Shaved Ice from Ululani's

It's been pretty hot here in Vancouver...hot enough for one of these.

The guy that made us this asked us where we're from, and when we said "Vancouver", he nailed us both as Canucks fans...alas, we SHOULD be, but one of us is is a diehard Flames fan (misguided). He offered us his condolences on our short season. 

Given how much he knew about the NHL...there was no way this guy was from Hawaii. And we were right, he's from Detroit. Hawaii is a nice place to transplant yourself, don't you think!? 

This is the gigantic ball of ice we were served! It was a perfect globe of frozen goodness.

To give you a better sense of what size and scale, we grabbed their tip jar to show you a little bit better...and it's what I want right about now.

They then top this frozen dome with syrups...all types of syrups, flavours that will blow your mind (Hoku, Tamarind, Tiger's Blood, etc). And the best thing...they have Sugar-Free syrups! 

We took it to go and sat facing the beach...this is us...if we were shaved ices! 

We started in on these globes...do you drink it or sip it? Doesn't matter...you just get it in your belly! 

We ended up with a crater, then we devoured it too! The best way to cool off on a hot Maui day.  

Spam Musubi - heaven!

I know I've regaled you all about my search for Spam in Maui...but that was only at McDonald's. We had heard that wthere was Spam-goodness to be found elsewhere in Lahainia...and we were on the hunt. Thanks to the Honua Kai Concierge once again...

We went to the local Foodland there and were delighted (nah, more like THRILLED) to find a cooked food section loaded with Spam Musubi...In the same way we have whole roasted chickens at Safeway...these babies were just packed and ready to go!

We grabbed one each...just to see if we'd like it (as if there was any doubt)! It's a nice weight...enough for a pre-dinner snack, which is exactly what we needed.

After grabbing an iced tea from the Starbucks next door, we grabbed a seat on the patio and got down to business. As you can see from the drink and cigarettes, this spam musubi isn't tiny.You can get it with a pack of soy sauce too, but really, what could be better than the unadulturated taste of spam?

It took supreme control to take this picture after taking one bite. The spam is placed on top of a bit of white rice, layered with some sort of teriyaki sauce, and all neatly wrapped up in a slice of seaweed. Sounds simple...tastes AMAZING!

It's shocking that this decadent goodness is only $1.69! I'd pick this over a hamburger anyday!

In fact, we were such big fans of this that we picked up five more on the way to the airport on our last day in Maui. We planned that we'd eat one (or two) on the plane and we would still have one left for eating in Vancouver...

This picture was taken at LAX, during our stopover on the way home...Starbucks and Spam...it just works.

YUMMY!

Brunch at Cane & Taro

Another brunch place we visited while in Maui was called Cane and Taro. One couple went the day before and raved about it so a few of us decided to try it out. They are again part of a chain, like Duke's is, but they belong to the DK group... 

The restaurant is located in Whalers Village...lots of shopping and home to several of the bigger hotel chains. Ladies...there is a gigantic LV store near this location...but the selection was still a little disappointing. There are lots of other shops here as well (Quiksilver, Tommy Bahamas, Billabong, ABC, Crocs, Swarovski and even Haagen Daas), perfect to stroll through after a big lunch.

Another example of weird sauces...just like at Joyeaux Cafe, Tobasco, ketchup and mustard are all expected for brunch, as are the salt and pepper. But the soy sauce? Wow...and there was a hot sauce there called cholula hot sauce, which is a hot sauce made in Mexico.

Since we already had the Loco Moco once at CJ's we though we would try it here again, to see if there were differences in the way it's made. And boy, are we glad we did. Instead of the potatoes that CJ's serves, the gigantic patty sits atop a plate of white rice, and is topped with two sunnyside up eggs, and then piled high with crispy onion shoestrings, and yes...all bathed in yummy onion gravy. Very decadent and filling.

After having tried the Saimin at McD's, I wanted to try it here too. The noodles are served with both kamaboko (fish cake) and shoyu-braised (soy) pork. One thing I liked about this saimin over the McD's one is that the egg is poached, and not scrambled and cut into strips. The broth is then ladled over it all, and topped with a generous sprinkling of nori and green onions. 

They had another version of the Loco Moco here...a "healthier" version made with fish. It still sits on top of rice, with two eggs of your choice. Instead of the onion gravy though, it comes with something more akin to hollandaise sauce...so healthy factor goes out the window!

But by far, the MOST non-healthy option is their French Toast. It really belongs in the dessert section of the menu. It is made with Hawaiian sweet bread, stuffed with fresh-fruit cream cheese, and then rolled in a coating of macadamia-nut crust. The whole thing is then deep fried, and served with a gigantic blob of whipped coconut cream. There is also a small bowl of berry compote in case it's just not sweet enough! I don't know how anyone is expected to finish this...

Spam at McDonald's

Having missed out on Spam at our first visit to McD's in Maui, we returned a second time after consulting with the Honua Kai's concierge. We went again one morning and met with success beyond our wildest dreams! 

Before spoiling the Spam surprise, I thought it fitting to show you another item on their menu that is unavailable here in Vancouver. It's called Saimin...and is about $3-4. As you can see, it's McD's take on instant noodles! 

It is a mix of the noodle soups that you would find in a Chinese noodle house, but the other ingredients have a decidedly Japanese take. There are a few slices of seaweed (commonly found in miso soups), then some sliced up scrambled egg, as well as some very pink and rosy bbq pork (again found in many Chinese shops), but the fish cake with pink pattern is again very Japanese (found in various Nabeyaki Udons around town). So as such, you would expect the broth to be a little miso/ramen like, right? But no! It's pure wonton noodle soup!

Next on the menu is their Traditional Breakfast...served in a container much like the Big Breakfasts back home. Now in OUR "Big Breakfast", you would expect to find a English muffin, some scrambled eggs and a sausage patty. Sometimes you could add pancakes to the mix too.

Well, not here my friend! In Maui, you get two patties of white rice (is it me or does it look like they are shaped to resemble two pancakes?), two slices of fried ham, and several slices of something called Portugese sausage. And the last item is the only hint that this is McD's breakfast..look at those eggs...you'd recognize them anywhere, right?
The rice was a little dry on its own like that, but the saltiness of the spam more than compliments it! The Portugese sausage is really good also, much more meatier than the sausage patty we'd get back home. There was more texture too...not mushy like the patties we sometimes get here.
This is a tradition I could get used to. Having been back for a few months now, I've had breakfast here at McD's and I can say, it truly pales in comparison to the McD's in Maui.

Last meal in Maui at Duke's

Well, the trip had to come to an end, so we decided to have our last meal in Maui with all our friends, all of us who stayed at Honua Kai. There is a Duke's on the premises, near the outdoor pools and with a gorgeous view of the beach. It was a no brainer to have our meal there.

It's apparently one of many in a chain call TS Restaurants. As you can see by the napkin...they believe in supporting their other locations. Almost reminds me of the way Glowbal Group is here in Vancouver.

The first dish to arrive was the elusive "mixed plate" that we kept hearing about during our trip. It's supposed to be something the locals eat, and is a combination plate, similar to what you would find in food courts here in Vancouver, when you approach a "chinese" place.
Actually, what we got was a skewer of Huli Huli chicken, as well as a Mango BBQ'ed Rib. All served with a small amount of veggies (what you see there is what we got), a few spoonfuls of rice, and the thing that makes it unique (and worthy of the mixed plate nomiker) is the macaroni salad! A nice lunch plate for only $13. 

I wasn't that hungry so I ordered their calamari, which are strips of calamri crusted with panko breadcrumbs. The two accompany sauces were supposed to be a Meyer lemon remoulade and a guava cocktail sauce. But to me, it tasted more like tartar sauce and seafood cocktail sauce. Not bad...just not super fancy as the name would suggest. 

Another person ordered the Beachside Grilled Tacos, which is your choice of Mahi Mahi or USDA Prime Steak in flour tortillas (which were soft, not grilled), accompanied with tortilla chips and salsa, along with some pickled veggies. As most of us were Mahi-Mahied out, the steak was ordered instead. The steak was cooked really well, as you can see by the redness still present in the photo above.

Someone else ordered the Ho Daddy Fish and Chips...and this was a little disappointing. Not because it was yet another Mahi Mahi dish, but because it looked so "Highliner'! The batter looked thick, but is supposed to be made with their Kona Brewing Lager...And do you notice what's missing? Yes, tartar sauce...yet they remembered the ketchup for the chunky fries...strange.

As is the theme with the trip...ever meal seems to have some element of Macnut in it. This was no exception...someone ordered the Banana & Macnut pancakes. I can't comment...I don't like bananas and I was sick of Macnuts at htis point. But ooh, syrup.

The piece of pie you see there is no illusion. If it reminds you of the Mudd Pies from your days at Red Robin's during highschool...you're not alone. Described on the menu as Kimo’S Original Hula Pie®, this is what the sailors swam to shore for in Lahaina...made with an Oreo cookie crust, macadamia nut ice cream, hot fudge & whipped cream, it's quite the sugar shock for $7.
One secret, if you have a meal there, check you receipt. 9 times out of 10, your receipt is good for a free slice upon your next visit. There were three of those receipts at our table...so you're only at one-third of our dessert during lunch!
Any dessert that has their own plate (you can make out Hula Pie on the edge of the plate above) is going to be good...decadent and sinfully rich. This one was no exception!

On the search for Spam at McD's in Maui

Heard rumours of Spam being sold in McDonald's in Maui...so the hunt was on! The restaurant was totally decorated for kids...this is what greeted us upon arrival. Little burgers...

Little Fries... 

...and Grimace. 

Alas, there was nothing there even remotely related to SPAM, but we still couldn't leave empty handed...so a Sirloin Burger was procured, along with a medium fries. Does anyone else load their ketchup up with pepper??

Although we didn't track down the elusive Spam product at McDonald's this time around, I think we will succeed in the end...Mahalo...

Breaky at CJ's in Maui

Second breakfast out while venturing in Maui. Found a little place in a strip mall that was recommended by the concierge, known for having the best Maui onion gravy in town. Once we walked in, there was an amazing selection of other goodies, which included a Smoked Salmon Bagel with cream cheese. As per usual, I asked for everything on the side, and here is how it came. A perfectly deconstructed smoked salmon bagel.

For all the deconstructed goodness that arrived, this is the end result upon re-assembly. I tucked a brick of cream cheese on each half of the bottom of the bagel. The tomato seemed out of place so that was eaten on its own. The lettuce was a welcome addition, so that landed on the bagel as well. I also put the generous portion of the capers in the crevices and then piled on the smoked salmon. Don't really remember what we did with the top of the bagel, but probably slathered on whatever little packet of jam or peanut butter came alongside and gobbled that up as well.

Didn't really know what to expect with the Loco Moco, but from all sources, it is a traditional Maui dish with a base of potatoes, with a hamburger patty on top, all smothered with Maui onion gravy, and then topped with two sunny side up eggs. This is how the dish arrives.

In order to see the patty, I cut the eggs apart carefully, to expose the burger patty...interesting, eh? The potatoes are melt in your mouth tender, and the onion gravy is the sweetest thing I've ever tasted on this side of savoury. Someone should make this gravy into French Onion Soup. Just throw some bread over a bowlful of this stuff, sprinkle some gruyere and mozza cheese and bake until golden. Now that would be some comfort food.

I had to take this shot...random condiments that somehow just don't fit together. Just think, when was the last time you were in a restaurant where you needed both ketchup, soy sauce, and tobasco?

And here is a completely gratuitous picture of me stuffing my face. Yes, I ate both.