Morsels: Nijiya Market

Alyssa and I both discovered the amazingness that exists at Nijiya Market.  A Japanese shopping market, Nijiya has all of my childhood snacks like the Bear Honey Kimi Crackers, Nori-Ten, and Konpeito sugar balls, as well as a full selection of hot food and ridiculous bentos.  Why pay for mediocre food on campus when you can have a delicious Japanese feast for the same price? 

Product Preview: Saeco Via Venezia

I work at a specialty cookware store here on Oahu, and so when I've the money to spare (or, in cases like this, when I've saved up enough to blow my money on something shiny), I love to pick up new products. In this case, the Saeco Via Venezia, a semi-automatic espresso machine that I have been eyeing out online for a while. Bemoaning my misfortune that our sole semi-auto sold by the company was sold only online, when I saw the shiny new boxes stacked up by the snowcone machine the other day I couldn't resist, and I promptly made my first big purchase as an early Christmas present to myself.

An eggnog caffe macchiato I made with my new toy.

The Via Venezia is a semi-automatic, which means the hard stuff with steam and pressure is all done automatically by the machine. It's a single boiler type espresso machine and a fifteen bar pump, and it comes with a pressurized portafilter which will dole out espresso into one or two cups, depending on how many shots you're looking to pull. Since the portafilter is pressurized and comes with an adapter for pods (which I'm sure the mother will use), it's great for a beginner, and from the get-go I've been pulling some pretty decent shots. A few internet videos in and I'm already sipping an eggnogg late in bed while typing this out, so I'm pretty happy with my purchase--but plan to hear more from me in a month or so once I've really got this down!

xAlyssa

Coffee Talk

Having just bought my first espresso machine from work (the semi-automatic Saeco Via Venezia, which will have a little more said about after I've grown more comfortable with it), I've been perusing Youtube's coffee tutorials, and I've been loving the short and sweet videos done by New York barista Mike Jones for Howcast in a segment called Coffee Talk. Each video is short and sweet, meaning my over-caffeinated mind (I cannot express how many shots I've downed in my experimentation) can follow it without getting bored and fast-forwarding through to the more interesting bits. Each video is carefully framed, filmed, and edited, and Jones' carefully picked notes on expert coffee brewing are delivered in a confident, encouraging manner to aspiring caffeine addicts like myself. To anyone who's in a position like mine with their first espresso machine, or to someone considering one (or trying to chose between an auto, semi-auto, or manual type machine), or even to a person who just likes knowing where their coffee comes from, these videos come highly recommended.

Wish me luck with my new toy!

xAlyssa

Morsels: Henry Loui's and Mariposa

Saturday: Dinner at Henry Loui's 

The spread: homestyle fries, Portuguese sausage and green beans, roast beef with horseradish and au jus, and my personal favorite escargot in garlic butter with garlic bread

Sunday: Lunch at Mariposa

Pop-over with guava butter

Roast pork tenderloin in a port wine reduction over spinach and sun-dried tomato orzo

Blue crab spaghettini with spinach, Kahuku sweet corn, prosciutto, and tarragon mascarpone 

Photos taken by Kiyana using Blackberry Bold and Droid Razr

Honolulu Greek Festival 2012

Baklava, chocolate baklava, (already eaten) kataifi, and more.  I always stock up on koulourakai which are amazing Greek cookies. 

Spanakopita plate which included greek salad, feta cheese and bread, olives, rice pilaf, dolmathes, and a piece of baklava.

Extra spanakopita and moussaka 

Gyro

Lemon sorbet after the food to cleanse the palate.

One of my favorite festivals to check out is the Honolulu Greek Festival held annually at McCoy Pavilion in Ala Moana Beach Park.  Something we both share a love for is Mediterranean culture and food.  I arrive way before the festival starts to make sure I'm one of the first in line for the Greek pastries because they usually sell out half way through the first day of the two-day festival.  I go both days of the festival, the first with my entire family and then the second with just my mama, my treat.  The atmosphere is just so inviting and relaxing.  Live music, good food, happy people.  How can you go wrong?  OPA! 

Photos taken by Kiyana using Droid Razr

North Shore Cruising: Shave Ice and Shrimp Plates

No better way to spend the day than driving around the North Shore, stopping at your favorite beach, and filling up on simple, yet extremely delicious food.

Matsumoto's Shave Ice

(And yes people, it's shave NOT shaved)

Large guava and lilikoi shave ice with snow cap (condensed milk)

Pay the 25 cents and go for the holder. Thank us later. 

Romy's Kahuku Prawns & Shrimp

Butter and garlic sautéed shrimp plate

Steamed prawns with side of butter dipping sauce (pictured as the aftermath)

The wait can be long but stick it out and be patient because it's definitely worth it.

Locals and frequent customers, ask for the stamp card. 

Photos taken by Kiyana using Blackberry Bold and Droid Razr.