Boyhowdy's Hawaii Foodie Excursions - Episode #2

Much like tapas in Spanish culture, appetizers (or more affectionately known as pu'pus) in Hawaii are as big a part of a night out than the elixirs itself.
My partner-in-crime & I commenced the evening at the homestead with a couple of brewskis and some po'ke, chunks of seafood (in this case, octopus & tuna) marinated in soy sauce, ginger, green & yellow onions, chili pepper, sesame oil, and garlic.Our first stop: the Lily Koi Cafe, an establishment fast becoming our neighborhood watering hole. Along with more beer, we ordered garlic fries and furikake chicken (deep-fried chicken bits drizzled with a sweet soy-based sauce, then sprinkled with a seaweed seasoning).Of course, you gotta have sushi when out & about on the Islands, so off we sojourned to Tadashi. For the most part, the seafood quality and selection here are often equaled, if not surpassed, in finer sushi establishments on the mainland, with possibly the exception of the local tuna. Adhering to the evening's appetizer theme, we only ordered a few pieces, like smoked salmon:And unagi, or fresh-water eel (and a Asahi Dry lager):The night's final stop...the Chez Sports Bar & Grill. Nothing 'touristy' about this place - 100% local patronage. While perched at the bar, I noticed this particular spigoted jar of some crazy concoction. As advertised, it was lychee fruit immersed in SKYY vodka. Never one to bypass a new drinking experience, we had to try it...dangerously smooth and tasty, if not careful, this tincture will 'F' you up!After a shot of that lychee vodka (and even more beer), it was time to wind it down...and nothing caps a night like a hot plate of fried chicken gizzards!All in all, a fantastic night out...good times & good eats! Almost too much fun as I discovered this snapshot of a spam musubi (a slice of Spam served up sushi-style) between my thighs. I honestly don't recall where it came from!Ciao4Now.

Boyhowdy's Hawaii Foodie Excursions - Episode #1

Best described as a Hawaiian-style Denny's, the Zippy's restaurants have been a part of the local-dining fabric for over 40 years. With 25 locations peppered across O'ahu, anyone who has resided on the island for more than, say, 6 months has eaten here. Serving everything from your standard cheeseburger to the more-uncommon fare, like tripe stew & kalua pig cabbage, Zippy's has got something on the menu for everyone.

Yesterday, after escaping the unforgiving afternoon heat in the air-conditioned confines of a movie theater (BTW, 'Iron Man' is fantastic!), a friend & I revisited this former high-school haunt & ordered up some of our faves.

Of the dozens of menu selections, Zippy's is certainly most famous for its chili. Thick and hearty, it is served in a variety of ways - over a hot dog or burrito, atop spaghetti noodles, in an omelette, as nachos, etc.. They'll ladle it on anything you want! We went with two of the tried-&-true options...chili & cheese fries:

And the uncomplicated 'chili w/ one scoop rice':Burger combo orders include a side of either potato salad, macaroni salad, soup, french fries, or tossed greens, but my friend ordered his Mushroom Burger (quarter-pound patty topped w/ mushrooms sauteed in garlic butter) a la carte:Of course, I needed to order something that would look impressive on this blog...behold, the Zip Min! Saimin is kinda like ramen or pho - slightly-doughier noodles served in a fish-based broth. In the case of the Zip Min, it seems like everything but the kitchen sink is added...breaded shrimp, char siu pork, fish cake, pork-filled wonton, egg, Chinese greens, seaweed, and green onions!It goes without saying, there was no room for dessert.

Zippy's is the kind of place you go to when indifferent, but hungry. Nothing on the menu is truly brilliant, but everything's satisfying. On a scale of 5 poi bowls, I'll give it a 3.5, if only for the nostalgia.

http://www.zippys.com/


Ciao4Now.

'I can see clearly now...'

'...the haze is gone.' Winds from the north have restored the clean air over Oahu...you can see the difference in this pic taken a few minutes ago:
Living amongst the creepy critters in the yard are all types of flora. Here is a cluster of papayas:
This thing is the fruit of a cherimoya tree:
Lotsa different flowers, too. Like orchids:
Stephanosis:
Not sure what this is...could be a type of adenium (or desert-rose):
More later.
Ciao4Now.

Aloha from Hazy Hawaii!

Been a while, no?

It's taken quite a bit of time, but my relocation to the 50th state is just about complete. Still some loose ends to tie up on the 'mainland', but I've, more or less, settled into the Island lifestyle.

To get back into the blogging swing-o-things, here are a couple of snapshots to begin.

Taken this morning from the back yard, this photo depicts the terribly hazy conditions here on Oahu due to the volcanic smog (or 'vog') blowing in from the Big Island. On any other day, you'd be able to see the Waianae Range in the background...today, fuggedaboutit!


There are all kinds of creatures dwelling in the yard, including this guy who was chillin' on the fence. Better known as the American chameleon or green anole (or Anolis carolinensis, in biologist's parlance), this lizard can change its color for camouflage. Wish I could tan instantly...compared to the local folk here, I'm as pale as a ghost!


Ciao4Now.