Pau Hana Bar at Foodland Farms Pearl City

When I don't want to go into town for some good food (which is often), I can always count on Pau Hana Bar at Foodland Farms Pearl City, which is my favorite spot in PC!

Fried Saimin

Pastele Stew "Tot-chos"

Salt & Vinegar Chicken Skin

Everything was so delish! The Fried Saimin was full of kamaboko, cabbage, SPAM, and char siu - it was very tasty! The tots on the Tot-Chos were perfectly crispy, and the pastele stew was delicious too, with tender pieces of pork. It was an interesting combo, especially with all the cheese, but it worked!

The Salt & Vinegar Chicken Skin was so addicting.  It was light, crunchy, with a punch of vinegar (my friend thought there was too much vinegar, but I enjoyed it as it was).  It was served with an adobo aioli.  

The bartender was working solo and it took some time for him to take our orders, but we didn't mind. He had to walk far to get the food and there were 10 of us seated at the bar at the time, but he was great in tending to the guests as quickly as he could. He was very friendly and funny too!

Pau Hana Bar is a great spot in Pearl City!

Foodland Farms Pearl City
Pearl City Gateway Center
1150 Kuala Street
5 a.m. to 12 midnight daily
(808) 453-4509.

 

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Dinner at et al.

Lobster Roll

Restaurant et al. has remained a favorite of mine so I was happy to have dinner there last month. Located inside KAHALA MKT. by Foodland, et al. features a seasonal menu with brunch, dinner, and pau hana offerings. The name means “and others” in Latin which the restaurant translates to mean a gathering place of community, friends, family and others. 

Our group was seated comfortably at a large table and the service was wonderful from start to finish. I opted for a glass of prosecco, but the signature and classic cocktails on the drink menu looked like a lot of fun. The dinner offerings range in variety from classics like a burger and ribeye to the creative like bulgogi pizza; which I ordered and loved! 

Braised short rib loco moco

Bulgogi Pizza

Grilled Kona kanpachi

Banana Bread Pudding

et al.

4210 Waialae Ave, Ste 401

(808) 732-2144

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Holiday Brunch Buffet at Eleven Honolulu

Eleven’s holiday brunch buffet is back for a limited time and they are extending their weekend brunch hours just for the holidays to Monday 12/23 and Tuesday 12/24! Located inside Foodland Farms in Ala Moana shopping center, the restaurant offers an all you can eat buffet for $35 per person and $16 per child 10 and under. There is a time limit depending on the number in your party. Included with the buffet is coffee, hot tea, or iced tea. 

Cold items on the buffet line include a Coconut Chia Seed Parfait, Chilled Poached Shrimp, Fuyu Persimmon & Dried Dates salad, Winter Wonderland Greens salad, and Fresh Fruit Medley. Hot items are: Seafood Bisque, Dry-Fried Green Beans, Prime Rib Fried Rice, Spiced Apple French Toast, Cheddar & Chive Scrambled Eggs, Breakfast Meats (Portuguese sausage, chicken apple sausage, maple glazed ham), Mushroom Ravioli, Orange Glazed Roasted Chicken, and Szechuan Black Bean Steamed Fresh Catch. Carving Station items are the Rosemary & Garlic Crusted Striploin Roast and Five Spice Braised Slab Bacon.

Assorted Rotating Dessert Selections: Chocolate Ganache & Candy Cane Tart, Pumpkin Walnut Crunch Bars, Pecan Caramel Cheesecake, Toasted Marshmallow Sweet Potato Pie, Apple Galette, and more. 

 

Breakfast meats and French Toast

Seafood Bisque

Desserts 

I thought the buffet line had a good variety of dishes and desserts, but we did have to wait awhile before the bisque and mushroom ravioli were replenished. Overall, I thought it was a good value.

Eleven
Foodland Farms Ala Moana
Honolulu, HI 96814

 

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ELEVEN Media Preview + Foodland Farms Ala Moana's New Cocktail Bar ELEVEN Opens Today

Opening today is ELEVEN, a cocktail bar located inside Foodland Farms Ala Moana featuring handcrafted cocktails, bar snacks, and small bites. The name ELEVEN pays homage to Foodland’s original Ala Moana Shopping Center store and was the local company's 11^th location. “This newest addition to Foodland Farms Ala Moana was born from the suggestions of the many customers who frequent the store’s wine bar and wanted a place to enjoy great cocktails and food with friends,” said Jenai S. Wall, Foodland Chairman and CEO. 

Hawaii Mom Blog was happy to be invited to a media preview where we were able to try some of the signature and classic cocktails crafted by Foodland Corporate Mixologist Matt Rosskopf and a variety of toasted artisan breads and bar snacks created by Foodland Chef de Cuisine Bekah DeCosta. 

Our favorite cocktails we tried were ALL OF THEM, but don't miss the very unique 400 Rabbits - ELEVEN’s signature small-batched cocktail of Tequila Fortaleza, Yellow Chartreuse and cacao liqueurs, fresh orange and lime juices, rooibos tea and goat’s milk. Rosskopf promises the flavor of the cocktail changes as you take sips. Our top picks for the toasts were the Sake Cured Salmon and Proscuitto Asparagus. Great to share, but I liked them enough to order my own next time. 

The Hemingway Daiquiri - Kauai’s Kōloa Rum, luxardo maraschino liqueur, fresh lime and grapefruit juice. In the background is the house made popcorn made with bacon fat and topped with toasted parmesan and sage. 

Negroni Bianco - piucinque gin, salers gentiane aperitif, carpano vermouth bianco.

400 Rabbits - tequila fortaleza, yellow chartreuse, cacao liqueur, fresh orange and lime juice, rooibos tea and goat’s milk. Small batched. 

Sake-cured Salmon. coriander cream cheese, pickled cucumber, radish, micro herbs, everything seasoning,http://http:// pumpernickel.

Prosciutto Asparagus. soft egg, boursin cheese, flaky salt, cracked black pepper, evoo, brioche.

Butter Poached Shrimp. celery, chives, tarragon crème fraiche, lime, tobiko, peas, pea tendrils, brioche.

Sweet Symphony desserts

At the end of the night we were treated to ELEVEN’s trio of creative cocktail-inspired Sweet Symphony desserts created by Foodland Corporate Pastry Chef Brian Sung and Pastry Chef Rick Chang. My favorite were the Mocha Bon Bons, crafted with Hawaiian rum ganache and local coffee.

 

ELEVEN is located in Foodland Farms Ala Moana at Ala Moana Center and may be accessed through the store or the bar’s Piikoi Street entrance after the store closes. ELEVEN will be open from 4 to 11 p.m., Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday, and 4 p.m. to midnight, Friday and Saturday. 

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Foodland Farms Ka Makana Ali`i Has Everything You Need for a Quick and Easy Meal

I love how Foodland has evolved over the years.  From grocery pick-up service, in-store dining, and meal kits, Foodland continues to come up with innovative ideas to make life easier.  

Foodland Farms Ka Makana Ali`i recently opened up, and last week I was invited to attend a virtual cooking demo with Corporate Chef Keoni Chang to make Fusion Street Tacos with an Elote Inspired Salad.

I received all of the ingredients complimentary courtesy of Foodland, and you can find the fresh local produce, Chef Essentials dressings, and everything else you need (including the recipe) at Foodland Farms Ka Makana Ali`i (they have convenient Foodland To-You pick-up service!).

Foodland Farms makes it EASY for you to create a delicious, hearty meal for your family.  I was very impressed with how quickly and easily the dishes came together.  

The pre-marinated meats and the flavorful dressings make it simple for even novice cooks look myself to create a delicious meal. 

The Fusion Tacos were bursting with Korean flavors from the marinated pork belly, and the accompanying Elote Salad, with a Kim Chee Caesar Dressing, complimented the tacos nicely.

Head on over to Foodland Farms Ka Makana Ali`i to see what other great meal ideas they have to offer.  

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Foodland To You

I tried Foodland's Foodland To You grocery pick-up service for the second time at Foodland Farms Pearl City, and it once again was a great experience!

I ordered online, set up a pick-up time, and even used a discount code that was sent to me after my first shopping experience.  

There is a $4.95 fee for this service (waived if it is your first time, or if you spend $100 or more).

You CAN buy alcohol (they will verify ID)!

The morning of pick up, I received a call about an item being out of stock and asking if they could make a replacement.  

I was so pleased with the customer service and the overall experience.  I miss going to the grocery store myself, but this is a great option for those who wish to avoid crowds.  

Visit https://shop.foodland.com/how-it-works for more information. 

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Foodland Farms Pearl City - Grand Opening Today!

I grew up in Pearl City, and Foodland was one of the grocery stories I frequented with my family.   It was bittersweet when news of the closure was announced, but the opening of Foodland Farms Pearl City at the Pearl City Gateway Center today at 10am is sure to please the community.

The poke station will offer Foodland Farms Pearl City-exclusive pokes!

I had a chance to preview the new 45,000-square-foot store, which offers not only groceries, but also an okazuya, a burrito station, exclusive poke selections, and even a bar so you can hang out with pals and watch the game!

The Pau Hana Bar is complete with TVs and specialty cocktails, and is poised to become a gathering spot for the local community to eat great food, have a beer, or catch up with friends. In other words "eat, drink, talk story" as the Pau Hana employees' t-shirts say.

Bumper-to-Bumper Bloody Mary

Monkey Bar '54

The Class Reunion

Spicy Sambal Manila Clams

Chicken Skin

Korean Chicken Sandwich

"Bi Bim Bap" Fried Rice

Smoked meat Pizza

Blistered Shishito Peppers

Malaysian Sticky Short Ribs

A few of the other new offerings from a press release:

• Oh, for the love of okazuya! The bygone, beloved takeout lunch shops you remember from small kid time – complete with all of their tasty local-style grinds you miss and still crave – return to your life again exclusively at our in-store okazuya. Pack your takeout box lunch with delicious a la carte favorites like nori chicken, shoyu pork, corned beef hash patties, shrimp or vegetable tempura, chicken nishime, goya chanpuru, assorted musubi, inari sushi, chow funn, Japanese hamburger steak and lots more. 

• Wrapped-with-everything-you-want burritos. Chicken al pastor with cilantro lime rice, kimchee, salsa verde and kochujang aioli. Pork adobo with stewed black beans, fresh jalapeno, pickled red onion, salsa roja and – because there’s no such thing as too much adobo flavor – adobo aioli. Our burrito station team will wrap everything you want in a warm tortilla and send you off satisfied. And trust us, with over 30 burrito-ready ingredients to select from, you WILL be satisfied! 

• Self-serve hot and cold local favorites and international eats. Love the hot and cold self-serve options at Foodland Farms Ala Moana? We’re debuting a similar spread in Pearl City with an exclusive menu of daily-changing take-home-and-eat eats. Grab a takeout box and fill it with everything from kalua pig and cabbage, pastele and Hawaiian poi stew, pineapple Brussels sprouts, and new fall items, including cranberry forbidden rice. At the cold bar you’ll find taegu-kimchee somen salad, Puerto Rican-style quinoa and gandules rice, and more. If you’re craving it, we’ve got it.

• Fresh-baked pizza. We’ll be serving up mouthwatering handmade, oven-baked, Naples-style thin-crust pizza all day. Go for a slice or take home the whole pie. Try the Margherita, Truffle Mushroom, Five Cheese or Farmer’s Favorite, to name just a few of the signature pizzas on our menu! 

• HI Steaks. You read that right. Pearl City finally gets its very-own HI Steaks location, open all day, every day, with local-style sirloin plates, ginger shoyu barbecue chicken, garlic shrimp, sirloin burgers, steak saimin, steak sandwiches and salads, ‘ono sides and more. Plus, all the varieties of smoked meat you want, served up by the pound or on a loaded plate lunch. Yay, meat. 

• Got your eats? Now grab a seat. Because at some point you may need to just sit down, relax and get to devouring everything you bought that you were ‘ono for, your new Pearl City store has a sizable seating and dining area to spread out your eats and get to the grinds. 

• Calabash Meal Kits. Foodland’s popular collection of easy-to-cook, mix-and-match meal kits with all the fresh ingredients – from meats and vegetables, to noodles, rice, sauces and more – and step-by-step guidance you need to cook a tasty restaurant-quality meal at home in a half-hour or less makes its Pearl City debut.   

• Catering to you. Our culinary team will assure you’re the hero of your next get together, first birthday lū‘au, after-soccer picnic, yakudoshi, family reunion, office gathering or any event, with a full menu of chef-prepared dishes spanning the gamut of Hawaii-favorite grinds and more. 

• Foodland to You. Anything and everything you want from Foodland Farms Pearl City is just a click away with our exclusive online shopping service. Ordering is simple at www.shop.foodland.com. Shop from any device for all your groceries and catering, then we’ll shop for you!  Our team grabs everything you want and readies your selections. Then you choose either curbside pickup from the store (we’ve got convenient quick-pickup parking stalls right in front of the store) or delivery to your home. 

The new store will also offer include complimentary Wi-Fi and one-hour storefront parking.

You can even purchase exclusive totes!

As a former Pearl City resident, I absolutely love this new Foodland Farms and how much it has been tailored to the community!

Foodland Farms Pearl City welcomes customers to its grand opening belssing at 9:45am today, with doors opening at 10am.

Opening festivities and special offers include:

• Free samples, giveaways, special in-store savings and more on opening day, October 30.
• A free, limited-edition Foodland Farms Pearl City “Eat Your Heart Out Pearl City” canvas bag with any purchase of $100 or more, while supplies last, October 30 - November 5.
• Enter to win a $500 Foodland gift card, October 30 - November 5.
• Receive 10 HawaiianMiles for every $1 spent on a Hawaiian Airlines gift card, November 2.
• Receive 200 bonus HawaiianMiles when redeeming one Maika‘i My Rewards certificate, November 2.
• Enter to win 80,000 HawaiianMiles when redeeming one Maika‘i My Rewards certificate, or purchasing a Hawaiian Airlines gift card, or entering online at Foodland.com/pearlcity-hawaiian, November 2.

Foodland Farms Pearl City
Pearl City Gateway Center
1150 Kuala Street
5 a.m. to 12 midnight daily
(808) 453-4509.

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Foodland's Calabash Meal Kits

Complimentary meal kits were provided by our sponsor. All opinions are my own.

Eating out is great - it doesn't involve going to the grocery store, prepping ingredients, setting tables, cooking, washing dishes, wiping stoves/counter tops, etc. However, it can get expensive, and often times it's nice to enjoy a tasty meal in the comforts of your own home without having to get dressed or leave the house. 

I enjoy cooking at home. However, I'm not particularly good at it, and that's where Calabash meal kits from Foodland comes to my rescue.

These meal kits are currently only available at Foodland Farms Ala Moana, and come in five different main courses, and five different sides. All kits are developed by Foodland's in-house chefs and are designed to be prepared in about 30 minutes or less. They come with virtually everything you need ingredient-wise, minus staples such as oil, salt, and pepper, and if you don't have those things, you can buy them right at Foodland!

I recently took a stab at making the Pipikaula Fried Rice and Skillet-Braised Pork Shops. Here's how it all went down:

First, the fried rice..

The kit came with all of the ingredients all portioned out. 

The prep required was 1) rinsing and chopping the green onions, and 2) cutting the pipikaula into small cubes.

Then I heated some oil in my frying pan and started browning the pipikaula.

Next came the rice, which was the hardest part of this recipe. It took a lot of elbow grease to break apart the rice which was in a vacuum-sealed package.

Once the rice was broken up and softened, I added the peas and carrots.

Then I added the shoyu/sesame oil mixture and continued to stir-fry. That's it!  

After I prepared the fried rice, I moved on to the Skillet-Braised Pork Chops.

This meal kit involved a little more prep than the fried rice.

I washed all the produce, peeled and chopped the ginger, sliced the onions and apple, and removed the leaves from the Rosemary stems.

After heating some oil in my frying pan, I seasoned the pork chops and put them in the frying pan.

After browning both sides, I removed the pork chops and cooked the onions and apples in the juice leftover from the pork chops ...

and added the mixtures that were in the three plastic cups (I think those were Dijon mustard, Balsamic vinegar, and maybe some chicken broth?), put the pork chops back in the pan with the Rosemary leaves, covered the pan, and let it cook for another 10 minutes or so.

That's it! Check out my restaurant-quality dinner for two!

The main courses and sides change periodically, so what you see here may not be available when you visit the store, but with five sides and five entrees to choose from, you're guaranteed to find something to your liking.  And don't feel like you have to choose one entree and one side. You can mix and match however you want!

Follow @EatCalabash to see what's for dinner!

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