Livestock Tavern - Farm to Table (Oahu)

One of my favorite newbie restaurants on Oahu, Livestock Tavern is a Farm-to-Table concept which opened in November on Hotel Street in the Chinatown district. The food is prepared well and the flavors are balanced. Presentation and service is good. And a seasonal menu will keep customers returning on a regular basis. 

It was a fun afternoon meeting with up with KT to try some of the dishes:

Salad with persimmon, humboldt fog goat cheese, beets and watermelon radish $9 (it was an okay dish, expected more persimmon and less frisée lettuce)

Buratta, figs, pesto and arugula (very fresh Buratta, nice pesto, loved it) $12

Braised Beef Tongue Sandwhich with thick cut fries (was surprisingly tender and prepared like a French dip Sandwhich; a popular dish among locals)

The bourbon lobster tail with scalloped potatoes and wilted greens sounded good, but ordered the Tavern Burger with bacon onion marmalade, gruyere, tomatoes on a fresh baked kaiser bun instead. $14 (a pretty good gourmet buger for Oahu.)

We had no room for dessert. While I was there more for the conversation than food, I would certainly return again to Livestock.  And with their steady hand at preparing solid American dishes I expect them to stick around for a long while. 

Note: Reservations are needed for the main dining room (photo above) but walk ins are welcome for their bar section which serves a full menu. The place gets crowded very quickly. 

Parking: Two paid parking lots located one block north and east of the restaurant. Street parking is difficult. 

49 N Hotel Street, Honolulu HI

808.537.2577

Aloha Hello Kitty (Oahu)

Every year Sanrio comes out with a new Aloha Kitty (aloha = hello...kitty). Here's the latest in the collection > a tanned HK with a Hawaii surf board. 

There's a super huge HK at costco for $14 but this one had it's bow ripped off + it was too huge a carry-on piece for the airplane. 

Amazing...she turned 40 this year and doesn't look a day older! (except this picture where she could use some moisturizer for those dry cracks,)

Young, old, men, women, Asian American, non-Asian American (wait, she's a dyed blond)...HK remains a beloved figure in our lives. 

Fresh Poke Bowl - Ono Seafood (Oahu)

I love taking local friends to spots they've never tried. Ono Seafood is a Kaimuki hole-in-the-wall joint that offers generous scoops of poke (various types/flavors to choose from) atop a bowl of brown or white rice for $7. Located on the bottom corner of this Kapahulu apartment building it's easy to miss (look for the bright green-ish paint) but hard to leave once you take a bite. Locals love the big portions of fish and rice. There's also fridge with some to-go things for a snack

Ono Seafood

747 Kapahulu, Honolulu HI

9a-6p

Local Chocolatier - Chocole'a (Oahu)

This year we started out the New Year eating mochi--chocolate covered mochi, that is. Chocole'a, which opened a month ago in Manoa, offers an assortment of handcrafted chocolate pieces crafted by the local guys in the back and the warm gals manning the store front. After trying a variety of their pieces (and buying some for friends and family) we concluded that the ones with strawberry and/or orange mochi in the middle is the store's forte. Pieces range around $2.25/each. 

I also thought the bags of chocolate covered pineapple, mango and Mac nuts were reasonably priced. I especially liked the freshness of the Mac nuts--no more boxes of Hawaiian Host for me. 

The store is located in Manoa town's main intersection. The store is cozy, the ingredients fresh and the branding and packaging finessed. If you're looking to support local female owned businesses and wanting a special treat for yourself or others, check out this new joint that's a bit off the beaten path yet close enough to town. 

Dominoes Train Game

The official name of the game is "Mexican  Train." I failed to find any background info on how or why the game is tied to the people of Mexico and am uncomfortable with the game name. Yet the game was, however, the "game of the year" among my extended family which each aunt, uncle, cousin and grandchild hooked (and family members running to the stores to get their own set). A game for all ages, it adds a twist to regular domino play by adding a level of strategy and some extra rules to make for a couple hours of family fun. ($49.99 at Target)

Tournament of Roses Parade

This year's theme, "Inspiring Stories," was one of my Rose Bowl parade favorites. With Hawaii raised Richard Chienen as the first Asian American President of the Tournament of Roses Parade, participants included the Maui High School Marching band, the Dole corporation's Sweepstakes Award winning float (photo above from the TV), colorfully dressed horses and paniolo riders from Hawaii, and Chienen's family decked in leis riding a classic American car. 

I appreciate the movement toward telling diverse stories of courage and inspiration through floats honoring the Japanese American 442 Regimental Battalion, the establishment of the first Sikh community, POWs, athletes who overcame medical hardships, medical doctors who died while serving those with Ebola, and more. 

What a nice way to kick off 2015. HNY!!

Hawaii's Marcus Mariota - Rose Bowl Game

Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota leads Oregon in today's Rose Bowl game against Florida State. Mariota, the first football player from Hawaii to win the Heisman, says "Ohana means family--that's it right there." Florida State was slated to win but Oregon is currently in the far lead.