Island Views, Island News

Disney Store Ala Moana to Unveil Makeover - Wednesday, 5/30 @ 9:30am

noreply@blogger.com (Gem) — Sat, 26 May 2012 10:00:00 +0000

Disney Store will unveil its innovative new store design to guests at Ala Moana Center in Honolulu, Hawaii on Wednesday, May 30th at 9:30am. Disney Store’s new design aims to deliver “the best 30 minutes of a child’s day” through immersive experiences, and Ala Moana Center is the only location in Honolulu for guests to experience the magical makeover for themselves. The first 250 guests attending the “sneak peek” of the newly-designed store will receive free Mickey Mouse ears. The store has been relocated in the mall, and will re-open with an interactive new design featuring a Disney Princess castle with magic mirror, translucent trees displaying custom Disney animation, Disney∙Pixar CARS neighborhood, and the Disney Store Theatre, featuring the latest in Disney entertainment. The interactive shopping destination features magical experiences for Disney fans of all ages to enjoy.

In celebration of the newly-designed Honolulu location, Disney Store’s opening ceremony will begin with a traditional Hawaiian cultural ritual. The ceremonial blowing of a conch shell will announce the arrival of a Kahu who will perform a Hawaiian blessing and untie a lei maile. This will be followed by Disney Store’s signature opening ceremony, where one lucky child will “unlock imagination” and officially open the store with Mickey and Minnie Mouse.

“We’re excited to bring the magic of Disney to life every day in Honolulu,” said Jonathan Storey, vice president of Stores, Disney Store North America. “We’ve created an interactive shopping destination that offers technology-infused, customizable experiences for the entire family to enjoy.”

Doraku Sushi

noreply@blogger.com (Nat) — Fri, 25 May 2012 17:30:00 +0000

It took me a while to get myself to try this place. It's not that I'm not a big fan of sushi or Japanese food, because I LOVE them both. But, it's a chain restaurant that originated out of Miami, FL, so how authentic could it be?

It's really not that authentic, but that's not what they are aiming for. They are hip, modern, and inventive. You won't find any Japanese tourists here, but you'll see a lot of people, especially during happy hour (5-7 pm).

We scored one of the few tables overlooking Kalakaua Avenue.

Hamachi Carpaccio

Shrimp Tempura

Doraku Tuna Tataki

Japanese Style Garlic Steak

White Dragon Roll

Ginger Chicken Karaage

Chilean Sea Bass Nabanzuke

Overall, I thought the food was OK - nothing spectacular or out of this world. For the price, you can find better value elsewhere. But the ambiance is pretty cool and it seems like a place that is fitting for people looking to socialize over drinks and light pupus.

Happy Hour is from 5-7pm daily (excluding holidays) and you have to sit on the special table located in the middle of the restaurant.

Check-in on Four Square for a 10% discount.

Doraku Sushi
Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center, 3rd Floor
2233 Kalakaua Avenue
(808) 922-3323
Reservations accepted, except for Happy Hour
Validated parking (free for the first hour, then $1 per hour thereafter for up to 4 hours)

Kaka'ako (coming soon - September 2012)
Pacifica Condominium, bottom floor
1009 Kapiolani Blvd.

Highland Inn

noreply@blogger.com (Gem) — Thu, 24 May 2012 20:26:00 +0000

When we went to the Pearl Highlands Shopping Center Food Court recently, I went to Ming's Canton Food and DH went to Highland Inn.

He ordered the Mini Bar-B-Q Chicken Plate, which comes with rice and choice of 2 vegetables.

He said the food was decent, but the price for the mini sure wasn't mini - it was over $7!

I think next time he'll order food from another restaurant in the food court.

Highland Inn: 1000 Kamehameha Hwy; Ste 220, Pearl City, HI 96782; 808-455-9599

Wordless Wednesday

noreply@blogger.com (Nat) — Wed, 23 May 2012 16:51:00 +0000

Free 7.11-ounce Slurpee Drinks on May 23 and New Slurpee Lite at 7-Eleven

noreply@blogger.com (Gem) — Tue, 22 May 2012 20:12:00 +0000

Lite’s out at 7-Eleven…Slurpee Lite that is. Slurpee season 2012 is here and 7-Eleven, home of the iconic frozen drink, is kicking-off summer with the introduction of Slurpee Lite, a new sugar-free category that contains 50% fewer calories than an 8 ounce Fanta Wild Cherry Slurpee drink – but with the same great taste! This launch marks the first time in 45 years (the life of Slurpee!) that 7-Eleven has expanded the Slurpee brand to include a sugar-free option on a national level. Flavored by Fanta, the new Slurpee Lite drinks are available exclusively at 7-Eleven stores. Slurpee Lite Fanta Sugar-Free Mango contains only 20 calories in 8 ounces – a sweet treat for those watching their waistlines!

And to top it all off, 7-Eleven is celebrating the launch of Slurpee Lite (and kicking-off summer) with SlurpFREE Day. On May 23, guests from coast to coast are invited to flavor their summer by visiting participating 7-Eleven stores from 11:00am* to 7:00pm to slurp down a FREE 7.11 ounce Slurpee drink.

*In Hawaii - from 11am while supplies last.

I received no monetary compensation for this post.

Jimmy Borges Joins Hawaii Symphony Orchestra

noreply@blogger.com (Gem) — Mon, 21 May 2012 21:44:00 +0000

The Hawai‘i Symphony Orchestra and Maestro Matt Catingub today announced that music icon Jimmy Borges will join the orchestra in concert on Thursday, May 31 at 7 p.m. in a celebration of the music of Frank Sinatra and the Great American Songbook, and featuring beautiful charts by Catingub. In this one-night-only performance, Borges will perform many of Sinatra's classic songs as well as a selection of hits from the Great American Songbook – the songs that represent the very best of 20th Century American music from Broadway, Hollywood musicals and beyond. Not only will Borges celebrate the Great American Songbook at the concert, he will also kick-off the festivities for his birthday, which is June 1. Borges has also invited jazz vocalist Anita Hall as his special guest for this unique showcase of the music we know and love.

"I’m excited to be singing some of Frank Sinatra’s greatest arrangements and equally great charts by Matt Catingub, one of the most exciting musicians in the world today," said Borges. "You’ll be hearing tunes from The Great American Songbook…and then some. I’ve lived and loved these songs all of my career, and now, on my 77th birthday, I get to share them with all of you and with our superb new Hawai‘i Symphony Orchestra. The tickets are going pretty quickly so call soon. See you there!"

Hawaii's consummate jazz and pop singer, Borges is a music icon who is best known as an ambassador of the music of Frank Sinatra and composers such as Cole Porter, Richard Rodgers, Irving Berlin and George Gershwin. Also a notable actor (with appearances on series such as Charlie's Angels and The Rockford Files), Borges is instantly recognized by locals and visitors alike. It's no wonder that he's the only person to be given personal access to Sinatra's personal music library, an honor conferred by Ole Blue Eyes himself.

This concert is generously sponsored by Kaiser Permanente® Hospital, where Borges – a cancer survivor – recently received care. For Borges, who had surgery in July 2011, the concert not only celebrates the Great American Songbook but also the wonderful care he received from everyone at Kaiser.

Tickets start at $20 and are on sale now at the Hawai‘i Symphony Box Office: (808) 593-9468. Student tickets are $10.

Ming's Canton Food

noreply@blogger.com (Gem) — Sun, 20 May 2012 17:38:00 +0000

After doing some shopping in the Pearl Highlands Shopping Center, our family headed to the food court for lunch.

I ended up at Ming's Canton Food after seeing a special for Oyster Sauce Chicken on Crispy Noodle (for just over $5).

It was a generous portion of chicken and noodles.

Compared to other restaurants' Oyster Sauce Chicken, I thought it was okay, but I've had a lot better. I would have preferred if the chicken were boneless, and it didn't seem as tasty as other restaurants', but it was reasonably priced and lasted me for several meals.

Ming's Canton Food: 1000 Kamehameha Hwy; Pearl City, HI 96782; 808-455-8869

Daiichi Ramen and Curry

noreply@blogger.com (Nat) — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:04:00 +0000

The last time Island Views, Island News visited Daiichi was back in February of 2010. Gem posted an enticing picture of their chicken katsu curry rice.

Daiichi Noodles Cafe has been a favorite of mine, not for the authenticity, but for the selection and value. The ramen is not the kind that you'll find in Japan, but it's good enough to satisfy your hunger and craving for noodles. The rice plates consist of a bed of rice on a large plate, topped with savory items such as chicken katsu curry, mabo tofu, or mochiko chicken.

Can't decide on what to order? Don't worry, they have combos. Their combos come with a mini serving of ramen (although the mini is more like a regular serving) plus either one or two choices from the list of sides (gyoza, fried rice, chicken katsu, spam katsu, mini curry rice, mochiko chicken, etc.).

Before you head down here, print their coupon from Valpak. They do not accept mobile coupons so you must bring a print out of the coupon.

Happy Hour is 2:30 pm - 5 pm: free gyoza with purchase of a regular plate.

They are family-friendly and do not use MSG.

Dining area

Counter seating overlooks the open kitchen

Chicken katsu curry on rice

Mochiko chicken (with the combo)

Spam katsu

Miso ramen

Mini Shoyu Ramen (with the combo)

Shrimp Katsu salad

Daiichi Ramen and Curry
99-084 Kauhale Street, Building A
(808) 486-7432
Open Daily 10:30 am - 9:30 pm
Free parking; take out available

New Location:
1029 Makolu Street, Ste. E (across from Pearl City Wal Mart)
(808) 455-9898

Blue Hawaii Sushi

noreply@blogger.com (Gem) — Thu, 17 May 2012 22:47:00 +0000

I recently met a friend ("L") for dinner at Blue Hawaii Sushi in Pearl City.

Complimentary Soybeans

Accompanying our meals was Miso Soup (with mushrooms!)...

and salad (with a very tangy dressing)

Since we arrived early I took advantage of one of their early bird specials - Teriyaki Chicken.

The meal came with a dipping sauce for the vegetables.

Overall the Teriyaki Chicken was okay. It wasn't as flavorful as other Teriyaki Chicken dishes I've tried at other restaurants.

"L" had the Beef Curry.

She commented that there was not enough beef, and the curry was a little too spicy for her liking.

Despite the food not being truly outstanding, the prices were very reasonable, and the service was great.

I would give Blue Hawaii Sushi another try, and maybe next time I'd try the Thai Chicken Katsu Curry.

Blue Hawaii Sushi: 1140 Kuala St #104 Pearl City, HI 96782; (808) 456-2128

Wordless Wednesday

noreply@blogger.com (Nat) — Wed, 16 May 2012 16:49:00 +0000

Radisson Sets the Bar for Summer Travel Promotions with Big Night Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Gem) — Tue, 15 May 2012 17:42:00 +0000

Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, one of the world’s largest and most dynamic hotel groups, today unveiled the Radisson®Big Night Giveaway, where the first 100,000 people to register for the offer will be eligible to receive 50,000 bonus Gold Points®, enough for a free night at any Radisson or Radisson Blu hotel worldwide.

“This year marks many global landmark achievements for the brand, including introducing Radisson Blu in the U.S., the conversion of 13 Radisson Edwardian Hotels in the United Kingdom to Radisson Blu and continuous growth in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and in Asia Pacific,” said Heather Passe, vice president, Marketing, Loyalty and E-commerce. “We are thrilled to launch a promotion that allows our guests to join the global event.”

Beginning today, travelers can register for the Big Night Giveaway by visiting RadissonBigNightGiveaway.com. The first 100,000 guests to register and stay at least one night at any Radisson or Radisson Blu hotel or resort by July 15, 2012, will earn 50,000 bonus Gold Points – enough points for a free stay at any Radisson or Radisson Blu hotel or resort worldwide. After the 100,000 spots are filled, guests who register for the promotion will earn 15,000 bonus Gold Points after completing a one-night stay at any Radisson or Radisson Blu hotel or resort by July 15, 2012.

Radisson is committed to providing vibrant, contemporary and engaging hospitality characterized by a unique Yes I Can! service culture. Radisson celebrates its 50thanniversary this year and is expanding as one of the world’s most attractive, globally consistent, first-class, tiered brands with a range of World of Radisson features that are empathetic to the challenges of modern travel, including the 100% Guest Satisfaction Guarantee.

For more information about the promotion, as well as terms and conditions, visit RadissonBigNightGiveaway.com. Club Carlson, celebrating its one-year anniversary, is the global hotel rewards program from the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group. Guests who are not members can join for free during any stay at a Carlson Rezidor hotel or resort, during registration for the Big Night Giveaway, or by visiting ClubCarlson.com. Club Carlson redefines hotel rewards with a collection of superior benefits and offers a faster way to a free night stay at any of the more than 1,000 participating hotels worldwide: Radisson Blu, Radisson®, Park Plaza®, Park Inn by Radisson and Country Inns & Suites By Carlson.

Mac 24/7 Bar and Restaurant

noreply@blogger.com (Nat) — Mon, 14 May 2012 16:51:00 +0000

When Mac 24/7 first opened in Hawaii, the talk was all about the Pancake Challenge. Here's the challenge: Eat 3, 14″ pancakes topped with either blueberries, walnuts and chocolate chunks; pineapple, coconut and macadamia nuts; or cinnamon streusel w/ vanilla glaze in 90 minutes or less. Winners get the pancakes for free, a t-shirt, and a photo on the Wall of Fame in the restaurant and on their website.

Adam Richman of Man vs. Food put Mac 24/7 on the map when he came to Hawaii and took the Pancake Challenge (watch it here). He didn't complete the challenge successfully, forty two other brave souls have, and their names and pictures can be found in the Mac 24/7 "Hall of Fame" on Mac 24/7's website. I spotted world famous competitive eater Joey Chestnut on the Hall of Fame. He currently holds the fastest time of 15 minutes. The fastest woman on the list is "Jane Dough" (sounds like she didn't want to give her real name) at 24 minutes.

Rest assured, you don't have to take the challenge to eat here. Mac 24/7 has a regular menu with breakfast, lunch, and dinner items. There isn't anything noteworthy about the food - it's your run of the mill hotel eatery that is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

You can't miss the entrance to the restaurant.

They have a big seated area with a nice view of the garden.

I like these bar-style seating areas, equipped with flat screen TVs.

Freestyle eggs ($14) - potatoes, toast, choice of meat, and eggs.

The Mac Daddy Pancake Challenge ($16) - three 14" pancakes with blueberry topping. We didn't attempt the actual challenge but we ordered the pancakes just to see what it was like. It was big on size, but not on taste. The two of us ate about 3/4 of one pancake at the restaurant and took the rest home.

The pancakes are served with three different syrups - maple, coconut, and guava.

I took this picture so that you can appreciate the enormity of the pancakes.

Mac 24/7
Hilton Waikiki Beach Hotel
2500 Kuhio Avenue
(808) 921-5564

Kids Bowl Free for the Summer - in Hawaii and 45 Other States

noreply@blogger.com (Gem) — Sun, 13 May 2012 17:40:00 +0000

Get active without spending a ton of money! Kids Bowl Free is an amazing brand - designed by bowling centers to give back to the community and provide a safe, secure, and fun way for kids to spend time this summer. Families can get two free games for up to six children per day, and family packs for the whole summer are $24.95.

Kids Bowl Free is in 950+ locations in 46 states - plus Canada - and all offer any registered child two free games every day, all summer long (find the locations here: http://www.kidsbowlfree.com/all_centers.php).

While there is absolutely no cost for children to participate, it's easy - and affordable - to make it a frequent family event!

The Family Pass was created to allow for adult family members to enjoy bowling throughout the summer as well. Starting from $24.95 and including 2 games per person per day for up to four family members, this makes bowling fun and frugal.

For more information on the Kids Bowl Free program, visit http://www.kidsbowlfree.com./questions.php

Check out my giveaway on Sage and Savvy for a Family Pass!

Hee Hing

noreply@blogger.com (Nat) — Fri, 11 May 2012 17:11:00 +0000

Hee Hing is one of those local Chinese restaurants that most locals have visited at least once in their lifetime for some kind of celebration - graduation, birthday, anniversary, wedding reception, funeral reception, baby's first birthday, etc. It has a high seating capacity and valet parking for customers. One would assume that the food must be pretty good as well.

We came here for dinner on a Sunday evening, because my friend's voucher was about to expire. Let's take a closer look:

The restaurant is located on Kapahulu Avenue and is very visible from the street, even at night, thanks to the bright red lights.

Since there were four of us, we selected one of the set menus designed for four people.

My friend's boyfriend had a craving for crispy gau gee, so we added this onto our order. It was crispy, but could have used more meat and flavor.

Mandarin Potstickers

Chinese chicken salad

Lemon Chicken

Beef with fresh asparagus

Walnut shrimp

Steamed flounder fillet Chinese style

Yang Chow fried rice

Almond float

Overall, I thought the food was mediocre - something along the lines of what I would expect from a small neighborhood Chinese restaurant, but at a higher price. But I can see why people like to throw large parties here - the location is convenient, the restaurant is big and they have valet parking underneath the restaurant. However, I don't think people walk out of this restaurant with the thought that it was the best Chinese food they've ever had.

Hee Hing
449 Kapahulu Ave
(808) 735-5544

Asahi Grill

noreply@blogger.com (Gem) — Thu, 10 May 2012 20:13:00 +0000

A couple of weeks ago, the girls and I went to the Freestyle Invasion Concert at the Neil Blaisdell Center, and we decided to have dinner before the concert at Asahi Grill (thanks to @nanigurl for her review, which was the deciding factor on where to eat dinner).

We arrived at Asahi Grill fairly early - about 5:30, so fortunately there were still a lot of empty tables.

I ordered the Chicken Cutlet and requested Fried Rice instead of white rice (extra charge for Fried Rice).

Everything was DELICIOUS - and the Fried Rice was some of the best I've had anywhere!

Another friend had the Hamburger Steak.

Although there were a total of 6 of us I ended up taking only two photos - but everyone's food looked really good and we all left stuffed and satisfied.

The food was REALLY good, the service was friendly (our server even asked us if we all wanted separate checks), and I can't wait to take DH there!

Asahi Grill: 515 Ward Ave # A Honolulu, HI 96814; 593-2800

Wordless Wednesday

noreply@blogger.com (Nat) — Wed, 09 May 2012 15:47:00 +0000

Menchanko-Tei

noreply@blogger.com (Nat) — Mon, 07 May 2012 16:38:00 +0000

Menchanko-Tei, a popular Japanese restaurant in Waikiki, recently opened its second location on Keeaumoku, to the delight of many of its loyal patrons, many whom are local and now don't have to venture into Waikiki to go to their favorite noodle house.

The outside of the restaurant is very visible from the street, and the menu is displayed so that you can check out what they have to offer before you enter, or while you're waiting for a table.

Counter seating is available, as well as regular tables.

The counter seating includes a view of the kitchen.

Modern seating area

The original marinated fried chicken is a must-try. They dip it in the marinade after the chicken is fried. But, an ala carte order only comes with 3 bite-sized pieces for $4.25.

Their homemade gyoza is also good but also bite-sized and a whopping $5.25 for 6 bite-sized pieces. I've never seen pre-made gyozas this small, so I'm quite confident that these are indeed "homemade".

The cold ramen is served with a cold broth and is very refreshing on hot day or night.

The kikuzo ramen is your typical bowl of ramen with a shoyu broth. It is very light and not too rich or salty. The noodles are skinny and al dente.

It took a while for our food to arrive, but that gave us an opportunity to observe what was coming out of the kitchen so that we could plan on what to order on our next visit. Nabes and tonkatsu appeared to be very popular dishes, so stay tuned for my second review of Menchanko-Tei.

Menchanko-Tei
903 Keeaumoku Street
(808) 946-1888

Waikiki Location:
Waikiki Trade Center
2255 Kuhio Avenue
(808) 924-8366

Save the Date - Disney Store's Grand Opening at Ala Moana Center June 2

noreply@blogger.com (Gem) — Sun, 06 May 2012 10:00:00 +0000

Disney Store will celebrate the grand opening of the newly designed store at Ala Moana Center, in Honolulu, Hawaii on Saturday, June 2, 2012. The newly-designed Disney Store at Ala Moana Center relocated and was remodeled to offer an interactive and magical experience for Disney fans of all ages. Disney Store’s new design concept aims to deliver “the best 30 minutes of a child’s day” through immersive storytelling neighborhoods featuring a Disney Princess castle with magic mirror, translucent trees, and the Disney Store Theatre featuring the latest Disney entertainment.

WHEN: Saturday, June 2, 2012
· 9:30 a.m. – Disney Store opening ceremony where a local child from Make-A-Wish® “will “unlock imagination” and officially open the store. The first 500 guests will receive a free gift.
· 2 p.m. – 6 p.m. Meet and Greet with Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse at center stage. Don’t forget to bring your camera!*

*Characters alternate every 30 minutes. Character appearances are subject to change or cancellation without notice.

Disney Store at Ala Moana Center: 1450 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu, HI 96814

Cupcake and Things

noreply@blogger.com (Gem) — Sat, 05 May 2012 10:00:00 +0000

Several weeks ago, after having lunch at Brick Oven Pizza, we decided to visit Cupcake and Things for dessert, which was just a very short walk from Brick Oven Pizza.

Despite the not-so-good reviews I found online, I decided to give them a shot anyway.

There were lots of delicious-looking cupcakes...

... and I ended up choosing a Cookies N Cream cupcake ($2.99)

It cost $2.99, and I thought it was okay. I prefer moist, flavorful, rich cupcakes and frostings, and this cupcake was very light and airy - including the frosting. It looked a lot better than it tasted, and I personally didn't think it was worth $3.

DS2 ended up getting the Vanilla Blueberry Parfait.

It cost $3.99, and he really liked it (I gave it a taste too and thought it was pretty good).

I thought the employees were very friendly and helpful, and although I didn't think the Cookies N Cream was anything special, I wouldn't hesitate to give them another try, and probably the next time I'd try their Red Velvet Cupcake, which is one of their best sellers.

Cupcake and Things: 885 Kamokila Blvd; Kapolei, HI 96707;(808) 754-5013

Hawaiian Chip Company Factory Outlet

noreply@blogger.com (Nat) — Fri, 04 May 2012 17:28:00 +0000

If you love chips, you'll love Hawaiian Chip Company. Their taro and sweet potato chips, which are made with the finest sweet potatoes and taro grown on the Big Island and Molokai, are widely popular and sold in many stores on this island, including Longs, Costco, Diamond Head Market, Marukai, Times, and Wholesale Unlimited. (Click here for a complete list)

Last Saturday, while checking my twitter feed, I saw a tweet from Hawaiian Chip Company (@hawaiianchipco): "In full swing..Ready for a busy Sat - fresh, made to order taro/sweet potato chips, BBQ sliders, Island Brew coffee/iced teas!! 10a-3p". What caught my eye specifically were the words "made to order taro/sweet potato chips". I immediately told my hubby that we needed to stop at their factory to check it out.

Their factory is located in lower Kalihi. You can see their building from Nimitz Highway, but access to the storefront is via Republican Street. Just look for the bright yellow building.

From Mondays thru Thursdays, you can stop by to pick up made to order chips from 9am - 5pm. On Fridays, in addition to the chips, you can buy a coffee, iced tea, or frapp from their Island Brew beverage bar.

On Saturdays, they add sliders (kalua pig, crispy roast pork, and slow roasted chicken) to the menu.

Here's the driveway off of Republican street. There are two covered parking spaces, and you can double park so long as you keep an eye on your car. They have tables under a tent for those who want to enjoy their sliders and chips on-site.

On Fridays and Saturdays, the Island Brew tea bar is open!

They have a large stock of pre-packaged chips in a variety of flavors

Sugar Coated Sweet Potato Chips

Kilauea Fire Sweet Potato and Taro Chips

Their sauces are very popular too.

Today we ordered the slider combo, which came with a slider, a bag of made to order chips, and an iced tea. The slider consisted of kalua pork on a taro roll. We added bbq sauce to give it some extra flavor.

The chips were amazing - fresh, crispy, and hot. You can add your own seasonings such as garlic, furikake, bbq, or just plain salt.

Gift baskets made of Hawaiian Chip Company's chips and sauces make the perfect gift!

Hawaiian Chip Company Factory Outlet
1928 Republican Street
(808) 845-9868

Monday - Thursday 9 am - 5 pm - chips only
Friday 9am - 5 pm: chips and Island Brew beverage bar
Saturday 10am - 2 pm: sliders, chips and Island Brew beverage bar

T.J. Maxx at Ward Center - a sneak peek

noreply@blogger.com (Nat) — Thu, 03 May 2012 01:08:00 +0000

The highly anticipated grand opening of T.J. Maxx in Hawaii is happening tomorrow, but here's a sneak peak of what's in the store. Mahalo to T.J. Maxx, Ward Centers, and Brandon Suyeoka of Hendrix Miyasaki and Shin for the opportunity to walk the floor before tomorrow's event.

T.J. Maxx occupies approximately 32,000 square feet in the newly constructed "Ward Village Shops" on Auahi, Kamakee and Queen Streets. Entrances to the store are on the first and third floors.

Ground floor entrance

Reusable T.J. Maxx bags made especially for the Hawaii store. At tomorrow's grand opening (scheduled for 8:00 a.m.), the first 1,000 customers will get one of these!

That's what they're all about - name brands at a discount

UH Logo wear

Outdoor gear

Stand Up Paddle Board and board shorts

Coolers of all shapes and sizes

Birds eye view of the floor

As you can see they try really hard to cater to the Hawaii market

Furniture

iPod accessories (they also have a few iPad accessories)

Gourmet food items

Preserves

Hawaiian Host candies

More local snacks

Coach Shoes

Slippers (a.k.a. flip flops)

Fancy name brands like D & B

Pet Section :)

Colorful socks

Temptations while you're waiting in the check out line

Signage outside of the third floor entrance

Wordless Wednesday

noreply@blogger.com (Nat) — Wed, 02 May 2012 17:58:00 +0000

The Pig and the Lady: Mama Le's Menu

noreply@blogger.com (Nat) — Tue, 01 May 2012 16:48:00 +0000

I first reviewed The Pig and the Lady pop up restaurant in June of 2011. In was their inaugural pop up, and it was a hit. Over the past year, Chef Andrew Le and the Pig and the Lady continued to pop up at Hank's Haute Dogs, and also started selling their Vietnamese inspired culinary delights at the Farmers Markets around the island (Blaisdell Center on Wednesdays, Kailua on Thursdays, Kapiolani Community College on Saturdays).

In September of last year, Mama Le (Chef Andrew's mom and the mastermind behind many of the Pig and the Lady offerings) suffered a stroke and it was a long and hard road to recovery for her. But a combination of willpower, determination, spirit, and help from her loving family brought her back, and the family decided to do two pop-ups in celebration of Mama Le.

The first of two occurred last night, and I was fortunate to get a seat in the sold out event.

The venue - Hank's Haute Dogs on Coral Street

The inside of Hank's was transformed into a dining room complete with small floral centerpieces and linen table cloths and napkins

Pickled veggies with house-made shrimp chips kept the early-arrivers occupied.

Tom Chien Boc Com: tapioca-flake crusted Kauai shrimp, thin vermicelli, fish sauce vinaigrette

Canh Chua: talapia, taro stem, pineapple, tamarind broth

Ga Nuong Nieu Chien Phong: claypot of braised chicken with shallots, thai ginger, pandan leaves, lemon grass, puff rice

Hu Tieu My Tho: a noodle soup of roasted pork loin, quail egg, shrimp, fried shallots, chrysanthem, fresh herbs, finished with a red crab sauce

Che Xam Bao Luong: lotus root & seed, Chinese dates, dried longon & komba

Unfortunately tonight's event is also sold out, but you can check them out at the Farmers Markets.

Website: http://thepigandthelady.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/pigandthelady
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePigandTheLady

Taste of the Nation 2012, Honolulu, Hawaii

noreply@blogger.com (Nat) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 18:49:00 +0000

Share Our Strength's Taste of the Nation is the Nation's premiere culinary benefit dedicated to ending childhood hunger in America. The event occurs in major cities over America, and it occurred in Honolulu, Hawaii for the first time ever last night.

In Honolulu, the best local chefs and farmers/ranchers teamed together in an effort to raise funds to end childhood hunger in America. They donated their time, energy, and resources to this inaugural event. 100% of the proceeds will go directly to two local non-profits in Hawaii - The Hawaii Food Bank and 'Aina in Schools.

The event, which was held on the lawn of the Bishop Museum, consisted of a silent auction, live auction, wine tasting, entertainment, and food tasting from Hawaii's top restaurants and chefs. Over 500 people were in attendance and there was an abundance of food and drinks for all.

Lawn at Bishop Museum

Silent Auction

Complimentary wine glasses and entertainment by Manoa DNA

V.I.P. Tent

Barefoot Wine

Kuahiwi Ranch & Nalo Farms / 3660 on the Rise

Kauai Shrimp & Kamuela Cucumbers / Morimoto Waikiki

Dole Waialua Chocolate / BLT Steak

Hanohano He'eia Mohala Farms & Kuahiwi Ranch / He'eia Kea Pier General Store & Deli

HIGA FoodService Supplying Shinsato Farms & Kunia Country Farms / SALT Kitchen and Tasting Bar

Maui Cattle Company & Otsuji Farms / Alan Wong
V.I.P. Lounge

Kula County Farms / Le Bistro

Hilton Hawaiian Village Bali Steak and Seafood Restaurant / Manoa Honey Company & Makaha Mangos

Brick Oven Pizza - Kapolei

noreply@blogger.com (Gem) — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 18:28:00 +0000

After our family did some shopping in Kapolei one morning, we headed to Brick Oven Pizza for lunch.

I immediately noticed how friendly everyone was, and the customer service was exceptional our entire time there.

Once we put in our orders, DS2 got a ball of dough to keep himself busy until the pizzas came.

Brick Oven Pizza gives dough to all the kids so they can pretend to make their own pizza, or they can simply play with it and make objects (DS2 just kept making a big snake) until it's time to eat.

Since DH and I couldn't agree on one kind of pizza, we decided to get two small pizzas. One was a Small Hawaiian BBQ Chicken Pizza on Wheat Crust, brushed with Garlic Butter.

We also ordered a Small Margherita on White Crust, also brushed with Garlic Butter.

The pizzas were DELICIOUS! I really liked them both, but if I had to choose a favorite between the two, it would be the Margherita. The BBQ Chicken Pizza was good, but I would've liked it better if it had a little more sauce.

The small pizzas are about $15-$17 in price, which seemed a little pricey compared to other pizza places I've been to, but the great food and outstanding customer service are definitely reasons to go back, and I can't wait to try some of their other pizzas (especially their dessert pizzas!).

Brick Oven Pizza - Kapolei: 889 Kamokila Blvd. #206, Kapolei, HI 96707