Kalihi Breakfast Club Visits Mahina & Sun's At The Surfjack Hotel

It has been about 2 years since I've posted to this blog. Recently, I have been meeting up with friends (from middle school) once a month, for breakfast. I think this is the 4th month I've joined them. We go to different restaurants that we've never been to. Our breakfast co-ordinator, Sandy, sets everything up and coordinates when we'd be going, where, and she even orders ALL of our food!! Well, she orders food, and then we all pick a little from each plate so that we can taste each meal. It is really fun, and such a great way to get to know these places, and then we can later decide if we'd bring our family back to the restaurant or not. We are the "Kalihi Breakfast Club". 

There is usually 5 of us. But being that it is the busy holiday season, only 3 of us were able to get together this month. I decided to also bring my son along, and have him join us. We went to the Surfjack Hotel, where the restaurant Mahina & Sun's were located. 

They valet there. No self-parking, which I loved! Parking is $10, HOWEVER, if you are a local, Kama'aina, they have a local program for people like us! :) Come and eat at the Mahina & Sun's, sign up for their program, and receive special offers each time you come. The 1st offer starts off with "Free Parking" (Yep, I didn't have to pay the $10 afterall). Every offer after that includes 1 FREE parking and a free something small. 

So we walk into the lobby and I immediately notice that they have a swimming pool right there... such a cute place! Wait, there is writing at the bottom of the pool... hey this pool looks familiar!! I've seen this pool somewhere... on my friend, Lynette Eastman's Facebook!! Sooo cool!! 

The restaurant looked very relaxing, plenty of room, and there was music playing, and it was great music. Not sleazy kine, but fun n' upbeat kine. They sat us quickly, and we looked around to see plenty of peeps that were just relaxing having coffee, on their computers, and really just having a great time being there. 

Here's the menu.... 

We went with the Pork Adobo Fried Rice Bowl; Frambled Flat Omelet; Ulu Pancake & my son had the Surfjack Breakfast. Everything was ONOLICIOUS!!!! 

Pork Adobo Fried Rice (It's all underneath those over easy eggs)... there was also Kim Chee, Avocado, Watercrest, Mushrooms n' Ginger all on this plate....

Frambled Flat Omelet - Check out those hidden treasures in the omelet... there was Opa n' an over easy egg in there, topped with cilantro chutney, avocado, grape tomatoes... YUMMMMM!!!!

My son's meal - the Surfjack Breakfast... Crispy Bacon, Over Easy Eggs, Kim Chee, Mac Salad, Rice... he ate it all!!

Then this was the Ulu Pancakes!! Made with breadfruit (that's what Ulu means). Consistency was like a crepe, but it wasn't a crepe, was a pancake!! Topped with bananas, whipped cream n' syrup!!! We all had half a pancake, and ate it all!!!  LOL!!

At the end, we took some pics together... of course, gotta!! My son was our photographer, he came in handy! 

As you can see... the decor was all retro, like the 60's. Us girls were very very happy with this place. I think my hubby would enjoy the food n' the environment here. I am looking forward to coming back and bringing him, and taking advantage of their local program!! :)  

Before we left, we noticed that they had a little boutique on the corner, at the entrance of the hotel. How'd we miss this??  

That's my boy enjoying their super cool wooden chairs...

A pic I took inside the boutique... some lady's hand got in my shot, and I was too full to take it again. LOL!!

Thank You Surfjack and Mahina & Sun's!!! We really really really enjoyed our breakfast this morning. We plan on returning with the other 2 Kalihi Breakfast Club members next year, and probably come for LUNCH!!! 

Truly Blessed,

Young's Dining

Chicken Squash/Chayote/Green Papaya Soup (Sabaw/Sabao) Recipe

Chicken Squash/Chayote/Green Papaya Soup (Sabaw/Sabao) Recipe

And here's how I made it:

Ingredients:

• Chicken Thighs (I usually cook up 8 for 3 people or 12 for 5 people)
• 1 Large Tomato
• Baby Bok Choy
• Won Bok
• Green Onion
• Squash / Chayote / Green Papaya
• Patis (Fish Sauce)
• Shoyu (Soy Sauce)
• Salt 
• 1 Round Onion
• Coconut Oil 1/2 teaspoon
• Water

Directions:

1. Chop round onion into chunks
2. Peel n' Chop Squash / Chayote / Green Papaya into Chunks
3. Heat coconut oil in large pot on medium high
4. Toss in chopped onion, and stir til' a little bit limp
5. Toss chicken pieces in... stir til' outsides are brownish
6. Fill pot with hot water, til' about 1-1/2" above the chicken
7. Cut tomatoes into chunks and toss in pot
8. Add Squash / Chayote / Green Papaya
9. Bring to boil
10. Lower heat and simmer
11. Add Patis (to taste of your liking)
12. Add Shoyu (to taste of your liking)
13. Chop up cabbage pieces
14. Toss all cabbage into pot, well, toss slowly, you don't wanna burn yourself with the water splashing out at ya! LOL!!  
15. After veggies start getting limpy, toss in green onions. 
16. Pau Ready to eat!!!

Juicing!!

Sorry for not posting for a couple of days.  After the curry meal, I felt sick the very next day, probably due to the MSG that was in the curry mix.  I'll be sure to research on a better recipe instead of a "quick fix" recipe for future meals.  Anyways, whenever I feel my body rejecting the ugliness, I need to cleanse my system, and just flush it out with some good stuff.  I usually make a juice every morning, so this is almost like a usual recipe.  Here's a look at the ingredients that I have in my juice:

Kale, Carrots, Green Apple, Lemon wedge, Celery and you can't see it, but Orange.

 I have an Omega Juicer.  There is a small opening to push your veggies and fruits through, and a tool that you can use to push them downward along the way.... I started out with pushing the Kale through...

Then celery...

Oranges...

Green Apples...

Lemon Wedge...

 Then last but not least, Carrots.

In the end, this is how the mixture looks all meshed together.  Now to tank it down!!

Beef Curry Dinnah

Last night, I made Beef Curry for dinner.  Now, before you get all excited, I'm no expert at cooking, I just follow the directions on a recipe.  So the box of Curry mix that I purchase is the S&H brand and it says "Golden Curry" on it.  It comes in 3 levels of spicyness... I stick to the mild, cause I cannot handle hot.  You can find this at any Asian store.  Maybe even WalMart.  I actually saw this at WinCo and Uwagimaya while in Washington this past winter.  So, just ask and look around.  I am sure you'll be able to find!

On the back is the recipe and instructions on how to cook.  I've made this dish so many times already, the instructions are automatic in my head.  While at the store, you can look at the back of the box to see what ingredients you need to buy. I usually use beef.  I buy the chopped steak. If you are a label reader, you won't like what this includes.... infact upon waking up this morning, I didn't feel so well.  But I'll write about that in another post. ;o/  Let me finish up this post for y'all that can handle all that yuckiness.... LOL!

For oil, I use Organic Coconut Oil. This is a Costco (Kirkland) brand.

I cut up my veggies and prep them before turning the stove on.... round white onions...

Carrots and Potatoes....

 Now, I heat my stove, and add the Coconut Oil about 1/4 of my wooden spoon.

Add the chopped white round onions.... ho, the buggh smell nice!!  Not too many peeps can handle the fragrance that comes from chopped onions, or onions being sauteed.  I used to not be able to handle it too... but now I can.  Once in a while, there are tears, but most of the time... No MORE TEARS, baby!!!!  Stir til' a little bit brown on the edges.

Add the chopped steak, stir til' they are browned too...

I then add the Potatoes and Carrots, and add 6 cups of hot water.  Bring to boil and then let simmer for a while. Til' the meat gets soft.  While the pot is simmering, I fill my pyrex measuring cup with 2 cups of hot water (I get mines from the water dispenser, and it's "hot tea" hot), this'll help break down the powder, and make it all liquify.  The instructions says to toss the powdered blocks into the pot while it's boiling, and stir often, but every time I did that, a chunk of powder usually ends up on meat and sticks.  It isn't tasty when you put a chunk of that in your mouth... it's happened to the hubs several time.  Eeeeks!!  So to make sure it mushes well, I do this....

I then add the mix above to the pot and stir til' it starts thickening.  It was pretty quick and easy to do, and really yummy too!!  Here's my bowl of curry yumminess... poured over hapa rice.

Thanks for popping in!! ALOHA!

Korean BBQ Jang Su for Super Bowl Sunday's Feast

I love Super Bowl Sunday Feasts... not too much into watching the football game, but the feast that comes with it... almost like Thanksgiving! Pretty close, but without the turkey.  We used to have big parties at our house, back in the day... but now, my hubs and I are content with just us n' the kids. Being that the oldest is now in college, that left just the 3 of us.  The hubby went golfing that morning, and since he was already out n' about, he offered to pick up anything that I wanted. Honestly, I wasn't really hungry!!  I was busy crafting, and working on my projects that I didn't even want to think of food.  But, I had to make a quick decision, otherwise, he would come home, and then I would have to go out.  LOL.  So I chose Korean BBQ.

Our go-to place for Korean BBQ is Jang Su located at Pearl Kai.  Plenty eateries we like over there ya??  Well, that's mostly because it's what's closes to us.  So we just make do, and find the best tasting ones on this side, and go there all the time.  Sadly, the lunch plate I selected didn't have much taste.  Could it have been because I wasn't really in the mood to eat, anyways?  I don't know.  But the Kalbi was tasteless, like the marination didn't stick or something.  The Meat Jun wasn't all that great either.  But I tell you what, it sure looked good!!  :)  I know another place here in Pearl City that make yummy Kalbi & Meat Jun.  One day I will eat there, and share with y'all how yummy it tastes. But for today... the food was meh!  Here are the pics that make them look so yummy!!!

First the embossed plate lunch container that it comes in.  So beautiful ya?  With Diamond Head and "Aloha" embossed on there. So awesome that it says that. We always take for granted the beauty of this island. Here is a reminder!!!

Spicy Pork for the hubs... he loves Spicy Pork. However, we couldn't order this as part of a mixed plate.  They wouldn't do it.  Had to order this as a side order.  Why?  I dunno. I wanted my hubby to ask.  But he's not one to talk stories with people he's picking food up from.  He just like pick up n' go!

Meat Jun plate. This was my hubby's plate.  Remember I said we couldn't get the spicy pork as part of a mixed plate?  Well, he had to order a full plate of something and Meat Jun it was.

Here's my plate. Kalbi and Meat Jun mix. Check out the Meat Jun... so little bit, ya??  Chinsy I tell you!!! I was quite disappointed with today's plate. Did I mention that already?

My son's plate. BBQ Chicken and Meat Jun.  Yes, we love our Meat Jun.  But wasn't so tasty so no need to get so excited.  Another plate that looks pretty chinsy to me.

One of my favorite part of eating Korean BBQ are the veggies they give.  They give 4 different choices of veggies.  I love the watercress, as shown here.  This was the first to go!

So that was our Super Bowl Feast.  Meh. I've tasted better from them on other days.

Tanioka's

Today, we went to Ko'olina Lagoons.... and after the beach, we always get hungry! I suggested Tanioka's... Tanioka's it was!

Tanioka's is one of the famous deli's to get local kine grindz.  Their address is: 94-903 Farrington Highway, in Waipahu.  There is a 7-11 store right next door, and the lines there are usually SUPER long.  Today, which is a weekend, they had a security guard outside, controlling the lines, and allowing people to enter when there was enough room for people to fit.  The line moves pretty quick tho', so not to worry!!

Line goes in and around, and all along the line you are enticed with all kine goodies.  Reminds me of the manapua truck, but this place no more manapua!!! Just lots of local favorites!!!


Cash and Credit Cards accepted here!


Here's the poke choices... the prices are pretty high today, being that tomorrow is Super Bowl!!!


Poke is F-R-E-S-H Daily!!!!


Here's all the Ala Carte yummies.... My favorites to get are Lumpia, Banana Lumpia, Poi Mochi, Shrimp Tempura, Fish Patties, Fried Chicken, Garlic Chicken... the kids n' hubby like their musubi's. But Tanioka's won 2nd place for "Best Musubi's"... can you believe that 7-11 won 1st place?? Wowza, ya??


Here are the yummies we picked up:

Butter Mochi:

Poi Mochi:

Fried Rice, Shrimp Tempura, Lumpia:

Garlic Chicken & Fried Chicken:

Spam Musubi, Chicken Musubi:

Maki Sushi:

Our Spread.....

Poke from Foodland.... The Poke at Tanioka's is kinda salty for us, Foodland's Poke is pretty yummy and really hits the spot, and much more cheaper too!  The Poke we got were (bottom left to right): Shoyu Poke, Hawaiian Poke (with Kukui Nuts), Spicy Ahi Poke, Oyster Sauce Poke and Tako Poke.

Too much... Too Ono.... Too little time!!!  Now it's time to take a nap.... zZZzzzZZZzzzz..