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#FUUD: Your last chance to try BLK/BOX

By Catherine Toth Fox • December 18, 2013 • Food

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There aren’t a lot of times where something I eat blows my mind.

And BLK/BOX did that last week.

The food truck concept run by Neale Asato — formerly of the famed Vintage Cave — popped up for lunch at TASTE Table in Kakaako with a menu that dripped with flavor.

Shoyu pork. Bacon jam. Brown butter mochi.

Need I say more?

Asato’s vision is to feature an ever-changing, seasonal menu of gourmet foods made from locally sourced ingredients. His philosophy is to serve delicious, creative dishes that are simple and showcase the hard work of Hawaii’s farmers and food artisans.

Though he dreams of a food truck, Asato is going to start in an actual brick-and-mortar space first. He secured the space in the John A. Burns School of Medicine, formerly Kulia Grill operated by Kapiolani Community College. The new yet-to-be-named eatery will be up and running by mid-January. (Another blog to come!)

In the meantime, you can sample Asato’s skills on Thursday, the last day BLK/BOX will pop-up for lunch at the Kakaako kitchen.

Here’s what we ate last week:

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We started our meal with grilled bread and chichiron (fried pork rinds) with bacon jam, softened goat cheese and caramel. Surprisingly, the three worked perfectly together. A little tang, a little sweetness, a little salt. It was utterly addictive.

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I had the shredded pork sandwich that wasn’t just a glom of salted pull pork. And those housemade pickles were incredible, adding the right amount of tang.

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Here was the star of the lunch menu: braised pork belly with a tasty soy-based sauce topped with delightful fried Brussels sprout leaves over dashi rice and a soft egg. The flavor combinations were new and different and kept my mouth interested with every bite.

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And finally, dessert. We were served this tray of brown butter mochi, the tops of which featured caramelized sugar in creme brûlée fashion. Genius — and delicious.

If you can swing it, head to TASTE Table on Thursday. I’m not sure what Asato will be serving — he texted me saying he’s working on some foie gras stuff — but whatever’s on the menu, trust me, it’ll be good.

Check out BLK/BOX from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Thursday at TASTE Table in Kakaako. Follow BLK/BOX on Twitter @eatblkbox.

BLK/BOXKakaakoNeale Asatopop-up restaurantTaste TableVintage Cave
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Catherine Toth Fox

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7 Comments

  • Reply Dennis December 19, 2013 at 5:32 am

    OMG! I love the looks of that pork belly and the Mochi! Will try to get down there today! Thanks Cat!

    • Reply Catherine Toth December 19, 2013 at 6:35 am

      Tell me what you think! I’m not sure if he’ll be serving these dishes, though…

      • Reply Dennis December 20, 2013 at 11:32 pm

        I didn’t make it. Bummer!!!!! I’ll have to wait till 2014.

  • Reply Annoddah Dave December 19, 2013 at 7:04 am

    CAT: Aaaiiiyyyaaahhh! Fuud Pix! Tenks! Luuks guud. Will hold off until he gets to his new place.

    • Reply Catherine Toth December 19, 2013 at 10:13 am

      He should be up and running in mid-January. No worry, I going blog about ’em!

  • Reply WildeOscar December 19, 2013 at 10:54 am

    Santa can keep his sleigh. I’m looking for that food truck.

  • Reply M December 20, 2013 at 5:10 am

    Guud morning Cat!
    The pork belly looks so ono!

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About Me

About Me
Born and raised on O‘ahu, Hawaiʻi, Catherine Toth Fox has been chronicling her adventures in her blog, The Cat Dish, for more than a decade. She worked as a newspaper reporter in Hawai‘i for 10 years and continues to freelance—in between teaching journalism, hitting the surf and eating everything in sight—for national and local print and online publications. She’s currently the editor of HAWAIʻI Magazine.

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