Last lunch of the year

I think I might have posted about these before, but it's worth mentioning again. Chewy black Korean noodles in an icy broth with a side of kalbi... SO good!

The company was good too... Taryn joined but Lauren ditched us for Maui... Whatever, Lauren!
Yu Chun on Kapiolani, next to Mckinley Car Wash.

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Mmmm, malasadas!

A fried doughnut like no other! From Leonard's Bakery on Kapahulu Ave or from one of their many mobile malasadas trucks. Thankfully, one such truck parks at Windward Mall, near my house in Kaneohe, almost daily! I've searched for these gems from the gods in LA with no luck... But today heard a rumor the King's Hawaiian Bakery in Gardena has them on the weekends?!?
And introducing malasadas with li hing powder! They were pretty good! And apparently there is a new version made from taro that's purple on the inside and supposedly broke-da-mouth (aka delicious). I'm on the lookout!

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Kaneohe Christmas

Merry Christmas!
Here's our tree on Xmas eve with more presents than we've seen under it in years. I think it's because my bro and his new wife are spending the night and brought their gifts here to open together in the morning. He was up a 7:30 and like always did his best to ensure we were all up shortly thereafter. lots of loot! And Santa was good to all of us.
Here's our traditional Christmas morning brunch! My mom makes my grandma's recipie for "David Eyre's pancakes" (like moist pop-overs) eaten with syrup! (I prefer the coconut and passion fruit syrups, myslef.) And we had an array of fried breakfast meats - lil smokies, spam and 3 kinds of Portuguese sausage (regular, pineapple filled, and kim chee filled) yum! Now I'm ready for a nap!!

Hope you all are having a wonderful holiday!

Christmas Eve Hawaiian Style

The ulua head is defrosting in th kitchen sink (it will be grilled and the meat in the cheeks and the kama, neck area, is wonderful!) and so is the meat from costco (for tataki - seared rare beef).

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Finally heading home, quietly.

I was expecting mass chaos, but after an easy breezy check-in (where I'm convinced some of the angriest people in Lax are yelling and haggling with the agents cuz thier bags a too heavy... Don't you know to be nice to them and they usually let it slide? Be an ass and then your at their mercy) no line at the security check where I had to tear my goods off since there wasn't even waiting time to undo shoe laces, I strolled in a nearly silent terminal to get my dirty airport treat - mcdonalds.
So I'm totally hours early chowing down and da da da da da I'm lovin' it.
I even had time to order some soft tacos at Baja Fresh where this lady felt the need to order her's en gringo espanol... I was so embarrassed for her.
Ole mamasita.

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Pet peeves: Santa hats

Let me start by saying that I love Christmas. Love everything about it from the spirit in the air to fighting the bustling crowds at the mall to the tacky and gaudy decor. But the thing that I just cannot stand are "people who are not Santa but wearing Santa hats." Ugh. I just dont get it and the whle thing totally bugs me! Do they think they are the man himself? One if his helpers? Or perhaps they feel it's just festive season fashion? Let me tell you, it's not.
I will give, however, all pets, babies and most kids (12 and under) the ok to don the hat cuz that's just cute. Oh and Salvation Army bell ringers have a pass too.

Anyway, I know I'm not alone. There are lots of you haters out there. Can i get a what-what? And on a somewhat related note, have you all seen the car that have the clip on reindeer antlers, one for each side of the car?! Oh! Don't get me started. And when they go as far as fashioning a red nose to the front grill?! double oh! It makes me want to cut you off and steal the parking spot you've been waiting for. Oddly enough, I'm ok with mini-wreaths on the grill. Now that's cute and festive!

Anyhow, back to the hats... I once met up with friends for dinner and one of my friend's husbands showed up in an overly large and furry version that he proceeded to sport throughtout the meal, adjusting the fur ball at the end on and off as not to get any pad thai on it. I was mortified.

And I guess will continue to be mortified until Saturday when the hats will stored away in closets accross the county only to return and torment me next year.
Not quite the same, but along the same lines: ho ho hos in the baggage claim at HNL.

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I've got a ticket to ride... Away

Well more like Flyaway.
So my secert parking spot that had day rates of only $6 is apparently no secret any more... They were all booked up for the holidays so I'm trying something new! Just recently in service is the LAX Flyaway bus from Irvine train staion (near the Irvine Spectrum Center). Its a meer 20 min from my house, which I cut close for my own good this time, and only $25 one way. I thought it was going to be jammed but there are only 4 people on this huge boat of a bus. AC, free Wifi... And yes your forced into their schedule, but so very convenient otherwise. It be PERFECT if only I didn't have to pee. 60 min and counting, more like holding.

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