Traditional Japanese fare or soup ‘n’ sandwich
Friday - January 16, 2009
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A bite-sized look at food events on Oahu.
Soup and Sandwich at Sekiya’s.
When one of the oldest Japanese restaurants in town offers a soup and sandwich for lunch, you can trust that it’s going to be a little different. At Sekiya’s Japanese Restaurant and Deli, the new combination soup and sandwich meals come with a local touch.
“This is our own version of soup and sandwich meal,” says Sekiya’s owner Joy Morihara. “We have a small saimin and hamburger combination or wun ton min and hamburgers. Customers really like them for a quick lunch or even dinner.”
The combo meals come in two sizes and start at $8.55 for Saimin and Hamburger Deluxe.
And if traditional New Year food is a must to get your 2009 off to a great start, Sekiya’s has a limited offer (this month only) on kuromame, the sweet black soybean dish traditionally eaten in Japan.
“We are offering kuromame for the start of the new year,” says Morihara. “It is a traditional Japanese side dish that is eaten to bring good health and good luck for the coming year.”
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The dry, round beans are soaked overnight in water, then simmered for hours and sweetened with sugar.
“It is a rich and delicious side dish that is offered only during the new year,” says Morihara.“The kuromame will be offered for a limited time - basically until we run out - then you will need to wait till the end of this year for it to be available again.”
The kuromame costs $3.40 per order.
Sekiya’s Restaurant and Delicatessen
2746 Kaimuki Ave. 732-1656
Sweet Nothings: Candy without the Calories.
If you’re staying true to New Year’s resolutions to cut calories, but are missing your daily dose of chocolate, then it might be time to visit Darrin Yokoyama and his team at Sweet Nothings, the sugar-free bakery on Waimanu Street.
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With dozens of handmade chocolates, candies and pastries all made from delicious sugar-free recipes, the bakery is a huge hit with those looking to lose the calories and still keep the candy.
The original aim of the store, though, was to make life easier for diabetics, especially kids.
“This is why I started the store,” says Yokoyama, who as a child was diagnosed with diabetes. “I remember being able to indulge in pastries and chocolate for the first time on a trip to Vegas when we found a sugar-free bakery - and it felt good!”
Thanks to lots of research and great recipes, the baked goods and candies carry none of the artificial aftertaste of some sugar-free “treats.” “We use a blend of sweeteners for the best result,” says Yokoyama.
Sweet Nothings carries a full range of baked goods, pastries, cakes and desserts; boxed candies and cookie platters also are available from the store.
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Sweet Nothings 1218 Waimanu St. 593-1234
Celebrate The Kahala’s 45 Years with a $45 menu.
Part of the ongoing celebrations to commemorate 45 years of The Kahala’s impressive history in Honolulu are special menus at both Plumeria Beach House and fine-dining restaurant Hoku’s.
The January menu for Hoku’s features Kona Maine lobster tartare, togarashi seared snapper, whole roasted sugared apples and a glass of Perrier Jouet - all for just $45.
Downstairs, within steps of the ocean, Plumeria Beach House offers a menu that’s also a history of the various names the hotel has had during the past four decades. With courses named Kahala, Mandarin and Hilton, the Plumeria menu includes sushi, house-cured salmon, Kona kampachi with orange and yuzu, Hunan chicken with lemon grass rice and a chocolate profiterole sundae.
A glass of Perrier Jouet also is included in this three-course set menu.
With a gorgeous beachside setting and one of the city’s best dining rooms, Hoku’s offers a twist on contemporary island favorites, and Wayne Hirabayashi does an incredible job of changing the menu seasonally to feature Hawaii’s local fish and locally grown produce.
The newest favorite menu item at Hoku’s is Hirabayashi’s Salt Crusted Rack of Lamb, which is carved tableside and emits aromas of roasting meat and rosemary when the piping hot lamb is served.
For reservations and to see complete menus, go to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
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Palace Buffet.
There are myriad Korean spots with a reputation for good food, but not many where you can eat as much as you like. At Palace Buffet, owner Peter Baik looks to bring quality and quantity to the table.
“What we’re trying to do is to bring the same quality of Korean food that we were known for in Honolulu (Baik previously owned Migawon) to this location - and offer it at a great price,” says Baik. “We have the same quality of food. We’re still not using any MSG on the meats, and we’re able to keep the same high standards.”
Jun lovers will appreciate the wide range of fried dishes offered at both lunch and dinner. “Lots of meat jun, fish, zucchini, tofu here,” says Biak of the lightly fried, golden tempura. “And at the same station, help yourself to noodles, fried rice and other tofu and veggie side dishes.
“The freshness of the meat is assured because we go through such huge quantities every day,” says Baik, “So our food rotates quickly, and nothing sits for long.”
If you were a fan of Baik’s boneless short ribs, chicken bulgogi, homemade kim chee or spicy pork from Migawon, you’ll be pleased to see them all here - in large amounts.
“We serve the meats and specials that we did in Honolulu,” he says, “so our customers will find the same food - just more of it.”
Palace Buffet Korean BBQ Buffet 623-3000 94-780 Meheula Pkwy. Mililani
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