I had been having a rough few weeks.
I had been working the equivalent of two full-time jobs, which entails everything from writing 2,000-word stories to grading papers. That, combined with everything else I do, had been taking a toll of me.
And when I’m busy, the one thing I don’t do is eat.
Despite what you may think about my eating habits, I tend to skip meals when I’m busy, often relying on fast-food fixes to get through my worst of days. Meaning, I’ve been a frequent patron of McDonald’s and Taco Bell lately.
So it was time.
I needed a real meal.
So I decided to dine at Hoku’s at the Kahala Hotel and Resort, an award-winning restaurant thankfully located out of town. Because the last thing I wanted to do was fight Friday night rush-hour traffic and pay $12 for parking.
So when I finally sat down to breathe — it had been a long week — here’s what I wound up putting in my mouth — happily:
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Hoku’s, Kahala Hotel, 5000 Kahala Ave. Phone: (808) 739-8888
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Hoku’s is featuring a Valentine’s Day five-course menu from Feb. 11 to 18. The Lover’s Menu is designed to tease and satiate from the amuse bouche to dessert. Here’s the lineup:
• Course 1, Anticipation: Mini crab cakes drizzled in a chili aioli on a bed of crispy-fried straw potatoes
• Course 2, Flirtation: A fresh arugula frisee salad with a poached egg and dressed in a tangy bacon vinaigrette topped with crunchy foccacia croutons
• Course 3, Romance: Pan-roasted Hawaiian snapped drizzled with a lobster basil sauce with sauteed cippollini onions and yellow squash
• Course 4, Passion: A prime-grade filet mignon served with sauteed foie gras and garnished with steamed asparagus and a creamy potato gratin with a red wine truffle jus
• Course 5, Sweet Addiction: A white chocolate-lilikoi fondue with an assortment of dippers including banana fritters, caramelized macadamia nuts, strawberries and chocolate ganache cookies.
For reservations, e-mail [email protected] or call (808) 739-8760.
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To read all of Cat’s blogs, visit www.nonstophonolulu.com/thedailydish. Follow Cat on Twitter @thedailydish or send her an e-mail at [email protected]
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22 Comments
fuud friday!! love it.
haven’t been to Hoku’s in a few years, but I remember it being very good. nice restaurants are my weakness for, as you put it, the “everything else”.
I’ve been, lately, tending towards the smaller, niche restaurants with more homey food and feel, but it’s always nice to go to a top restaurant to experience the service once in a while. La Bernadin didn’t earn its three Michelin stars on its food alone (don’t get me wrong, it was the best seafood meal I’ve ever had, save picking the bones of a freshly broken down ahi in my friend’s backyard). the service was impeccable without being obtrusive. almost like the servers had esp. we felt like we were the only table there, even though the dining room was packed.
gorgeous pics, esp the iridescent caprese salad. i don’t usually like chicken unless it’s roasted (or shoyu), but this one melted me. v nice!
@nonstopmari see! you are a salad person.
CAT: Aaaiiiyyyaaahhh! Fuud Pix! Tenks! You are right about the everything else…I was able to enjoy the company because the tables are far enough away from each other there is no “conversational bleed” from other tables. Also, it is not the intense atmosphere you find in DINK type places where to be seen and heard is the main focus. I really miss the 3d Floor…the ambience was the best!
@Annoddah_Dave I like that — “conversation bleed.” That’s what it often feels like.
@Annoddah_Dave You miss the high back, curved Rattan chairs. Yes, it bought the ambient noise down to a more manageable level.
Wow this site might be getting too upscale for me. I think you and @melissa808 ‘s captions should be read by Robin Leach. Movin’ on up, to the east side! Just kidding, the food does look worth the price though. Would like to try that short rib tempura.
@808marv @melissa808 Stay tuned for Cat’s review of the new and exclusive “High Maka Maka Hotel” at Ko Olina!
;^D
“Wow this site might be getting too upscale for me”.- the same thing occurred to me. the air is gettin’ a mite rare way up there, where the food is piled up higher than Baylor prom queens coiff
@turkfontaine Hey, I’ve only been to Hoku’s once before. It’s not a place I’d go to every weekend. Then again, if I was PAID to eat there, I’d consider it. 🙂
Been almost ten years since I ate there… once for Sunday Brunch, and another time for dindin… both times were excellent!
Your commentary on restaurant bread reminds me of a funny story…
About 15 yrs ago we were out to dinner with a group of friends. My GF and I are “bread hounds.” They laughed at how many times the waiter replenished the bread. The following Christmas when we exchanged gifts with a couple from the dinner, they decided to play a gag on us and got us a bag of sourdough bread mix. However, the joke was on them. We had gotten them a “proper” gift, and when I opened theirs, I feigned ignorance to the gag and acted “awkwardly gracious” for the gift. They didn’t know whether to explain the gag (which I obviously got) or not to (so as to not call attention the fact that they got a real gift and we got a gag gift…)
We did receive a more appropriate gift in the mail that they “forgot” at home, hahaha! Of course, that wasn’t my purpose.
OK, sorry to take this post off on a tangent.
nothing like a $48 steak to level the dollar menu playing field at McD’s. you know, meat is murder – tasty, tasty murder.
@turkfontaine And I don’t even think McD’s serves real meat!
Another great Friday Fuud essay, but you left out the liquids. So what was your choice of beer to pair with this meal? Nah, which wine?
@ChuckvonArnswaldt What me? Drink? I don’t do that! 🙂
While the food looks delicious it is just too expensive for my tastes. I could have gone to the store and bought enough food and good wine to throw a nice party. Having said that, once a year or so a meal like that is fun.
@dbjack When is this party and do you need my address for the invite? ;^D
@MaxMaxMax @dbjack as soon as I am back in the islands I’ll post the invite to Nonstop’s site… the sooner the better.
Cat, medium steak? Nooooooooo! 😉 I too never get chicken when I eat out, but I had a similar WOW experience when eating the Pan Roasted Chicken at Town. Changed my whole perspective on what chicken entrees could be. Looks like a nice dinner…I’ve never been to Hoku’s….maybe one of these days.
@nathankam I actually like my steaks medium well. I know, I know, it’s blasphemy. And yes, I ordered the chicken. But chicken, when done right, can be better than steak. Yeah, I said it. 🙂
I haven’t been to Hoku’s in a few years myself. Also had a chance to eat at A Pacific Cafe before they departed. I’m surprised that Hoku’s has maintained their impeccable service, attention to detail, and a high quality of food preparedness (maybe except for your Caprese Salad) throughout their many years in the same spot.
Love your fuud pr0m, especially of the Free Range Chicken which surprisingly looks moist in your pic.