Posts Tagged ‘Chef Chai’

Joy of Sake Info & How-To Guide

July 18, 2014

Tonight, at the Hawaii Convention Center, the world’s largest sake celebration outside Japan takes place, offering the opportunity to taste 370 premium labels in peak condition and eat ono kine grindz from 19 top restaurants from Hawaii and California! I think it’s still not too late to purchase your Joy of Sake tickets for the event, so go getum!

Joy of Sake
Joy of Sake

The following is a guide for those who will be attending this year.

Joy of Sake how-to guide – (from Frolic Hawaii’s Mari Taketa)

  1. Nobody gets through all 370 sake, so stop worrying about that. Thirty to 40 is a very good sampling.
  2. If you’ve never tried sake, start with a daiginjo A. It’ll be floral, nuanced, gentle, a good intro.
  3. Check the card in front of each sake: It’ll tell you if judges awarded it a gold or silver star in its category. No star doesn’t mean it’s bad. The overall level of sake entered in Joy of Sake judging is impressive and hard to match even in Japan, where the JOS tour ends this fall after a stop in New York next month.
  4. If you see a black star, that sake isn’t available in the U.S. The card also tells you where it was made, in case you’re interested in sake from a particular region.
  5. If you’re a novice, don’t worry about searching for the harmony of taste, aroma, body and texture the pros look for. Everyone will have a different personal favorite. Just sip to find what you like.

Crab Parfait with dashi gelee, soy milk mousse and crunchy green beans - from Kaiwa
Crab Parfait with dashi gelee, soy milk mousse and crunchy green beans – from Kaiwa

And here’s the list of restaurants and their featured dishes for the night!

  • Banzai Sushi Bar – Seared Opah marinated in vinegar, dashi and soy sauce with lemon, garden vegetables and needle-cut chili peppers
  • BLT Steak – Torched Steak Tartare with rice crisp & horseradish
  • Buho Cocina y Cantina – Slow-cooked Pork Belly Tacos with pineapple pico and achiote aioli on homemade tortillas
  • Cakeworks – Plum Wine, Pikake & Green Tea Gelee
  • Chef Chai – Shrimp Salad with lemongrass mango dressing on a crispy wonton chip
  • Doraku – Dashimaki Tamago with minced scallop, shrimp, Kona kampachi and yamaimo mountain yam
  • Gokujo Sushi – Gokujo spicy ahi or California temaki sushi
  • Halekulani – Olive Oil-poached Cubed Salmon with horseradish and watercress salad
  • Hoku’s (The Kahala Hotel & Resort) – Roast Pork Summer Roll with umeboshi honey paste & Asian slaw
  • Hopscotch (Oakland) – Tri-tip Yukke with pine nuts and quail egg
  • Kaiwa – Crab Parfait with dashi gelee, soy milk mousse and crunchy green beans
  • Koko Head Cafe – Mazemen Soba with crispy chicken skin, parmesan dashi cream and carmelized onion tsuyu
  • Memphis Minnie’s BBQ Joint (San Francisco) – 18-hour slow-smoked Texas Beef Brisket
  • Migrant Maui – Migrant Adobo with mushrooms, bay leaf rice, atchara pickled green papaya and Boy Bawang
  • MW Restaurant – “Spam” Musubi of mochi-crusted smoked pork and arabiki meatloaf
  • The Pig and The Lady – Freshly grilled layers of betel leaf, minced garlic beef and a shiitake cap filled with sake and a drop of artisan Red Boat
  • Pili Group – Molokai Venison with Namihana Hawaiian Shochu and fresh pa`i`ai
  • Three Fat Pigs – Featured Dish: Kauai Shrimp Poisson Cru
  • Vintage Cave Honolulu – Featured Dish: Oyster with yuzu & ginger

Mazemen Soba with crispy chicken skin, parmesan dashi cream and carmelized onion tsuyu - from Koko Head Cafe
Mazemen Soba with crispy chicken skin, parmesan dashi cream and carmelized onion tsuyu – from Koko Head Cafe

Joy of Sake Honolulu
Friday, July 18, 2014 from 6:30pm-9pm (5:30pm for early bird ticket holders)
Hawaii Convention Center
1801 Kalakaua Ave
Honolulu, HI 96815

Freshly grilled layers of betel leaf, minced garlic beef and a shiitake cap filled with sake and a drop of artisan Red Boat - from The Pig and The Lady
Freshly grilled layers of betel leaf, minced garlic beef and a shiitake cap filled with sake and a drop of artisan Red Boat – from The Pig and The Lady

=============================================================

VH07V Facebook
VH07V FB
(“Like” VH07V!)
Facebook
Facebook
(Add me! 😛 )
Twitter
Twitter
(Follow me!)
Blog
Blog
(Random stuffs)

=============================================================

Like Hawaii Self Storage on Facebook!

Like Hawaii Self Storage on Facebook!
Like Hawaii Self Storage on Facebook!

Aloha Brisbane! – Part I: Hawaiian Airlines Launches Their Newest Route to Australia (#AlohaBNE)

December 5, 2012

 

 Part I  | Part II | Part III

 

Traveling to Australia has always been a dream of mine. I mean, let's face it, they've got so many interesting and unique things going for them…

  • Their seasons are completely opposite from ours.
  • They've got koalas and kangaroos to ogle over.
  • They have cute sayings like "G'day Mate!", "Barbie" (BBQ), and "Oi (Oi Oi)!" (LOL!)
  • Their toilet seats (supposedly) flush in the opposite direction.
  • Regional Beers like Hahn, Tooheys and XXXX.
  • And, uh, Vegemite… I guess.

So when the opportunity arose for me to join Hawaiian Airlines' inaugural flight to Brisbane, I could not say "Yer, mate" fast enough!

On Tuesday, November 27th, of 2012, Hawaiian Airlines launched its newest direct route to Australia's third most populous city: Brisbane. Like some of Hawaiian's previous inaugural flights (Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka, Seoul, New York City and Sapporo), they invited members of the (new) media to help document the journey, every step of the way. The recruits this time around were Melissa Chang (@Melissa808) of NonstopHonolulu.com, Catherine Toth (@thedailydish) of TheCatDish.com, Kaleo Lancaster (@islandtrails) of Island Trails, and myself (@worldwideed) of World-Wide-Ed.com.

 


Hawaiian Airlines Flies to Brisbane, Australia! (via HawaiianAirlines' YouTube channel)

 

It was a whirlwind 3 day, 2-night tour, but we definitely got to experience Brisbane the only way Hawaiian Airlines knows how: with Aloha. Here are some of the sights and sounds that we were fortunate enough to experience.

Hula dancers giving us a nice sendoff
Hula dancers giving us a nice sendoff

HA443 departs Honolulu at 10:20am every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday and arrives in Brisbane (BNE) at 4pm the following day.

Blessing by Kahu Richard Kamanu
Blessing by Kahu Richard Kamanu

The awesome Hawaiian Airlines crew for our HA443 flight to Brisbane
The awesome Hawaiian Airlines crew for our HA443 flight to Brisbane

 


On the flight to Brisbane (via AlohaMelissa808's YouTube channel)

 


On the flight to Brisbane (via thedailydish's YouTube channel)

 

After about 10 hours in the air, we finally get to the beautiful city of Brisbane
After about 10 hours in the air, we finally get to the beautiful city of Brisbane

These two (Melissa Chang and Catherine Toth) are happy to be on the ground
These two (Melissa Chang and Catherine Toth) are happy to be on the ground

Our hale for the next few days was the French based luxury hotel chain called Sofitel Brisbane Central Hotel. Conveniently located in the middle of the city, it was in walking distance to quite a few key points during our trip, including ANZAC Square, which was literally across the street. Here's the view from my hotel room window!

Looking down at ANZAC Square from the Sofitel Brisbane Central Hotel
Looking down at ANZAC Square from the Sofitel Brisbane Central Hotel

It wasn't long before we had to get dolled up (I wore a tie!) and head down to the Ballroom Le Grand for the official Welcome Gala.

Hawaiian Airlines Welcome Gala
Hawaiian Airlines Welcome Gala

It was a packed house filled with members of the local (Brisbane) media, tour industry professionals, airline executives, and local entertainers Sean Na`auao and Lehua Kalima (formerly of Na Leo), among others.

 


Lehua Kalima Sings "Waikiki" at the Hawaiian Airlines Welcome Gala

Hawaiian Airlines President and CEO Mark Dunkerley addresses the crowd
Hawaiian Airlines President and CEO Mark Dunkerley addresses the crowd

And of course, we can't forget about the food p0rn shots! 😉

Bomboocha wok of fried rice!
Bomboocha wok of fried rice!

My serving of fried rice
My serving of fried rice

Poke samplers
Poke samplers

Chef Chai's popular Fried Kataifi Prawns
Chef Chai's popular Fried Kataifi Prawns

Following the gala, we decided to take a stroll around our neighborhood.

The Shrine of Remembrance at ANZAC Square
The Shrine of Remembrance at ANZAC Square

Possibly the best named street in all the land: Edward Street. 8)
Possibly the best named street in all the land: Edward Street. 8)

Brisbane's cool CityCycle bike hire program
Brisbane's cool CityCycle bike hire program

We decided to check out a popular local pub called the Pig 'N' Whistle on Queen Street.

Partial beer selection on tap
Partial beer selection on tap

Since we weren't that hungry, we just got a side of "chips" (fries in the U.S.) to share.

Chunky Chips with Garlic Aioli ($8.90)
Chunky Chips with Garlic Aioli ($8.90)

After all that eating and drinking, combined with our jetlag, it was time to call it a night. From the expressions on the ladies' faces, I think they agreed.

Cat and Melissa are either extremely drunk or jetlagged. You decide.
Cat and Melissa are either extremely drunk or jetlagged. You decide.

And that's it for our first night in Brisbane. I'll be back again soon to post more about our adventures including South Bank, King of Kings Seafood Yum Cha Restaurant in Chinatown, Alfred & Constance, koala and kangaroo sightings at the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, The Shelter Bar, and our departure.

To view more photos from the trip and get a sneak preview of what's to come:
https://picasaweb.google.com/114302480978989244855/AlohaBrisbaneAlohaBNE

Melissa Chang's #AlohaBNE blogs:
http://www.nonstophonolulu.com/?s=brisbane&searchsubmit=Go

Catherine Toth's #AlohaBNE blogs:
http://www.thecatdish.com/?s=brisbane

Kaleo Lancaster's #AlohaBNE blog:
http://kaleolancaster.blogspot.com/2012/12/brisbane-australia-hawaiian-airlines.html

My #AlohaBNE blogs/posts:
http://www.world-wide-ed.com/?s=brisbane

Instagram search results for #AlohaBNE:
http://web.stagram.com/tag/alohabne/

Twitter search results for #AlohaBNE:
https://twitter.com/search?q=%23AlohaBNE&src=typd

 

 Part I  | Part II | Part III

 

VH07V
VH07V Gear
The latest in Hawaii lifestyle apparel. Check it out!