Kua `Āina

Kua `Āina has been a fixture in Haleiwa Town for decades, and have since expanded internationally.  We were in Haleiwa one day, and decided to get lunch from this popular burger spot.

Cheeseburger

Turkey Bacon Cheese with Cheddar

Chicken Sandwich with Bacon, Grilled Onions, Monterey Jack

You can choose your own type of bread and additional toppings (lettuce and tomato are standard) for any sandwich or burger you pick.  

I ordered the Grilled Chicken Sandwich and added Bacon, Grilled Onions, and Monterey Jack.  It was a great sandwich - very filling, and the chicken was pretty tender.  They did not skimp on the grilled onions!

Definitely check out Kua `Āina for great burgers and sandwiches!

Kua `Āina
66-160 Kamehameha Hwy

Haleiwa, HI 96712
(808) 637-6067

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Visit Hilo: Tabaraka

Tabaraka is a Lebanese food truck in Hilo.  Despite reading about the extraordinary wait times, I heard a lot of great things about the food, and wanted to give it a try.  

I made an online order at 11:15am.  The earliest pick-up time was 12:10pm (the website even says that most orders take 30-60 minutes, as "you cannot rush perfection").  

I arrived at the food truck at 12:20pm, and my order wasn't even started yet!  The owner said he was the only one at the food truck all morning, and that it would take 10 minutes for him to complete.

Well, 30 minutes later I finally got my food, and I was very eager to dig in. 

Village-Style Shish-tawook

The Village-Style Shish-tawook with chicken and a tahini sauce was okay, but I really enjoyed the Blossom Salad which is pretty much like the Falafel Plate, just in salad form. 

Blossom Salad

The Blossom Salad consisted of lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, hummus, and falafel.  It was very hearty and satisfying, and definitely enough for more than one meal.  

Falafel Plate

The Falafel Plate comes with a Falafel Sandwich, Falafels, and your choice of Salad or Fries.

Fries with Garlic Toum

I really enjoyed the Fries with Garlic Toum, and the Zhoug is an add-on must! This spicy cilantro sauce packs on a nice heat - I used it on everything - the sandwich, the fries, the salad.

Zhoug

The prices are on the higher side, but I would definitely order from Tabaraka again if the craving hit, even with the lengthy wait.  I appreciated the effort that went into the food, and like so many places out there that are short on staff, I know the owner was doing his best.

Tabaraka
272 Waianuenue Ave

Hilo, HI 96720

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Foraging for Wild Mushrooms in New Jersey

One of the coolest things I did while in New Jersey was forage for wild mushrooms!  We went to several locations, both on our own and with some expert foragers.

It was such a neat experience, as we found all sorts of mushrooms, both edible and inedible.

We found an enormous chicken of the woods, and saw maitake, shrimp of the woods, black trumpets, and so much more!

It was such a cool adventure to get out in the wild and find mushrooms of all different sizes, shapes, and colors. 

It was definitely a highlight of my trip to New Jersey!

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Visit San Diego: CRUMBL Cookies

 

Crumbl Cookies was created by two cousins who opened their first store in Logan, Utah in 2017.  My daughter and I got our first taste of the big and yummy cookies at a cheer competition in Vegas so it was funny that Crumbl Cookies was the first store we noticed after we landed in San Diego for another cheer competition.

We stopped at their Point Loma location in San Diego twice during our stay. The first time we bought only cookies, but the second time I noticed they also offer ice cream!  

Each week, the Crumbl menu rotates 4 to 5 specialty flavors, but their famous milk chocolate chip is always on the menu.  What's different about these cookies are that some flavors are served chilled and some are served warm. I tried the Rocky Road cookie served warm and it was so delicious! It was like right out of the oven yum and I loved the ooey gooey marshmallow middle.  

If you love ice cream, you are in for a treat. Their crumbl creams are over the top creamy with mouthwatering flavors like peanut butter brittle and cookie dough crunch.  

Crumbl has 344 locations now and their first Hawaii location is coming soon to Kapolei Commons!      

Cookie choices.

They have ordering stations if you prefer.

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Windward Mall Farmers Market

Disclosure: complimentary Market Money was provided by our sponsor.

Get your fresh fruits, produce, tropical flowers, and locally made sweet and savory treats at the Farmers Market at Windward Mall every Wednesday (2 pm - 6 pm) and Sunday (10 am - 2 pm)! The Farmers Market, operated by Plenty of Aloha, is currently being held outdoors in the Windward Mall parking lot by Macy's, near the corner of Haiku and Kamehameha Highway. 

There's lot of parking and space for shoppers to walk around. 

At the farmer booths, there are signs informing customers to wear gloves when handling produce. Don't have your own? Not to worry, just look for the boxes of disposable gloves.

These green beans were so much fresher and greener than the ones at the supermarkets.

Much of the produce are individualy wrapped. 

For me personally, one of the primary reasons I come to this Farmers Market is that they have a vendor that sells these Japanese sweet potatoes pictured below (I believe they're called "satsumaimo").  These sweet potatoes are not easy to find.

Looking for omiyage to bring to the mainland or to send to your friends and family on the mainland? 

Manny's Bake Shop is my go-to for fresh baked manju, hot dog bun rolls, Spanish rolls, and turnovers.

Aren't these tropical flowers gorgeous?

A newcomer to the Farmers Market is Hiro's Smokehouse. 

Try the Smoked Marlin Dip - just trust me on this!

The boiled peanuts from Aloha Edibles are amazing. They vacuum seal the bag for freshness.  The peanuts are plump and crisp!  Did you know boiled peanuts are healthier than roasted? 

Whether you're looking for raw ingredients or ready-to-eat food and desserts, you'll find it all at Windward Mall Farmers Market!

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Jolene’s Ewa Beach

After seeing numerous IG-drool-worthy photos online, I finally made it out to Jolene's.  I went to the Ewa Beach location, and ordered:

Lobster Melt

Buttah Lobster Roll

BBQ Pork Melt

Fried Chicken Cheese Melt

The Fried Chicken Cheese Melt was enormous.  I could only finish half.  The chicken was juicy, and the soft, grilled, Shokupan bread really held the sandwich together.

The Chowder Fries are topped with bacon, cheese, and cilantro, and for take-out orders, the chowder is served separately so you don't end up with soggy fries.  Unfortunately, the fries were undercooked.

Fortunately, I ordered a large Curly Fries, which were perfectly cooked and so delish!

There are so many other menu items I want to try!

Jolene's - Ewa Beach
Laulani Village Shopping Center

91-1087 Keaunui Dr Ste 400
Ewa Beach, HI 96706

 

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The Clubhouse at Mililani - Sushi, Tacos, and So Much More!

I did not hesitate to visit The Clubhouse at Mililani when it opened, and I did not hesitate to say "yes" when I was asked to attend a media invite there.  The food is just so good, and I was so happy I got to try out even more food from the menu.

With Justin Mizufuka, Chef Arturo Silva, and Chef Lance Morishima at the helm, you get flavorful, well-executed dishes that are familiar and comforting.

Raw Bar Platter

Crunch Roll

Seafood Salad

Assorted Nigiri

Loaded Tater Tot Nachos

Dry Mein

Steak

Korean Fried Chicken

Crispy Pork Belly

My faves are the Loaded Tater Tot Nachos, Dry Mein, and Korean Fried Chicken (all of which I ordered recently for take-out).

The Seafood Salad was a hit on our table, and so was the Pork Belly (definitely would pair well with some beer!).

Also - don't miss Taco Tuesdays, where you can get $3 tacos!

I predicted before they even opened that The Clubhouse at Mililani would be the go-to spot in Mililani, and I stand by the prediction.  There really is no place else in Mililani like it!  It's the perfect place for a family meal, special occasion (private dining room is available), or some drinks and pupu after a round of golf. 

The Clubhouse Mililani
Mililani Golf Club
95-176 Kuahelani Ave
Mililani, HI 96789
(808) 623-2222

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