Author Archives: Winnie N

Hawaiian Food Trip: Maui: Part 3

April 4, 2016 8:10 am , Leave a Comment ,
Crab BLT

On our last day in Maui, we had to check out of our condo at 11:00 AM. However, our flight didn’t leave until 11:00 PM. So we had to hang out ALL day, hence we called the last day of our trip, “Hobo Day”. After eating all the leftovers as breakfast in the condo, we headed out for some fun.

Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary

I found Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary really close to where we stayed to kill some time. It’s free and the kids got to learn about humpback whales. The volunteers at the sanctuary were very helpful in answering any questions we had. There’s also a small play area for the kids and they spent at least a good half hour playing there.

Nalu’s South Shore Grill

Nalu’s South Shore Grill was also very close to where we stayed. Read good reviews about the place and decided to check it out. It was packed during lunch time because the food was so good! We almost didn’t get a table sitting our family of five together if it weren’t for a nice couple who gave us their table and moved to the high stools instead. We ordered at the counter and they brought us the food to our table. This casual joint is decorated nicely and has a lively vibe. Another thing I love about this place is that they have two huge self serve water dispensers full of flavoured water—cucumber mint and pineapple lemon. How refreshing!

Flavoured Water: Cucumber Mint & Pineapple Lemon

Flavoured Water: Cucumber Mint & Pineapple Lemon

CBLT – Crab cake sandwich with bacon, lettuce and tomatoes with a side order of chips. So flavourful!

Crab BLT

Crab BLT

Fried Chicken Waffle – Large pieces of seasoned chicken strips on top of a big fluffy waffle, top with bacon with the right amount of syrup.

Fried Chicken Waffle

Fried Chicken Waffle

Straight Up Burger – Comes with greens and chips. Straight to the tummies of the boys.

Straight Up Burger

Straight Up Burger

Next stop, Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice! When we got there, there was a huge line up. My husband almost didn’t want to line up. I said to him, “We have ALL day! We don’t get on the plane until 11:00 PM tonight so I think we can wait for 15-20 minutes!” It was well worth the wait. As their motto says, “All shave ice is not created equal.” Tis too true! We had some shaved ice at one of the tourist attractions in Honolulu and it wasn’t as good as Ululani’s. The ice texture is perfect and the syrup tastes like real fruits! The other place’s syrup was too sweet and tasted artificial. The kids got a large one to share and the adults did the same.

Ululani's Hawaiian Shave Ice

Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice

We could only eat so much food for the day. So we snuck back into our condo pool and swam for a bit before driving to Paia to walk around and have dinner. There are lots of cool shops at Paia but with our stroller, it was sometimes a bit tough since the shops are quite small. I heard that parking was tough but we lucked out and got a spot on the street because we got there around 4ish-5pm.

Café Mambo

As always, I found a few restaurants in the area to check out and we decided on Café Mambo. I’m so glad we did. I really loved the atmosphere there. We got to sit by the window bench and it was nice to absorb the ambiance. The staff at the restaurant was friendly and accommodating. Please note there is only one bathroom for men, and one for women and no change tables.

Pinchos Tapas Platter – Organic Maui Cattle Co. Steak, Grilled Chicken Breasts and Jumbo Shrimp. Served with Tortilla Chips, Curry Dip, Chipotle Salsa and Mixed Green Salad. The whole family went crazy over this platter—great for sharing. I have to say, the steak was so tender and delicious that I had to fight over it with my oldest son.

Pinchos Tapas Platter

Pinchos Tapas Platter

Island Fish of the Day Burger – I know. Another fish burger. I can’t get over it because they are so fresh and delicious in Hawaii. But this time, my husband ordered it.

Island Fish of the Day Burger

Island Fish of the Day Burger

Fish and Chips – Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Comes with tons of fries.

Fish and Chips

Fish and Chips

Jumbo Shrimp in Garlic Butter – So garlicky and delicious.

Jumbo Shrimp in Garlic Butter

Jumbo Shrimp in Garlic Butter

Paia Gelato

When you see a gelato place, you have to go to it even if you are super full from your main meal. So when we saw Paia Gelato, we were like zombies drawn to human flesh—must eat gelato. The place was busy which is a good sign because you know it’s always fresh. I’ve been to less busy gelato places and their gelatos weren’t really good. Even in Italy, home of gelato, I’ve had not so good gelatos because the locale didn’t have enough traffic.

Big Island Macadamia Nut Coffee Crunch – Of course I had to try the local flavour! Unless you’re eating gelato everyday comparing from place to place (like when we were in Italy), there’s really no bad gelato if you’re having a one-off. Plus if there’s a lot of people eating there, it’s a good sign because it means the gelato is always made fresh.

Big Island Macadamia Nut Coffee Crunch Gelato

Big Island Macadamia Nut Coffee Crunch Gelato

It’s not goodbye yet! I still have one more post to share from our Hawaiian adventures—Hawaii Food Trip: Food-venirs and Other Foods!

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Hawaiian Food Trip: Maui: Part 2

March 28, 2016 9:29 am , Leave a Comment ,
Buffet Plate: Roasted Pork, Ahi Poke, Crab Salad, Fried Rice, Fish, Poi

Maui is so beautiful. You honestly don’t have to go anywhere special to enjoy the scenery. I kept telling the kids to look out the window while driving to absorb the sights because no pictures could capture these moments.

Iao Valley State Park

This is one of my favourite places to visit in Maui. Once you park at the Iao Valley State Park, make your way up to the top. We were able to take the stroller to a certain point and then it was an easy hike up the stairs to the top. It’s breathtaking once you’re up there—I didn’t want to come down. I also read reviews where people tell you to bring bathing suits. If I didn’t have the kids with me, I would’ve gone for a quick dip. However, with young children, it can be tricky. The rocks are a bit slippery and if I fall down, I’d probably take the kids down with me. Plus, they are not strong swimmers yet. I did see a man with his two older sons in the water. So if you decide to go for a swim, definitely bring water shoes. There are signs everywhere telling you not to go into the water because of flash floods so if you decide to swim, go at your own discretion.

Iao Valley State Park

Iao Valley State Park

Kepaniwai Heritage Gardens

After visiting the Iao Valley State Park, we made our way to Kepaniwai Heritage Gardens. They are a 3 minute drive away from each other and it’s a perfect place to have a picnic lunch there. I packed a simple lunch of sandwiches and snacks for our family. We could’ve even barbequed there because there were plenty of picnic pavilions we could use. Each pavilion comes with picnic tables, a barbeque, a faucet and sink to fill up water bottles or wash dishes. While we were hanging around there, we noticed lots of people bringing tons of empty water cooler bottles and glass bottles. Apparently, the “best” water in Maui is from here and people bring bottles to fill them. (I think people were just getting free water from these faucets 😉 .) Admission is free and the restrooms there are very clean. It’s a perfect place for the kids to hang out and people to fill water bottles!

Kepaniwai Heritage Gardens

Kepaniwai Heritage Gardens

Old Lahaina Luau

The next day we headed to the Old Lahaina Luau for an evening full of food and fun. After talking to some friends and doing a bit of research, I found out that this is one of the best luaus in Maui. It is recommended to book your luau as soon as you book your trip because the spots get filled up fast. The sooner you book, the better spot you get. Having said that, the place’s layout is very good and you get a good vantage point no matter where you sit.

Old Lahaina Luau

Old Lahaina Luau

As soon as we arrived they served us with a delightful alcoholic beverage. The kids also get non-alcoholic versions as well. We were also given leis to put around our necks and as we entered the premise, we truly got into the aloha spirit. Everything was set up beautifully and we were facing the ocean. As the sun set, the festivities began. We got to see them take out the roasted pig from their underground oven which was pretty cool. Everything was so well organized—they announced, in an orderly fashion, when each table could go up to the buffet table. Check out the buffet menu if you want to know what is served. Everything was delicious. Our boys absolutely LOVED the pork! They went back for seconds and all of us were thoroughly stuffed.

Buffet Plate: Roasted Pork, Ahi Poke, Crab Salad, Fried Rice, Fish, Poi

Buffet Plate: Roasted Pork, Ahi Poke, Crab Salad, Fried Rice, Fish, Poi

Roasted Pork & Island Desserts

Left: Roasted Pork from the Ground Oven
Right: Assorted Island Desserts (Passion Fruit Cake, Upcountry Lavender Lemon Shortbread Cookies, Hawaiian Chocolate Chili Pepper Brownie, and Haupia)

Not only did we taste all the Memorable Dishes at the luau, it was truly a memorable night for the whole family. The last day of Maui is coming as Hawaiian Food Trip: Maui: Part 3 continues.

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Hawaiian Food Trip: Maui: Part 1

March 21, 2016 7:38 am , Leave a Comment ,
Korean BBQ Beef Plate

We landed at Kahului Airport, Maui in the afternoon flying in from Honolulu. Our first day consisted of grocery shopping and getting ourselves organized for the next few days of adventure. My friends who had been here told me to pack lunches during our outings because the places we visited often didn’t have any restaurants or food nearby. The condo we rented had all the amenities including a cooler, beach towels, beach chairs, and boogie board. I still packed myself a foldable cooler bag just in case.

Haleakala National Park

In researching Haleakala National Park, I found many people recommend to come either for sunrise or sunset. But as we were traveling with small children we just headed out at a time which was convenient for us; after breakfast. We set our GPS to the Haleakala National Park Visitor Centre. I suggest researching as much as you can if you plan on doing some hiking.

It was a rainy and foggy day. My husband and I didn’t think it was scary driving up the narrow winding road but that’s because we couldn’t see down. When we paid for parking, the lady at the gate said, “Don’t worry, it’s sunny up there.” I thought to myself, “How did she know?” Duh, if you’re above the clouds, of course it’s sunny. It was a beautiful sight once we got up there. I kicked myself for not dressing a little warmer. Even with our spring jackets, it wasn’t enough. I saw people with winter jackets! I couldn’t have stayed long anyways because I got altitude sickness. On the drive down, I felt so tired that I fell asleep. Luckily, my husband didn’t get sick and drove on. Our tire pressure indicator lit up as we were driving down. I did a quick search on my phone and realized that it was normal for the tire pressure to go down when driving up high altitudes.

Haleakala National Park

Haleakala National Park

Glass Bottom Boat Tour

We originally wanted to do a submarine tour with the kids but you have to be at least 36 inches tall and our toddler girl was 2 inches too short. I found another tour in one of the guidebooks I picked up at the airport. Also, if you stroll on the main streets in Lahaina, you can find different tours there too. We found a glass bottom boat company called Reef Dancer and it was even better. I know it would be cool to be in a submarine but the prices are so much cheaper taking the glass bottom boat. The service was friendly and helpful and we even got snacks and drinks while on the boat!

Glass Bottom Boat Tour

Glass Bottom Boat Tour

Lahaina Luna Cafe

Since we were in Lahaina for the glass bottom boat tour, I researched a few places to eat beforehand. We decided to come to Lahaina Luna Cafe because it was a perfect day to sit at this outdoor cafe. Around this stationary food truck there was also a shaved ice place and a few vendors selling trinkets and souvenirs. There were a few tables near the food area and also more seating at the back. The clean bathroom at the back was a bonus. The food was fresh and delicious and it was great sitting outside at this casual outdoor cafe.

Korean BBQ Beef Plate – Beef was tender and delicious. Of course it comes with macaroni and rice because that’s how the Hawaiians do their plate lunch.

Korean BBQ Beef Plate

Korean BBQ Beef Plate

Chicken Katsu Plate – Crunchy on the outside and tender on the inside. You can never go wrong with katsu.

Chicken Katsu Plate

Chicken Katsu Plate

Chicken Bites with Sweet Chilli Sauce – Crunchy chicken nuggets—who wouldn’t love it? I asked them to put the sweet chili sauce on the side in case the kids found it too spicy. Surprisingly, the kids liked them with the sauce too.

Chicken Bites with Sweet Chilli Sauce

Chicken Bites with Sweet Chilli Sauce

Crazy Fries – Topped with spicy kochu aioli (have no idea what kochu is but very delicious) sprinkled with furikake. The kids went crazy over the crazy fries.

Crazy Fries

Crazy Fries

Taco Combo (1 mahi mahi and 1 Korean beef) – I love the mango salsa with the mahi mahi and the Korean beef was the same as the Korean BBQ Beef Plate.

Taco Combo (Mahi Mahi & Korean Beef)

Taco Combo (Mahi Mahi & Korean Beef)

Kale & Brussel Sprouts Salad – OMG! The salad was the best! The dressing was amazing and I can’t believe I’m saying that about kale and brussel sprouts 😛 .

Kale & Brussel Sprouts Salad

Kale & Brussel Sprouts Salad

Stay tuned for Hawaiian Food Trip: Maui: Part 2 in my next post!

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Hawaiian Food Trip: Oahu: Part 3

March 14, 2016 10:31 am , Leave a Comment ,
Jidori Chicken Enchilada

Our plan for the last day in Oahu was to visit Sea Life Park. Since we couldn’t spend the whole day there, we headed to Halona Blowhole Lookout first. It was super busy when we arrived but luckily we managed to find a parking spot. After we finished admiring the view, tons of tour buses blocked us in and we had to wait a bit before driving out of the lot. I wasn’t sure what to look for because I didn’t see any major water sprouting out of the blowholes. Another lady who was visiting asked me if I had seen any. We both concurred there wasn’t much action going on with these blowholes that day.

We planned to head to a beach before Sea Life Park and we could’ve gone to Sandy Beach Park right next to the blowhole. However, after reading reviews and seeing how high the waves were, I decided not to because I have young kids. But it’s plenty of fun for experienced surfers and people who love watching the waves. Of course, I planned ahead and found a beach nearby, closer to the Sea Life Park, called Waimanalo Beach. We spent the morning at the beach and I packed sandwiches for our beach picnic lunch. Sometimes, you’ll see garlic shrimp trucks around the beach areas. In our case, I didn’t see any. So it’s best to pack lunches ahead of time, especially if travelling with kids.

Halona Blowhole Lookout & Sandy Beach Park

Halona Blowhole Lookout & Sandy Beach Park

Tip: If you have small children, I suggest you research a few beaches in the areas you are planning to visit. We love to spontaneously visit beaches during our travels. But it’s a good idea to check out what types of beaches you are heading to because some may be too wavy or others might have too much coral or lava rock. Also, don’t take any lava rock or sand off the island as it’s considered bad luck.

Sea Life Park Hawaii

We left the beach and arrived at the Sea Life Park later in the afternoon. There were lots of shows to watch. Again the staff at the information counter was very informative and marked down all the shows that were available to see. Besides watching shows, there were lots of areas to explore such as the Aloha Touch Pool and Sea Bird Sanctuary where you have close encounters with the animals. With our Go Oahu® 4-day Card, we booked a Dolphin Encounter package for our family. There are also other sea animal experiences you can pay extra for if you wish.

Sea Life Park Hawaii

Sea Life Park Hawaii

Búho Cocina y Cantina

Our last dinner in Oahu. My Canadian friend who is living in Honolulu with her family at the moment recommended us to check out this Mexican restaurant called Búho Cocina y Cantina near Waikiki. On Friday nights, you are able to see the fireworks outside if you book a table at the rooftop patio. So that’s exactly what we did. We happened to go on a “Cinco de Búho” night, where every fifth of the month they have live music, interactive food stations and drink specials. We had no idea it was a special night and it might’ve been more appropriate if we didn’t bring the kids. However, the wait staff was extremely friendly and accommodating. With three kids in tow, we got to experience a little bit of the nightlife in Honolulu. I ordered the Ginger Lilikoi Margarita to start off my night. It was interesting but delicious. The restaurant usually doesn’t blend their margaritas but I like my blended. I have to say everything was very delicious and the prices are not bad for the location and ambience. Tip: Enter through the elevators next to Victoria’s Secret.

Búho Menu and Ginger Lilikoi Margarita

Búho Menu and Ginger Lilikoi Margarita

Homemade Guacamole & Chips – A bit spicy which I love and my toddler girl kept eating it. She must’ve been hungry!

Homemade Guacamole & Chips

Homemade Guacamole & Chips

Jidori Chicken Enchilada – Never heard of the term Jidori Chicken before and did a quick online research and found out it’s like Kobe beef—basically fancy chicken. Read more about it here.

Jidori Chicken Enchilada

Jidori Chicken Enchilada

Jidori Chicken & Rajas Quesadilla and Kauai Shrimp Quesadilla – Ordered these for the kids to share. You can never go wrong ordering quesadillas for kids in Mexican restaurants.

Jidori Chicken & Rajas Quesadilla and Kauai Shrimp Quesadilla

Jidori Chicken & Rajas Quesadilla and Kauai Shrimp Quesadilla

Smoked Brisket Tacos – The waitress recommended this dish. The flavours of the brisket, cabbage slaw, avocados and jalepenos work amazing together.

Smoked Brisket Tacos

Smoked Brisket Tacos

We ended the night by walking around the streets near the restaurant. Walking around there reminds me of spending my evenings at Asian countries I visited such as Hong Kong, Shanghai, Tokyo and Kyoto. The streets are filled with Western and Asian restaurants and there are so many people walking around at night time. We also really enjoyed watching the street performers in the area. It was a perfect night—tasting Memorable Dishes and walking around on the lively streets in Honolulu. Our next stop—Hawaiian Food Trip: Maui!

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Hawaiian Food Trip: Oahu: Part 2

March 7, 2016 8:02 am , Leave a Comment ,
Chicken Katsu Curry Saimin

Here we continue our Hawaiian food journey in Oahu from my previous post—Hawaiian Food Trip: Oahu: Part 1 (Pearl Harbor). The major plan for this day was to visit the Polynesian Cultural Center. However it didn’t open until 12:00 pm. So we decided to check out the Dole Plantation which was on our way to the Polynesian Center.

Dole Plantation

The grounds of the Dole plantation is free to visit but if you want to do different activities, you have to pay extra. When entering the premises you pretty much have to go through their giant store (Very sneaky to get you to buy stuff! I fell for it and bought some souvenirs and a lei apron 🙂 . Even if you don’t end up paying for the extra activities, the grounds are very nice for kids to run around in. We took a ride on the Pineapple Express train (Nothing to do with the movie—this is a family place after all!) and went through the World’s Largest Maze. From an aerial view, the middle of the maze is the shape of a pineapple—which I thought was pretty cool. They make the maze fun by having secret stations for people to hunt for. One thing to note is that the maze isn’t stroller friendly because it’s narrow and paved with gravel. After the maze, we rewarded ourselves to some Dole Whip (pineapple soft serve). They’re famous for this refreshing treat so it’s a must-try.

Dole Whip, Dole Whip Sundae, Dole Plantation Grounds

Dole Whip, Dole Whip Sundae, Dole Plantation Grounds

Zippy’s

Almost lunch time! I pre-found a restaurant that was a short drive from the Dole Plantation and also didn’t stray too far from our way to the Polynesian Cultural Center. When we got there, the place was permanently closed! Yikes! I saw some restaurant nearby that looked interesting so we walked there instead. However, there were no bathrooms that we were allowed to use and no high chairs. I’m usually OK with no high chairs because we make do when travelling but I really needed to use the washroom! So I did a quick Yelp check and yippee, we found Zippy’s! Of course, we’d never heard of this chain restaurant before because it’s only found in Hawaii. I wanted to order everything on the menu because I’ve never seen anything like it. You could order a beef stroganoff and a Korean chicken all at the same place! It’s like an American-Asian diner!

Zippy's Menu

Zippy’s Menu

Chicken Katsu Curry Saimin – I’ve never heard of saimin before and I believe it’s a Hawaiian term. Tastes good and I wish they put the katsu on the side so it wouldn’t get soggy. The broth has a hint of curry taste but not very strong. Soup noodles are always very satisfying!

Chicken Katsu Curry Saimin

Chicken Katsu Curry Saimin

Minced Pork and Tofu Rice – Almost like Mapo Tofu but the sauce is not as spicy and almost has a chili-like consistency. (It’s like the chili you get when you order chili dogs.) The kids ate it all up because I’m sure it reminded them of the foods I made at home.

Minced Pork and Tofu Rice

Minced Pork and Tofu Rice

Loco Moco – Of course we had to try this famous Hawaiian dish! It’s rice topped with beef hamburger and fried egg with gravy on top.

Loco Moco

Loco Moco

Fried Wuntun (We usually spell it like “Wonton”.) – It came with a dish of hot mustard and my husband just dipped it and complained that it was too spicy. The waiter told us to add soy sauce and mix it. I guess he couldn’t tell we weren’t locals 😛 .

Fried Wuntun

Fried Wuntun

Polynesian Cultural Center

After lunch, we continued our journey and finally arrived at the Polynesian Cultural Center. We got there later than expected and by the time we parked and got to the ticket booth, it was around 3:00 pm. The village grounds were open from 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm. If you end up staying for the luau and evening show, that part of the center stays open until the show ends.

If you’re short on time, go to the information booth and ask them to highlight all the village shows and places to check out. We were lucky we were talking to a couple who was also short on time. The information booth staff wrote all the times and shows for them to check out the different villages. So we followed their itinerary and checked out a few shows from their list. Otherwise, we would’ve missed the shows and wandered around aimlessly not knowing where to go.

Polynesian Cultural Center Map

Polynesian Cultural Center Map

The kids, my husband and I really enjoyed the live shows and exploring different areas of the villages. The boys even got inspired by their environment and started to pretend they were villagers roaming around the land. Since we got there late, by the time we were done watching the different shows, everyone was gone. No one came to kick us out—I wonder if we could’ve roamed around the village area a little longer? But we decided to head back to the front gate before the actors/villagers came rounding us up. We ended our visit with a short film called “Hawaiian Journey” at their theatre. This is something you could do last if you end up coming late because I believe the last show starts at 6:00 or 6:30 pm. You could explore the rest of the village first before catching the film.

Tita’s Grill

Tita's Grill Sign

Tita’s Grill Sign

By the time the movie ended, the kids were starving. We didn’t book the luau and evening show because we already pre-booked a luau in Maui. The reviews of the restaurant on the premise looked promising so we were planning to check it out. But instead we got sidetracked when we saw a couple of food trucks near the front entrance. I beelined to the Tita’s Grill food truck after seeing the yummy foods people were eating at the nearby tables. I believe they have another more permanent location north-west of the Polynesian Cultural Center (about a 10 minute drive away). I ordered the garlic shrimp and kalbi (Korean beef ribs) plate for myself. My husband ordered the Tita’s burger. I ordered the fish burger for my toddler girl and the boys had the regular hamburgers and fries (the boys ate their burgers before I had a chance to take photos.)

Garlic Shrimp and Kalbi Plate – The most delicious garlic shrimp ever! I like that the shrimp comes in the shell because I find it more flavourful. The kalbi was tender and delicious. It also comes with rice and macaroni salad (standard Hawaiian plate). I’m usually not too crazy about macaroni salad but it’s super tasty and I couldn’t stop eating it.

Garlic Shrimp and Kalbi Plate

Garlic Shrimp and Kalbi Plate

Tita’s Burger – It’s essentially a banquet burger. By the look on my husband’s face and the speed he was eating it, I assumed it was mighty tasty.

Tita's Burger

Tita’s Burger

Fish Burger – This was shared amongst us because, of course, my toddler girl couldn’t finish the whole thing. I found the toasted buttered bread too oily. However, I really liked the fish. It was lightly breaded so you get a good chunk of fish. My girl loved it and asked for more. I limited the amount of buttered bread I gave her afraid that she might get a tummy ache.

Fish Burger

Fish Burger

I hope I whet your appetite with all these delicious Memorable Dishes from Hawaii so far! Stay tuned for Hawaiian Food Trip: Oahu: Part 3 where we continue our culinary journey on our last day in Oahu.

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Hawaiian Food Trip: Oahu: Part 1 (Pearl Harbor)

February 29, 2016 7:38 am , Leave a Comment ,
Taro Milk Tea, Fried Calamari, Takoyaki

We will commence our Hawaiian Food Trip with a direct 10-hour flight from Toronto to Honolulu with Air Canada which lands us in Honolulu at 9:15 PM (Hawaii-Aleutian Standard Time). With a small flight delay, a missing car seat (the airport gave us a brand new car seat to keep due to the airline’s transporting issues) and by the time we gather our luggage, get our rental car and drive to our condo, it’s past 11:00 PM. I actually packed a tetra box almond milk in our checked luggage and brought my homemade banana muffins in one of our carry-ons so that the next day we don’t have to scramble around looking for breakfast.

With three kids, you just can’t freestyle travel. We planned ahead and pre-bought and pre-booked some activities. I would suggest to plan at least one major activity for the day and if you have time, plan others as backups but manoeuvre them as needed once you get there. If you’re a Canadian planning to visit some of the major attractions in Oahu and if you’re a Costco member (once again, I’m not being paid by Costco but this is really a great deal!), then go get yourself a Go Oahu® 4-day Card. It’s a great deal and if you pick a couple of major places to visit, you get your money’s worth. Plus, we pay Canadian prices for the Go Card online, which is a bonus.

Before planning every trip, I always ask friends to recommend places to visit, where to eat, and any other helpful tips. We were also lucky that we have Canadian friends living in Honolulu and they hosted a nice family dinner for us 🙂 She also recommended places to check out and restaurants to eat – it was helpful to have a local’s perspective. I told her she should be a tour guide expert for Canadian tourists!

Pearl Harbor

People who have been to Pearl Harbor would probably tell you that you cannot spend the whole day there. Very true unless you’re travelling with small children. We got there around 8:45 AM and left there around 4 PM. Start your tour with USS Arizona Memorial and get there early (they open at 7:00 AM) because the National Park Service gives out over 1,300 free walk up tickets each day on a first come, first serve basis. We were lucky that we got to go to the 9:00 AM tour and on we went. By the time it was finished, it was 10:30 ish. Even though it was only almost 11:00 AM, the kids were hungry. Luckily there was an outdoor food area on the premise. I’m usually not crazy about the food at tourist sites. They’re usually not the greatest so I was very surprised to find their hot dogs came with complimentary cheese and chili sauce. They also sold soups there too! Again, I was a bit skeptical especially because the soups were served in paper coffee cups. But the clam chowder and corn chowder were piping hot and surprisingly delicious. (Notice I forgot to take photos of these food items. I think my hand would’ve been bitten off if I took photos of the hot dogs and soups while my famished children looked on 😛 .)

After the animals, I mean, children were fed, we proceeded to visit the Battleship Missouri Memorial and Pacific Aviation Museum. You’ll need to take a complimentary shuttle to get there once you buy your tickets. Everything is clearly labelled and there are lots of people to ask questions if you get confused. When we got back to the main site, we checked out the USS Bowfin Submarine and museum. The kids, including our toddler girl had fun playing battleship control inside the museum. It was almost closing time so hardly anyone was there and they got to spend lots of time running around.

Pearl Harbor

Pearl Harbor

Tips for visiting Pearl Harbor

You cannot bring backpacks, not even diaper bags when visiting any of the Pearl Harbor historic sites. A great tip I read was to bring several clear large zip loc bags. I put all the baby essentials in the clear bags. (It was actually very liberating not having to carry so many things.) I had my pockets to put my wallet and cell phone.

Also, kids under 4 cannot go into the submarine but are allowed in the museum. So my husband and I took turns watching our toddler. After my husband came back with the boys, they allowed me to take the boys onto the submarine again, which was very nice.

Papa’s Tea House

Part of our Hawaii trip planning involved deciding where to eat. I am so happy now that we have Yelp, so we can pick and review the restaurants beforehand. I remember going to Santorini, Greece pre-Yelp days and we had to rely on outdated travel book restaurant reviews. One seaside restaurant had the audacity to tell us that they didn’t serve octopus! I thought to myself, their restaurant was right by the sea! As you could tell, it was one of those tourist trap restaurants. Meanwhile, we happened to discovered a neighbourhood restaurant (not by the sea) and they served the most delicious octopus and other great foods.

When I was searching, I tried to find Hawaiian style food that we normally can’t eat back home. I found this restaurant called Papa’s Tea House in Aiea which is five minutes away from the Pearl Harbor memorials. This restaurant is located in an ubiquitous suburban plaza. We ordered fried calamari (requested by the boys), takoyaki, spicy ahi don, pork katsu curry, seafood combo laksa and a large taro milk tea to share. Once again I forgot to take pics of the pork katsu and laksa because of my famished children.

Taro Milk Tea, Fried Calamari, Takoyaki

Taro Milk Tea, Fried Calamari, Takoyaki

Taro Milk Tea – Let me tell you it was the BEST taro milk tea ever! They actually use real taro and not powder.

Fried Calamari – Love the garlic and chili sprinkled on top.

Takoyaki – Crunchy on the outside and perfectly moist on the inside.

Spicy Ahi Don – Basically spicy tuna poke on top of rice. Poke was my addiction while I was in Hawaii and of course it was delicious.

Pork Katsu Curry – Pork cutlet was delicious. However, the curry didn’t taste like the Japanese curry I’m used to but almost like a Chinese curry.

Seafood Combo Laksa – Was OK but not very authentic. The taste of the broth wasn’t as complex compared to what I’m used to.

Stay tuned for Hawaiian Food Trip: Oahu: Part 2 in my next post for more Hawaiian Memorable Dishes!

Posted in: Places Visited, Special Meals , Tagged: , , , , , , , ,

Hawaiian Food Trip: Aloha!

February 22, 2016 7:47 am , Leave a Comment ,
Variety of Poke

Travelling with three kids is no easy feat. And feeding them is a whole other ordeal. Luckily my kids love to eat and they usually eat everything my husband and I do. We recently travelled to Hawaii (Oahu and Maui islands) and decided to rent condos because we found it more economical and easier with young kids. We prepared meals at the condo and the kids had more room to run around. As much as my kids love eating out, I know they would get sick of eating out everyday, three meals a day.

Coming from a food-obsessed family, I researched what and where to eat in Hawaii before I left. (When our family visits from the States, we discuss what to eat for dinner immediately after our bellies are full from eating lunch. Yes, our family loves to eat!) I even mapped out the closest restaurants in the area we stayed at and all the areas we were visiting. Not only did I read restaurant reviews, I also read reviews on which grocery stores were better in terms of size, variety of foods sold and prices. Perhaps, I did more research on food-related places than the places we visited? 😛

During our trip to Oahu and Maui, we hit Costcos on both islands plus a couple of grocery stores to feed our family. You might be thinking I’m getting paid by Costco to write this post – I’m not! Food is expensive in Hawaii and I found if you have to get some things in bulk, Costco is the way to go. Even if you’re Canadian, you can use your membership in the US.

One of the most Memorable Dishes I had was poke. I was so excited when I read about it and couldn’t wait to try it. Poke is basically a raw fish salad that’s mixed with seasonings. The traditional poke is made with tuna, soy sauce, sea salt, maui onions and a few other ingredients. I bought poke from different grocery stores and had some at restaurants too. I am the only one that went crazy over poke. My husband had a bit and only enjoyed the spicy version of it and the kids didn’t like it at all (not a surprise).

Variety of Poke

Variety of Poke

There were so many interesting food products in Hawaii. One of the things we found at the grocery store was taro buns. I should’ve taken a photo of the inside of the bun because it’s purple! I couldn’t really taste the taro in the bun but it was really cool to find food items you normally wouldn’t find in your own area. I also bought pineapple wine from the grocery store to try. It was a bit on the sweeter side and the taste was OK. I guess liking certain wine is subjective. But it was interesting to try something local from the area.

Taro Buns and Pineapple Wine

Taro Buns and Pineapple Wine

How could I forget about Spam? Hawaii is Spam haven! I couldn’t believe how many different variety and flavours of Spam they had at the grocery store. I was tempted to buy every flavour from the Spam wall and bring them home!

Spam Wall

Spam Wall

One thing I didn’t get to try in Hawaii was Spam Musubi. It’s basically Spam on top of rice wrapped in seaweed. Every place that sold Spam Musubi had it heated under a food lamp in a glass food display case. I was weary of buying something that was sitting there for hours looking like no one was buying them. I could easily create this Memorable Dish at home.

Hope this post piqued your interest in Hawaiian foods. For now, this concludes the introduction of our Hawaiian Food Trip. In the next few posts, I will write about some of our travel and food adventures in Hawaii. Take a journey with me, as I highlight some of the memorable places we visited and the Memorable Dishes we tasted.

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Thousand Island Shrimp (千島蝦)

February 16, 2016 8:10 am , Leave a Comment ,
Thousand Island Shrimp

Thousand Island Shrimp – how can I forget this Memorable Dish? It’s not only one of my favourite from my uncle, who is a professional Cantonese cuisine chef, but it’s all my brothers’ and my Canadian cousins’ favourite too! My cousins could be impartial because my uncle is their dad 😉

I just love eating this crunchy on the outside and juicy and tender on the inside shrimp smothered with semi-secretive thousand island sauce.

Every time we went to the restaurants my uncle has worked at, we would order this dish. Sometimes it wasn’t even on the menu but if we requested it, he would cook it for us. There were times when we were expecting to have this yummy shrimp dish but my family didn’t order it. The parents would say, “Always the same dish! Try something different!” But we love it and just have to have it. It’s almost like an addiction! I’m thinking about it as I’m writing this and realize we haven’t had it in awhile! I need to have my dose of thousand island shrimp now!

My mom had made this dish at home so I inquired about the recipe for the homemade version. You can never compare nor re-create Cantonese restaurant dishes properly from home because you don’t have the crazy fiery wok to cook from. People always think Chinese food is oily. But it’s because they’ve only eaten at restaurants. Home-cooked Chinese food is fairly healthy because we use less oil. Cooking this dish from home would not do it justice but it’s pretty close. Unless you rent a Cantonese restaurant and try to replicate this dish from a professional chef, I guess you’ll have to go to my uncle’s restaurant to check it out for yourself!Thousand Island Shrimp

Thousand Island Shrimp (千島蝦)

12 Shrimp

Ingredients

  • 12 Large Shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • 1/2 tsp Sesame Oil
  • 1/4 tsp Kosher Salt
  • 1/4 tsp White Pepper
  • 2 Eggs, beaten
  • 1/2 cup Cornstarch
  • 1/2 to 3/4 cup Thousand Island Dressing (If you don’t have it on hand, quick recipe below.)
  • Quick homemade Thousand Island Dressing
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/4 cup ketchup
  • 1/2 cup sweet pickle relish
  • Vegetable Oil for deep frying

Preparation

  1. Preheat oil in a deep fryer or deep skillet to 375°F.
  2. Depending on which vessel you use, make sure the oil is deep enough to submerge the shrimp.
  3. Mix sesame oil, salt and pepper with the shrimp.
  4. Coat shrimp in cornstarch and shake off excess.
  5. Then coat shrimp in beaten egg.
  6. Finally, coat shrimp in cornstarch one last time.
  7. Deep fry the shrimp until golden brown for 2-3 minutes depending on the size of your shrimp.
  8. Make sure you don’t overcrowd the shrimp. Fry in batches if you’re not using a deep fryer with lots of oil.
  9. Once the shrimp are done, place them on a plate lined with paper towel to absorb excess oil.
  10. In a wok or large skillet, heat up your thousand island dressing.
  11. Put the fried shrimp in the wok and mix until all the shrimp is coated with the dressing.

Notes

Note #1: If you want the shrimp to be extra crunchy, refry them a second time before adding the sauce. However, if you decide to fry them twice, under fry the shrimp the first time.

Note #2: Depending on the size of your shrimp, put between 1/2 to 3/4 cup of the sauce. You can heat up part of the sauce and add more as needed.

https://www.memorabledishes.com/thousand-island-shrimp/

Posted in: Main Course, Seafood , Tagged: ,

Chinese Sesame Cookie Balls
(笑口棗）

February 8, 2016 6:39 am , Leave a Comment ,
Chinese Sesame Cookie Balls

Making Chinese New Year cookies with my mom is a yearly family tradition. We make two types of cookies and Sesame Cookie Balls is one of them. When we were young, my cousins would come over and and we would make an afternoon out of it. The fun and novelty of making these cookies wore off once we were older. However, my mom would still make a small batch every year to be festive.

When the boys were old enough to sit still, we attempted to make these cookies with them. It usually started calmly and they would listen to directions. They really enjoyed shaping and rolling the balls into the sesame. Chaos would start after five minutes of the whole process. Now that the boys are older, they don’t really listen to our instructions any more. So we have to make them extra dough for them to play with while we make the cookies ourselves. But they have fun nonetheless.

My mom follows an old recipe that she copied from some magazine or somewhere. She keeps the recipe in her little notebook. However, I find the measurements are a bit off. She uses a Chinese soup spoon to measure so I’m never sure if it’s quite right. I found a few recipes online that I think are close to my mom’s original recipe. I particularly like this recipe and used it as a guide. Start making this Memorable Treat for Chinese New Year and enjoy your special memories with your family!Chinese Sesame Cookie Balls

Chinese Sesame Cookie Balls
(笑口棗）

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Approximately 60 cookie balls

Ingredients

  • 2 cups All-Purpose Flour
  • 1 tsp Baking Powder
  • ½ tsp Baking Soda
  • 1/2 cup Granulated Sugar
  • 3 tbsp Hot Water
  • 3 tbsp Vegetable Oil
  • 1 Egg
  • 3/4 cup Raw White Sesame Seeds
  • Vegetable oil for frying

Preparation

  1. In a large bowl, mix flour, baking powder and baking soda.
  2. In a small bowl, add 3 tbsp hot water to sugar and stir until dissolved. Allow to cool slightly before adding in 3 tbsp oil, and then the egg. Mix well.
  3. Add the sugar and egg mixture to the flour and stir together. Using your hands, knead the mixture until it forms a dough. Wrap the dough with cling wrap and refrigerate for about 30 mins.
  4. Roll out the dough and cut into small pieces (approx. 1.5 cm) and form them into balls.
  5. In batches, place the balls into a sieve and dip them into cold water briefly. Shake off excess water and roll them in the sesame seeds. Roll them lightly again before frying to ensure the sesame seeds stick to the balls.
  6. Fill a large pot or pan with 2 inches of vegetable oil and heat until hot.
  7. Add the sesame cookie balls into the hot oil and deep fry at a low temperature, about 4 to 5 minutes, turning the balls in the oil as they cook.
  8. If the heat is too high, the exterior will turn brown too quickly and the inside will be soft and raw. Just when they are about to turn golden brown, remove from heat and drain. They will continue to cook further and will crisp up when cooled.
https://www.memorabledishes.com/chinese-sesame-cookie-balls/

Posted in: Dessert, Snack , Tagged: , ,

Curry Fish Balls

February 1, 2016 7:35 am , Leave a Comment ,
Curry Fish Balls

Curry fish balls is a quintessential street food I had growing up in Hong Kong. I remember the little vendor carts that sell them on the street. For a dollar a skewer (I think that was the price), my older brother and I would buy them as snacks after school. Even the elementary school I attended had a curry fish ball station at their snack bar! As soon as a vendor opens the bubbling curry fish balls, my mouth begins to water. I always admired how fast the service was even though there were so many people lining up. Holding the skewer in one hand, tongs in another and in lightening speed, the vendor puts the fish balls one by one with quick precision onto the skewer. All the fish balls line up perfectly in the middle of the skewer squished next to each other.

Nowadays, they don’t have food carts on the streets of Hong Kong anymore. They have these food stores/stations that are opened to the outside and you can purchase your curry fish balls there along with other street foods. We can also get them at Chinese food courts and malls where I live in Canada because we live in a highly populated Chinese area. Even when my cousins come visiting from the States, they search for this simple yet delicious street food.

Curry fish balls is not something you would normally eat at home because it’s a street food. I started making curry fish balls at home because I always have leftover sauce from my Portuguese Curry Chicken. I hate that it goes to waste so I soak fish balls in my leftover curry sauce. This Memorable Dish might be simple to make but it triggers lots of childhood memories growing up and eating in Hong Kong. This is a great potluck dish too. I went to a potluck one time and a lady brought curry fish balls in a slow cooker. What a great idea!Curry Fish Balls

Curry Fish Balls

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 package of Fish Balls
  • 1 pack of your favourite Curry Paste or leftover curry sauce
  • Water (if you’re using curry paste)

Preparation

  1. Prepare the curry paste according to the package of the paste. You’ll need to add water to dilute it.
  2. You want the fish balls to adhere to the sauce, so the consistency shouldn’t be too thin.
  3. Bring the curry sauce to a boil and then add the fish balls.
  4. Simmer in slow heat for approximately 15-20 minutes.
https://www.memorabledishes.com/curry-fish-balls/

Posted in: Appetizer, Seafood, Snack , Tagged: , ,
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