Looking for Sabastian

The crab that is. So, on Tuesday, one of The Cat’s clients (Mrs. N) took her to dinner here.

Plaque

(53 Ahui Street, Honolulu, Hawaii). I got to tag along. The location was formerly the John Dominis Restaurant.

The Entryway

The Stairs

Leads up to a wedding chapel and banquet hall. In hindsight, I should have taken some pictures of the outside, looked like an Italian villa or something like that. Very classy, or Disneyish, or Las Vegasish, still trying to decide.

The View from the Hostess’s Podium

Diamond Head on the left.

View from our table

In looking at the pictures, most have a bluish tint, I think that’s from the window tinting. Sort of appropriate since it is by the sea.

Place Setting

Simple, but classy. The napkin ring looked like it may have come off of Wonder Woman’s costume (definitely not Ariel’s), just saying. Hee. Mrs. N started off with a glass of wine and encouraged us to  order something, I ordered the 53′s Iced Tea.

53′s Iced Tea

Black tea, lemon juice, pineapple juice, and almond essence. Not bad, a tad sweet for me, but still good. Since Mrs. N, is not a big eater, I felt it was inappropriate to go “whole hog” on the menu. I started with a local salad.

Mixed Greens Salad

A nice simple green salad. The raspberry vinaigrette was very good. The Cat and Mrs. N shared a Caesar Salad.

Caesar Salad

More like a wedge salad, Mrs. N was not impressed. Both Mrs. N and The Cat went for fish dishes.

The Cat’s Grilled Mahi

Mrs. N’s Catch of the Day

I think  it was some kind of snapper. The platings were nice, but being a local mouse, I felt there was too much empty space on each plate. I still don’t know why the chef needs so much plate real estate when the food could fit on something one-fourth the size. Just my opinion. I went with two appetizers for my dinner.

Foie Gras

Braised Boneless Short Ribs

Both on plates that took up less territory. Sorry, wasn’t taking notes, can’t tell you exact descriptions, they were good though (at least one sock off). The Cat did not fare so well. Mahi is not an oily fish so it’s difficult to grill it and keep it moist. In my opinion, the  best is lightly battered and pan fried. She thought her fish was a little overcooked and dry. For dessert, The Cat got a complimentary plate.

Molten Chocolate Cake, Chocolate Dipped Strawberry, and Creme Brulee

I went healthy and ordered a papaya soup with fresh seasonal fruit.

Fruit Soup

Can we say fruit cocktail? All fresh fruits, but still tasted like fruit cocktail to me (in a good way). So, the restaurant has computerized “johns”. I posted the “john” in the previous post. I’ve experienced them before but I am still fascinated by them. So much technology, research and development for sh*t. But, that’s just me.  Heh heh.

Mission Control

Thanks Mrs. N for a nice and tasty experience.  All in all, I think I had the better dishes tonight. I would definitely order both my appetizers again. Plus there’s a couple of other appetizers that sounded interesting too. Enjoy. Eat well. The Mouse

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Day-Off

The Cat gave The Mouse a kitchen break yesterday. Went to our favorite neighborhood chop suey joint for dinner (plus, our chives needed to be trimmed).

If you’ve read this blog for a while, you’ve probably seen most of these dishes, but it’s one of our go-to places (“so no can help). Heh heh.

Chives

Eggs and Chives

Pork (Not Beef) Tomato

Requested less onions. Because The Cat’s digestion and onions don’t play well together.

I know, the dish is more western than Chinese, but we like it.

Roast Pork with Water Spinach (Ong Choy)

Special only on Sundays.

Beef Chow Funn (Dry Style)

Funny cat, likes this chow funn dish, but not the beef part. The Mouse eats most of the beef (not that I’m complaining).

Stuffed Duck

Weird dish. thought it was going to be more of a pot roast style, turns out more like soup/stew/jook/porridge/congee.

Stuffed Duck?

Turns out, one of the better renditions of stuffed duck (not as greasy, and The Cat loves soupy stuff). Stuffing included barley, chick peas, water chestnuts, and egg drop. A probable order again.

And one of the best things about eating from this chop suey joint (besides the staff knowing us?) Leftovers!!!

Enjoy. Eat well.

The Mouse

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Gizzards!

Yesterday, I helped at the chocolate shop fill a large order for a VIP customer. When the caterer placed the order, he said there was no budget and don’t discuss price or quantity discount (my kind of customer).

After filling the order (wiped out quite a bit of the chocolate and fancy box inventory). Met up with The Cat for late night noshing.

Kalua Pork Sliders

One of my favorite “snacks”, not to worry, I did share (a little bit).

Deep Fried Gizzards

I wanted to see the chefs reactions to gizzards. These were crunchy on the inside. The gizzards didn’t phase the chefs. They did say they had better technique. They would have “overcooked” the gizzards till soft maybe in a confit style, and then made them crispy (not crunchy) with or without batter. I’m inspired. Have to ask them more about the technique later.

I think they just wanted to kick back, each of them had a couple of beers, less interested about the food.

Enjoy. Eat well.

The Mouse

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Little Bites

So, I finally got the app I use to size my pictures to work. Sheesh!

Anyway, yesterday we tried The Grove Restaurant (33 Aulike Street, Kailua, Hawaii). There were two items that looked interesting on the internet, Brussels Sprout Salad and Bread Pudding.

Problem was the dinner menu was priced a little more than what we wanted to spend. The solution? The restaurant has a “happy hour” menu, they call “shady hour”. All items are five dollars.

Menu

We could try a few things to get a feel of the food. If we liked it, we could always plan and come back for dinner.

Shrimp Chips and Seafood Dip

Not bad. The shrimp chips were a little greasy. I think they have to go to Chinatown and learn from the chefs there how to make shrimp chips.

Kiawe Grilled Mushrooms with Garlic Butter

A very smoky taste. I liked this, The Cat, not so much.

Steamed Manila Clams

Sumida watercress, Nalo tomatoes, gremolata, and roasted garlic. There’s a whole head of garlic that the server squeezed into the sauce just before serving. No vampires here.

The Brussels Sprouts salad was not on the “shady hours” menu, but since we were here, we ordered it.

Warm Brussels Sprouts Salad

With crispy pancetta, mac nuts, cranberries, chèvre, and Dean’s Waimanalo honey Dijon mustard vinaigrette. Since this was from the regular menu, it was pricey. I liked it, but both of us thought it was overpriced for the quantity.

Dessert Menu

The desserts were decently priced. We shared the bread pudding.

Bread Pudding

This was The Cat’s favorite, both in quantity and taste. I think it was broiled just before serving, the top was a little burnt and crispy, The Cat’s favorite part.

I think the portions of the five dollar menu were scaled in relation to the price. All in all, not a real bargain, but a good way to try the food.

We might come back just for dessert.

Enjoy. Eat well.

The Mouse

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As Seen On TV

This post may seem a little discomboobled, bear with me. A couple of stars must have been in alignment last night.

I occasionally watch a program that goes across the country looking for businesses that serve good home-style cooking. One thing that stands out in my mind is the dedication the chefs have in producing the best food they know how. On one segment, the program highlighted Murphy’s Bar and Grill (2 Merchant Street, Honolulu, Hawaii), an Irish style pub. One dish piqued my curiosity, shepherd’s pie.

A  late night for The Cat. She asks where to eat. Made a couple of suggestions including Murphy’s. Surprisingly, she agreed to Murphy’s. Okay.

Sign

We get in and she is impressed with the ambiance. Kind of vintage, homey, warm. It was a toss-up between a daily special of liver, onions, and bacon with Marsala sauce or shepherd’s pie. The server suggests the shepherd’s pie. Shepherd’s pie it is.

Shepherd’s Pie

Traditional pie with lamb and vegetables, topped with mashed potatoes, served with a house salad. Fresh carrots, parsnips (first time trying it for me), celery, and onions.

The Cat went with blackened salmon, medium rare.

Blackened Salmon,Rice, Mixed Vegetables

She thought it was just okay. She wasn’t used to the blackened seasoning. If she orders it again, she would have it prepared broiled.

I liked my shepherd’s pie, I had to ask for a spoon to get all the gravy.

Shepherd’s Pie, Inside

Yum. Socks off.

We shared a Bread Pudding with Irish Whiskey sauce and whipped cream. Except we asked to substitute the whipped cream for a scoop of Kona coffee gelato.

Bread Pudding with Irish Whiskey Sauce and Kona Coffee Gelato

The Cat’s favorite of the night.

At the end, she wants to come back. She was impressed with the whole package, not so much on her dinner, but the atmosphere, dessert, price, and yes, food (overall). The Mouse was very happily surprised.

Part of the Atmosphere

The burgers are next on my agenda. Hee hee!

There is another picture I took of the “atmosphere”. I was debating whether to post it or not. What the heck.

Mens Bathroom, Interior

Sorry, I couldn’t help myself. The pipes even rattled a bit when flushed (sorry again TMI), talk about vintage. Heh heh.

Enjoy. Eat well.

The Mouse

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