Visit Kailua-Kona: Walua Social

Walua Social, in my opinion, is the best restaurant in Kailua-Kona.  It's not a tourist trap.  It's not a place that adds local ingredients just to sell "Hawaii," and when they do incorporate local ingredients into the dishes, it just makes sense.  

And of course the food is delish!  Helmed by two very talented chefs - one with roots in Italy and the other with roots on the Big Island - you know the food is going to be authentic - no gimmicks needed.

We recently sat at the bar for a few bites. 

Carpaccio

House Focaccia

Chicken Wings

I'm not a huge chicken wings eater, but decided to try it, and I'm so glad I did, because the condiment on top - a chili oil with pistachios and green onion, was so addicting.  It had an initial kick of heat, but it wasn't overly spicy.  I loved the condiment so much I kept encouraging the team to jar it and sell it and I would buy a dozen.  And put it on everything.

Oysters 

The oysters were topped with a sea asparagus giardinier.

Budino

I had to have the Budino.  It's so rich and luscious and the addition of the Speculoos just makes it magical. 

Service was great!

And thanks to Chef Jeff for giving me some chili oil!

Walua Social
75-5864 Walua Rd

Kailua-Kona, HI 96740

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Visit Hilo: Kamana Nepali Cuisine

Kamana Nepali Cuisine recently opened up in Hilo.  They are a sister restaurant to Kamana Kitchen, one of my favorite spots in Hilo.

Fried Momo

Fried Momo are essentially dumplings filled with cabbage and onions.  I loved the crunch!

Chili Chicken

Tender chunks of chicken, along with eggplant and onions, were cooked in a chili sauce.  The sauce was not too spicy, but it had some nice heat.   

Chatpate

The Chatpate is a snack made with puffed rice, crunchy noodles, peas, onions, and other veggies. It's mixed with Himalayan spices. I liked the contrasting textures, but the peas were undercooked (my friend said they were raw).  We are not sure if it's supposed to be like that, but they gave the dish a very "vegetal" flavor as he described it, which overpowered the entire dish.

Although nothing really stood out to me personally, it's always great to try new (to me) dishes.  

Kamana Nepali Cuisine
70 Mamo St

Hilo HI 96720-2954, United States

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Visit Big Island: Wyatt's Place

Wyatt's Place opened up in Mountain view a few months ago, and I've been wanting to try it based on all the rave reviews about the Pastrami & Cheese Sandwich. 

Pastrami & Cheese Sandwich

It was a great sandwich!  It was stuffed with grilled pastrami and Swiss, so it was very rich and filling (my friend said it was good too, but it was missing something acidic to cut through all the fat, which I agreed with).  The locally made bread was buttered and toasted perfectly.  It had the right amount of softness and crunchiness.  

Fries

The fries are hand-cut, and they were seasoned nicely!  They were not as crispy as frozen fries with modified starches, but still good! 

French Dip

My friend said the beef in the French Dip was tasty, and there was ample provolone, but he thought the au jus was too watered down. 

He really liked the Caesar.  The croutons were great, and the dressing complemented the salad nicely.

The service there was very warm and welcoming.  

What's cool is that you can turn any sandwich into a burrito or loaded fries!

Definitely look forward to returning to try more sandwiches (or loaded fries)!

Wyatt's Place
17-4003 Ahuahu Pl
Mountain View, HI 96771

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Jolene's Ewa Beach

One of my favorite eateries in Ewa Beach is Jolene's. 

Buttah Shrimp Roll

Garlic Buttah Shrimp

Papa Smokes Burger

The Papa Smokes Burger includes 2 beef patties and smoked brisket.

BBQ Brisket Sandwich

Fried Chicken Salad

My go-to is the Fried Chicken Salad, in an effort to be semi-healthy.  A generous portion of tender, juicy fried chicken tops a bed of greens with onions and tomatoes.  This salad lasts me multiple meals!

Jolene's in Ewa Beach never disappoints!

Jolene's - Ewa Beach
Laulani Village Shopping Center
91-1087 Keaunui Dr Ste 400
Ewa Beach, HI 96706

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Oli's Kitchen - Open Daily for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Avocado Toast

I love any restaurant that serves breakfast all day so I was happy to have lunch for the first time at Oli's Kitchen. Located at Puck's Alley, Oli's Kitchen offers daily breakfast, lunch and dinner featuring local favorites like loco moco, hamburger steak, and more.

Unfortunately due to the egg shortage, I couldn't order the omelet sandwich I wanted. It was no big deal though, because Oli's offers so many great items on their menu. I ended up with the Bulgogi sandwich with fries and it was delicious and filling! 

Bulgogi Sandwich

Half and Half Chicken (Garlic and Salt n Pepper)

Oli's Kitchen is locally owned and operated and they strive to work with local suppliers. They are a great casual eatery with great service. Parking is available in the lot with your first hour free without validation. Second hour was $3. 

Oli's Kitchen
1009 University Ave

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Visit Hilo: Fairway Grill

The Fairway Grill is one of my go-to spots for great food in Hilo.  It's a golf club restaurant, and I think most golf club restaurants are an overlooked dining option.

Club House Melt

A fave of the mine is the Club House Melt.  Yes, it's basic, but always good and satisfying.  The sandwich was stuffed with turkey, ham, cheese, bacon, lettuce, tomato, and onion.

Prime Rib Dip

My friend appreciated that the prime rib had mushrooms, but he thought the prime rib itself tasted a bit freezer burnt.

Despite that, I'm positive we'll be back.  The service is always super friendly and it isn't hard to find something delicious on the menu!

Fairway Grill Hilo
340 Haihai St.

Hilo, HI 96720

(808) 731-4560

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Little Vessels Donut Co.

While in Kaimuki, I saw the sign for Little Vessels Donut Co., and even though I had already picked up some sweets from elsewhere, I thought "why not?"  I'm in the area, so I may as well take advantage of the opportunity.

Little Vessels Donut Co. specializes in vegan donuts made with coconut milk, coconut oil, and no eggs.

And they are delish!

Rosemary Pumpkin Cheesecake

Classic Vanilla

Chocolate Sprinkles

Chai Masala Brulee

Orange Cardamom

Calamansi Cookie Cream

We were told the Classic Vanilla is a favorite, so of course I had to try it.  It sure was yummy!

The yeast donuts are crafted in small batches, and they were fluffy with just the right amount of chew.

I had no idea vegan donuts could be so delish!

Little Vessels Donut Co.

3458 Waialae Ave Corner of Waialae Ave &, 9th Ave

Honolulu, HI 96816

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Authentic Thai Food at Thai MK Cuisine at Fishcake Hawaii

I love Thai food so I jumped at the opportunity for a media tasting at one of Fishcake Hawaii's newest additions, Thai MK Cuisine. Run by husband and wife team, Mitch and Yuki, Thai MK Cuisine promises to serve its customers authentic Thai taste every first and third Thursday. Go early as it gets busy and you'll catch chef Yuki in action; cooking up each delicious dish with care while Mitch handles customers' orders and putting the finishing touches on dishes before serving.

At the tasting, I tried the homemade Thai tea which was just the perfect sweetness and really refreshing. I also tried the pad thai, tom yum shrimp, and pad see ew. I've had pad thai and tom yum many times before, but Thai MK Cuisine's version was a thousand times better. The flavors are much fuller and richer than what I have previously tried. I'm pretty new to the dish pad see ew - flat fried noodles served with eggs and kale - but I loved it. The chewy texture of the noodles and the special homemade Thai sauce makes it a must-have for me!

Follow them on IG @thaimkcuisine for menu updates and dm them for pre-orders!

Homemade Thai Tea served cold. 

Pad Thai - chicken, crispy pork, or shrimp - fried noodles served with tofu, eggs, bean sprouts, peanuts, chives, mixed with a special homemade thai sauce. Very tasty!

Tom Yum Shrimp - tangy, creamy soup served with shrimp, mushrooms, shallots, lemongrass, dried chili, lime, galangal, kaffir lime leaf, mixed with thai herbs and a side of Jasmine rice. Perfection!

Pad See Ew (chicken, pork, or vegetarian) - flat, fried noodles served with garlic, eggs, kale, mixed with a special homemade thai sauce. Get it before it sells out!

Thank you Yuki and Mitch of Thai MK Cuisine!

Thai MK Cuisine
Fishcake Hawaii
307c Kamani Street
Honolulu, HI 

     

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Moani Waikiki

Ahi Nachos

This past weekend we celebrated a couple of birthdays at Moani Waikiki located in the International Market Place. Moani Waikiki is the sister restaurant to Moani Island Bistro and Bar in Kapolei and both restaurants are locally owned and specialize in local style food and live entertainment. 

Our group of 11 was seated comfortably in their outdoor seating area. We dined family style and ordered mainly pupus and a few entrees. The food was delicious, portions were generous, and the service was great which made for a really fun night. We left before the live music began, but the restaurant was already lively and great for groups.

Make sure to order dessert! We really enjoyed the Kona Coffee gelato and mud pies!

Smoked Meat

Calamari

Bacon Truffle Cheese Fries

Moani Fried Rice

Seffers Sliders

Kanaka Kalbi

Moani Waikiki

2330 Kalakaua Ave.

Honolulu, HI 96815

  

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Fujiya Hawaii - a Local Mochi and Snack Shop

One of my friends eats gluten free so I wanted to pick up something tasty that she could enjoy for the holidays. My first thought was chichi dango from Fujiya. Knowing that the shop can get busy, I called ahead and prepaid for my order. 

It was my first time visiting Fujiya's since they moved from Kalihi. The new shop is in town on Hauʻoli Street. I love the updated look and the space to browse other snacks like senbei, iso peanuts, arare, and lemon peel li hing gummy bears. Not to mention, there are lots of pretty packaged trays of manju and showcases of assorted mochi. It's a foodie shopper's paradise and I'm sure you could easily spend an hour choosing gifts for yourself and others.

Assorted senbei perfect for gifts! 

Manju trays 

Variety of mochi to choose from.

My friends loved the chichi dango; one claiming they finished the entire container the same day! It's nice this business which started in 1953 is still locally run today and remains a local favorite.

Fujiya is open Tuesday through Saturday; 9am to 3pm. 

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J&S Lumpia Spot Saves My Potluck Day

When I get invited to a potluck, I almost always sign up to bring a dessert. Unfortunately, this was a no dessert occasion so I struggled to decide what to bring. I polled my friends and they said: chili, fruit, noodles. Then I remembered a recent work potluck where I ate more than my share of lumpia. It was so delicious that I remembered it was from J&S Lumpia Spot. 

Making an online order was super easy and it was ready right on time. Needless to say, the lumpia was a hit! They were crispy and tasty and are now a go-to for my next potluck. 

You can order lumpia in mix and match quantities of  3, 6, and 12 and choose from Meat and Veggie (beef), Pork Shanghai, Banana, and Veggie. Available dipping sauces are sweet chili and garlic vinegar. J&S also offers specialty lumpia, lumpia sampler packs and holiday trays as well as pancit. You can also order frozen packs of lumpia for later.

Located at 4369 Lawehana Street near Target, they are open Wednesday through Sunday. Be sure to check online as they have special hours for the holidays.

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Portuguese Bean Soup Recipe Featuring Maui Nui Venison

Maui Nui Venison recently launched the Holo`ai program, where you can get fresh venison delivered to your door!

We ordered a box for Na`au, where venison is often one of our featured ingredients.

Below you can find a recipe for Portuguese Bean Soup featuring Maui Nui Venison housemade sausage, or you can easily substitute with Portuguese sausage. 

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Oahu Fresh - Farmers Market Bag Delivery

I've been wanting to try a CSA (community supported agriculture) program for a long while now, and with the current stay-at-home order, it seemed like a great time to join one.

I was happy to find Oahu Fresh delivers to my neighborhood.  Even though the delivery fee is extra, I appreciate the convenience of not having to drive anywhere and go to the store to look for produce.

During the week I got an email of what to expect to be delivered, got updates via text as to an approximate window of time of delivery, and even got a text once the driver was at my house.  I left instructions for the driver to leave the produce at my door.  You can tip via venmo.

Upon checking the contents of my bag, I inquired with Oahu Fresh if one of the items was missing based on the picture I saw on their Instagram, and on other posts who received the same Farmers Market Bag.  They responded quickly, saying how they would resolve it.  The customer service has been wonderful!

In addition to the weekly bag of produce, you can also order additional items, such as olive oils, `ulu hummus, sourdough bread, and more. 

I like getting a weekly bag of fresh produce to challenge my cooking skills and to help our family eat healthier.

Visit Oahu Fresh's website for information on offerings, and well as pick-up and delivery information.

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