Joebob's Profile
Cherry pie
I agree with everything above. High quality vanilla ice cream on a freshly-baked sour cherry pie is one of the whole world's 10-greatest desserts.
For people like me with no access to fresh sour cherries, a passable filling can be made from Costco dried cherries reconstituted with the purest-possible sour cherry juice.
Elderberry flowers
Swedes make fladdarbar saft (elderberry syrup), which is delightfully aromatic and makes a very pleasant Summer drink.
how long do cold sesame noodles last in the fridge?
They do tend to solidify surprisingly quickly. A week sounds too long to me.
best sushi in honolulu
Like I said, if you can share reality, hes OK, but when I go there, I eat whatever he wants me to eat.
N.B. Jiro has three Michelin stars.
best thai in Waikiki
I had laab at Keo's a couple of months ago, and it was plain bad.
Inexpensive Chinese Banquet in Honolulu
You might check with Ming's Chinese Rest. (1414 Dillingham Blvd. #101, tel. 808-841-8889). They are fairly traditional/authentic, serving Shanghai-style food (including shao loong bao). The place has more seats at large, round tables than at tables with corners.
Kid-friendly thing to do with radishes?
As an offshoot of this idea, if your family might like Chinese red-cooked (stewed with soy sauce etc.) pork e.g. with star anise, or beef e.g. with orange peel, daikon commonly is added to make a meat and veg. stew. I see no reason why radishes could not be substituted for the daikon. The radishes mellow and take on the flavor of the liquid. Black cardamon is a good addition too.
best sushi in honolulu
He gave us the stink eye when I wheeled the wife in, but, once he understood reality, he gave us what we wanted, and it was the best I've ever had. Etherial!
best sushi in honolulu
The chef is kind of like Seinfeld's Soup Nazi. We were eating there when a single woman came in. The restaurant was nearly empty, but he told her that all seats were reserved and there was no room for her.
best thai in Waikiki
Dear russkar,
Because you have now repeated this recommendation, I must beg to differ. Rosita and I went there based upon your first mention of Sala Thai and we found the food indifferent to outright bad. I don't remember what she had, but my curry was way too salty. Also, Sala is a real dive bar and no fit place for the average tourist, nor is it in Waikiki. Rosita may wish to add more.
N. Kam told me that she is fond of Malie Thai in Hawaii Kai, which I too found to be quite good e.g. the stuffed chicken wings were meatier than any others I have had. She also cited Thai Herb Garden, which is closer to Waikiki, but I have not been there, so I cannot recommend it personally. We tried to go once, but the owners apparently decided to close a day earlier for their vacation than the posted notice, and we could not get in.
I have just come back from eating (for the third time) the Whole Snapper in Garlic-Oil Sauce from Thai Lao Rest. in Kapolei, which I would put up against any other Thai/Lao dish on Oahu. Unfortunately for y'all, it is far away from the tourist ghetto, but that's just the way we like it.
Sadly Sincerely,
Joebob
leftover wonton skins
Wrap them around anything that strikes your fancy and deep-fry it.
Observations on Mama's and Gerrard's on Maui
With the opening of Amasia, it seems as if one could easily spend a chow-worthy week there.
A main course using fresh dill--other than salmon.
There is a Swedish recipe for veal (in a cream and egg sauce?) that uses a lot of dill
Observations on Mama's and Gerrard's on Maui
I checked with Gerard's. It was (of course) Ch. de Sancerre.
Oahu trip report -- May 2012
Thanks to you for a mouth-watering report. Tell your friends: we need all of the tourist dollars we can get!
Observations on Mama's and Gerrard's on Maui
Hi Hunt!
I would have called Gerard's on your behalf (808-661-8939) to ask about that wine-by-the-glass Sancerre, but they're only open 6-8:30, so it is too early here. Hope this helps.
Aloha,
Joebob
Favorite ways to use up a giant bunch of cilantro?
Make gravlax, substituting cilantro for the dill.
Lamb breast; how to cook it?
Once in Philly, I had a wonderful Italian lamb - breast probably - sausage with chunks of green pepper. Grilled marvelously...
queen's surf snack bar
Thanks KMan. Have you tried the oxtail soup from The Alley in Aiea Bowl that was rated Best on Oahu by Honolulu Mag? It is delish!
Ko Olina Area
Food stores in Kapolei include Costco, which should be useful for 13 people, with Safeway, Long's Drugs etc., and Walmart practically in a row a little further away from Ko Olina. The best restaurant in Kapolei is Thai Lao Rest., which is kid friendly because everybody behind the counter is Southeast Asian. However, 13 people would occupy about 1/3rd of all seats, so it might be best to go at off-peak hours. They open at 11AM. Burger King, etc. are available in the same area.
Lamb breast; how to cook it?
Greek style (a bit of work, but worth it): Lay breast skin side down and remove ribs (including soft ribs) and as much fat as can easily be removed. Make a mix of bread crumbs, lemon juice, oregano, and a little cinnamon and spread it all over the inside of the breast. Roll up the breast along the long axis after laying a rotisserie skewer the long way in the middle. Tie the roll with butcher's twine and rotisserie grill until done. Remove skewer and cut into slices and serve. Better than kokoretzi!
Observations on Mama's and Gerrard's on Maui
Ate at Mama's Friday night. The amuse was an earthy double sip of soup. A tasty way to start, served with a nice little loaf of white bread. Both salads were good. but not exceptional: baby romaine and the fancy salad with dried cranberries, bacon, feta, etc. Both pieces of fish were exceptional; the best fish I've had since 3-Michelin-star dinners in France many years ago. Nothing innovative, just perfectly fresh and perfectly done. The deserts were good, but not memorable, as was the wine. Entrees about $50-60.
Ate at Gerrard's Saturday night. The amuse bouche was a little toast with green pepper something, parmesan shavings and a bit of Parma ham. OK, but not special. An appetizer of quennels in sorrel sauce had me furiously mopping the plate with slices of the OK bread. You could tell that Gerrard doesn't have the fishing fleet that Mama has. Only opakapaka was available, but we got it both ways it was offered: in a citrus, ginger cream sauce, apparently an old favorite recipe of the chef, and in a rich cream sauce with a fennel and onion reduction. Both were quite good, but a step down from Mama's. ($38 each entree.) Had a dessert of 3 sourbets, cooked rhubarb, and a coconut meringue cookie. Good, not great. However, I had a 2010 Sancerre that was fantastic; layers and layers of complexity. The boss really knows his Loire wines. And they offer a kama aina discount of 20% or so, making the second meal about half the price of the first. Both the meals were worth what was paid for them.
Honolulu Report - 3 Night Visit
Thank you for your report. It will cause me to return to Helena's and seek out Alicia's.
Recipe for Nam Kao Tod like at Lotus of Siam?
Yes, particularly if the frozen rice picks up water from the air before being fried.. Individual frozen grains have a large surface area to pick up water. Put that in hot oil and Foom! (IMO)
Recipe for Nam Kao Tod like at Lotus of Siam?
Speaking as an ex-chemist, deep frying frozen rice sounds risky to me.
Feeling Doubts About Going to Alan Wong Tomorrow
Glad you (mostly) liked it, and thanks for reporting back. We try not to steer people wrong, but, in matters of taste, one never knows...
Adventurous family looking for chowhound worthy food maui/oahu
Because the topic has shifted a bit, does anyone on Oahu know of a store that still has 2009 Gabbiano Chianti (no, not 2010)?
Adventurous family looking for chowhound worthy food maui/oahu
Great report MN. As we found out, retirement here is possible.
