Almost Homeroom : Macaroni and Cheese

Sorry for the late post...I had my setting wrong.  Senior moment. . .and foreshadowing of what to expect soon.

This year I'm trying something different.  The Help bought the turkey dinner package from Safeway.  I've never had the Safeway dinner.  A few years ago, The Help bought the Sack N Save turkey dinner.  It will be nice to compare them.  Zippy's also offers a pre-made meal, but the cost is nearly double the Safeway meal.
Since he has taken much of the work off my hands, I can expend my effort into making side dishes and dessert.  The meal comes with mashed potatoes, but since I don't think potato salad (a traditional local side dish) goes well with roast turkey and gravy, I think I will make macaroni and cheese instead.

Over the years, I have had some really good macaroni and cheese both at restaurants and at home.  Kincaid's makes a kick ass lobster macaroni and cheese.  12th Avenue Grill is known for their macaroni and cheese with alii oyster mushrooms.  I've made different versions of Barefoot Contessa's macaroni and cheese, and there is probably an infamous blue box, or two, in my pantry as I'm writing this post.  While I like to consider myself a macaroni and cheese connoisseur, I'm not the picky eater in my home.  D2 is the picky eater, and out of all the macaroni and cheese, save EasyMac, this is the only version she doesn't complain about.

This recipe was adapted from a macaroni and cheese recipe served at the Homeroom Restaurant in Oakland, CA.  You can find that recipe here.  I have never been to the Homeroom Restaurant, but I would like to purchase their cookbook and try more macaroni and cheese variations.  I would have made the Homeroom version exactly as posted, but I didn't have the same cheeses.  I am not fond of sharp cheddar either so I wasn't about to send The Help to the supermarket to buy the exact cheese.

My friend OllieMama grew up in Northern Cal, but she said she has not been to the restaurant either.  Maybe she can pay them a visit on her next trip home.  I don't have any plans to be in the Oakland area anytime soon, so until then, I will just enjoy my copycat version.  I suppose she will read this and ask me to save a portion for her to enjoy after Thanksgiving.

click on recipe title for printable recipe

Almost Homeroom Macaroni and Cheese

     2 c milk

     3 tbsp butter

     1/4 c flour

     1 1/4 tsp salt

     8-9 oz uncooked pasta

     4 oz shredded colby & jack cheese

     1 1/2 oz grated parmesan cheese (about 1/2 cup)

     1/4 c panko or breadcrumbs, optional

Cook pasta according to package directions.  Drain and rinse in cold water.  Allow pasta to drain while preparing sauce.  Heat milk in microwave for 2 minutes.  Melt butter in a heavy dutch oven over medium heat.  Add flour and whisk until golden brown.  Add hot milk, whisking constantly until milk is fully incorporated.  Cook 3 minutes until sauce thickens.  Add salt.  If not salty enough, add another 1/4 tsp of salt.  Stir in cheeses.  When mixture is smooth, gently stir in cooked pasta.  Heat until pasta is hot, about 3 minutes.  Serve immediately.

You may also place in 2 1/2-3 quart baking dish, sprinkle with panko or breadcrumbs, and bake at 400 degrees for 25-30 minutes, but I prefer to eat this without baking.

Almost Canlis: Almost Canlis Salad

It's a holiday today.  Memorial Day. . .the day to remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.  Thank you. 

One of my friends shared this story on FB, and by the end of the text, I was in tears.  Once again, thank you, thank you, thank you. 

I am home, knee deep in poly-whatever tubing, ribbons, and candy.  The impulse sealer is on the counter, and my fingers are aching from tying countless bows (mostly blue).  This can mean one thing. . .the school year is winding down.

Graduation season is here!

In less than a week, I will be the parent of a high school graduate, at least I sure fricken hope so. . .given the volume of robocalls I received this past week, I am just crossing my fingers.  When the phone rings between 6:00pm and 6:30pm, my heart skips a beat.  Not again!

Last week Wednesday was senior awards night.  Seniors receiving scholarships and commencement honors were celebrated during a 2+ hour-long program at the auditorium.  Mr. Dependable and his mom actually arrived on time!  D2 only bitched once!  and D1 did okay! 

To top it off, we got a lot done last week:

• After passing a competency exam, The Help completed his paperwork for a new employment opportunity.  He's not as excited as the rest of us, but I think he is looking forward to the challenge and the experience it will bring.  His mom is happy!
• D2 participated in her final band concert.  Yeah!  No more afterschool practices.  No more practice cards.  No more snare drum.  Her teacher has been bugging her (and me!) about changing her schedule for next school year to accommodate band practice.  Apparently, she learned a skill from D1 (say yes to placate but do nothing to execute).
• D1 took her math placement exam and registered for classes.  The math placement test was the precursor to registering for classes, and that darn kid put off taking it for so long.  When she finally got around to taking the practice test, she was flustered because she scored 3 points below what she needed to score (in order to get into the recommended math class for her major).  She put off taking the class for another week to get tutoring from her former math teacher.  That's when she realized she made stupid, careless mistakes.  When she took the real test, she scored well-above what she needed to score.  Whew!  Anyway, she was able to register for classes and is stupidly excited about a night lab she is taking.  She is even more excited that her first class doesn't start until after 10 am.
• And I survived my EES rating!  EES is the educator effectiveness system, which translates into a major headache for most educators (teachers and school administrators).  The process is so labor-intensive and time consuming that one had to wonder what the brass was smoking when they came up with that baby.

The weather here continues to amaze me.  How can it be May and I'm still wearing boots and poofy coats to work?  Serious.  There were a few days last week where it was so cold that 3M complained that she was freezing in her cashmere sweater.  She even considered going home to change/grab a jacket.

On Saturday, we finally saw the sun.  In spite of still being ill, the sun made me feel upbeat and we ventured out to the farmers market.  I bought some lettuce and tomato, just so I could make this salad.  Unfortunately, by the time dinner rolled around, the weather turned back to winter.  It became cold and damp, and I found myself wanting a bowl of soup instead of this lovely salad, a copykat recipe of the signature salad served at the Canlis Restaurant.

The Canlis Restaurant is an old-time Seattle restaurant.  It's on the southern end of Aurora Avenue somewhere between Ballard and Queen Anne (more Queen Anne, I think).  There was once a Canlis Restaurant (same owner) in Honolulu, but that closed up many years ago.  I wish they were still open so I could go there and have this salad.  I guess my only option now is to go to Seattle to have it!

click on recipe title for printable recipe

Almost Canlis Salad

Salad:  2 heads romaine, chopped in 1-inch pieces

            2 large tomatoes or 1 dozen cherry tomatoes

            1/2 c parmesan cheese, shredded

            2 tsp mint, chopped

            1 tsp oregano, chopped

            4 stalks green onion, chopped

            1 c croutons

            2/3 c-1 c bacon bits or 1 lb bacon, fried crisp and chopped

Dressing:  1 clove garlic

                 5 tbsp EVOO

                 3 tbsp lemon juice

                 1/2 tsp salt

                 1/2 tsp pepper

                 1 coddled egg (gently drop in boiling water for 1 minute; remove to bowl of ice water)

Arrange salad ingredients in a large, shallow bowl or large platter.  Whisk dressing ingredients together.  Pour over salad and toss lightly.  Serves 6.

Restaurant Chatter: Restaurant Osaka

Restaurant Osaka, 762 Kanoelehua Avenue, (808)961-6699

If you ask the Ds where they'd like to go out to dinner, 9 out of 10 times, they will answer emphatically, "Restaurant Osaka!"  Restaurant Osaka opened in the mid 80s and originally served Japanese and local food.  I vividly remember when it opened because the owner was the brother of my then-boyfriend.  I missed the grand opening because I was away at college, but as soon as I came home for the summer, my ex-boyfriend's family hosted a dinner there.

katsudon

The katsudon (tonkatsu or chicken katsu donburi) has been on the menu since the restaurant opened.  When I cannot decide what to order, I usually fall back on the katsudon. 

I cannot explain why the Ds cannot get enough of Restaurant Osaka.  We go there mutliple times a month, and I'm sure they Ds also go there with Mr. Dependable.  The nice ladies stopped giving the Ds menus years ago because they always order the same thing:  tempura udon with the tempura on the side (D1) and plain udon (D2).  I thought Betty was going to faint once when D1 ordered something else!

tempura on the side

tonk combo

Sometime around a decade ago, Restaurant Osaka changed ownership.  The new owner's wife, who is Korean, added Korean food to the menu.

The "tonk combo" is a popular selection.  It comes with teriyaki chicken, tonkatsu (or chicken katsu), fried mandoo, macaroni-potato salad, and rice.  I'm happy to report that there is not a speck of mustard in the salad.  They do give you a small dish of hot mustard (guessing its for the mandoo), but it is easily moved off the plate and across the table.

stir fried spicy ika (squid/calamari)

bi bim bap

I think Restaurant Osaka makes best bi bim bap in Hilo.  They also serve it in the heated ceramic bowl for a few dollars more.

Although I often cringe when the Ds suggest Restaurant Osaka for dinner, I will be the first to admit that Restaurant Osaka does an excellent job of frying their katsu.  It bothers me when I go out to eat and find that restaurants don't fry their katsu well.  Frying is something that many people do, but many people do not do it well.  Confounding!

Here are some tips for katsu making:

• One mistake many people make from the get-go is not preparing the meat properly.  In order for katsu to fry evenly, the meat needs to be a uniform thickness, and it cannot be too thick.  A meat mallet is essential for making katsu.  Pound pork or chicken between pieces of saran wrap to make the job neater.  
• Place flour, eggs, and panko in wide, shallow dishes to make the breading process easier.  Some people talk about using 1 had to work with wet ingredients and the other hand to work with wet ingredients.  I've had some success in doing this, but after a while, things get yucky anyway.

breading set up

• Bread everything first, then fry. 
• Its not necessary to deep fry katsu.  Oil at a depth of 1/2" in a wide skillet is ample for frying katsu.  
• Use kitchen shears to cut katsu into strips.  A dull knife tends to remove the breading.
• Buy good sauce:  Bulldog and Ikari are good brands.  If it looks like ketchup, it probably tastes like ketchup too.
• The same breading technique can be used for shrimp, calamari, mushrooms, etc.  If using shrimp or calamari, blot excess moisture with a paper towel before flouring.

click on recipe title for printable recipe

Katsu (Tonkatsu or Chicken Katsu)

     pork cutlets or chicken breast, pounded to 1/4" thickness

     salt & pepper

     flour

     eggs, beaten

     panko

     oil for frying

Sprinkle pork or chicken with salt and pepper.  Dust with flour, shaking off excess flour.  Dip both sides of floured meat in beaten eggs.  Immediately coat with panko.  Heat 1/2" oil in a skillet.  Fry katsu until golden brown on one side.  Turn over and fry other side.  Drain on paper towels.  Slice into strips and serve on a bed of shredded cabbage with tonkatsu sauce on the side.

Restaurant Chatter: Le Magic Pan

Its almost Independence Day, and that makes me really sad because that means in a two weeks I'll be heading back to the salt mines.  I feel like I didn't get to do much at all this summer (thank goodness for the overnight trip to Honolulu) because it was so short and invaded by work.  After watching all the Formula One races on Speed, I'm hungry (in my own little way) for some adventure.  Oh, how I wish I liked flying. 

waiting for my crepe

One of my favorite F1 races happens to be the grandest race of them all. . .the Monaco Grand Prix.  The street circuit is absolutely killer. . .hairpin turns near apartment buildings make driving at top speeds suicidal.  Of course, I can only dream about going to Monaco, as the long flight to get there is a major turn-off.  I haven't even thought about the cost of going, although I'm sure that itself would be prohibitive.

side salad

ham, cheese & mushroom crepe

But with three years of high school French and a  year of college French under my belt, I've always been fascinated by France and French-speaking countries like Monaco.  Alas, the closest I'll get to Monaco/Paris would be Tahiti; the plane ride there is much shorter, and there are direct (I hope) flights from Honolulu to Papeete.  And I don't think the threat of the vile, Devil's condiment is as omnipresent in Tahiti as it would be in France.  In the meantime, I'll continue to dine at Le Magic Pan, Hilo's only crepe restaurant, and pretend I am 12 hours away (Monaco time is 12-hours ahead of Hawaii). 

Located on the Hamakua end of Keawe Street, Le Magic Pan opened a few years ago, and, knock on wood, has managed to survive the Hilo curse.  On some evenings, there is live music (not hard rock, not Hawaiian, not reggae, not rap), and unlike other restaurants, the musicians play at a volume which still allows table conversation.  The last time we were there, there was a pianist and a flutist.  Really nice and enjoyable.

apple walnut crepe a la mode

The Ds like going to Le Magic Pan because they can have dessert for dinner.  Part of the charm is that you can watch your crepe being prepared.  They also offer espresso drinks and wine.  I love how the tables are covered in brown paper.

nutella & strawberry crepe

love the Venus

While the menu is not too large, there are daily specials listed on the board.  In addition to crepes, Le Magic Pan serves soups and salads.  And I am quite certain they are the only restaurant in Hilo with Venus of Willendorf salt shakers!

BTW, the next Grand Prix race is 6 days from now, the British Grand Prix.  I will be cheering for the McLaren boyz, Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button.  Given what I know about British food, I will likely not be inspired to post a recipe based on the great culinary traditions of Great Britain.  Haggis, anyone?

strawberry and banana dessert crepe

even the shingle is charming

Two Sundays ago, we took a day trip out to Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii, to hike the 4+ mile round trip into Kilauea Iki crater.  This was the first time for both Ds and only my second time.  It was a cool (but rain-less) day, which made this experience much more pleasant than my first time.  We also went into the crater via the "switchbacks" and came out via the "stairs".  This allowed us to time to rest on the benches (the switchback way has no benches).  Unfortunately, the most difficult section of the crater (the rocky section) has to be navigated just before the stairs, which makes me seriously wonder if this way was any easier.

Create a slideshow design

Restaurant Chatter: Full Moon Cafe

Surfboard sign outside the restaurant

storefront

Hilo is now in the recovery phase...recovering from the 49th annual Merrie Monarch Festival.  The Merrie Monarch Festival is a week-long hula extravaganza, dedicated to the memory of King David Kalakaua, who was known as the "merrie monarch".  In that week, Hilo is abuzz with craft fairs, traditional Hawaiian food offerings, and dancing exhibitions.  The week culminates with three huge events.  The Miss Aloha Hula contest takes place on Thursday evening.  The halau (dance troupe) kahiko competition is on Friday evening, and the halau auana competition is on Saturday evening.  Each halau is led by a kumu hula (main hula instructor).  Announcement of the winning halau takes place on Saturday, following the auana competition, so Saturday is a very late night.  This year, there was no Big Island halau represented in the competition.  Kinda sad.

glass noodles with pork

If you are here and hoping to see Merrie Monarch Festival pics, I will save you a lot of trouble and tell you there are none in this post, and there will not be any until, possibly next year (50th anniversary of the festival).  I did my best this year to avoid the crowds this year.  Next year, I plan to hang out at events and see the "head gear".  It amazes me how some women have these elaborate floral arrangements atop their head.  Makes me wonder how much salons charge to put something like that together.  Or would a florist be the one to do it?

close-up of glass noodle dish

I was hoping to eat some Hawaiian food this week, but it didn't happen.  In my attempt to avoid the throngs/masses/asses of people everywhere with even a remote connection to the festival (Ken's Pancake House, Farmers Market, KTA...yes, KTA), I cut off the possibility of Hawaiian food (okay, well, I did go to KTA, but not on Sunday).  I decided to  play it safe and do Thai instead.

penang curry with tofu

In spite of being a small town, Hilo definitely has its fair share of Thai restaurants.  I know of at least five places in the downtown area.  There are two Thai restaurants on Kalakaua Street alone.  Chiang Mai is located next to Kalakaua Park (where lotsa bums & ne'er do wells hang out).  Further makai (towards the ocean) on the next block is Full Moon Cafe.  Full Moon Cafe is a gem of an eatery that serves up fresh food with vibrant flavors.  And bums aren't hanging out in the immediate vicinity either.

spring rolls---only okay

I wanted to try the pad thai, but I was intrigued by the glass noodle dish.  It was delicious.  The Help wanted to try a curry dish so he chose penang curry with tofu (note to self:  next time, go with green curry and shrimp or chicken).  Its not that the penang curry wasn't good; green curry is Kikukat's favorite thai curry.  The jasmine rice was nice and fluffy.

The only somewhat disappointing dish was the spring rolls.  I swear its the same mediocre spring rolls served at Charley's Thai Restaurant in Waimea, and I swear it comes frozen in a bag from Costco.  The spicy peanut sauce that came with it was very tasty...full of peanuts.  Its a shame it wasn't paired with good spring rolls (Hilo Rice Noodle or Royal Siam).  The Help ordered Thai iced tea, which he liked but I found "bleccchhh".  I can't get past the burnt bamboo taste which can't even be covered up with tons of sugar and condensed milk.  If I wanted to eat burnt bamboo, I could do it for free with the bamboo in my yard!

peanut sauce for spring rolls

Overall, I did enjoy Full Moon Cafe and will definitely be going back to try the pad thai and green curry.  The service was fast and courteous, and the tables were large enough to accommodate the multiple dishes we ordered.  They even had Diet Coke (as opposed to Diet Pepsi)!

tables are large enough to accommodate dishes without crowding

Parking is available on the street, just be sure to go when its not movie time or else you'll be competing with Kress Cinema movie-goers for parking stalls.  A few doors up from Full Moon Cafe is Full Moon Coffee (same owners, do doubt).  Full Moon Coffee serves breaksfast-type food, sandwiches, and, of course, coffee drinks.  I can't remember if I saw any burnt bamboo drinks on their menu.  No matter. . .I wouldn't order anyway.

Work-wise, the week went well. . . nothing remarkable.  I considered calling in sick on Wednesday.  I was very congested and sinus-y, probably an allergic reaction to one of the placeholders who was at a meeting with me on Tuesday.  I'm convinced that some people just talk to hear the sound of their own voice.  And the more they talk, the more they let on to how little they know.  No wonder the Hawaii educational system is so messed up.

Speaking of messed up, most of my lunches for the week  were, predictably, egg-salad sandwiches.  I like egg salad, but I think there should be a two-day limit on eating them.  I'm so over egg-salad sandwiches for a while. I broke down on Thursday and went to J & J for a lechon (fried pork belly) plate.  Forgive me, but it was either that, pigs feet adobo, or go nuts, so I sacrificed my arteries for the greater good.

I paid a weekend visit to my new favorite pampering place, Nicole's Salon & Spa in Keaau.  I needed grooming (Jennifer) and a pedi-paw clip (Tiffany).  I figured Keaau was beyond the Merrie Monarch inundation zone. Ross welcomed me back with open arms, and I showed my appreciation by buying two Free People blouses.  I was tempted to buy a few more things, but I figured I could go back anytime (until Lent next year).

I also paid another visit to Hilo Bay Cafe and tried to do a mobile post from there, but due to technical difficulties, I wasn't able to post the title/picture/text combination from my phone.  I'm still trying to figure out whats wrong.  I am able to post text from my phone, but once I add the picture, it won't go through.  This is even more puzzling because I managed to post a title/picture/text last weekend.  I tried doing a post from my iPad, and it worked okay, but I refuse to carry my iPad around with me and use it as a camera just to post.  Like I said, the frustrating part is that it was working just fine last weekend.

I'm ending this week's post with a joke from my pal Kevo, his contribution to the Merrie Monarch Festival.  "How does a kumu hula say hello?"  The answer:  "halau".  Ya get it?  Hello?????  Halau?????  Awwwwww. . .

some people need to learn how to park

Restaurant Chatter: Miyo's

entry way with kissing fish

Work sucks.  Anyone else feel the same way?  Maybe the problem for us is that we actually care about doing a good job.  We care what others think.  We get frustrated when others make the shittiest, bone-headed decisions.  Thats why I'm very grateful for my weekends.  Weekends give me the break I need to recharge and be strong enough for the bullshit of the week.  Weekends are also the time to go out for leisurely meals.  One of my favorite places in Hilo which has withstood the test of time is Miyo's.

The Hilo I know has a reputation as a business deathbed.  With the exception of anchors Macy's and Sears, the stores in Prince Kuhio Plaza change often.   Restaurants, both locally owned and national restaurant chains, have often met the same sad fate.  But one local restaurant, in spite of a bucket load of odds against it, has managed to survive while others have failed.  Miyo's Restaurant, located in the Waiakea Villas complex, just five minutes away from General Lyman Field (Hilo Airport), seems to have cheated death in Hilo.  So how did this hole-in-the-wall manage to brave tough times in such a hick little town?

For starters, lets look at why Miyo's should not have survived.  The location, while seemingly convenient, has had a history of economic failure.  What began as a Sheraton property has deterioriated to something resembling tenement housing.  It is on the edge of this complex that Miyo's took up shop on the second floor of a dark, dimly lit building without handicap access.  Bathrooms are located downstairs, which means diners will need to descend a steep staircase and go further into the bowels of the building.  Local talk is that the bathrooms are haunted by spirits, no doubt casualties from the tsunamis which have inundated the area.  Miyo's is also understaffed and hopelessly crowded.  On a Friday evening, be prepared to be bumped by other diners making their way to their tables.  And if you are like me and have a major gecko phobia, going to Miyo's at night is out of the question.

tonkatsu & tempura

In spite of all this stacked against them, Miyo's has thrived for at least 15 years.  Perhaps Miyo's hit upon a timeless formula for staying afloat:  know your clientele.  Hilo is as "old school" as it gets.  Hilo people love consistency.  They like going to places where they know the menu will not change drastically, both in offerings and in prices.  The menu at Miyo's has expanded over the past two decades, however the same items on the menu in 1995 are still on the menu today.  While the prices are different, Miyo's has raised prices gradually over the course of time, masking any price gouging.

When Miyo's opened, the signature dish was sesame chicken.  Its still on the menu, and it is impossible to recreate at home, as the ingredients in the sesame sauce are indistinguishable.  I ate it all the time, until I decided to try other things.  I like the fried oysters, sauteed salmon, broiled saba, tonkatsu and sauteed eggplant.  Most of the plates come with a mound of fresh veggies, and if you request it, you can get the mayonnaise-based sesame dressing (on my to-do list of things to try and recreate at home).  Kids eat the same thing all the time:  miso soup (wakame only) and rice and tempura udon. 

Every diner receives a dish of pickled vegetables.

Salads at Miyo's are beautiful and have a variety of vegetables.

vegetable curry

sauteed salmon & vegetable tempura

udon

sauteed eggplant

a happy diner

Recently, there have been rumours about Miyo's closing and relocating.  While those rumours may actually have been true at one time, a source close to the restaurant tells me they have decided to stay put, until they actually have somewhere to move. Whew!

And a final word of warning to those who are like me (gecko-phobic):  add Miyo's to your list of places to avoid at night (yup, add it right next to Seaside).  There are fricking disgusting lizards everywhere!  So if you find yourself ono for Miyo's on a Friday or Saturday night and don't have any reservations, consider yourself lucky and don't despair.  Miyo's will happily do take-out.  No having to wait (even if you have a reservations), no having to wind your way through a maze of chairs and tables, no having to share your table with diners you don't even know, and best of all, no lizards running over your foot or across your arm!

January 2013 Update:  Miyo's has reopened in a different location.  They are no longer gecko-infested, but going there requires much patience on the part of diners.  The new restaurant is much larger than the previous location, although diners are still cramped in there like sardines.

Restaurant Chatter: Village Burger

Village Burger is a charming burger joint at the mouth of the food court in the Parker Ranch Center.  Its locally owned and features products grown/raised locally (Big Island).  The owner/chef enjoyed an illustrious career in the hotel food service industry before his Village Burger venture.

Prior to 1984, having a burger (sandwich) for dinner was unheard of in my family.  The only burger we ever had for dinner was served with rice.  When I went to Seattle, Uncle George and Aunty Char took me to Red Robin (4th Avenue) for dinner, and a whole new world of "burgers for dinner" was opened.  Red Robin showcased burgers dressed in almost every way imaginable, although Jungle Jim's, a rival Seattle burger joint, offered a peanut butter burger.  Let's just say that Red Robin set the standard for me.

Fast-forward twenty-seven years later.  People are not looking for a menu packed with odd combinations for building a monster burger.  People (well, me, at least) want to "eat local".  And if this is you, well then, Village Burger is where its at!  The place is clean, and you can even watch as your meal is prepared.  If you prefer to stroll, the buzzing, light-up UFO allows you to roam while you wait.

Rancher's burger

The menu isn't very large, but it showcases local stuff:  tomatoes, beef, lettuce, mushrooms, etc.  The two most popular burgers are the Rancher's burger ($7.50) and the Kahua burger ($11.50).  The Kahua burger, the pricier of the two, is made with Wagyu beef raised at Kahua Ranch.  For non-red meat eaters, there is a Hamakua mushroom burger (described by a friend as super salty).  The fries are hand-cut and are best with the parmesan goop.

fries with parmesan goop

I have been to Village Burger more than a half-dozen times, and this speaks volumes considering its located over 50 miles from where I live.  What is even more odd, and now is where I come clean, is that I have never eaten beef at Village Burger.  I can hear the gasping noises now.  Please, don't stop reading.  I need to explain.  While I do eat beef (yes, yes, smirk & giggle now), I have not been able to bring myself to order beef at Village Burger because there is something I like even more.  Tuna (okay, pick yourselves up off the floor)!!!!!!

My selection has always been the Seared Ahi Nicoise Salad ($12.00).  The ahi is chopped fine and shaped into a patty which tastes hauntingly similar to a fish burger Mom made when I was growing up.  The patty is pan fried and is presented atop a medley of lettuces and tomato wedges (of course, I don't eat this).  Garnishing the salad are bits of chopped boiled egg, kalamata olives, haricots vert, and crispy fried potatoes.  The dressing is a light vinaigrette.  My only improvement on this would be to tear the lettuce into smaller pieces and, of course, de-seed the tomatoes.

seared ahi nicoise salad

herbal tea

While beer and soft drinks (both pedestrian drinks and specialty sodas like Jones Soda) are available, I cannot resist the herbal iced tea.  The herbs are grown by the students of Waimea Middle School.  Mint, tarragon and lemon grass are the main players  in the herbal tea.  In spite of my sweet tooth, I always drink this unsweetened.

I have never seen any desserts being served at Village Burger, and if anyone reading this knows Edwin Goto, please having him contact me so I can hook him up with some great desserts.  I know someone who bakes!