI 96791
(808) 637-9182
April 25, 2014
Visit Portland: Panera Bread
I've always wanted to try Panera Bread, and I finally had a chance to while in Portland.
I had the Frontega Chicken Panini which consisted of smoked, pulled, antibiotic-free chicken, mozzarella, tomatoes, red
onions, chopped basil and chipotle mayo grilled on Focaccia.
Everything was so good - I ate the entire Panini!
My husband had the Bacon Turkey Bravo Sandwich - smoked turkey breast, applewood-smoked bacon, smoked Gouda, lettuce, tomatoes and Panera Bread's signature sauce on freshly baked Tomato Basil Bread. He enjoyed his sandwich as well.
Panera Bread was a great spot to pick up some lunch, and I hope they open up in Hawaii one day!
Panera Bread
1400 N Tomahawk Island Dr
Portland, OR 97217
(503) 285-0200
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| Frontega Chicken Panini French Baguette |
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| Bacon Turkey Bravo Sandwich Chips |
Everything was so good - I ate the entire Panini!
My husband had the Bacon Turkey Bravo Sandwich - smoked turkey breast, applewood-smoked bacon, smoked Gouda, lettuce, tomatoes and Panera Bread's signature sauce on freshly baked Tomato Basil Bread. He enjoyed his sandwich as well.
Panera Bread was a great spot to pick up some lunch, and I hope they open up in Hawaii one day!
Panera Bread
1400 N Tomahawk Island Dr
Portland, OR 97217
(503) 285-0200
Visit Portland: Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm
About an hour away from Portland is the Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm, home of the Annual Tulip Fest (which takes places through May 4th of this year).
We left Oregon just a few days before the Tulip Fest was to start, but we were still able to see some of the beautiful blooms in such vibrant colors.
I hope one day to make it to the Tulip Fest when the tulips are all in full bloom!
Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm
33814 S Meridian Rd
Woodburn, OR 97071
(503) 634-2243
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We left Oregon just a few days before the Tulip Fest was to start, but we were still able to see some of the beautiful blooms in such vibrant colors.
Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm
33814 S Meridian Rd
Woodburn, OR 97071
April 24, 2014
Visit Portland: BJ's Restaurant and Brewhouse
BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse is one of my favorite mainland chain restaurants, and while in Portland we made sure to dine there.
The Santa Fe Spring Rolls - spring rolls filled with chicken, black beans, red peppers, cilantro, corn, cheese and more - were very good.
The Chicken Bacon Ranch was delicious, as usual (it's one of our favorite pizzas from BJ's).
The kids meals were a great deal - just $5.50 for an entrée, side, and drink!
And the Salted Caramel Pizookie was AMAZING! I don't usually care for caramel, but the Salted Caramel Pizookie was sooooo good, and I became a fan of caramel because of that dessert.
The service were great, and I really wish they'd open a location in Hawaii!
BJ's Restaurant and Brewhouse
12105 N Center Ave
Portland, OR 97217
(503) 289-5566
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| Santa Fe Rolls |
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| Kids Mac 'n' Cheese |
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| Kids Mini Corn Dogs |
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| Chicken Bacon Ranch Pizza |
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| Salted Caramel Pizookie |
The Chicken Bacon Ranch was delicious, as usual (it's one of our favorite pizzas from BJ's).
The kids meals were a great deal - just $5.50 for an entrée, side, and drink!
And the Salted Caramel Pizookie was AMAZING! I don't usually care for caramel, but the Salted Caramel Pizookie was sooooo good, and I became a fan of caramel because of that dessert.
The service were great, and I really wish they'd open a location in Hawaii!
BJ's Restaurant and Brewhouse
12105 N Center Ave
Portland, OR 97217
Baked Chicken Parmesan with Marinara Sauce
The nice thing about this recipe is that nothing needs to be pre-cooked, and it's not fried!
Ingredients:
- olive oil
- boneless and skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- bottled marinara sauce (or any bottled pasta sauce will work)
- chopped garlic
- chopped onions
- chopped mushrooms
- shredded parmesan cheese
- shredded mozzarella cheese
Directions:
- preheat oven to 350 degrees
- grease 9x13 inch baking dish with olive oil
- arrange raw chicken in dish
- top chicken with garlic, onions, and mushrooms (and other veggies of your choosing)
- pour marinara sauce over everything (I used 1/2 bottle)
- top with shredded cheese
- bake for 35 minutes or until chicken is fully cooked (cooking time will vary depending on thickness of chicken, altitude, etc.)
April 23, 2014
Dots
On Easter we went to Dots for lunch, a mainstay in the Wahiawa community, serving up local favorites for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
I
had the Fried Noodles, and it was some of the best fried noodles I ever
had anywhere. It was so tasty, and I loved all of the garnishes.
The Stuffed Mushroom Tempura was really good too. The mushrooms were stuffed with a crab mixture, and they were huge!
My husband had the Chicken Katsu complete meal. He liked it, and I thought it was a bit funny that the "bread" with his meal was simply plain sliced bread, but that's what adds to the charm of the place.
Two of my kids shared the Pancake Sandwich, so they each got a pancake and split the eggs and bacon.
My youngest had the Macaroni and Cheese, which he enjoyed.
Yes, Dots is quite and old place, and its evident in terms of the actual facility, but it's very family-friendly and serves up local favorites that I thought were really delicious.
Dots
130 Mango Street
Wahiawa, HI 96786
808-622-4115
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| Keiki Macaroni and Cheese with Hot Vegetables and Fries (also comes with a drink) |
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| Complete Meal - Tossed Greens |
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| Complete Meal - Bread & Crackers |
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Complete Meal - Chicken Katsu with Rice and Hot Vegetables
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| Fried Noodles |
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| Stuffed Mushroom Tempura |
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| One of the pancakes in the Pancake Sandwich |
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| Eggs and Bacon from the Pancake Sandwich |
The Stuffed Mushroom Tempura was really good too. The mushrooms were stuffed with a crab mixture, and they were huge!
My husband had the Chicken Katsu complete meal. He liked it, and I thought it was a bit funny that the "bread" with his meal was simply plain sliced bread, but that's what adds to the charm of the place.
Two of my kids shared the Pancake Sandwich, so they each got a pancake and split the eggs and bacon.
My youngest had the Macaroni and Cheese, which he enjoyed.
Yes, Dots is quite and old place, and its evident in terms of the actual facility, but it's very family-friendly and serves up local favorites that I thought were really delicious.
Dots
130 Mango Street
Wahiawa, HI 96786
808-622-4115
WW: Scenic Point - Oahu Near Mile Marker 13.50
Photos taken from scenic point near Mile Marker 13.50 Route 72 (Kalanianaole Highway) on Oahu.
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April 22, 2014
Review: Domino's® Pizza's Specialty Chicken
In an effort to stay competitive in the pizza industry, Domino's®
Pizza has recently rolled out a new item on their menu that they call
"Specialty Chicken". Some refer to it as a pizza with a baked chicken
crust. I would describe it as a combination of the best of two worlds -
baked chicken and pizza.
Specialty Chicken is essentially 12 pieces of bite-sized pieces of white meat baked chicken topped with a sauce and assorted pizza toppings. There are four different flavors: Crispy Bacon & Tomato, Classic Hot Buffalo, Spicy Jalapeno - Pineapple, and Sweet BBQ Bacon.
“Our new Specialty Chicken is one of the most creative, innovative menu items we have ever had,” said Russell Weiner, Domino's® Pizza chief marketing officer. “Our pizza chefs have taken chicken to a whole new level, using our unique ingredients to create these four bold flavors. There’s nothing quite like Domino's Specialty Chicken on the market today.”
“We are proud to be known as a pizza company, but Specialty Chicken shows we are not afraid to step out of our comfort zone and take risks – something that is truly part of our brand fabric,” said Weiner. “Not every risk we have taken has turned out to be successful, but as a brand we have learned that sometimes you have to fail in order to be great.”
Thanks to Domino's® Pizza, I received three orders of their Specialty Chicken delivered right to my door.
Here's a cross section of the all-white meat chicken tender.
I liked the Crispy Bacon & Tomato and Sweet BBQ Bacon. The Classic Hot Buffalo was too soggy, possibly because it is topped with two sauces - ranch and BBQ.
I give Domino's® Pizza credit for trying to stay ahead of the game by coming out with new menu items that are innovative and creative. Combining boneless baked chicken pieces with pizza toppings is a great idea since many people like both baked chicken and pizza - why not combine both into one product.
For more information, head to their website at: https://www.dominos.com. Not only can you read about all of their mouth-watering menu items, you can also place and track your order online!
Disclosure: Complimentary product was provided for review purposes.
Domino's® Pizza
Click HERE to search for a location near you.
Read More
Specialty Chicken is essentially 12 pieces of bite-sized pieces of white meat baked chicken topped with a sauce and assorted pizza toppings. There are four different flavors: Crispy Bacon & Tomato, Classic Hot Buffalo, Spicy Jalapeno - Pineapple, and Sweet BBQ Bacon.
“Our new Specialty Chicken is one of the most creative, innovative menu items we have ever had,” said Russell Weiner, Domino's® Pizza chief marketing officer. “Our pizza chefs have taken chicken to a whole new level, using our unique ingredients to create these four bold flavors. There’s nothing quite like Domino's Specialty Chicken on the market today.”
“We are proud to be known as a pizza company, but Specialty Chicken shows we are not afraid to step out of our comfort zone and take risks – something that is truly part of our brand fabric,” said Weiner. “Not every risk we have taken has turned out to be successful, but as a brand we have learned that sometimes you have to fail in order to be great.”
Thanks to Domino's® Pizza, I received three orders of their Specialty Chicken delivered right to my door.
Here
are the boxes they arrived in. I don't think this particular location
has received their "Specialty Chicken" boxes yet because I've seen
pictures of boxes that are specifically labeled for the Specialty
Chicken in other reviews on the internet.
Crispy
Bacon & Tomato: Tender bites of lightly breaded, 100% whole
breast white meat chicken, topped with garlic parmesan white sauce, a
blend of cheese made with mozzarella and cheddar, crispy bacon and
tomato.
Sweet
BBQ Bacon: Tender bites of lightly breaded, 100% whole breast white
meat chicken, topped with sweet and smoky BBQ sauce, a blend of cheese
made with mozzarella and cheddar, and crispy bacon.
Classic
Hot Buffalo: Tender bites of lightly breaded, 100% whole breast white
meat chicken, topped with classic hot buffalo sauce, ranch, a blend of
cheese made with mozzarella and cheddar, and feta.
The
best way to eat Specialty Chicken is with your fingers (ditch the
fork). That way you can lick the sauce off your fingers. Tip: cut the
chicken pieces apart first (for the same reason why you cut a pizza
before eating it).
I liked the Crispy Bacon & Tomato and Sweet BBQ Bacon. The Classic Hot Buffalo was too soggy, possibly because it is topped with two sauces - ranch and BBQ.
I give Domino's® Pizza credit for trying to stay ahead of the game by coming out with new menu items that are innovative and creative. Combining boneless baked chicken pieces with pizza toppings is a great idea since many people like both baked chicken and pizza - why not combine both into one product.
For more information, head to their website at: https://www.dominos.com. Not only can you read about all of their mouth-watering menu items, you can also place and track your order online!
Disclosure: Complimentary product was provided for review purposes.
Domino's® Pizza
Click HERE to search for a location near you.
Visit Portland: Tin Shed Garden Cafe
Portland is home to many great restaurants, many of which have been featured on national TV shows. Tin Shed Garden Café, is one such restaurant, and it's where I had one of my favorite meals during my trip to Portland.
My husband had the Big Blue Beef Burger, which came with apple-wood smoked bacon, blue cheese, horseradish sauce, green leaf and red onion. He really enjoyed it.
The kids loved their meals (and they were very inexpensive - just $4 each), and the service was great.
Tin Shed is not only family-friendly, but dog-friendly too (they even have a doggie menu!).
It's no wonder that Tin Shed has been featured on national TV - great food and great service!
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| Big Blue |
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| Paris Texas |
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| Marcel's Mac Daddy |
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| Charlotte's Grilled Cheese |
I ordered the Paris Texas - Grilled polenta
cakes layered with creamy garlic-lemon artichokes hearts and smothered
with butter sauteed portabella mushrooms, capers, fresh basil &
parmesan cheese. It's not something I would normally order for dinner, but it's one of Shed's Specialties so I wanted to give it a try.
And I'm glad I did. It was SO GOOD!
And I'm glad I did. It was SO GOOD!
My husband had the Big Blue Beef Burger, which came with apple-wood smoked bacon, blue cheese, horseradish sauce, green leaf and red onion. He really enjoyed it.
The kids loved their meals (and they were very inexpensive - just $4 each), and the service was great.
Tin Shed is not only family-friendly, but dog-friendly too (they even have a doggie menu!).
It's no wonder that Tin Shed has been featured on national TV - great food and great service!
Tin Shed Garden Café
1438 NE Alberta St
Portland, OR 97211
(503) 288-6966
1438 NE Alberta St
Portland, OR 97211
The Prop Stop Snack Bar at Barbers Point Bowling Center
We had some gift certificates for Barbers Point Bowling Center that were about to expire, but because we were unable to go when there were open lanes, we ended up buying a bunch of food for lunch from the Prop Stop Snack Bar (you can click here for a previous review of a visit during which we did bowl).
The food was good, and my favorite item was the Fried Noodles.
The prices were reasonable, and even though the snack bar was crowded, the food was ready fairly quickly.
I did see a lot of people ordering breakfasts (served all day), and I think the next time we go to the bowling center and we have the munchies, I'll definitely order breakfast.
The Prop Stop Snack Bar
Barbers Point Bowling Center
91-1259 Saratoga Ave
Kapolei, HI 96707
(808) 673-2695
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| Garlic Fries |
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| Fried Rice |
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| Fried Noodles |
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| Chicken Katsu |
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| Corn Dogs |
The prices were reasonable, and even though the snack bar was crowded, the food was ready fairly quickly.
I did see a lot of people ordering breakfasts (served all day), and I think the next time we go to the bowling center and we have the munchies, I'll definitely order breakfast.
Barbers Point Bowling Center
91-1259 Saratoga Ave
Kapolei, HI 96707
(808) 673-2695
April 21, 2014
Visit Portland: Voodoo Doughnut Too
Even though I'm not a doughnut person, one of the must-stops during our trip to Portland was Voodoo Doughnut.
One evening we went with a friend and her daughter to Voodoo Doughnut Too and waited in a long line in chilly weather to see what all the fuss was about.
The famous Bacon Maple Bar was quite good, but my favorite doughnut was the No Name - a doughnut with chocolate frosting, Rice Krispies, and peanut butter. YUM!
The Old Dirty Bastard - a doughnut with chocolate frosting, Oreos, and peanut butter, was the doughnut I thought would be my favorite, but I thought the No Name was much better.
The Memphis Mafia, fried dough with chunks of banana, and topped with cinnamon, chocolate frosting, peanut butter, peanuts, and chocolate was another fave.
My kids loved the Marshall Mathers, my friend loved the Apple Fritter, and my husband liked the Bacon Maple Bar the best.
So was it worth waiting in line for a taste of Voodoo Doughnuts?
Definitely!
Voodoo Donut Too
1501 NE Davis St
Portland, OR
(503) 235-2666
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| Top from L to R: Peanut, No Name (Chocolate Frosting, Rice Krispies, PB), Old Dirty Bastard; Middle: Bacon Maple Bar; Bottom from L to R: Marshall Mathers, Apple Fritter, Memphis Mafia |
The famous Bacon Maple Bar was quite good, but my favorite doughnut was the No Name - a doughnut with chocolate frosting, Rice Krispies, and peanut butter. YUM!
The Old Dirty Bastard - a doughnut with chocolate frosting, Oreos, and peanut butter, was the doughnut I thought would be my favorite, but I thought the No Name was much better.
The Memphis Mafia, fried dough with chunks of banana, and topped with cinnamon, chocolate frosting, peanut butter, peanuts, and chocolate was another fave.
My kids loved the Marshall Mathers, my friend loved the Apple Fritter, and my husband liked the Bacon Maple Bar the best.
So was it worth waiting in line for a taste of Voodoo Doughnuts?
Definitely!
Voodoo Donut Too
1501 NE Davis St
Portland, OR
(503) 235-2666
Jameson's by the Sea
Jameson's
by the Sea has been one of my favorite restaurants for a while now, and we recently went there for dinner - the first time in a few years, so I was eager to see if anything was drastically different from our previous visits.
The mahi mahi, which was lightly breaded in panko and sautéed with lemon butter and wine, was very delicious. I always order this dish whenever I go to Jameson's, but I usually only get it with macadamia nuts. This time I decided to get both capers and macadamia nuts, and I loved the added saltiness of the capers.
Everyone else in my family loved their meals as well, and the dessert was the perfect way to end such a lovely dinner.
Service was great, although sometimes slow due to a staff shortage, but it was obvious the servers were trying their best.
Great food, great service, great views - it's no wonder Jameson's is one of my favorite restaurants on the island!
Jameson's by the Sea
62-540 Kamehameha Hwy #1
Haleiwa, HI 96712
(808) 637-6272
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| Complimentary Bread |
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| Complimentary Taro Rolls |
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| Mahi Mahi with Capers and Macadamia Nuts |
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| Kids Teriyaki Chicken with Fries |
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| Grilled Ahi with Cajun Spice |
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| Kids Grilled Cheese with French Fries |
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| Vanilla Macadamia Nut Ice Cream Pie on an Oreo Cookie Crust |
Everyone else in my family loved their meals as well, and the dessert was the perfect way to end such a lovely dinner.
Service was great, although sometimes slow due to a staff shortage, but it was obvious the servers were trying their best.
Great food, great service, great views - it's no wonder Jameson's is one of my favorite restaurants on the island!
Jameson's by the Sea
62-540 Kamehameha Hwy #1
Haleiwa, HI 96712
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