Paesano's Restaurant
808-485-8883
98-1277 Kaahumanu St. #119
Aiea, Hawaii 96701
Daily
lunch: 11:00a to 2:00p
dinner 5:o0p-9:30p
After work on Saturday Nick and I wanted to have a good meal, good wine and relax. We had a rough day and wanted a relaxing place with some good food....we chose Paesano's in Aiea. The atmosphere was OK but the food...that's another story.
Before I begin this review i have to say that for me its hard to eat Italian food out. I come from an Italian family. My mom can cook really good Italian food and I learned from her. So as someone whop has had the best of the best for me its hard to judge Italian food. However, Nick who did not grow up eating Italian food like I did says he did not think this food was the best, it was not Italian and he probably would not go back.
We arrived at 5.15 and there was plenty of parking. A few tables all ready there. We sat in the back, it was private and lots of room. The restaurant was clean. The staff was super friendly and took pretty good care of us. Our food arrived in time and was hot.
So we decided we were going to have red wine...what is a Italian meal without wine. Our server did recommend a good American red wine that went well with our food.
We ordered Spideni appetizer. Which I have to say was not what I am used too. Nick makes this bread and what we got was not at all what we make. It was on very thin bread. Bread you can tell is frozen and par baked. The bread was brushed with garlic and topped with cheese and a anchovy. It was not attractive at all. And when we ate it all you could taste was salt. Way to much salt. We know parm cheese and anchovies are already salty but this was way to much. Left me very thirsty. Thank God for the wine!!
We then ordered the Cesar salad for 2. Hoping it would have been done table side it did not. The portion for 2 was not that big and it was just Cesar salad. nothing to write home about. The croutons looked and tasted like something from a box.
The service at this point is really good. They were on top of filling our wine and water. Although at one point our server, smelled like he went and smoked a cigarette. Not a good smell! I just hoped he washed his hands.
Our dinner arrived, very good portions for the price and it was hot.
Nick ordered the special of the day, Fillet cooked with portabella mushrooms and onions with a red wine reduction sauce, this came with a side of shrimp scampi and veggies.
The fillet was cooked rare, however the meat at some spots were very chewy and touch. but the wine reduction was oh so good!! The wine complimented this very well. His scampi was bland and the shrimp was over cooked. And for me the pasta was overcooked.
I ordered the Cioppino, the Italian seafood stew and by far on of my favorite seafood dishes. The portion was big, had lots of broth. The stew was filled with shrimp, lobster (which was cut from the shell) fish,scallops, mussels, and clams. The seafood was all cooked well. But the broth was not spicy and had not to much flavor. And I was taken back by the sugar snap peas in it. The side of garlic bread was very sad. Again very thin cut bread with butter and garlic powder brushed on it.
Time for dessert and of course we had to get a cannoli. In my search for a real cannoli here I was hoping yet again this would be it. Cannoli alla Sicilian, i am thinking this will be a REAL cannoli. We also ordered tiramisu. I judge a Italian restaurant by a few things and one is the tiramisu. We also ordered dessert drinks.
I usually do not drink wine with dessert but today i was feeling like I wanted a dessert wine. The server gave us the menu and i asked him about desserts wines. I guess he was as clueless as i was because he did not know anything about the drinks. He told me grappa was a wine so I ordered it. Then when it came out I actually googled it to see what it was because this was not wine. Grappa is actually brandy made from the residue of the grapes after they are pressed. Anyway, it was a way to strong for me so Nick drank it.
Back to these desserts...again for me being a Italian and a pastry chef...I am expecting the highest quality desserts! The cannoli actually looked good. The shell was really good. Not like most places that buy them from the same company. But the filling...it was NOT a traditional cannoli. Very American, with ricotta cheese. But it was very grainy. Not smooth at all for a cheese filling. Iam still in search of the traditional cannoli!
The tiramisu - which in Italian means The Pick Me Up Cake, because of the sponge cake soaked in coffee. Nick hates this dessert because he does not like coffee and he liked the tiramisu. Do you see where I am going? The cake was not soaked at all in coffee. You should not see white cake at all. it should be saturated with coffee syrup. And the whip cream on top was from a can. Really? How hard is it to make fresh whip cream?
I was disappointed and this place is nothing to write home about. When we left there were only 5 table full, now I know why.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
HAPA DOG - WAIKIKI SHOPPING PLAZA
HAPA DOG/THE SANDWICH SHOP
WAIKIKI SHOPPING PLAZA - FOOD COURT
2250 Kalakaua Avenue
Honolulu HI 96815
Phone: 808-923-1191
A few weeks ago Sunshine's Cake Creations was approached to sell pastries for Hapa Dog which is located inside The Sandwich Shop at Waikiki Plaza. This is not about the pastries (that's another blog on our company website) But about the Hapa Dog. I met owners Daniel and Micheal awhile ago at an event i was attending and I am so glad they contacted me. Not only because i am selling my pastries there but because they took the Hot Dog to a new level! We are not talking about boiled hot dogs you buy from a pack at the store. We are talking about a 1/4 pound hot dog! I call it the amercian hot dog meets local flavors!!
The first hapa dog I had was called the Wassup Dog - 1/4 pound dog with thinly sliced jicama, wasabi mayo, nori flakes and green onions. Different yes, but the flavors are meld together to give you a hot dog eating experience you never had before.
Nick's first Hapa Dog - The Sunrise - 1/4 pound hot dog (did I mentioned these are grilled in front of you and everything is made to order) The dog is cut down the center and filled with bacon and shredded potatoes and topped with an egg, yup, an egg, either sunny side up or scrambled. Wow! who said you could not eat a hot dog fro breakfast? This one was so good I had to get it again.
There are all kinds of different Hapa Dogs to choose from and they carry daily specials! In fact on Wednesday March 17, for St. Patrick's day they will have the Luck Of The Irish Dog, Beef, cabbage, the works!!
You have to check this place out.
They can also be found on Facebook!
WAIKIKI SHOPPING PLAZA - FOOD COURT
2250 Kalakaua Avenue
Honolulu HI 96815
Phone: 808-923-1191
A few weeks ago Sunshine's Cake Creations was approached to sell pastries for Hapa Dog which is located inside The Sandwich Shop at Waikiki Plaza. This is not about the pastries (that's another blog on our company website) But about the Hapa Dog. I met owners Daniel and Micheal awhile ago at an event i was attending and I am so glad they contacted me. Not only because i am selling my pastries there but because they took the Hot Dog to a new level! We are not talking about boiled hot dogs you buy from a pack at the store. We are talking about a 1/4 pound hot dog! I call it the amercian hot dog meets local flavors!!
The first hapa dog I had was called the Wassup Dog - 1/4 pound dog with thinly sliced jicama, wasabi mayo, nori flakes and green onions. Different yes, but the flavors are meld together to give you a hot dog eating experience you never had before.
Nick's first Hapa Dog - The Sunrise - 1/4 pound hot dog (did I mentioned these are grilled in front of you and everything is made to order) The dog is cut down the center and filled with bacon and shredded potatoes and topped with an egg, yup, an egg, either sunny side up or scrambled. Wow! who said you could not eat a hot dog fro breakfast? This one was so good I had to get it again.
There are all kinds of different Hapa Dogs to choose from and they carry daily specials! In fact on Wednesday March 17, for St. Patrick's day they will have the Luck Of The Irish Dog, Beef, cabbage, the works!!
You have to check this place out.
They can also be found on Facebook!
FENDU BOULANGERIE
Fendu Boulangerie
Manoa Marketplace
2752 Woodlawn Drive
Honolulu, HI 96822-1855
(808) 988-4310
Hours: 7:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday
7:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday
closed Monday
My first love over anything is bread. I love all kinds of bread but baguettes have to be my all time favorite. When I worked for The Hotel Sofitel I really learned how to make the perfect baguette. The whole process for me was amazing. Its a very soulful process. Taking very simple ingredients and making this awesome product, a little piece of heaven is something I am in love with. But what I loved the most was taking the bread from the oven. The smell just would flood the kitchen and the sound, oh the sound. it was like the bread was talking to me...the crackling noise that it made. And the way they looked with the crunchy crust and the beautiful markings and the beautiful light brown color. Oh the baguettes, how I miss them! Well not anymore since I have discovered Fendu Boulangerie.
This is a real french bakery tucked away in Manoa marketplace. A real jem! The first time i walked in there was a few months ago and i fell in love with the rustic decor and the cuteness of this bakery. With 2 cases filled with all kinds of yummy pastries and desserts, I was in heaven. I mean I bought almost one of everything.
I first noticed the bread baskets against the wall the were full of rustic, beautiful bread just waiting to be bought. And then I noticed the croissants. Again I am very picky when it comes to these types of pastries. I was trained by the best so I know what the best is. I have to admit I was skeptical. I mean I have been let down so many times before. So i bought only 1 of everything. I loved that there were lychee danish and bostock. I will explain what these are later. But back to the croissant. I purchased my items and Nick and I went and sat outside while we waited for the fresh out of the oven baguettes that i remember.
I opened my bag os goodies and started with the lychee danish. I took my first bite and it was so flaky and so flavorful. Just a perfect little danish. Of course the lychees are from a can this time of year but you could not tell that from this danish. the lychees were so sweet and tender. So after i got over how good the danish was i was so excited for the croissant. But would it be everything I expected?
Oh how it was and more....
This croissant had beautiful color, perfect curve and when I pulled it apart, it was so light and flaky and all the layers, there were so many beautiful layers of buttery goodness. This croissant was so good we went and bought 6 more to take home. But would they make it home? I don't think so.
I also tried the bostock. for those of you who do not know what this is, Bostock comes from eastern France and it consists of a brioche (high butter content sweet bread) loaf that is sliced, dried, soaked in rum syrup, covered with almond frangipane and some sliced almonds before being baked a second time. I never see this anywhere so I was excited to see it here. And it was so good.
We also bought some bread which of course is not like mine but it was really good. had a nice crunch and good flavor. Of course we had to eat a piece right out of the oven.
We have gone back several times since that first day. I have tried there speciality sandwich's, made on all there fresh bread. We event tried some their pizza and everything we had was consistently yummy.
The service has always been good. We found that the place does get busy on the weekends so waiting in line will happen. But it is so worth it once you taste the pastries. This chef really has been trained correctly and you can tell him and his staff love what they do!
If I see him I will thank him personally for being a little piece of France to Hawaii!
Go check it out for yourself and let us know what you think.
Next time HAPA DOG! The hot dog meets Local style!!
Manoa Marketplace
2752 Woodlawn Drive
Honolulu, HI 96822-1855
(808) 988-4310
Hours: 7:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday
7:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday
closed Monday
My first love over anything is bread. I love all kinds of bread but baguettes have to be my all time favorite. When I worked for The Hotel Sofitel I really learned how to make the perfect baguette. The whole process for me was amazing. Its a very soulful process. Taking very simple ingredients and making this awesome product, a little piece of heaven is something I am in love with. But what I loved the most was taking the bread from the oven. The smell just would flood the kitchen and the sound, oh the sound. it was like the bread was talking to me...the crackling noise that it made. And the way they looked with the crunchy crust and the beautiful markings and the beautiful light brown color. Oh the baguettes, how I miss them! Well not anymore since I have discovered Fendu Boulangerie.
This is a real french bakery tucked away in Manoa marketplace. A real jem! The first time i walked in there was a few months ago and i fell in love with the rustic decor and the cuteness of this bakery. With 2 cases filled with all kinds of yummy pastries and desserts, I was in heaven. I mean I bought almost one of everything.
I first noticed the bread baskets against the wall the were full of rustic, beautiful bread just waiting to be bought. And then I noticed the croissants. Again I am very picky when it comes to these types of pastries. I was trained by the best so I know what the best is. I have to admit I was skeptical. I mean I have been let down so many times before. So i bought only 1 of everything. I loved that there were lychee danish and bostock. I will explain what these are later. But back to the croissant. I purchased my items and Nick and I went and sat outside while we waited for the fresh out of the oven baguettes that i remember.
I opened my bag os goodies and started with the lychee danish. I took my first bite and it was so flaky and so flavorful. Just a perfect little danish. Of course the lychees are from a can this time of year but you could not tell that from this danish. the lychees were so sweet and tender. So after i got over how good the danish was i was so excited for the croissant. But would it be everything I expected?
Oh how it was and more....
This croissant had beautiful color, perfect curve and when I pulled it apart, it was so light and flaky and all the layers, there were so many beautiful layers of buttery goodness. This croissant was so good we went and bought 6 more to take home. But would they make it home? I don't think so.
I also tried the bostock. for those of you who do not know what this is, Bostock comes from eastern France and it consists of a brioche (high butter content sweet bread) loaf that is sliced, dried, soaked in rum syrup, covered with almond frangipane and some sliced almonds before being baked a second time. I never see this anywhere so I was excited to see it here. And it was so good.
We also bought some bread which of course is not like mine but it was really good. had a nice crunch and good flavor. Of course we had to eat a piece right out of the oven.
We have gone back several times since that first day. I have tried there speciality sandwich's, made on all there fresh bread. We event tried some their pizza and everything we had was consistently yummy.
The service has always been good. We found that the place does get busy on the weekends so waiting in line will happen. But it is so worth it once you taste the pastries. This chef really has been trained correctly and you can tell him and his staff love what they do!
If I see him I will thank him personally for being a little piece of France to Hawaii!
Go check it out for yourself and let us know what you think.
Next time HAPA DOG! The hot dog meets Local style!!
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Genki Sushi
Hello, my name is Nick and I am an addict.
My drug of choice is sushi, Genki Sushi in particular. My addiction started about 2 years ago when I ate sushi for the first time. Fast track a few months later, my wife and I were told to try Genki. I was a bit hesitant to try it, because of the conveyor belt. I mean raw fish spinning on a conveyor belt, that doesn't sound too appetizing. But after hearing some friends talk about how good it was, we decided to try it. Now I know Genki is like the fast food of sushi. I know it is not the best sushi, I know there is better out there, because I have had it. But I have to tell you I am in love with Genki, the spicy tuna to be more specific. From the first bite I was hooked. The thing with Genki, for me, is the whole experience. Something I always say is its not the kill I enjoy its the hunt.
See for those of you who don't know, when you go to Genki you can either order from the menu or you can wait for it to be put on the line and you can take it. Whatever color the plate is depends on how much it costs and at the end the count your colored plates and charge you accordingly.
Oh yeah, rambling on about how much I love spicy tuna. So I do not like having to order. See I pretty much only eat the things with spicy tuna on them(oh by the way did I mention that I do not like mayonnaise). So when there is spicy tuna items on the line my heart skips a beat, much the same as when I look into my wife's eyes, but don't tell her that. When the spicy tuna hits the line I have to wait for it so come to me, that is only if no one took it before then. Something I do when I see the tuna come closer to me is I grab my chop sticks and say, just above a whisper, "I will gouge your eyes out with my chop sticks if you touch my tuna". Obviously I am only kidding(maybe). See I try to make it a fun experience for everyone.
Let me explain to you just how much I love spicy tuna. There was a time there that we were going to Genki twice a week. When you spend between $50-$70 each time, it can become an expensive habit. If I was not at Genki I was jonzing for it. I literally catch myself day dreaming about it. If the word "sushi" was heard by my ears, endorphins flows through my body and I get a sense of euphoria. I know, there is something seriously wrong with me. It may be the mercury that has infected my body. My beautiful wife, in her efforts to make me happy, enables my addiction by training me for what she calls the Genki challenge. This is were me and a competitor have to eat 22 plate of spicy tuna in 45 minutes. The loser has to pay. WOW!
Let me explain some of the things i like to get there. Spicy Tuna (obviously), which is ahi cut into small little cubes and covered in a sauce that is made from mayonnaise, sriracha, tobikko, ichimi, and chili oil then set on-top of rice and wrapped in Norri. Spicy Bomb, which is inari(fried tofu pocket) stuffed with rice and topped with spicy tuna and a drizzle of sweet chili sauce. Spicy Tempura, tempura fried ebi(shrimp) wrapped in Norri and rice and topped with spicy tuna. Spicy Tuna Bowl, a bowl filled with rice and spicy tuna. Then there are the usual suspects which are all good, but I already told you about the only ones that matter to me.
If you couldn't tell already here is some more proof of my addition. At the Genki in Kaneohe, they know me by name, Spicy Bowl, and when i sit down there are already my first three orders waiting with out having to say anything more then "Hello again". Yes I am serious. So here is a run down of the Genki's that I have eaten at.
-Waikele, is my favorite one, because there is always a good variety and they have a few special items that only they offer. The only complaint is that it is really cold in there and that the conveyor belt is too long, so I have to wait a long time for stuff to come back to me.
-My second choice would be the one in Kaneohe because the service and people are really friendly, as you read in the last paragraph.
The one in Kapahulu is not one of my favorites because it is a dump and and we saw a roach run acoss the counter where we were sitting (true story)
-Pearl City, I only have been there once. For the hour that we were there they never put anything on line except for 6 salads and that was it so it really took the fun out of it for me. I know you are probably saying it was a shift change or something but I love Genki and I know when they have there shift changes that way I don't go in there and I have to wait forever.
-Ward Warehouse is good but the service really makes me never want to go back. Every time I have gone there they never ask if I want to order anything, which I do because there are some items that they never put on the line, and they never refill my water, and I drink a lot of water when I eat sushi.
-Aina Hina(which is fairly new) is good, I have no complaints but I also have nothing else to say about it. Its just not too convenient for me. There are a few more but these are the ones I have eaten at.
Now I hope this was some help for you in your decision to eat at Genki.
My drug of choice is sushi, Genki Sushi in particular. My addiction started about 2 years ago when I ate sushi for the first time. Fast track a few months later, my wife and I were told to try Genki. I was a bit hesitant to try it, because of the conveyor belt. I mean raw fish spinning on a conveyor belt, that doesn't sound too appetizing. But after hearing some friends talk about how good it was, we decided to try it. Now I know Genki is like the fast food of sushi. I know it is not the best sushi, I know there is better out there, because I have had it. But I have to tell you I am in love with Genki, the spicy tuna to be more specific. From the first bite I was hooked. The thing with Genki, for me, is the whole experience. Something I always say is its not the kill I enjoy its the hunt.
See for those of you who don't know, when you go to Genki you can either order from the menu or you can wait for it to be put on the line and you can take it. Whatever color the plate is depends on how much it costs and at the end the count your colored plates and charge you accordingly.
Oh yeah, rambling on about how much I love spicy tuna. So I do not like having to order. See I pretty much only eat the things with spicy tuna on them(oh by the way did I mention that I do not like mayonnaise). So when there is spicy tuna items on the line my heart skips a beat, much the same as when I look into my wife's eyes, but don't tell her that. When the spicy tuna hits the line I have to wait for it so come to me, that is only if no one took it before then. Something I do when I see the tuna come closer to me is I grab my chop sticks and say, just above a whisper, "I will gouge your eyes out with my chop sticks if you touch my tuna". Obviously I am only kidding(maybe). See I try to make it a fun experience for everyone.
Let me explain to you just how much I love spicy tuna. There was a time there that we were going to Genki twice a week. When you spend between $50-$70 each time, it can become an expensive habit. If I was not at Genki I was jonzing for it. I literally catch myself day dreaming about it. If the word "sushi" was heard by my ears, endorphins flows through my body and I get a sense of euphoria. I know, there is something seriously wrong with me. It may be the mercury that has infected my body. My beautiful wife, in her efforts to make me happy, enables my addiction by training me for what she calls the Genki challenge. This is were me and a competitor have to eat 22 plate of spicy tuna in 45 minutes. The loser has to pay. WOW!
Let me explain some of the things i like to get there. Spicy Tuna (obviously), which is ahi cut into small little cubes and covered in a sauce that is made from mayonnaise, sriracha, tobikko, ichimi, and chili oil then set on-top of rice and wrapped in Norri. Spicy Bomb, which is inari(fried tofu pocket) stuffed with rice and topped with spicy tuna and a drizzle of sweet chili sauce. Spicy Tempura, tempura fried ebi(shrimp) wrapped in Norri and rice and topped with spicy tuna. Spicy Tuna Bowl, a bowl filled with rice and spicy tuna. Then there are the usual suspects which are all good, but I already told you about the only ones that matter to me.
If you couldn't tell already here is some more proof of my addition. At the Genki in Kaneohe, they know me by name, Spicy Bowl, and when i sit down there are already my first three orders waiting with out having to say anything more then "Hello again". Yes I am serious. So here is a run down of the Genki's that I have eaten at.
-Waikele, is my favorite one, because there is always a good variety and they have a few special items that only they offer. The only complaint is that it is really cold in there and that the conveyor belt is too long, so I have to wait a long time for stuff to come back to me.
-My second choice would be the one in Kaneohe because the service and people are really friendly, as you read in the last paragraph.
The one in Kapahulu is not one of my favorites because it is a dump and and we saw a roach run acoss the counter where we were sitting (true story)
-Pearl City, I only have been there once. For the hour that we were there they never put anything on line except for 6 salads and that was it so it really took the fun out of it for me. I know you are probably saying it was a shift change or something but I love Genki and I know when they have there shift changes that way I don't go in there and I have to wait forever.
-Ward Warehouse is good but the service really makes me never want to go back. Every time I have gone there they never ask if I want to order anything, which I do because there are some items that they never put on the line, and they never refill my water, and I drink a lot of water when I eat sushi.
-Aina Hina(which is fairly new) is good, I have no complaints but I also have nothing else to say about it. Its just not too convenient for me. There are a few more but these are the ones I have eaten at.
Now I hope this was some help for you in your decision to eat at Genki.
Monday, February 22, 2010
BRASSERIE DU VIN
Brasseri Du Vin
Tel. 808.545.1115
1115 Bethel Street
(Across from Hawaii Theatre)
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
Lunch served 11:30 am - 4:00 pm Monday - Saturday
Dinner served 4:00 pm to late, Monday - Saturday
http://www.brasserieduvin.com/index.html
5 tiers out of 5
This is by far one of my Favorite places to have lunch and dinner. I found Du Vin in my search for a place that served whole mussels. Something that is very hard to find here in Hawaii. But I found them and I found them oh so good!
I have to go to Du Vin at least once a month.
I have tried so many different items on the menu but I always go back to these 2 items which are my favorite.
-Moules frites -- Salt spring mussels steamed in white wine, garlic and herbs, topped with pommes frites $14
Ok, like I said it is hard to find whole mussels and I was so excited to have found them. But would they live up to my expectations? Oh how they did! You get a big pot of mussels and with pommes frites(french fries) on top so you can dip them in the broth. The mussels have always been fresh, good and with lots of garlic.
-Grilled tiger shrimp with mixed greens, roasted shallots, poached pears, apple-smoked bacon and blue cheese vinaigrette $14
This salad is so good and make for a perfect lunch. the combination of the bacon with the apples is really good. I am not a big fan of blue cheese but this vinaigrette paired well with the shrimp and bacon. Very rustic and delicious.
If your looking to be transported to France then this is the place. I love sitting in the restaurant although they have out door seating in the back and a room to have a party in. Inside it is a little darker and very rustic. i love that the tables and chairs do not match. The wood floors give this restaurant a warm and welcoming feel. There is all kinds of antique items and beautiful artwork on the wall. the walls are painted to look antique and rustic. I like to site in the corner table, really feels like a brasserie in France. And as we all know I loved France and do whatever I can to bring back those very fond memories.
There is an extensive wine list. Although they do not serve any Beaujolais wine which is all over France, there are other options that are just as good.
Service is always good and food comes out hot and fresh.
Check out the website for menus, pictures and lots of information!
Tel. 808.545.1115
1115 Bethel Street
(Across from Hawaii Theatre)
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
Lunch served 11:30 am - 4:00 pm Monday - Saturday
Dinner served 4:00 pm to late, Monday - Saturday
http://www.brasserieduvin.com/index.html
5 tiers out of 5
This is by far one of my Favorite places to have lunch and dinner. I found Du Vin in my search for a place that served whole mussels. Something that is very hard to find here in Hawaii. But I found them and I found them oh so good!
I have to go to Du Vin at least once a month.
I have tried so many different items on the menu but I always go back to these 2 items which are my favorite.
-Moules frites -- Salt spring mussels steamed in white wine, garlic and herbs, topped with pommes frites $14
Ok, like I said it is hard to find whole mussels and I was so excited to have found them. But would they live up to my expectations? Oh how they did! You get a big pot of mussels and with pommes frites(french fries) on top so you can dip them in the broth. The mussels have always been fresh, good and with lots of garlic.
-Grilled tiger shrimp with mixed greens, roasted shallots, poached pears, apple-smoked bacon and blue cheese vinaigrette $14
This salad is so good and make for a perfect lunch. the combination of the bacon with the apples is really good. I am not a big fan of blue cheese but this vinaigrette paired well with the shrimp and bacon. Very rustic and delicious.
If your looking to be transported to France then this is the place. I love sitting in the restaurant although they have out door seating in the back and a room to have a party in. Inside it is a little darker and very rustic. i love that the tables and chairs do not match. The wood floors give this restaurant a warm and welcoming feel. There is all kinds of antique items and beautiful artwork on the wall. the walls are painted to look antique and rustic. I like to site in the corner table, really feels like a brasserie in France. And as we all know I loved France and do whatever I can to bring back those very fond memories.
There is an extensive wine list. Although they do not serve any Beaujolais wine which is all over France, there are other options that are just as good.
Service is always good and food comes out hot and fresh.
Check out the website for menus, pictures and lots of information!
Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar, Waikiki Beach
Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar
Waikiki Beach Marriot Resort and Spa
2552 Kalakaua Avenue
Honolulu, Hawaii 96815
Reservations and Information
808-931-6286
Dinner Nightly
5:30 P.M. to 10:00 P.M.
Late Night Dining
Friday & Saturday, 10 P.M. to 1 A.M.
Parking
Validated Self Parking and Valet Parking, enter via Ohua street entrance
http://www.sanseihawaii.com/location_waikiki.html
We give this Restaurant 4 tiers out of 5
We decided to go to Sansei on a recommendation and we are so glad we went. What a wonderful delicous meal with great service and one of the most beautiful views!
We called ahead a made a reservation which we highly recommend. The restaurant was not open yet so we sat out side in these big comfy chairs and enjoyed Hawaiian music and the waterfall and birds that were in the courtyard. There are tons of shops for you to wonder in and out of if your waiting.
Sansei is also own by dk steak house which they are connected to at this property. They also own Hiroshi and Vino located in restaurant row.
When we walked in the servers were waiting to greet you and sit you at your table. I noticed they have outdoor seating so we sat outside and enjoyed the beautiful weather and the sunset. (pics to follow)
We began to look through the menu and it was overwhelming (in a pleasant way)but intriguing. I most intrigued by the Seared Foie Gras Nigiri Sushi. But you do need to look through everything. The also had a separate special menu. We were also told that unmarked items on the menu were 25% off before 6pm. Good deal!
So we began to order ans this is what we thought!
-Sea Urchin Sushi (Uni) - We liked this. 2 pieces of a good size. This had a Little spice and was very flavorful and good texture.
These were part of the specials
-Shrimp On Fire Roll with habanaro aioli - By far my favorite roll ever. The flavor of the aioli balanced out the fish well. There was fresh asparagus in the roll and that crunch was amazing. Perfectly balanced. The shrimp tempura was still warm and added another level of crunch that made this roll super yummy.
-Dragon Fly Roll with Chili Aioli - Not as spicy as the shrimp roll but the chili aioli lend a flavorful hand for the tuna. The avocado gave this roll a unique texture and flavor as well.
Great specials that we highly recommend!
This is the one item I most excited about and so curious how it could be pulled off!
Anyone who has been out to dinner with me knows I always look for Foie Gras first! I love it and have not found any better then when I was in France, 10 years ago...
UNTIL NOW!!
-Seared Foie Gras Nigiri Sushi
Lightly seared Hudson Valley Duck Liver over sushi rice and accompanied by caramelized onions and ripe mango
Looked like a Musabi with onions on one side of the plate and mango on the other.
The Foie Gras was seared to perfection, so juicy and tender. It melted right in your mouth. And pairing it with rice and nori, what a great flavorful combination. i could have eaten this all night.
-Kapalua “Butterfry” Roll
Fresh shiromi, smoked salmon, blue crab and seasonal greens wrapped in panko
I like the crunch on this and it was good but I am not a fan of cream cheese salad type sushi and with the greens that were rolled in it not to good for me. Nick agreed that if you like this type of seafood then you would enjoy this.
-Panko-crusted Fresh Ahi Sashimi
Fresh Island yellowfin tuna wrapped with arugula, and flash fried topped with our soy wasabi butter sauce
Again this had a great crunch and the soy sauce was so good and the fish was fresh and good but i did not like the lettuce that was wrapped in this roll.
-Cajun Seared White Tuna Sashimi with shaved Maui Onion, Red Jalapeño and Yukke sauce (for little kick!)
This was a beautiful and colorful dish. The fish was good and very fresh but the sauce combinations to me were not good. it had good spice but to much going to really taste the fish. Nick loved it!
-Torched Kona Kampachi - Kona Kampachi Sashimi stuffed with sweet Maui Onion, Shiso and Tsukudani Yuzu Aioli, rolled and drizzled with Chili Pepper Tosazu
Amberjack fish from Kona is sliced and torched, seasoned with salt and pepper, filled with sweet Maui onions, shiso and nori paste flavored with yuzu, then topped with a mix of chili pepper spices
WOW! this had a alot going on in such a small piece but the flavors were like a good punch. The fish was rolled with all the goodness inside. has a pleasant spice.
-Fresh Salmon Asian Carpaccio with Zesty Green Apple-Soy Salsa and Ikura Herb Salad
Fresh Salmon thinly sliced, served with a Nalo Micro-greens and salmon roe tossed in apple-mustard-soy vinaigrette
What caught my attention besides the salmon carpaccio was the apple soy salsa. I never had it and it sounded like it would be good with the salmon. And was i right. This dish was spot on with flavors. The apple salsa was not to over powering and the fish was so fresh it just melted in your mouth.
This was our last dish and left a pleasant taste! There was only one problem...there was not enough of it!
We did order dessert too and I don't know how we were so full
Tempura Fried Macadamia Nut Ice Cream
Vanilla ice cream wrapped with buttery pound cake, rolled in roasted macadamia nuts, flash fried & served with chocolate & caramel sauces
Now I do not like Vanilla Ice Cream, I mean I loathe it, i think it is from all the years of having to make ice cream. But Nick had never had Fried Ice Cream.
This dessert was pleasantly good. The crunch was so yummy it remained me of funnel cake. The ice cream was even good, smooth. I think it took more of the macadamia nut taste on and with the pound cake I could not just taste vanilla ice cream. It was a big portion too. the only thin g that have gone was the canned whipped cream and half cut strawberry. But this comes from a pastry chef who worked a dessert line for many years!
All in all this was an amazing meal. Our server was on top of our dishes and really giving us good suggestions. Everyone was friendly. We would definitely go back and we will!
Our server also told us on Sunday and Monday they open about 5.15 and everything is 50% off before 6 pm. Great deal.
We ordered 10 items and only spent $140 plus tip. Not bad at all for all that fresh fish!
If you go enjoy!!
Waikiki Beach Marriot Resort and Spa
2552 Kalakaua Avenue
Honolulu, Hawaii 96815
Reservations and Information
808-931-6286
Dinner Nightly
5:30 P.M. to 10:00 P.M.
Late Night Dining
Friday & Saturday, 10 P.M. to 1 A.M.
Parking
Validated Self Parking and Valet Parking, enter via Ohua street entrance
http://www.sanseihawaii.com/location_waikiki.html
We give this Restaurant 4 tiers out of 5
We decided to go to Sansei on a recommendation and we are so glad we went. What a wonderful delicous meal with great service and one of the most beautiful views!
We called ahead a made a reservation which we highly recommend. The restaurant was not open yet so we sat out side in these big comfy chairs and enjoyed Hawaiian music and the waterfall and birds that were in the courtyard. There are tons of shops for you to wonder in and out of if your waiting.
Sansei is also own by dk steak house which they are connected to at this property. They also own Hiroshi and Vino located in restaurant row.
When we walked in the servers were waiting to greet you and sit you at your table. I noticed they have outdoor seating so we sat outside and enjoyed the beautiful weather and the sunset. (pics to follow)
We began to look through the menu and it was overwhelming (in a pleasant way)but intriguing. I most intrigued by the Seared Foie Gras Nigiri Sushi. But you do need to look through everything. The also had a separate special menu. We were also told that unmarked items on the menu were 25% off before 6pm. Good deal!
So we began to order ans this is what we thought!
-Sea Urchin Sushi (Uni) - We liked this. 2 pieces of a good size. This had a Little spice and was very flavorful and good texture.
These were part of the specials
-Shrimp On Fire Roll with habanaro aioli - By far my favorite roll ever. The flavor of the aioli balanced out the fish well. There was fresh asparagus in the roll and that crunch was amazing. Perfectly balanced. The shrimp tempura was still warm and added another level of crunch that made this roll super yummy.
-Dragon Fly Roll with Chili Aioli - Not as spicy as the shrimp roll but the chili aioli lend a flavorful hand for the tuna. The avocado gave this roll a unique texture and flavor as well.
Great specials that we highly recommend!
This is the one item I most excited about and so curious how it could be pulled off!
Anyone who has been out to dinner with me knows I always look for Foie Gras first! I love it and have not found any better then when I was in France, 10 years ago...
UNTIL NOW!!
-Seared Foie Gras Nigiri Sushi
Lightly seared Hudson Valley Duck Liver over sushi rice and accompanied by caramelized onions and ripe mango
Looked like a Musabi with onions on one side of the plate and mango on the other.
The Foie Gras was seared to perfection, so juicy and tender. It melted right in your mouth. And pairing it with rice and nori, what a great flavorful combination. i could have eaten this all night.
-Kapalua “Butterfry” Roll
Fresh shiromi, smoked salmon, blue crab and seasonal greens wrapped in panko
I like the crunch on this and it was good but I am not a fan of cream cheese salad type sushi and with the greens that were rolled in it not to good for me. Nick agreed that if you like this type of seafood then you would enjoy this.
-Panko-crusted Fresh Ahi Sashimi
Fresh Island yellowfin tuna wrapped with arugula, and flash fried topped with our soy wasabi butter sauce
Again this had a great crunch and the soy sauce was so good and the fish was fresh and good but i did not like the lettuce that was wrapped in this roll.
-Cajun Seared White Tuna Sashimi with shaved Maui Onion, Red Jalapeño and Yukke sauce (for little kick!)
This was a beautiful and colorful dish. The fish was good and very fresh but the sauce combinations to me were not good. it had good spice but to much going to really taste the fish. Nick loved it!
-Torched Kona Kampachi - Kona Kampachi Sashimi stuffed with sweet Maui Onion, Shiso and Tsukudani Yuzu Aioli, rolled and drizzled with Chili Pepper Tosazu
Amberjack fish from Kona is sliced and torched, seasoned with salt and pepper, filled with sweet Maui onions, shiso and nori paste flavored with yuzu, then topped with a mix of chili pepper spices
WOW! this had a alot going on in such a small piece but the flavors were like a good punch. The fish was rolled with all the goodness inside. has a pleasant spice.
-Fresh Salmon Asian Carpaccio with Zesty Green Apple-Soy Salsa and Ikura Herb Salad
Fresh Salmon thinly sliced, served with a Nalo Micro-greens and salmon roe tossed in apple-mustard-soy vinaigrette
What caught my attention besides the salmon carpaccio was the apple soy salsa. I never had it and it sounded like it would be good with the salmon. And was i right. This dish was spot on with flavors. The apple salsa was not to over powering and the fish was so fresh it just melted in your mouth.
This was our last dish and left a pleasant taste! There was only one problem...there was not enough of it!
We did order dessert too and I don't know how we were so full
Tempura Fried Macadamia Nut Ice Cream
Vanilla ice cream wrapped with buttery pound cake, rolled in roasted macadamia nuts, flash fried & served with chocolate & caramel sauces
Now I do not like Vanilla Ice Cream, I mean I loathe it, i think it is from all the years of having to make ice cream. But Nick had never had Fried Ice Cream.
This dessert was pleasantly good. The crunch was so yummy it remained me of funnel cake. The ice cream was even good, smooth. I think it took more of the macadamia nut taste on and with the pound cake I could not just taste vanilla ice cream. It was a big portion too. the only thin g that have gone was the canned whipped cream and half cut strawberry. But this comes from a pastry chef who worked a dessert line for many years!
All in all this was an amazing meal. Our server was on top of our dishes and really giving us good suggestions. Everyone was friendly. We would definitely go back and we will!
Our server also told us on Sunday and Monday they open about 5.15 and everything is 50% off before 6 pm. Great deal.
We ordered 10 items and only spent $140 plus tip. Not bad at all for all that fresh fish!
If you go enjoy!!
Saturday, February 20, 2010
SAM CHOY'S BREAKFAST, LUNCH AND CRAB
Sam Choy's Breakfast, Lunch and Crab
www.samchoy.com
580 North Nimitz Highway
Honolulu, HI 96817-5916
(808) 545-7979
Open Mon-Thu,Sun 7am-10pm;
Fri-Sat 8am-10pm
Rating system: **1 - 5 cake tiers**, 5 being the best
Our rating for this restaurant - **2 tiers**
We arrived at the restaurant on Friday at 5.20. We pulled into the parking lot and All they have as far as parking is Valet, however it is free but you should tip the guys! They work hard.
We have been here before to deliver a cake but never to eat. When we walked in the first thing we noticed was the large ship on the right side with tons of lights on it. The atmosphere is Hawaii meets east coast beach and rustic, in a warehouse.
About 15 tables were occupied so it was not to busy.
We waited a good 5 -6 minutes before anyone even said to hello to us and there was a server at the register. Once we were greeted the hostess was extremely nice. She walked us through the specials which were plated for display. Now, we eat with our eyes first so looking at food that has been sitting for awhile and its wilted and old, uh...not a great first impression!
Once we sat we noticed the kitchen was open and off to the side of the restaurant is Big Aloha brewery tanks. Big Aloha Beer brews and serves 5 of their own beers. They also have an extensive wine and drink menu. We did not try the beers but we do hear they are popular.
Appetizers - there are a lot of items from local fare to fresh fish and ribs.
Salads and Soups - there were 3 salads and different soups.
Entrees - range from crab legs and lobster to oysters on half shell, fresh fish, steaks and chicken and even a vegetarian item (which I should have ordered).
I ordered a Mango Mojito which came quick and was super yummy. Just the right amount of spritzer and rum. It could have used more mint but in all it was good. I was also given a glass of water water.
WHAT WE ORDERED
Appetizer
Crab dip - came out hot with toasted bread. The flavor was OK, we thought it had to much spinach in it and not enough crab. It was seasoned well and had the perfect amount of cheese on top.
Pot of Shellfish (yes, this is what it is called) - I was excited about this because one of my favorite dishes is Fish stew (french and Italian made). Once the bowl hit the table I thought for an app there was a lot of food in it. But once I ate it I was not impressed at all. The broth which was lemon white wine sauce had no flavor. It was extremely bland. And it was not hot. The mussels were cooked perfect and they were big and juicy. The shrimp and scallops were way overcooked and rubbery.
Soup
Clam Chowder, Nick's Favorite seafood soup. This soup was not hot at all not even warm. Good Portion but again very bland. The soup tasted like it was made with some sort of aromatic, I think rosemary? Nick did not even finish it.
Entrees
Fish of the day, MahiMahi stuffed with Blueshell Crabmeat and mushroom cream sauce serves with steamed veggies and garlic mash potatoes.
OK, so the fish was cooked perfectly. The filling was mediocre but a good amount of crab. The garlic mash potatoes were good and I did like the spinach in it. The vegetables are another story. They were straight out of a bag and way over steamed. There is nothing worse then mushy veggies...and they had no flavor.
Kalbi Butterfish with steamed veggies and garlic mash potatoes - the flavor of the marinade was to strong for the fish. The fish was cooked perfectly and flaked right apart. Mash Potatoes were good although Nick wondered why there was spinach in them. No veggies ever came out on the plate(not that he was missing them)
We were so unimpressed that we did not order dessert, again we eat with our eyes first and the plated displays seemed like they were there for awhile.
Half way through dinner live music started. I did not catch the name of the band but there were good. The sat us right in front of the speaker so it was to loud. Me and Nick could not even talk to each other.
Service was good, they checked back a few times, cleared our plates on time.
We spent $104 plus tip on this meal and we think it was way overpriced for the meal we got.
As we walked out we looked around and noticed (and this is no offense to anyone) but besides us and one little girl we were the youngest people in there. This restaurant attacks a lot of older people. And then we realized why the food maybe tasted so bland.
If asked if we would return we would say NO!
Next Blog Brasserie Du Vin in Chinatown
www.samchoy.com
580 North Nimitz Highway
Honolulu, HI 96817-5916
(808) 545-7979
Open Mon-Thu,Sun 7am-10pm;
Fri-Sat 8am-10pm
Rating system: **1 - 5 cake tiers**, 5 being the best
Our rating for this restaurant - **2 tiers**
We arrived at the restaurant on Friday at 5.20. We pulled into the parking lot and All they have as far as parking is Valet, however it is free but you should tip the guys! They work hard.
We have been here before to deliver a cake but never to eat. When we walked in the first thing we noticed was the large ship on the right side with tons of lights on it. The atmosphere is Hawaii meets east coast beach and rustic, in a warehouse.
About 15 tables were occupied so it was not to busy.
We waited a good 5 -6 minutes before anyone even said to hello to us and there was a server at the register. Once we were greeted the hostess was extremely nice. She walked us through the specials which were plated for display. Now, we eat with our eyes first so looking at food that has been sitting for awhile and its wilted and old, uh...not a great first impression!
Once we sat we noticed the kitchen was open and off to the side of the restaurant is Big Aloha brewery tanks. Big Aloha Beer brews and serves 5 of their own beers. They also have an extensive wine and drink menu. We did not try the beers but we do hear they are popular.
Appetizers - there are a lot of items from local fare to fresh fish and ribs.
Salads and Soups - there were 3 salads and different soups.
Entrees - range from crab legs and lobster to oysters on half shell, fresh fish, steaks and chicken and even a vegetarian item (which I should have ordered).
I ordered a Mango Mojito which came quick and was super yummy. Just the right amount of spritzer and rum. It could have used more mint but in all it was good. I was also given a glass of water water.
WHAT WE ORDERED
Appetizer
Crab dip - came out hot with toasted bread. The flavor was OK, we thought it had to much spinach in it and not enough crab. It was seasoned well and had the perfect amount of cheese on top.
Pot of Shellfish (yes, this is what it is called) - I was excited about this because one of my favorite dishes is Fish stew (french and Italian made). Once the bowl hit the table I thought for an app there was a lot of food in it. But once I ate it I was not impressed at all. The broth which was lemon white wine sauce had no flavor. It was extremely bland. And it was not hot. The mussels were cooked perfect and they were big and juicy. The shrimp and scallops were way overcooked and rubbery.
Soup
Clam Chowder, Nick's Favorite seafood soup. This soup was not hot at all not even warm. Good Portion but again very bland. The soup tasted like it was made with some sort of aromatic, I think rosemary? Nick did not even finish it.
Entrees
Fish of the day, MahiMahi stuffed with Blueshell Crabmeat and mushroom cream sauce serves with steamed veggies and garlic mash potatoes.
OK, so the fish was cooked perfectly. The filling was mediocre but a good amount of crab. The garlic mash potatoes were good and I did like the spinach in it. The vegetables are another story. They were straight out of a bag and way over steamed. There is nothing worse then mushy veggies...and they had no flavor.
Kalbi Butterfish with steamed veggies and garlic mash potatoes - the flavor of the marinade was to strong for the fish. The fish was cooked perfectly and flaked right apart. Mash Potatoes were good although Nick wondered why there was spinach in them. No veggies ever came out on the plate(not that he was missing them)
We were so unimpressed that we did not order dessert, again we eat with our eyes first and the plated displays seemed like they were there for awhile.
Half way through dinner live music started. I did not catch the name of the band but there were good. The sat us right in front of the speaker so it was to loud. Me and Nick could not even talk to each other.
Service was good, they checked back a few times, cleared our plates on time.
We spent $104 plus tip on this meal and we think it was way overpriced for the meal we got.
As we walked out we looked around and noticed (and this is no offense to anyone) but besides us and one little girl we were the youngest people in there. This restaurant attacks a lot of older people. And then we realized why the food maybe tasted so bland.
If asked if we would return we would say NO!
Next Blog Brasserie Du Vin in Chinatown
WELCOME TO OUR NEW BLOG SITE!
Aloha!
Welcome to our new blog site. We are Victoria and Nicholas Konopka and we own Sunshine's Cake Creations here in Honolulu, Hawaii.
For many of you who don't know us we love food. We are both professionally trained chefs and pastry chefs. We both have attended school for culinary and pastry arts. We both love to cook at home and try new things. We will try anything at least once and love to experiment. We enjoy all kinds of food and love to learn about different cultures and the ingredients that are used. Our pantry is stocked with all kinds of spices and ingredients from all over the world.
A little background about me, my training was intense and I learned a lot. I worked at a independently owned restaurant out of culinary school for a year and then went onto to work for The Ritz Carlton Hotel. This is where I learned about refined food. I also learned about French cuisine. I then went onto to work for The Hotel Sofitel and Westin Hotels. And then I moved to Hawaii and started my own business.
We both work very hard everyday and we like to play hard too! So we are always looking for good food. Not necessarily expensive but good! We have found so many places in Hawaii that serve awesome food...and some not so much. We do research and ask our Friends for recommendations and some are great... and some not so much. I have always wanted to be a food critic but never really did anything about it. When Nick and I go out to eat we always pick the food apart. One, if we like something we want to try and make it and two, if its not good we like to talk about how it could be fixed. Its a fun thing to do and makes us learn a lot.
So we are starting Eating around Hawaii with Sunshine...OUR take on restaurants in Hawaii.
We hope it helps you in deciding places to go....or not to go, but remember this is not to harm anyone just our honest opinion of what we think. And it is only our opinion. Everyone has different tastes and likes different things.
So go out and eat Hawaii! And have fun!
Check out our next blog when we tell you what we thought of our dining experience at Sam Choy's Breakfast, Lunch and Crab.
Welcome to our new blog site. We are Victoria and Nicholas Konopka and we own Sunshine's Cake Creations here in Honolulu, Hawaii.
For many of you who don't know us we love food. We are both professionally trained chefs and pastry chefs. We both have attended school for culinary and pastry arts. We both love to cook at home and try new things. We will try anything at least once and love to experiment. We enjoy all kinds of food and love to learn about different cultures and the ingredients that are used. Our pantry is stocked with all kinds of spices and ingredients from all over the world.
A little background about me, my training was intense and I learned a lot. I worked at a independently owned restaurant out of culinary school for a year and then went onto to work for The Ritz Carlton Hotel. This is where I learned about refined food. I also learned about French cuisine. I then went onto to work for The Hotel Sofitel and Westin Hotels. And then I moved to Hawaii and started my own business.
We both work very hard everyday and we like to play hard too! So we are always looking for good food. Not necessarily expensive but good! We have found so many places in Hawaii that serve awesome food...and some not so much. We do research and ask our Friends for recommendations and some are great... and some not so much. I have always wanted to be a food critic but never really did anything about it. When Nick and I go out to eat we always pick the food apart. One, if we like something we want to try and make it and two, if its not good we like to talk about how it could be fixed. Its a fun thing to do and makes us learn a lot.
So we are starting Eating around Hawaii with Sunshine...OUR take on restaurants in Hawaii.
We hope it helps you in deciding places to go....or not to go, but remember this is not to harm anyone just our honest opinion of what we think. And it is only our opinion. Everyone has different tastes and likes different things.
So go out and eat Hawaii! And have fun!
Check out our next blog when we tell you what we thought of our dining experience at Sam Choy's Breakfast, Lunch and Crab.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)