Family Dinner at Community Tavern

We took Dallas’s parents to Community Tavern for a nice dinner out. The food there is Asian influenced/Asian inspired/Asian fusion. We saw how this was going to play out, but for some reason we let it happen. Dallas’s mom ordered the bi bim bap and hated it! It was not traditional bi bim bap. Great! Now she’s going to go home and tell everyone how disgraceful Chicago’s bi bim bap is! Kathy and George did love all the appetizers. My scallops were great. Dallas had the Bo Ssam and it was the second time he’s gotten it. He loves it.

Dinner at Formento’s

Becky, Chris, Mark, Romi, Ujval and I met up for dinner at Formento’s. So great to see everyone. All of these people will always have a special place for me! The time we worked together was the best and worst and we all came through.

I’d never been to Formento’s. It’s an Italian restaurant and part of the group that opened Bristol, Swift and Son’s, Cold Storage, etc. Great food. The service was also very personable and attentive. Def recommend.

Labor Day Weekend at the Lake House

img_8098.jpgimg_8091.jpgFor Labor Day Weekend we stayed overnight for a couple nights at the lake house. The first day there were so many friends: Brian, Sara, Kelly, Todd, Mikey, Tamara, Damian, Vanessa, Dylan, Derek and Kim. It was hot and sunny on both days and we swam a lot in the lake. Makai is super comfortable in the water. Maybe TOO comfortable! We have to lecture him a lot not to go on the dock without us and only to go out if he’s wearing his floaty life preserver. This Pipeworks Pineapple Bling beer was just one of many that we drank.

img_8113.jpgTwo boys on an adventure! Damian and Vanessa were not sure if they were going to come up to the lake and were on the fence literally til the last second. When they showed up with Dylan and Derek, Makai was so so happy. It’s fun to watch them pal around. Derek was so excited to have a sleepover!  I don’t think Makai even realizes that he is younger than the other two!

img_8109.jpgFor dinner on Saturday Dallas made the traditional Labor Day banh mi sandwiches with pork meatballs. He wanted me to note that this sandwich didn’t have the cilantro on it that the rest did. This wasn’t his BEST presentation, he said. But it sure tasted delicious!

img_8167.jpgI don’t know how these got into the house, but I was afraid to eat them.

img_8178.jpgOn Sunday Dylan and Derek had to leave to go to another barbecue. There was a lot of goodbye hugging!

img_8179.jpgOn Sunday night we went to a bar (Chances) and a restaurant (Ad Lib Geocafe) that Brian and Sara were interested in. I’ve had Not Your Father’s root beer a million times, but never the vanilla cream ale. Tasty, but probably too sweet to drink too much of it. I also tried this Latitude 42 Brewery‘s beer called Luciver’s Cuvée. It had a chocolate taste and Makai said it smelled yummy!

img_8180.jpgThe restaurant was pretty much almost connected to the bar. It was for sure the fanciest place I’ve been to in the area. Everything is based on seasonable availability and the menu changes constantly. On the way home we went to Dairy Queen in Antioch. And then we just hung out at the house.

Monday not too much happened. We came home. Todd, Kelly, Brian and Sara went to the Cubs game in Milwaukee!

Sansei Seafood & Sushi

Dallas and I can never pass up going to Sansei when we are in Honolulu. And this time, especially, since it was right in our hotel! Last year we went to Sansei twice, once on Oahu and once on the Big Island! Awesome. We decided to sit at the sushi bar, which we like to do sometimes. It’s fun to talk to the sushi chefs and lots of times they hook you up with extra dishes. This time was no exception.


Edamame always seems to be comped at the sushi bar!


I started with a fancy martini, while Dallas opted for Orion, an Okinawan beer.


The sushi chef that took care of us at the sushi bar.


Tai Carpaccio: Five pieces of fresh Japanese Tai snapper topped off with cilantro & jalapeno, accompanied with cucumber sunomono, finished off with a Thai basil infused spicy ume ponzu.


Cajun Seared Walu Sashimi: With shaved Maui onion, red jalapeno, cilantro and a Yukke sauce with a little kick!


Banzai Oyster Shooter: Fresh oyster & uni topped with uzura in a spicy citrus soy sauce, finished with tobiko & green onion. Dallas ordered this an I wasn’t really paying attention. When it came out it had both uni (which I don’t love) and uzura, which I found out was a raw quail egg. I pretty much slammed it back before I could think and you know what? If I knew it was coming I’d have time to form things in my mind, but when it just appeared and I ate it? It was fantastic. Probably enjoyed it the most of everything that night.


Hamachi Kama: Tender collar of yellowtail, broiled & served with Nalo greens & ponzu sauce. The first time I ever had hamachi kama was at Sansei, years ago. I love it! We always have to get it whenever it’s available. We scored on this piece. It was the biggest piece of hamachi kama we’ve ever had!


Seared Sea Scallops: House cured Shinsato Farms bacon, red potatoes, Maui onions & apple cider vinegar.


I was trying to decide what to order for my next drink and the waiter suggested this shiso drink. Shiso is an asain herb in the mint family. So, I got the Shi-so Sweet, made with Pau vodka (made on Maui), Malibu rum, fresh lime sour, fresh pineapples and fresh shiso leaves.


Dallas and I decided to have sashimi as our finale. This was head shushi chef Iku’s creation (according to the menu), Rainbow Sashimi Moriawase: An assortment of seven types of fresh sashimi, accompanied with cucumber sunomono, seaweed salad, & yukari furikake rice.


It was like a beautiful diorama! I didn’t want to mess it up by eating it!


Little did we realize that our sushi chef was going to hook us up with one more thing before we left. Hamachi Carpaccio: Served with a yuzu kosho ponzu sauce, topped with jalapenos, shiso, tobiko, drizzled with truffle oil.

As always, a great meal!! Thanks, DK & Sansei!