Sicilia Bakery

We were at Makai’s school Fall Fest, which was on Montrose because of the strike. As it got closer to the end of the celebration, and closer to lunch, we were getting hungry. Makai’s friend, Otis’s parents, Rachel and Scott, knew of the Sicilia Bakery nearby, so we gave it a try. Dallas ran over, while I finished up paying for the silent auction. We brought the sandwiches home and they were AMAZING!

I’m assuming that mowing the grass is only fun the first time.

Our yard is pretty small so a rechargeable battery-operated lawn mower was the perfect gift from our friend and realtor, Todd.

The weather was very warm and we’ve been watering the grass twice a day, every day, so it’s grown so long. When my parents visited [their first visit to the new house], we decided to give it a trim. I hadn’t mowed the lawn for decades.

We also went to check out Fannie’s Cafe, a local cafe where everything is baked from scratch.

Hawaii Day 13: Picnicking With the Chickens at Kokee

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(null)(null)Kathy and George went to meet their friends for breakfast, a weekly ritual. Makai and I went down to G’s Juicebar in Waimea for breakfast. I wanted to try one of their acai bowls. I decided on the Rambla, which was acai, cocoa powder, almond milk, and banana topped with cocoa nibs, crushed almonds, granola, hemp seeds and banana. It was good. The bottom, acai part, was almost like a frozen yogurt consistency.

(null)(null)(null)After breakfast we walked around Waimea town a little bit. The souvenir store, JoJo’s, West Inn (not the Westin!).

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(null)I took Makai back home then ran to Big Save for the 100th time to get picnic supplies. We made the long drive up to Kokee for a picnic! There were so many chickens, roosters, chicks, crested cardinals and myna birds! Makai loved to run and chase them, but they were so used to people that when we were eating lunch Makai was holding his chip to low and one of the chickens just came up and grabbed it away! It was a fun relaxing time. Makai ran around for hours! At home he is calling the birds “myna birds!”

(null)Inside the Kokee Museum I spotted Nick Castillo’s CD. Nick is Dallas’s classmate and is a very talented Hawaiian falsetto singer. We met up with him later int he trip and saw him sing!

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(null)FullSizeRender-7On the way up to Kokee Makai fell asleep so we just drove straight up. On the way down I made Dallas stop at the Waimea Canyon lookout. He didn’t want to. Can you tell by the photo? 🙂 It was cloudy and rainy and you could hardly see anything. But still.. you HAVE to stop!

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(null)Back at home Makai and I both slept for hours! Uncle Bob and his sister in law, Karen, came over for dinner. Dallas’s dad made me a margarita, that supposedly all of their friends rave about. He also fried up some akule fish. They are fried up bones and all. I tried a bit. It was super salty! Dallas and his mom split the salmon and each made it a different way before grilling. Kathy made hers with fresh dill and Dallas did more of an Asian shoyu/sugar rub. No one would say whose was better. Makai ate plenty of both! We sat out on the desk for a long time eating and talking and then called it a night.

Lunch at Wyler Road

Update: I just looked at the Wyler Road Facebook page. They posted and hour ago to say that they have closed for “a short while” whatever that means!

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The folks from The Burlington have opened up Wyler Road in the space that used to be The Brown Sack. The restaurant opened last week and Makai and I went to check it out this past weekend. A lot of people on the Logan Square parents group were talking about Wyler Road, so I knew it was kid friendly. Makai and I were the second seated table after the restaurant opened and the next after us had two small babies. They have high chairs and were nice to Makai, but there’s not a kids menu, if that’s what you’re looking for.

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I started with the Watermelon Basil Daisy (Lunazul Tequila – Pierre Ferrand Dry Orange Curacao – Bail Simple – Watermelon – Lime), which everyone had been saying was amazing. It was refreshing and potent, for sure. The Wyler Road menu features about 20 different kinds of sandwiches. We shared the Croque Madame (Smoked Ham – Dijon- Bechamel – Fried Egg- Gruyere – Pain de Mie) and the Potato Balls (Cheez Whiz – Bacon Bits- Sour Cream – Chive). I was hoping that they would carry over my favorite Brown Sack sandwich to their menu – the BLAST (Bacon lettuce avocado shrimp tomato) – but no luck!

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I thought my sandwich was o.k. It was not as gooey and decadent as the Croque Madames or Croque Monsieurs that I’ve had in the past. The potato balls were pretty much what I expected. Loaded up mashed potato balls that were fried. Yum.

For dessert, I was going to get a shake, but they only had floats, so I got one of those. When it came out it was piled high with whipped cream, like an old fashioned malt shop, and Makai just stared at it. He had no idea! But the funny thing was, he didn’t really like it. I gave him a few bites of the whipped cream and a couple sips from the straw and after that he said “No, thank you.”

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The layout of the bar and restaurant is pretty much the same as the Brown Sack (see here), but they have definitely made it more trendy. I loved the huge chalk board behind the bar at The Brown Sack but you cant deny the beauty of the new bar and I love the contrasting blue bar stools and linens throughout. The Brown Sack was homey and Wyler Road is clean and modern.

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The Brown Sack was always kind of hot inside and so was Wyler Road. I figured it was the same issue, whatever that may be, but while we were eating, a guy came over and was fiddling with the air conditioning unit. He said because they cook a lot during the day and Brown Sack didn’t, that they had to figure out a way to cool it more. He said they’re still working out the kinks… and I assume this is true for everything at Wyler Road. Things weren’t perfect, but I liked it and I will be back.

Paying Up on the Sandwich Bet

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Dallas and Adam always make a sandwich bet every year. I don’t know what exactly it involves.. something to do with fantasy football. Last year Dallas lost and made a fried green tomato and shrimp po’boy for Adam. I got to sample a little of it when my brother and I stopped over after watching the Hobbit last year. This year Adam lost and for payback he went to Eataly and then came over with Christine and served COURSES of sandwich. Three different sandwiches!

The first, my favorite, was a prosciutto with fresh mozzarella and basil on fresh Italian fennel bread. He made some kind of balsamic/olive oil/garlic dressing that was amazing. The second sandwich was prime rib. This was a hot sandwich and really tasty and rich. Dallas and Adam liked this one the best. Finally, there was a hot rosemary ham sandwich, which was also very good, but we were getting SO stuffed.

After dinner we sat and visited and played with Makai and ate cookies I made for dessert. Fun night.. and yeh. I can not wait to visit the Eataly in Chicago!!

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The Brown Sack

Back in June The Brown Sack closed and I was so sad because I’d lived nearby for so long and had never been there. I had heard only good things about it and missed my chance. Behold! Good news! They were just moving. In August The Brown Sack opened up a bit farther north on Belden.

In October I finally got a chance to go to The Brown Sack. Dallas had gone the week before and told me how great the BLAST sandwich was so I ordered it too. The BLAST is the classic BLT with shrimp and avocado. You can choose white, whole wheat or rye bread. I got wheat. All sandwiches are served warm with your choice of cole slaw, potato salad or pasta salad. I chose the potato salad. Jess told me that I had to try a shake, so I got a chocolate one.

I loved my sandwich and the shake was fabulous. I was pretty “meh” about the potato salad and would probably try a different side next time…. but the sandwich and shake? SO GOOD.