Entries Tagged as 'kalua pig'

Hawaiian Bridal Luncheon

December 1st, 2010 · 1 Comment


With my mom.


With my mom and dad. My dad gave me these flowers!


Festive Hawaiian Table


With Cousin Dawn


Cousin Kelly, Kelly’s daughter Margo, Mom, Mom’s friend Maureen


Cousin Kelly’s daughter Margo


Cousin Marla, Marla’s daughters Mya and Ella, Cousin Kelly and Kelly’s daughter Katie, Aunt Connie


With my niece Jessica and Cousin Kelly’s other daughters, Tessa and Charlotte


Aunt Connie and Charlotte


Mom & Cousin Dawn. I don’t know what they’re pointing at.


Aunt Connie, Mom & Cousin Dawn. I don’t know what they’re pointing at.


Ella


Aunt Deb, Cousin Erica and Erica’s daughter Ella


With Aunt Deb, Cousin Erica and Erica’s daughter Ella


Aunt Sue and My Mom’s Cousin Jane


Jane’s Daughter Jessica and Jessica’s Daughter, Abigail


With my sister-in-law Amanda


Cousins Skyonna and Katrina. I babysat for Katrina very regularly from her birth on!


Cousin Sky. I kept thinking she was older, but she is only 14!


Me!


Me and my mom.


Time for gifts.


Ella, My Niece Jessica, Abi


My Aunt Sue wrote a poem for me inside this card.


Ella helping out. Or something.


Jessica & Abi


Ella & Jessica.


Cousin Marla, her daughter Mya, Kelly’s daughter Kate, Aunt Connie, Cousin Kelly


Cousin Kelly & Aunt Sue made these coasters for us using our engagement photos.


Margo with a lei!


Everyone was so generous with the presents!


My mom gave us this sculpture that looks like two pieces but really is one.


Ella & Tessa helping out.


Maureen gave us these personalized towels.


Abi and Ella helping out.


Abi and Ella helping out.


My cousin Erica and her daughter Ella.


Ella drawing.


Abi and her drawing.


Chocolate macadamia nut brownies.


With Aunt Sue and mom.


With all of my mom’s sisters: Alice, Sue, Wanda & Connie


With all of my mom’s sisters: Alice, Sue, Wanda & Connie


Jane’s Husband Gene and my dad


My Aunt Ali


Tessa trying to see how many leis she can wear!


Cousin Skyonna


Charlotte


Charlotte


Margo


Jessica


Sister-in-Law Amanda and Niece Jessica


Dad


Mike came to pick up Katrina. They are engaged too!


Jessica being crazy!


With my Uncle Dave

Over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, my mom hosted a Hawaiian-themed bridal luncheon for me. My parents really went all out on this one with the food and drinks. We had

  • Salted Macademia Nuts
  • Chocolate-Covered Macademia Nuts
  • Taro Chips
  • Fresh Coconut Pieces
  • Fresh Pineapple Chunks
  • Fruit Salad
  • Lettuce Salad w/ Toasted Macademia Nuts, Toasted Coconut, Pineapple, Bacon and a homemade Pineapple Vinaigrette
  • Macaroni Salad
  • Sweet & Sour Meatballs
  • Kalua Pig on Hawaiian Sweet Rolls
  • Teriyaki Chicken and Pineapple Skewers
  • Pistachio Pudding Salad
  • Orange Dreamsicle Puff
  • White Chocolate Macademia Nut Brownies
  • Hawaiian Party Punch (with or without Skyy Pineapple Vodka)

Amanda, Stephanie and Jessica were in charge of decorations and party supplies. They did such a great job with wall hangings, garland, plates, napkins, utensils, drink umbrellas and stir sticks, leis… so much fun Hawaiian/tropical party things.

Since my brother lives and hour and a half from us here in Chicago and my parents live about two or two and a half hours from my brother, many times we meet there and do things around the Milwaukee area. Or even just hang out at my brother’s house because it’s kind of a central location. This is great, but also means that I don’t see a ton of my family that lives farther away, farther north. It was so great to see so many of my aunts and cousins. I was so happy that many of them were able to make it to the party.

I did not want anyone to feel obligated to bring gifts, I just wanted to see everyone, but my family was so generous and brought gifts anyway. My aunt Sue even wrote a poem for Dallas and I. And she and my cousin Kelly handmade coasters for us with our engagement photos on them! And we received so many great things for the kitchen and bathroom. And new luggage. And a beautiful Kenyan wedding sculpture. And I could go on and on. A big thank you to everyone for being so generous!

Thanks so much to my parents, Amanda, and my nieces for planning everything. And to all of my aunts and cousins for coming out and making it a great day. We will be thinking of everyone while we are away in Hawaii and you will be there with us in spirit, I know!

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Sola Brunch

October 30th, 2010 · 1 Comment


Malasadas, Sola, North Center, Chicago

On the last day of our weekend together we all went out to drink my favorite drink at Sola. (According to the bachelorette quiz, Dallas thinks my favorite drink is coffee.) I insisted that we start off by sharing a couple plates of malasadas, a Portuguese doughnut that is popular in Hawaii. At Sola the malasadas are served with raspberry coulis and hot fudge. Awesome way to start off the day.


Rachelle

Jess B and I decided to indulge in a couple more drinks. Sola has a wasabi bloody mary but when I asked the waiter about it, he said he preferred the classic bloody mary and the wasabi one was more of a gimmick. I took his recommendation and it was great. Jess B got one of the mimosas, I believe.


Jess B

All of the brunch entrees on the Sola menu looked so delicious. I was sitting by Jill and Amanda and we all flip-flopped so much. In the end I got the kalua pork hash (poached eggs, pico de gallo, guacamole). It was good, but I’ve had a ton of kalua pig in Hawaii and it wasn’t as good as there. Jeannette also got the kalua pork hash.


Kalua Pork Hash (poached eggs, pico de gallo, guacamole)

Kristin got the classic eggs benedict (poached eggs, house made canadian bacon, hollandaise, english muffin), Amanda got the short rib benedict (poached eggs, cheddar biscuits, pesto, hollandaise), Jill got the ham and cheese french toast (mustard honey, plum preserves), Jess G shocked her system with vegetables by ordering the chicken salad (napa cabbage, carrots, snow peas, bean sprouts, miso vinaigrette, crisp wontons), and Jess B got the wild mushroom omelet (leeks, asparagus, prairie fruits farm goat cheese).


Wild Mushroom Omelet (leeks, asparagus, prairie fruits farm goat cheese)

After brunch we were all outside chatting. It was such a nice day. We couldn’t have asked for better weather. For some reason flashbulbs started going off on Jill and I.


Rachelle & Jill

Another angle!


Rachelle & Jill

Then someone suggested we all take a photo together.


Jess B, Jess G, Rachelle, Jill, Jeannette, Kristin, Amanda

What a fun way to end the weekend! Thanks to everyone for the planning they did and for the out-of-town guests for coming to Chicago to help me celebrate!

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Kamehameha Schools Luau

June 27th, 2009 · No Comments

On our last day in Oahu our big plans were to attend the Kamehameha Schools Luau, but first we went and visited Dallas’s grandma one more time. Dallas and I were up really late the night before and Grandma is getting up there in age so it was really just like Dallas, Grandma and I sitting on the sofas trying not to fall asleep while Kala watched some 80s countdown show on VH1. Nevermind that Kala was born in 1992 and didn’t know any of the songs. Grandma would keep waking up and making comments like how she didn’t like Flock of Seagulls hairdos and stuff like that. Kind of funny.

kamehameha_reunion_ticket

Later in the afternoon we drove up to the Kamehameha Schools campus for the all-class luau. All of the classes from the 1930s or 1940s on were in attendance.. well, every 5 years.. so like 5 year reunion, 10 year reunion, etc. Each year the class celebrating their 29th year reunion puts on the luau to honor the class celebrating their 30th year reunion. And all of the kids that are coming back as seniors have traditionally been servers at the luau. This year, though, they couldn’t serve because alcohol was being served at the luau so the parents of the seniors had to do it. Dallas’s Uncle Bob and Aunty Helen had to serve because Kala is an incoming senior.

First off, each class had to get their official photograph taking. I think some people just blew this off, so the Class of ’94 photo is looking pretty sparse.

kamehameha_class_94_setup

kamehameha_class_94_photo_setup

kamehameha_class_94_photo

After this we hit up the beer booth and the pupu stand and then made our way to the designated Class of ’94 area under the big tent where Kilo had saved us seats.

luau_tent_wide

luau_tent_tall

The pupus at the booth changed out every half hour so people from our table just kept going up and getting more. I had previously had many of the dishes served, but there were definitely some I had not. I was sitting by Donovan and he kept passing me all the pupus and making sure I tried everything I’d never had before. Like pickled Maui onion, a’ama crabs, limu salad, and raw Maui onions dipped in Hawaiian sea salt. And other favorites I’d had before like boiled peanuts, poke, smoked meat, edamame.

The whole time we were socializing and eating and drinking there was a big stage at the middle front of the tent and people were speaking and playing music. We couldn’t really see because we were too far off to the side. I heard there were something like 1,600 guests at the luau, so you can imagine how big that tent was! We were alerted when Monte and Kilo went up to do the hula. Kekoa’s band Holunape was playing (same classmate and band that played earlier in the week at Aku Bone). So I ran up to get a few photos.

kilo_monte_hula

kilo_hula

monte_hula

In years past I heard the luau dinner was served buffet style. This year each person got served a plate. Some people were leery about this but everyone agreed the food was really ono and the portions were generous. Here’s what we had:

luau_dinner

Clockwise, starting with rice: Rice, kalua pig, chicken long rice, sweet potato, Heineken, poke, lomi-lomi salmon, poi, squid luau, fruit punch.

And for dessert there were trays in the center of the tables with chocolate cake, haupia and kulolo.

It was great to see many of Dallas’s friends again. I wasn’t sure what to expect really from alumni week. I thought I’d be on my own more. I knew I’d be designated driver and do whatever for Dallas to do everything he wanted to… but I didn’t expect to have so much fun. All of Dallas’ classmates were really nice and welcoming me into the group. It was fun to meet a lot of people that mean so much in Dallas’s life.

And I always knew that he went to Kamehameha Schools, but I never really “got” it. So.. you went to a school.. So what. But Kamehameha Schools is so rich in Hawaiian culture and tradition. Generations of Dallas’s family have attended. Going to these reunion parties finally made me realize what it’s all about. It’s like a family. Everyone was nice to me because through Dallas, I’m ohana.

rachelle_dallas2

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The Pineapple Room by Alan Wong

June 18th, 2009 · 1 Comment

In 1992 Alan Wong cofounded what is known as Hawaii Regional Cuisine. Wong is a James Beard Award winner and I’ve always wanted to visit one of his restaurants. A friend clued me in to the fact that The Pineapple Room in Ala Moana Shopping Center is an affordable lunch option and a good way to taste Wong’s food without spending a lot of money, so after I shook off the paparazzi, I decided to get lunch there.

The entrance to The Pineapple room is kind of strange because the restaurant it located on the 3rd floor of Macy’s. So you’re browsing yellow tank tops and then a foot over you’re sitting down and eating lunch.

the_pineapple_room_entrance

Once you’re inside, The Pineapple Room looks like any other restaurant.

the_pineapple_room_inside

I looked at the menu and was interested in the kalua pig BLT. Then I noticed that there is something called the Express Lunch where you could get your choice of soup, a half Caesar salad, the kalua pig BLT, chocolate macadamia nut brownies with vanilla ice cream, and your choice of coffee or tea for only a few bucks more (something like $22 vs. $14.50). I thought this would be a good way to sample more from the menu. I noticed that there were some desserts on the menu that seemed more local and included things like lilikoi and haupia so I asked the waiter if I could sub out the dessert in the Express Lunch. He said usually it’s not done, but he let me pick another anyway.

the_pineapple_room_menu

First up, everyone gets a bread basket with a side of chili pepper aoli.

the_pineapple_room_bread_basket

For my soup I picked the chilled Hamakua Springs tomato soup with avocado salsa and chilled shrimp. The avocado and shrimp were on the bottom of the bowl hanging out like a tasty surprise when you dipped your spoon in.

the_pineapple_room_tomato_soup

The kalua pig BLT came on an onion bun with a half Caesar salad.

the_pineapple_room_kalua_pig_blt

I ate this sandwich with my eyes and my camera before I ate it with my mouth. A little too much so that my camera battery died as I was taking this last one. But it was so worth it. Look at that pork on pork.

the_pineapple_room_kalua_pig_blt_close

Luckily I had my cell phone’s camera. The photo quality on my phone is pretty horrible, but I still shot this alright photo of my lilikoi cheesecake with lilikoi and guava sauces.

the_pineapple_room_lilikoi_cheesecake

Everything was super delicious, but I was so stuffed! I wandered around Ala Moana for the rest of the day with my stomach protruding over my waistband, not wanting to try any clothes on. Also, a stomach full of pork on a sweltering day is not exactly a good feeling, but it was so worth it!

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Koloa Fish Market

March 17th, 2007 · No Comments

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John & Susan Entering Koloa Fish Market, Koloa Town, Kaua’i

2007_03_koloa_fish_market_sign.jpg
Koloa Town, Kaua’i

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Kalua Pig Plate Lunch, Poipu, Kaua’i

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Lau Lau Plate Lunch, Poipu, Kaua’i

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Haupia, Poipu, Kaua’i

The shave ice was good, but we needed a proper lunch, so we stopped at the Koloa Fish Market for some plate lunches. Like Jo Jo’s, the fish market is kind of a shack, just a small old building, but the food is excellent. The freshest fish, and great plate lunches. I first got a plate lunch from Koloa Market with Caroline the last time we were in Kaua’i and I couldn’t wait to have one again. Dallas and John got Kalua pig, Susan and I opted for the lau lau. In Chicago there’s a Hawaiian restaurant that we go to sometime that has many local favorites like loco moco and kalua pig and kalbi ribs, but no lau lau. I wasn’t going to pass up my one chance in who knows how long to get the lau lau.* Lau lau is pork and butter fish wrapped in taro leaves (that you eat) and cooked in ti leaves (that you don’t eat)… except I don’t think mine had the butter fish. Dang, that’s like the prize you hunt for! But it was still good. Included in each of the plate lunches were white rice, poke, chicken long rice, and lomi lomi salmon. I also got a piece of haupia so that Susan and John could try it.

After chowing, we laid around by the pool and hot tub waiting for Allison to arrive. And somehow she finally did. And somehow she found her way to Lihue to our condo in Poipu with hardly any directions at all. Allison had been to Kaua’i one time before, but it was years ago. I don’t know how she remembered.

We also stopped at Big Save to stock up on some supplies. I feel like we went to Big Save to get more for everyone at the condo every time we passed it! More Hawaiian Sun, more beer, more creamer, more coffee, etc.

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