The great food debate

By • November 22, 2010 • Food, Musings, The Daily Dish

I was having dinner at Mr. Ojisan on Kapahulu Avenue — one of my favorite Japanese restaurants, by the way — and faced a dilemma:

Should I order the chicken katsu or the tonkatsu?

It was a legitimate discussion in my head. On the one hand, the chicken version is juicy and flavorful. But tonkatsu done right is pretty hard to beat.

So I ordered both.

But it got me thinking about the choices we make when it comes to food — and what we would ultimately choose if we had to pay for it.

So here’s what I’m going to do. I’m going to pair up some foodie choices and let’s see which ones come out on top.

Here’s the list. Respond with your picks!

• Chicken katsu or pork katsu
• Malassadas from Leonard’s Bakery malassadas or Champion Malasadas
• Chunky or creamy peanut butter
• Aloha or Kikkoman shoyu
• Best Foods mayonnaise or Miracle Whip
• Thick crust or thin crust for your pizza
• Spring rolls or summer rolls
• The edges or the inside pieces of brownies
• Heinekin or Primo
• Milk chocolate or dark chocolate
• Saimin or ramen (read Mari Taketa’s post about this)
• Red curry or yellow curry
• Shiromiso (white miso) or akamiso (red miso)
• Ketchup or mustard on hot dogs
• Spaghetti or angel hair pasta
• Chocolate or vanilla ice cream
• Red or white sauce on pizza
• Sweet potatoes or yams
• Hot custard pie or cold custard pie

I’m sure there are way more choices — but let’s stick with this list for now. Part 2 could be coming soon!

***

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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FUUD: Gulick Delicatessen on King Street

By • November 19, 2010 • Food, Musings, The Daily Dish

Three years ago okazu lovers in central and east Honolulu got a nice surprise: the beloved Gulick Delicatessen in Kalihi opened a second location on South King Street, where the old King’s Bakery used to be.

And when it opened, it was an immediate hit, with folks lining up to get the nishime, shrimp tempura and corned beef hash patties they knew and loved.

Founded by the Takara family more than 30 years ago, this location is run by sons Cory Makishi and Lee Takara, who, along with Lee’s wife Denise, operate Kochi Restaurant & Lounge next door.

It’s a must-stop for anyone craving okazu-ya — which is me almost every Saturday.

Here’s what I ate on a recent trip to Gulick Deli:

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Gulick Delicatessen, 1936 S. King St. Phone: 808-941-2835.

***

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].

Subscribe to Nonstop Honolulu on YouTube »

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New eats: Zaratez Mexicatessen

By • November 18, 2010 • Food, Musings, The Daily Dish

It’s not everyday you can get authentic burritos from a tour bus-turned-lunch wagon in downtown Honolulu.

Or at least you couldn’t until this summer, when former KTUH deejay Paul “Mano Lopez” Zarate, along with two cousins, converted a Roberts Hawai‘i tour bus — bought off Craigslist and took “a few dollars and a whole lot of elbow grease” — into Zaratez Mexicatessen.

At first, the unmarked bus set up shop at various locations in town, from a parking lot in Chinatown to the John A. Burns School of Medicine in Kaka‘ako. Some days you had to check Zaratez’s Twitter or Facebook accounts. It was word-of-salivating-mouth.

Not anymore.

After a theft to the wagon that put Zarate, 37, out of business for awhile, Zaratez got a new — and permanent — location on Mokihana Street, right off Kapahulu Avenue. So fans of his authentic homestyle burritos and tacos don’t have to wonder where they’ll get their next Mexican fix anymore.

“Had those events not happened,” he said, “it may have taken longer for me to see this come to fruition.”

Packed brown sugar

Image 1 of 8

Start by adding 1 1/2 cups of packed brown sugar — you have to pack it! — to a cup (or two sticks) of melted butter.

Zaratez Mexicatessen, 3121 Mokihana St. off Kapahulu Ave. Hours: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Phone: 808-227-1422. Facebook: www.facebook.com/zaratez. E-mail: [email protected]. Twitter: @zaratez.

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Should Grandma still be driving?

By • November 18, 2010 • Musings, The Daily Dish

The other day I was driving along the Ala Wai Boulevard. The Buick in front of me wasn’t keeping up with traffic, so I turned on my blinker to change lanes.

Then, as if the driver knew how little tolerance I have on the road, she decided to make a left turn onto a side street from the middle lane. In slow motion.

Just before I leaned on my horn and screamed out some colorful obscenities, I happened to take a look at the driver.

Remember the song, “The Little Old Lady from Pasadena”? She was driving that Buick.

It’s a difficult discussion to have with your aging parents and grandparents: when should they hand over the car keys and give up driving, something many of them consider to be the key to freedom and independent living. But it’s a conversation worth having.

According to a story in the Associated Press, miles driven by older drivers are going up and fatal crashes involving seniors are coming down, but too often they are forced to choose between safety and being able to get around.

Within 15 years more than one in five licensed drivers will be 65 or older. Their number will nearly double, from 30 million today to about 57 million in 2030, according to the Government Accountability Office.

The reasons for them to give up driving are numerous and convincing: Older people need more light to see at night, they are less able to judge speed and distances, their reflexes are slower, they may be more easily confused, they’re less flexible (which affects their ability to turn to look behind them), they have a lower recovery rate when they’re in accidents.

Still, I can’t imagine having to take away my mom’s car keys, for example, and telling her she needs to find alternative ways to get around, especially living in an area where public transit isn’t that convenient and making Costco runs will be nearly impossible without help.

So what do you think about these aging drivers? Are they unsafe on the roads? Or should we find ways to accommodate them since most of them won’t want to give up their freedom to get around?

***

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].

Subscribe to Nonstop Honolulu on YouTube »

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Cat Chat episode 2: Black Friday strategies

By • November 17, 2010 • Musings, The Daily Dish

Welcome to another installment of Cat Chat!

Thanks for all your feedback — both positive and constructive — after last’s week inaugural episode. We’re still figuring out what’s the best format, the best location, the best way to deal with my unruly hair — so thanks for your patience. And keep the comments coming!

This week I’m chatting with Jermel-Lynn Quillopo, Nonstop contributor who writes the Social Encore blog. She’s also an avid shopper and Black Friday veteran. So we brought her on the show this week to share her Black Friday strategy and share her tips for getting what you want on the country’s busiest shopping day of the year.

And these are practical tips I’m considering. I’ll be honest: I’m not a shopper. I prefer to buy online than fight crowds at the mall. But there’s something magical about Black Friday. I’ve never shopped on that day, but I have covered the spectacle as a reporter — and the hype and excitement can even turn a non-shopper like me into a crazed bargain hunter. I’m sure you’ll find Jermel’s tips helpful — if not utterly entertaining!

If you’ve got advice to dish, share them here. We’re always open to your thoughts and comments!

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRHZpQ_t9t8

Subscribe to Nonstop Honolulu on YouTube »

***

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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‘Spiritual’ lessons we’ve learned
FUUD: Pablo’s Cantina in Ward Centre
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Here’s a secret: don’t bathe
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