MORIMOTO WAIKIKI

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 MORIMOTO WAIKIKIHONOLULU, HAWAII
MORIMOTO WAIKIKIMODERN HOTEL HONOLULU1775 ALA MOANA BLVDHONOLULU, HAWAII  96815808-943-5900www.morimotowaikiki.com
Enjoyed a great business lunch at Morimoto Waikiki.  This place rocks for lunch if you have a little money and time.  While not cheap, the quality and flavors for the most part are worth the price.  If you arrive for lunch, the large restaurant seems pretty empty.  They offer indoor and outdoor seating.  We opted to sit outside and were rewarded with a view of the boats in Ala Wai Harbor.  We started with the Tuna Pizza ($18).  This is one of my favorite dishes at Morimoto.  Fresh Ahi Tuna with an anchovy
aioli and a slice of jalapeno.  One bite of this and you will be in ahi heaven.  It is cut in small pizza like slices and you just cannot stop eating the stuff.  Love it!  My other favorite here is the Spicy King Crab ($24).  Large King Crab Legs topped with Tobanjan aioli, tobiko and micro cilantro.  Slightly spicy but not too hot.  Served with some really good french fries.  The Kakuni - Ten Hour Pork Belly ($16) with rice congee and braised pork jus is a bit sweet and delicious.  Falls apart and melts like butter in your mouth.  The Morimoto Poke ($19) was a disappointment.  The tuna was fresh and delicious but the chunks are just too big.  Did not get the white balls either.  I liked the Pork Gyoza ($15).  Amazing presentation with rice paper covering the Gyoza.  Served with a light tomato sauce and bacon creme foam.  The pork needed a bit of seasoning or something to kick this dish up a notch.  

MORIMOTO WAIKIKI IN THE MODERN HOTEL HONOLULU

RECEPTION DESK FEATURES MORIMOTO COOK BOOKS

ENTER INTO THE SEA

OUTDOOR SEATING UNDER A CANOPY OVERLOOKING THE HARBOR

INSIDE DINING WITH OPEN KITCHEN

LARGE MODERN RESTAURANT AND BAR

PATIO SEATING WITH VIEW OF THE HARBOR AND BOATS

AHI TUNA PIZZA IS THE BOMB! 

SPICY KING CRAB 

SPICY KING CRAB SERVED WITH GREAT TASTING FRENCH FRIES

KAKUNI TEN HOUR PORK BELLY

PORK GYOZA

PORK GYOZA WITH A LIGHT TOMATO SAUCE AND BACON CREAM FOAM

MORIMOTO STYLE POKE - BOCCONCINI, AVOCADO WASABI SORBET AND DASHI FOAM

UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII FOOTBALL LUAU

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UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII FOOTBALL LUAUSPONSORED BY NA KOAUNIVERSITY OF HAWAII SOCCER FIELDMANOA, HAWAII
I love to support the University of Hawaii whenever possible.  When friends from Oceanic Time Warner and Chevron asked us to be a table sponsor we immediately threw in our support and money.  While the team had a terrible season, it was important that we show our support for the kids who gave their all during what turned out to be a rebuilding year.  The event included the team, coaches and University faculty.  I was honored to spend time talking with Tom Apple who is the new Chancellor of the University.  Tom turned out to be a very honest and down to earth person who candidly shared his thoughts about the current problems facing the University and more importantly the many opportunities and positive things that are happening.  Tom called the University a "gem" and his eyes lit up with enthusiasm when he shared his thoughts on the future.  The Chancellor also took the time to visit our table to meet my family and friends.  Truly a gentlemen and a scholar.  I wish him the best as he moves his family to the Aloha State and sets up shop in Manoa.  Now a Hawaiian Luau would not be complete without Hawaiian food.  Not really my favorite but I get the importance and meaning of serving "traditional" Hawaiian Food.  Lets just say that I would be the first one hitting Mc Donalds after eating Hawaiian food.  In its defense, most people I know love the Hawaiian Plate and eat it with passion.  Besides the Chancellor we were greeted by University of Hawaii Football Player Mike Edwards.  Mike was the team Most Valuable Player and is in line to be a top NFL prospect.  We talked about him being from Ohio and his love for the Buckeyes.  He also misses family which touched my heart.  Mike was a total gentlemen who treated everyone with respect.  He is humble, soft spoken yet powerful on the field.  This is the kind of kid that every mom, dad and team should be proud of.  I wish Mike the best and pray that he is free from injury so he can showcase his talent next year.  This year he was a star.  Next year he will be a superstar.  Go Mike and go Bows!

EVENT HELD IN TENTS ON THE UNIVERSITY SOCCER FIELD

APPETIZER PLATTER ON TABLES
PICKLED CUCUMBER, POKE, SPICY AHI, BOILED PEANUTS, CELERY AND CARROTS

LITTLE REAGAN WAS CHOWING DOWN

MIKE EDWARDS, HAWAII'S MOST VALUABLE PLAYER AND FUTURE NFL DRAFT PICK

TRADITIONAL HAWAIIAN PLATE COMPLETE WITH POI

HAWAIIAN POI

PORK LAU LAU

LOMI SALMON

CHICKEN LONG RICE

HAUPIA CAKE AND SWEET POTATO

HULA DANCERS ARE ALWAYS GOOD IN MY BOOK

ALL SMILES ON A WARM NOVEMBER EVENING IN MANOA

FIRE DANCER 

SURPRISED THEY DID THIS IN A TENT

OPAKAPAKA WITH HAWAIIAN BUTTER SAUCE

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 OPAKAPAKA WITH HAWAIIAN BUTTER SAUCEDINNER AT HOME
When I saw fresh pink Hawaiian Opakapaka at Costco I just had to buy some for dinner.  I did an internet search for recipes because I know you need a good sauce with this mild fish.  I found a good one posted by Chef James Temple.  James put together a simple and fast sauce that adds loads of flavor to the fish.  The sauce was delicious.  The Sriracha Sauce and the Fish Sauce add just a little heat and a delicious depth of flavor that made this a family favorite.  Will use this sauce again on other fish and maybe some chicken and shrimp.

FRESH OPAKAPAKA

SRIRACHA SAUCE, GARLIC, SHALLOTS, ONION AND FISH SAUCE

SOFTEN  1 CUP BUTTER (TWO STICKS) SO YOU CAN WHIP EASILY

1/2 CUP CANOLA OIL - HEAT OVER LOW HEAT

ADD THE GARLIC, SHALLOT AND ONIONS AND COOK UNTIL SOFTENED - ABOUT 20 MINUTES

WHIP SOFTENED BUTTER UNTIL FLUFFY

SLOWLY WHISK IN 1 1/2 TABLESPOONS OF THE SRIRACHA SAUCE

SLOWLY POUR 3 TABLESPOONS OF FISH SAUCE INTO THE MIXTURE

AFTER THE ONION, SHALLOT AND GARLIC HAS COOLED ADD TO MIXTURE

MARINATE THE FISH IN 1/2 CUP OF THE SAUCE FOR 15 MINUTES

GRILLED OPAKAPAKA ON AND INDOOR GRILL PAN

COATED OPAKAPAKA WITH THE SAUCE WHILE COOKING AND WHILE ON PLATE

SERVED WITH SOME LEFT OVER WHITE BEAN AND CORN RELISH, SLICE OF AVOCADO
AND A FRESH SPINACH SALAD WITH BALSAMIC DRESSIING

MC DONALDS $1 MCDOUBLE BURGER

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MC DONALDS MCDOUBLE BURGERKICKED UP A NOTCH 
I think the $1 McDouble Cheese Burger at Mc Donalds is one of the best deals in town.  For $1 you get two beef patties, cheese and onions.  After many trips to In N' Out Burger I wanted a burger with fresh lettuce and tomato.  Now when I order my $1 McDouble I ask for lettuce, tomato, extra onion and pickles.  They charge about $1 more for this bringing the price to $2.  The burger done this way is much more satisfying and flavorful.  Try it!

THE MC DONALDS $1 MENU BURGER KICKED UP A NOTCH

ORDER WITH LETTUCE, TOMATO, EXTRA ONION AND PICKLES FOR $.99 MORE

ADD THESE ITEMS TO GIVE YOU A REALLY GOOD $2 BURGER FROM MC DONALDS

BURGER KING ANGRY WHOPPER

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BURGER KING ANGRY WHOPPER
Had to try Burger King's new Angry Whopper after blogging that their Jalapeno Whopper was terrible several months back.  The Angry Whopper is a version of the Whopper topped with spicy crispy onions, jalapenos, pepper jack cheese, bacon, tomatoes, lettuce, mayonnaise and Angry Sauce.  Once again, I will take the $2.30 In N' Out Burger over this pile of fat and calories.  I really did not taste all of the flavors in this burger because it was overloaded with mayonnaise.  Think they might of left out the crispy onions because I did not taste them.  The jalapenos were also pretty tasteless and I have no idea what the "Angry Sauce" was all about because this thing was loaded with so much mayo.

THE ANGRY WHOPPER AS ADVERTISED

THE ANGRY WHOPPER AS DELIVERED

MY ANGRY WHOPPER WAS LOADED WITH MAYONNAISE AND I DID NOT TASTE THE ANGRY SAUCE