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My Point of Heu

6/29/2017 2 Comments

Roy's New Sunset Pau Hana

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Roy Yamaguchi is synonymous with Hawaiian Regional Cuisine in the islands. As one of the founders and innovators of the HRC movement, he has continued to evolve, grow and share his passion for food, excellent service and hospitality with people from across the globe. He, and his team, continue to remain innovative and influential when it comes to approachable fine cuisine... And now Roy delicately hands the torch to two Executive Chefs who came up with a menu for prix fixe specials underway at two locations. 

As of May 1 (Roy's Waikiki) and July 1 (Roy's Hawaii Kai) launches a new Pau Hana dinner special for those early bird diners. The 3-course dinner (5pm-6pm in Waikiki and 5pm-7pm in Hawaii Kai) includes appetizer/salad, surf & turf entree and one of their signature desserts. The price for this  menu is between $45 and $46. 

Here's a look at the menu in Hawaii Kai (Roy's original restaurant) created by Executive Chef Lyndsey Simone.:
1. Furikake Big Eye Ahi Tataki over Waimanalo Greens served with a Sesame Soy Vinaigrette. Generous portion and fresh ahi, the dressing was flavorful but also heavy on garlic and onion essence somehow. 
2. Flame Grilled Petite Filet Mignon & Garlic Scampi Kauai Prawns served with Sake Peppercorn sauce. The filet and prawns are perfectly cooked. Large in portion, enough to take a small doggie bag and the sauce had a robust pepper flavor. 
3. Pineapple Upside Down w/ Lappert's Vanilla Ice Cream = AMAZING


The menu in Waikiki as created by Executive Chef Jason Ichiki: 
1. Poke Trio: Big-Eye Ahi Negi, Organic King Salmon-Fuki-Bubu, Kamuela Cucumber-Ko Chu Jang. The salmon poke was the overwhelming star of the three and all were a great refreshing way to kick-off the dinner. 
​2. Petite 4oz Filet Mignon & Garlic Buttered Jump Shrimp with mac & cheese spaetzle. Rich and somewhat decadent this was a great combination of surf with turf and extremely filling.
3. Chocolate Souffle served with raspberry coulis and Lappert's Vanilla Bean Ice 
Cream - this signature dessert is OUTSTANDING! 
The portion size is large and you leave feeling quite full. This is a great way to sample some of Roy's classics and staple dishes along with some new items; the price point is very good considering the quality and quantity being served. 

Happy eating everyone! 
2 Comments

6/26/2017 9 Comments

New: Buho Breakfast Club

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In the heart of Waikiki sits a rooftop oasis that mesmerizes the spirit and whisks your soul away to another place and time; you seriously forget you're in Hawaii. Buho Cantina is a new latin/Mexican restaurant that recently started serving breakfast (7am-11am daily). Although inspired by latin flavors (mini-breakfast burritos, chile lime fried rice and huevos rancheros) the majority of the dishes are farm-fresh, heart healthy and of great value for the $23 buffet cost -- which is pretty much the price you'd pay for a breakfast entree, glass of juice and a coffee anywhere else in Waikiki.

The open-air seating, nestled under umbrellas and other canopies is welcoming, but can get warm under the summer sun. The buffet is located along the upper Diamond Head side of the restaurant (in the shade) and guests can opt to enjoy their breakfast on the veranda overlooking Kalakaua Avenue. 

Service is friendly & kind; its great if you want to relax with friends, eat a delicious breakfast and don't mind that water, juice and most breakfast dishes are self-served from the buffet line. A runner did bring avocado toast and smoked salmon bagels table side, which was a very nice touch. 

On the buffet you'll find a cross between innovative classics and hearty staples, i.e.: pancakes with fresh berries and whipped cream, kale salad, fresh exotic fruits, greek yogurt, scrambled eggs, portuguese sausage, crispy bacon, an assortment of muffins and baked goods paired with an array of craft butters, also colorful juices and brewed coffees are also available. 
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This sunrise breakfast buffet is available 7 days a week, 7am-11am $23. On Saturdays and Sundays you can also order bottomless mimosas for an additional $20 a person (entire table must order, to prevent sharing and diners who abuse the bottomless mimosa add-on). 
Yoga will also be offered for $40 8am-9am and includes breakfast, mat, yoga lesson and will be held everyday beginning in August. 
Buho Breakfast Club
2250 Kalakaua Ave
Honolulu HI 
922-BUHO

Breakfast Buffet $23
Bottomless Mimosas on Sat & Sun additional $20
Yoga & Breakfast $40 (in August). 

​
9 Comments

6/14/2017 3 Comments

Miss Hawaii - A Legacy

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(L-R) Billie Takaki Leuder 2000, Crystal Lee Montrone 2013, Rep. Lauren Cheape Matsumoto 2011, Raeceen Woolford Satele 2009, Ashley Layfield 2007, myself, Allison Chu 2016, Jennifer Hera Pimental 1998, Kanoe Aberegg Naone 1993, Carolyn Sapp Daniels 1991, Malika Dudley Judd 2005, Dr. Ligaya Stice 1989, Debbie Nakanelua Richards 1984, Lani Stone Kaaa 1991, Cathy Foy 1975.
It may come as no surprise that 13 years ago I held the title of Miss Hawaii 2004. As the years go by, the memories become more distant and the highlights are like a dream. As I reflect I am still in awe that that was my life for one year, and that I held the honor, prestige and privilege of wearing the crown. But as you can imagine I find myself explaining what Miss Hawaii is and who I was, because there are so many other pageants, scholarship programs and beauty contests out there. For some reason the general and overall public perception is that they are all the same.

With so many other pageants including Miss Teen Hawaii, Miss Hawaii USA, Ms. Hawaii, Mrs. Hawaii, Miss Hawaii International, Miss Hawaii World, Miss Hawaii Filipina, Miss Chinatown Hawaii and etc, here are some notable details about the Miss Hawaii Scholarship Program. Held on June 10, 2017 at the historic Hawaii Theatre-- the Miss Hawaii Scholarship Program produced its 70th pageant this year. A preliminary to Miss America, this provider of scholarships for women 17-24 years-old began in 1921 as a bathing suit review in Atlantic City. Now, Miss America is the leading advocate for women to receive scholarships for education, with a focus on community service and an opportunity to showcase their talent. Phases of competition include panel interview (focused on one's platform, current events, community and self), swim suit, talent, evening gown and on-stage question. Once you compete at Miss America the competition ends there. Other pageants may go on to Miss USA, Miss World, Miss Globe or Miss International, but these are different systems and some may call them beauty pageants. The other competitions out there are no better, or no less, they are just different and coordinated, produced and directed by different people often not affiliated with Miss America, but everyone knows everyone in the pageant world. To me its kind of like differing football leagues. Most play the same sport, but in a different setting and for different people (NFL, AFL, Arena and etc).

The Miss Hawaii organization is staffed by volunteers, in fact after Miss Hawaii is crowned many of her appearances and bookings are also volunteer-based and most are not paid. The Miss America Organization is a non-profit organization that serves to disperse hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarships to young women in America each year. Many might recall me waiting tables at Alan Wong's while I was the reigning Miss Hawaii, yes you need to work and make ends meet while wearing the crown too. (I worked at Alan Wong's Restaurant on King Street from 1999-2009).

Truth is it has been a long time since I was involved in the pageant system. Much has changed, yet so much has stayed the same. When I competed the pageant was televised live, I won a Mercedes Benz for one year and my travel was sponsored by Hawaiian Airlines. Some other perks included wardrobe provided by Mamo, Princess Kaiulani, free hosted parking for one year and other benefits. As this might sound amazing and one of the highlights of my life, the years afterward really tested my will, passion and future endeavors. For some reason being a "pageant girl" has a negative connotation at times. I felt people didn't take me seriously or understand that I was college educated, hardworking and community-minded. Instead they were under the impression that I was a prima donna, lazy and high maintenance. This made me work harder and strive to prove them wrong.

I graduated from Hawaii Pacific University in 2007 with a BA in Speech Communication, thanks to the pageant I accomplished this feat with zero student loans. Competing at Miss Hawaii and Miss America provided (a Kapaa High School graduate from a single-parent home) the opportunity to achieve a private university education without any debt. One month after graduating with my degree I was offered a general assignment reporter position at a local news station. Some joked that I should "do the weather" or made comments like "what do you wanna be? You wanna anchor?" -- I wanted to be respected, a journalist, a business woman. The rest is now history as many of you reading this know my accomplishments and my achievements in journalism, education and now entrepreneurship. While competing in pageants does open some doors it can also slightly close them as well. But it truly depends on the individual to strive for success and work hard for what you want in life. Many of the former Miss Hawaii's and Miss America's are doctors, lawyers, educators, lawmakers, and so on.

For the first time since giving up my crown (in 2005), I returned to the pageant as a spectator. I prefer to be backstage with the crew, contestants, production staff, directors and hair & makeup team, so I can assist and spend time with the people I know and love. But this year was a little different as I also ventured out into the audience and watched from a seat in the theatre. It was interesting to say the least, as a group of us former Miss Hawaiis were called on stage and recognized then we all sat down and watched. We are a group of very outgoing, diverse and accomplished women. Even though you may not know who Miss Hawaii is right now (or who she was last year or the year before), perhaps you will have an open mind to learning more about the system, what we stand for and how hard we worked to get to where we are today.

Here are some photos from backstage (with the behind the scenes crew) and onstage with the Miss Hawaiis: Miss Hawaii - A Legacy!


3 Comments

6/8/2017 6 Comments

DINNER at Moena Cafe Kapolei

Venture to the west side and you will find an abundance of new stores, eateries and shopping centers. Residents from the area continue to rejoice as mainstays like Target, Ross and 24 Hour Fitness have opened their doors. With that it is surprisingly comforting to see local businesses flourishing and Hawaii entrepreneurs finding success as they expand. One of those businesses is Moena Cafe. A loved cafe from East Honolulu and in Japan, this delicious eatery is famous for its sweet and savory brunch items like Strawberry Milk Pancakes and Short Rib Loco Moco.

Moena Cafe Kapolei has a spacious, contemporary yet coastal decor that features a bar, open kitchen and an abundance of seating inside. The menu I am going to highlight is their new dinner menu. Known for their classic locally-inspired comfort foods, Moena Cafe serves hearty dinner appetizers, entrees and desserts. They also feature a specialty happy hour and keiki menu.

Standout dishes include:
Furikake Garlic Fries - perfectly cooked fries nice crisp, golden brown and sprinkled with furikake then garlic flakes. The ratio of garlic to furikake is spot-on and the fries are ideal for dipping in ketchup or eating without any additives/sauces.
Crab Artichoke Dip - Blue Crab with artichoke and blue corn tortillas, the amount of fresh crab is very generous and a good pairing of crab with artichoke served with a touch of cheese.
Korean Chicken Wings- perfectly cooked and crisp chicken wings lightly glazed with a Korean-style sauce (honestly the sweet soy flavor wasn't as potent as I would've liked but the wings were so crisp and well cooked they were a standout).
Hawaiian Salt Crusted Prime Rib- extremely massive, very generous serving size with accompanying mashed potatoes and a side of veggies this is a meat-lovers dream, dad would be pleased.
Harissa Marinated Lamb - Also served with seasonal veggies, the lamb chops are well seasoned, perfectly cooked and finger-licking good.
Pork Cutlet Katsu with Mushroom Sauce - wow massive portion again, the katsu was fried golden then served with a mushroom demi glaze which was generous portion and highlighted by the mushroom selection.
Mud Pie- Kona Coffee Ice Cream, Oreo cookie crust, another very very large portion and great for sharing! Best seller!
Chocolate Brownie Sundae - loved this dense sweet yet dark chocolate brownie and side of fresh strawberry and banana sundae with whipped cream, chocolate sauce and caramel. Beautiful dish but also delicious to eat too!

Overall, this cafe is delightfully casual, features a friendly happy hour and gigantic dinner entree portions. This is a great stop for family dinners, especially for those who like to share or love to take home leftovers. I already gush over the brunch menu and the classic items they're known for, now I can look forward to a fun evening with large portions to enjoy for dinner too. Dinner entree prices range from $17-$38.95

Moena Cafe Kapolei
Ka Makana Alii
91-5431 Kapolei Parkway
(808)628-4737
www.moenacafe.com



6 Comments

6/5/2017 1 Comment

Get Lucky at Yauatcha

Flow & Prosper -- that's the theme Monday - Friday 3:00pm-6:00pm at the brand new Yauatcha Waikiki, located at International Market Place. The acclaimed fine dim sum and elegant yet posh eatery just launched their "Lucky Hour" at the bar (weekdays). 

FLOW: With a list of 6 craft cocktails $8 each, the sips include: Island Heat (Kai lemongrass vodka, thai basil, coconut, ginger lime & bitters); Kura Mi Ami martini (Belvedere vodka, gin, junmai sake & plum sake); Scandinavian Scarlet (Krogstad aquavit, thai basil, ginger, beet juice, white balsamic vinegar, lemon & egg white); Flower & Stone - my personal favorite (Bombay Sapphire East gin, strawberry, fennel, apricot, yuzu, mint & rhubarb); Ginger Smash -- highly recommend (Virginia Black whiskey, ginger, cardamom, vanilla, lemongrass, lemon & ginger beer); Lychee Martini -- another good one (Pau vodka, lychee, lime & orange bitters). 

PROSPER: Very Yin and Yang 8 dim sum $6 each, are available to please your appetite: Chinese five flower dumpling; Shanghai siew long bun; Phoenix tail shrimp shui mai; Pork and prawn shui mai; Roasted duck pumpkin puff (crowd favorite); Crispy prawn dumpling (my personal favorite); water prawn and zucchini dumpling; Three style mushroom cheung fun. 

The drinks are generous and crafted with care. The flavors all compliment each other and subtle additions like apricot and beet offer enhancements to cocktail profiles and appearance you wouldn't expect. This is a great place to unwind from the work day and relax in the open air or in the air conditioning of the wrap around bar. 

The dim sum is a great way to sample the menu. The authentic bites are delicate, flavorful, innovative yet progressive. Alongside your iconic dim sum flavors you are also served pickled cucumber and two varying types of chili sauces. Such a great idea if you are wanting to experience the contemporary dim sum that is Yauatcha.

Flow & Prosper - Lucky Hour at Yauatcha Waikiki
Monday - Friday 3-6pm
International Marketplace 
2330 Kalakaua Avenue, Waikiki

​www.yauatcha.com 808-739-9318


1 Comment

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