In Stitches

So in our game against Arsenal today, I went for a rebound and rammed heads with this guy on the other team. Unfortunately, I got the “worst-er” of the exchange as the top of his head pounded the soft tissue right above my right eye, tearing me a good one… a nice-sized gash requiring 6 stitches. It didn’t hurt, but it bled like mad son!

Anyway, I’m actually kinda stoked about it because not only is it the first stitch action of my entire life, but I’m hoping that it’ll leave a manly looking scar, making me look like some thug or boxer or MMA fighter of some sort. LOL! Nah! Anyway, peace!

Shooting for Gas!

I swear… something with me and double dates is good luck. Not the kind of double date you’re probably thinking of though… I’m talking when the month and the day has the same number… You know like 01/01 or 02/02, etc. Let’s see… I was born on 06/06. I signed the papers for my first house on 10/10. The hefty check I got for flipping that house was delivered on 11/11. I signed the papers for my second house on 2/22. It’s odd, but funny.

Tonight was no different. Went to the UH Men’s Basketball game, like I have been all season. The Warriors took on the Broncos of Boise State for what was Riley Wallace’s last home game as head coach. At every game, Chevron has a Free Throws for Gas promotion at the 12 minute-left-in-the-game mark (timeout). The contestant gets 30 seconds to shoot as many times as he/she wants from the free throw line. For each made free throw (maximum of 5), they would win $5 for himself/herself as well as their entire row! All season long, most of them would shoot airballs or barely make 1 or 2 in the given time limit. In fact, I think there was only one person who was able to make 5 within the 30 second time limit. I would (silently) talk trash to them and tell myself that if _I_ ever did that, it would be a cake walk.

Well, my time came.

They called me down and said that my name was pulled to participate in that contest. I was like WTF? because I didn’t sign up for it. Then I realized that I must’ve put my name in the wrong box when trying to sign up for the good seats promo. After some convincing, I finally went down to the tunnel to wait for the 12 minute mark. I swear that was the longest 10 or so minutes of my life! I couldn’t concentrate on anything other than the larger than normal (here for Riley) crowd and how much I’d embarrass myself if I didn’t make any shots. Luckily, there was a ball there so I was able to dribble and do some mock shooting strokes to take my mind off of what was in store. AND… UH was thankfully leading by a comfortable margin so I probably wouldn’t be facing a hostile crowd.

And then it was showtime…

Feeling like nobody gave a damn in the world, I walked out onto the silent court in not the most ideal basketball attire (long pants and slippers). I saw big sis and niecey and made sure to send them some love. I could see sis double over in laughter as she realized what was going on. Then, through the blur, I heard emcee Billy V announce something about my row. So I looked up at them and they were all smiling, waving and cheering. I’d like to think that it was because they were genuinely rooting for me to do well, but we all know that it’s because they wanted $25 of free gas too! LOL! Nah! Much love for the support though row 9! We did it! 🙂

Anyway, back to the story… So as I was there waving to everyone and soaking up my 15 seconds of fame, I heard Billy V’s blurred voice become clear and say something about 30 seconds on the clock, so I scurried to the free throw line to get ready.

• First shot… Good! *crowd goes oh*
• Second shot… Good! *crowd goes ohhh a little louder*
• Third shot… Good! *crowd goes ohhhhhh even louder*
• Fourth shot… Good! *crowd goes ohhhhhhhhh even louder*
• Fifth shot… Good! *crowd goes crazy*

I did it! Something, I was told, nobody’s ever done before! I made my first 5 in a row. My adrenaline was going crazy! Even after I got back to my seat, giving high-fives along the way, I couldn’t calm down for at least 10 minutes! My hand was even shaking drinking my complimentary beer (Thanks Matt!).

In hidsight I probably should’ve lived it up a little more… maybe even risk getting arrested by running to Riley for a high-five (LOL!), but I was just so scared/nervous/riled up that after the 5th shot, I just walked right off the court. All in all, it was a fun time, and the main thing is that UH won 92-75…

Oh, by the way, this was on Saturday, March 3rd, 2007… Yep, 03/03…

Kau Kau Kauai – Part 3

Part I | Part II | Part III

Well, we’ve finally made it gang. The 3rd and final part in our Kau Kau Kauai series. Please! Hold back your tears!

In part 1, we spanned the Garden Isle for favorites such as Tip Top Motel & Cafe, Waimea Brewing Company, and Jo Jo’s Shave Ice. The 2nd part of our series took us to Ono’s Family Restaurant, Hamura’s Saimin and Duke’s, among others! Now, we’ll round it all out with stops at such hotspots like the Cafe Hanalei Sunday Brunch, Brick Oven Pizza and Polynesia Cafe.

Those previous Kau Kau Kauai adventures were written under the pretense that you were visiting these places all in a day’s work, when in actuality, each and every one of the Kauai restaurants were visited over the course of many, many visits there. The mishmash was then somehow puzzled together to create a single piece supposedly taking place over the course of one day. If you were fooled, please accept my humble apology. If you were not, but played along anyway, please accept my humble gratitude.

In this final piece, there ain’t no hidin’ it. It’s going to be a feeble attempt at throwing in the best of the rest, if you will, so prepare yourself for multiple breakfasts, numerous lunches, many dinners and miscellaneous treats in between for good measure. 😉

Conveniently located in the Coconut Marketplace in Kapa`a, Eggbert’s is not hard to find.

Eggbert’s Sign

Out front, they have a sign that boasts about their Loco Moco so guess what dis buggah just haaad to get.

Loco Moco from Eggbert’s

Out Honestly, the details are a bit fuzzy (I last visited there in October of 2005), but I do know that it wasn’t bad. As I’m sure with most of you, I only remember bad food experiences very vividly.

Eggbert’s Kauai Family Specialty Restaurant Coconut Marketplace 4-484 Kuhio Highway Kapa`a, Kauai, HI 96746 (map) (808) 822-3787

There were no plans on eating at this next stop really, but after many visitor requests about this place in my previous column, I just had to check things out at Dani’s for myself.

Dani’s Sign

I had the $6 Corn Beef Hash with 2 eggs and rice special. The other options for this special were Rego’s Portuguese Sausage (instead of the corned beef hash) and toast or hash brown (instead of rice).

Now because momma always taught me that if I have nothing good to say, don’t say anything at all, I’ll just say that I enjoyed my other Kauai breakfast stops a lot more. I know this is a local favorite, but to me, the portions were quite small and tasted “canned”.

Corned Beef Hash with Two Eggs & Rice

On the other hand, my eating partner Art enjoyed his $6.20 hamburger steak with scrambled eggs & rice combo.

Hamburger Steak with Scrambled Eggs & Rice

Dani’s Restaurant 4201 Rice Street Lihue, Kauai, HI 96766 (map) (808) 245-4991

Full yet? I’m just getting started my dears. Let’s drive on up to the the Princeville Resort where, every Sunday, they have the popular Cafe Hanalei Sunday Brunch.

The menu and prices are noted as subject to change without notice, but on this occasion, it boasted the following:

Salads:

• Kilauea Baby Greens with Assorted Dressings
• Crisp Romaine Caesar Style
• Chicken Pad Thai Noodle Salad
• Hawaiian Sweet Potato Salad
• Kailani Spinach and Chinese Duck Salad
• Spicy Crab and Kimchee with Cucumber
• Marinated Heart of Palm and Artichoke
• Spicy Thai Beef Salad
• Local Potato Macaroni Salad
• Thai Style Ahi Tuna Poke

Miscellaneous Salad Items

Chilled Seafood and Specialty Items:

• Iced Seafood Display
• Peel & Eat Shrimp, New Zealand Mussels and Dungeness Crab Legs
• Horseradish Spiked Cocktail Sauce
• Fresh Lemons
• California Rolls with Wasabi and Pickled Ginger
• Imported and Domestic Cheese Display
• Assorted Water Crackers and Breads
• Crisp Vegetable Crudite with Selection of Dips
• Atlantic Smoked Salmon Display
• Bagels and Cream Cheese with Red Onion and Capers
• Grilled Marinated Vegetable Display

Dungeness Crab Legs

Entrée:

• Fresh Island Catch of the Day
• Tossed Pasta of the Day
• Eggs Benedict
• Chef’s Brunch Potato
• Carved Slow Roasted Beef
• Wok Seared Kauai Prawns
• Moloaa Tomato Bisque
• Chinese Style Fried Rice
• Crisp Bacon, Link and Portuguese Sausage
• Stuffed Roasted Loin of Pork
• Pancit Noodles with Crispy Asian Duck
• Seasonal Local Vegetables
• Chef’s Omelette Station

Chef’s Omelette Station

Desserts:

• Pastry Chef’s Dessert Display
• Fresh Crepes with a Variety of Fillings
• Sliced Island Fruits

Fresh Crepes with Cherries and Vanilla Ice Cream

As made obvious by my packed plate, I was a fan…

Just part of the damage I was doing to the buffet….

Though the food is good, the highlight of the Sunday Brunch is actually the view. (! – If you come at the right time and request to sit outside, you may be able to get a table with an amazing view…)

Your view from Cafe Hanalei

Cafe Hanalei Sunday Brunch: 10AM-2PM Princeville Resort 5520 Ka Haku Road Princeville, Kauai, HI 96722 (map) (808) 826-9644 – TEL (808) 826-1166 – FAX

For the next two stops in our never ending day of gluttony, I have to apologize… Thumbing through my photo archives didn’t turn up many results in terms of usable pics. The Deli & Bread Connection, Inc. and Brick Oven Pizza are however, two stops that cannot go unmentioned.

Located in the Kukui Grove Shopping Center, this sandwich joint is always crowded during the lunch hour. They also sell fresh baked bread and, according to their business card, gourmet kitchenware as well.

Two different sandwiches from the Deli & Bread Connection, Inc.

Deli & Bread Connection, Inc. Kukui Grove Shopping Center 3-2600 Kaumualii Highway #1005 Lihue, Kauai, HI. 96766 (map) (808) 245-7115 (808) 245-3492 – FAX

Long revered as the best pizza on Kauai, Brick Oven Pizza sits conveniently off Kaumualii Highway in Kalaheo. These pizzas are hella fresh and homemade in their brick hearth.

Pepperoni and mushroom pizza from Brick Oven Pizza

Brick Oven Pizza 2-2555 Kaumualii Hwy Kalaheo, Kauai, HI 96741 (map) (808) 332-8561 Tues-Sunday 11AM-10PM Closed on Mondays

While we’re here, we might as well cross the street and continue our foodfest at the Kalaheo Cafe & Coffee Co.

Kalaheo Cafe & Coffee Co. Sign

Not only do they serve delicious coffee from the wee hours of the morning, they also offer fresh baked breads and serve up a healthy menu for lunch and dinner. On this occasion, I ordered up their special of the day: Eggs scrambled with roasted veggies & a tiger shrimp seafood mix, topped with hollandaise sauce & served with hash browns & toast for $10.25.

Eggs scrambled with roasted veggies & a tiger shrimp seafood mix, topped with hollandaise sauce & served with hash browns & toast for $10.25.

Kalaheo Cafe & Coffee Co. 2-2560 Kaumualii Hwy Kalaheo, HI. 96741 (map) (808) 332-5858 (808) 332-5868 FAX (800) 255-0137 Toll Free Email: javatalk@kalaheo.com Open daily from 6:30AM-2:30PM Dinners are Wed-Sat from 5:30 PM

We’ve finally reached the end of the road gang. Our last stop in this journey of Kauai Kau Kau takes us back north to the city of Hanalei. Located just inside the main entrance of the Ching Young Village Shopping Center, Polynesia Cafe is one of those pleasant surprises you won’t find very often. Billing themselves as gourmet food on paper plates, this little surfer’s-style cafe delivers on that mantra.

Entrance to Polynesia Cafe

Their menu is chock-full of gourmet entrees like Mac-Nut Herb Crusted Ahi or Thai Tofu & Veggie, salads, sandwiches and a variety of Mexican dishes. They even had a dessert case filled with tasty looking delights.

Dessert case at Polynesia Cafe

On this occasion, we ordered up Sesame Chicken and Chicken Quesadilla and a Lemon Bar for good measure for dessert.

On the menu, the Sesame Chicken was defined as “orange ginger glaze with curry batter” and went for $9.95. It came with mixed veggies and was served over a bed of rice.

Sesame Chicken – orange ginger glaze with curry batter for $9.95

The Chicken Quesadilla went for $8.95 and came with rice, beans and condiments for the quesadilla.

Chicken Quesadilla from Polynesia Cafe for $8.95

I don’t quite recall how much the lemon bar was, but lemme tell ya, it was worth every fattening bite!

Lemon Bar from Polynesia Cafe

Polynesia Cafe Ching Young Village Shopping Center 5300 Ka Haku Road Hanalei, HI 96714 (map) (808) 826-1999

…Annnnd I’m spent!

So there you have it! The season finale, the fairytale ending, the photo finish… You won’t ever have to hear the words “Kau Kau Kauai” and “World Wide Ed” in the same sentence anymore… Well, at least until I work on the prequels. *grin*

Much love for hanging in there with me gang. It was fun! Now… to work on “Munchy Maui” and “Broke Da Mout’ Big Island!” 😉

Part I | Part II | Part III