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Sunday, May 11, 2025

ROY'S WAIKIKI

ROY'S WAIKIKI
226 LEWERS STREET
HONOLULU, HI
808-923-7697

We had no plans to have lunch at Roy's on Mother's Day.  My Wife said she wanted to stay home with he dog.  After church she changed her mind so I jumped on Open Table to see what was available at noon.  Surprised to see a lot of restaurants with open times.  She picked Roy's Waikiki so we headed over and found the restaurant empty.  Inside and outside there were only a few guests.  We grabbed a nice table outside overlooking the busy Lewers Street.  Complimentary Edamame arrived and my Wife loved it.  Slightly spicy and sweet with a hint of Sesame and Chili Oils.  The Frying Dragon Roll was just that, "fried".  It was good but wish it had not been fried.  The Zucchini was also fried and again good flavor but fried.  The star of the lunch was the Chinese Style Snapper which was not fried.  This was one of my fave fish dishes in all of Waikiki.  Would order this over and over again.  Delicious!  Ended the meal with Mud Pie which was really good.
Click links below to view previous posts on Roy's Waikiki;

ROY'S WAIKIKI

ROY'S MENU



EDAMAME

FRYING DRAGON ROLL

CRISPY ZUCCHINI

CHINESE STYLE STEAMED SNAPPER

ROY'S MUD PIE


Saturday, May 10, 2025

AHI SASHIMI

DINNER AT HOME

One of my favorite light dinners at home is simply Ahi Sashimi.  Usually serve it with Avocado but the Avocados at the market were not ripe.  When the Ahi is this fresh there is no comparison.  Simply delicious and oh so satisfying.

AHI SASHIMI

FRESH AHI BLOCK AT $49 PER POUND.  THIS PIECE WAS AROUND $20

ALOHA FRIDAY AT THE KAHALA RESORT


PLUMERIA BEACH HOUSE
KAHALA HOTEL AND RESORT
5000 KAHALA AVENUE
HONOLULU, HI 96816
808-739-8760

My Happy Place in Hawaii is the Kahala Resort.  I often come for a late lunch on Fridays alone just to relax, reflect and take in the beauty of the resort.  Love the people and food here.  One of the best places in all of Hawaii and somewhere I hope I will be visiting to the day I die.

ALOHA FRIDAY AT THE KAHALA RESORT


PLUMERIA BEACH HOUSE MENU

BEACH HOUSE SALAD WITH ROMAINE LETTUCE

THIS IS MY HAPPY PLACE AT HOME

BAR PODMORE

BAR PODMORE
202 MERCHANT STREET
HONOLULU, HI 96813
808-521-7367
HOURS:  Daily 4PM - 10PM / Closed Monday and Tuesday

Really enjoyed our Brunch at Bar Podmore.  This is a beautiful little spot in Downtown Honolulu.  Finishes and decor are first class and a treat for your eyes.  Seating is a bit tight but on this visit, we had a small section all to ourselves.  I ordered the Fried Chicken and Waffles.  The Waffle was actually at Hash Brown Potato and the Chicken was Strips.  I was thinking traditional Fried Chicken and Waffles and this was a bit of a twist.  The twist worked as the flavors popped.  Loved the Truffle Gravy.  I ate everything on the plate including the great tasting Pickles and Onions.  Would definitely order this again.  My Wife enjoyed the Carbonara which was excellent as was the service!
Click link below to view previous post on Bar Podmore;

BAR PODMORE

LOCATED DOWNTOWN NEAR THE POST OFFICE

HISTORIC BUILDING

BEAUTIFUL RESTAURANT IN DOWNTOWN HONOLULU

BAR PODMORE BRUNCH MENU

FRIED CHICKEN AND WAFFLE

TAGLIATELLE CARBONARA

LOVING BRUNCH AT BAR PODMORE

SPICY RIGATONI ALLA VODKA SAUCE

DINNER AT HOME

After enjoying one of the best Rigatoni alla Vodka of my life at Tony's Di Napoli in New York, I just had to get home and make my version because I was craving it.  
Click links below to view my recipe and previous posts on Rigatoni alla Vodka Sauce;

SPICY RIGATONI ALLA VODKA SAUCE

TONY DI NAPOLI'S IN NEW YORK SPICY RIGATONI ALA VODKA SAUCE


 

RIB EYE WITH GREEN BEANS

DINNER AT HOME

This simple dinner was packed with flavor.  Perfectly seasoned medium rare steak and Green Beans with Shallots and Bacon.

RIB EYE SITH GREEN BEANS

 

CRUNCHY BEEF TACOS

DINNER AT HOME

I cannot go long without enjoying my Crunchy Beef Tacos.  Always make them with Ala Madre Low Carb Tortillas.  Fresh Guacamole and Pico de Gallo make these tacos delicious!

CRUNCHY BEEF TACOS

 

HAWAIIAN AIRLINES - HONOLULU TO NEW YORK (JFK)

HAWAIIAN AIRLINES
NEW YORK (JFK) TO HONOLULU

Paid a fortune for a First Class seat from New York to Honolulu on Hawaiian Airlines.  My lay flat seat was broken and would not go back so it pushed me towards the front.  The seat would go back and forth on its own and I really had very little control on what it would do.  Worst part is that when the seat locked in a forward position, I couldn't get out to go to the bathroom.  It really took some acrobatics to get in and out of the seat.  I reported this twice to the Flight Attendants and they didn't seem to care or offer any solutions.  They simply said they "reported it".  Once again the food sucked.  Some of the worst First Class dining in the skies.  Food is not even worth serving in Coach.  Service on Hawaiian is minimal with the crew rarely refilling drinks and never going the extra mile to provide a high level of service.  Seems most do the minimal possible and then hideout in the galley.  

HAWAIIAN AIRLINES - NEW YORK (JFK) TO HONOLULU FIRST CLASS

FIRST CLASS LAY DOWN SEAT WAS BROKEN

FIRST CLASS MENU - SOME OF THE WORST FOOD IN THE SKIES

GOCHUJANG (KOREAN SPICY/SWEET SAUCE VEGETABLE FRIED RICE

BLAND AND TASTELESS

JIDORI CHICKEN - DISGUSTING!


NOTHING BEATS COMING HOME!




BEAUTIFUL HOAKALEI COUNTRY CLUB

TONY'S DI NAPOLI - NEW YORK

TONY'S DI NAPOLI
147 W 43RD ST
NEW YORK, NY
212-221-0100

LOVED Tony's di Napoli in New York.  This family style Italian restaurant is a MUST try if you have a family or large party.  The food and service were both GREAT!  Everything we ordered was delicious.  The Calamari is very lightly breaded and served with the House Marinara Sauce.  You can really taste the Calamari and not all breading.  Yummy.  The Salad was perfectly chilled and full of bright fresh flavors.  Perfect dish before diving into the Pasta.  The Rigatoni Ala Vodka and Chicken Parmesan were amongst some of the best I have had in my life.  In fact, I was craving both dishes the very next day.  The Rigatoni Ala Vodka here to me was better than Carbone in Las Vegas.  Cannot wait to return with more people so we can try more dishes.  Love this place plus our server was a Superstar!

TONY'S DI NAPOLI


TONY'S IN THE HEART OF TIMES SQUARE


CALAMARI FRITTI

DON'T KNOW THE NAME OF THIS SALAD BUT IT IS AWESOME

THE BEST RIGATONI ALA VODKA

CHICKEN PARMESAN ONE OF THE BEST EVER!

A PERFECT DINNER AT TONY'S DI NAPOLI

GELSO & GRAND - NEW YORK

GELSO & GRAND
186 GRAND ST
NEW YORK, NY
212-226-1600

After enjoying a delicious Pizza at Lombardi's in Little Italy, we decided to walk around to find a restaurant that serves fresh Pasta.  Lucky we stumbled onto Gelso & Grand where we were given great outdoor seats overlooking the busy street that had been closed to traffic.
Really a perfect day in New York for roaming around Little Italy.  We tried two pasta dishes and they were both great.  Really good homemade Pasta with nice texture and flavors.  Great to go back and forth from the Bolognese to the Carbonara while sipping a glass of vino.  Couldn't choose a favorite between the two as both were delicious.  Service was great too.  Would definitely come back here again.  Plus the Pizza's looked remarkable and the waiter recommended we try one next time.

GELSO & GRAND


WELCOME TO NEW YORK'S LITTLE ITALY





OUTDOOR SEATING ON A WARM NEW YORK DAY

GELSO & GRAND MENU



FETTUCCINI BOLOGNESE

GUANCIALE CARBONARA