OAHU Day 1.. 17 May 2010

My dream of finally going to the NORTH SHORE in OAHU was finally going down!! My gf and I have been planning this trip for almost the past yr and today it finally arrived.

NORTH SHORE - 1987

This movie is what started it all! my passion for the ocean, for the waves, for wave riding, and my dream of 1 day visiting the NORTH SHORE.  The very first time I saw this film might have in '88 or '89 when my brother brought home the VHS, and since then I might have watched it a thousand times.  It's even cooler that my gf enjoys this movie because this has to rank up there as one of my all time favs.  

So leading up to our trip, we had to watch this movie a couple times to build the excitement and to do some note taking on what spots to check out in OAHU.

So we flew out of LAX on United Airlines on 17 May @ 8am.. Man o man.. my gf and I were so excited! I had Bodyboarding videos in mp4s and the North Shore mp4 on my iPOD just to pump me up because I was "Going to Hawaii to surf the BIG WAVES of the NORTH SHORE" (unfortunately it was already spring, so the waves on the North Shore were basically all flat because it wasn't winter anymore, but I wanted to stay that quote because the star of the movie said that).

3.5hrs into the flight and my gf and I were getting hungry!! The spam & eggs back home for bfast @ 5:45am PST felt so long ago and we didn't pack any snacks on the plane.  All these Japanese tourist on the plane were heating up some mad HEAT in the microwave and it was torture! We had to buy something..

(taken w/ an SD900)

Ham & Cheese Croissant

Thumbs down to Air plane food but we were hungry!  It was cold and the cheese was stiff, but fuck it.. we were hungry! but I knew... I KNEW that once we landed and for the rest of the trip, we were going to eat REAL NICE!  I had my mind set on a LOCO MOCO as soon as we get the opportunity after we land, but for the mean time this Croissant will do.  But word of advice, try to pack your own goodies(if you can).

Here's a shot from my point of view next to the wing. I think that's the Big Island right there.. I was getting excited because we were close!

We have arrived!! A warm welcome on our way to baggage claim..

I'm not going to blog about each and every detail about our trip because this blog is about Foooooood! but don't worry, if I see you, i'll be glad to tell you about my trip =)

LUNCH

Nicos Pier 38

Our first place to eat on the island right off the plane would be here @ Nicos Pier 38 in Honolulu.  A small and humble place that appeared to be a very popular place based on all the people that were eating there.

In line to order!

Look at that Breakfast menu!

Lunch menu #2, I wasn't able to get a shot ofLunch menu #1 by itself but if you look at the picture above, just zoom in.  What caught my eye on the menu that got me close to ordering one was the "Grilled Ahi Sandwhich".  Interesting huh? I came close to ordering it but NAWWWW this is Hawaii, I had my mind set on a LOCO MOCO all along! a LOCO MOCO from Hawaii!

1/2 n 1/2 Plate

Teriyaki chicken w/ sauce, cho mein & rice

Loco Moco w/ rice & salad

My gf and I shared this heavy ass plate and it was delicious! What a way to start off our trip w/ grub like this.  I almost started eating right away because it looked so bomb but I had to control myself because I had to take a minute or 2 to take pictures w/ my DSLR & iPhone.. oh yeah and my gf took some pictures as well w/ her camera.  If I started eating right away, these pictures wouldn't be possible but I did!! so thank me =)  

Damn it was so good! Not good because I was hungry but good because it freak'n was!  The teriyaki chicken complimented the Loco Moco very well and the salad was aiiiiight.  I'm glad we shared because I think it would've been too much food and that was something we didn't want to bring a long w/ us because we still had all our luggage!

Nicos Pier 38

• Monday - Friday •
6:30am - 5:00pm
• Saturday •
6:30am - 2:30pm
1133 N. Nimitz HWY
Honolulu, HI 96817
(Across the Nimitz Business Center, 1st floor of POP Fishing & Marine)

http://www.nicospier38.com/

We finally got to our resort and GM 1 of the NBA Western Conference Finals was on! The Los Angeles LAKERS vs the Phoenix Suns.  We stayed at the resort for awhile to watch the game, unpack, and get some rest from the traveling. 

It was about 5pm when we decided to shake the resort, but first I wanted to stop at a place I've been wanting to go ever since I saw it on a Bodyboarding video back in the early 1990s.

(taken w/ an SD900)

SANDY BEACH aka SANDYS

Known for it's hard waves that break right on the shore known as "Shore breaks", this beach is the #1 break in Hawaii for causing neck injuries or death.  A sandbar break w/ large rocks and small lava rocks in a few spots.  I was a hauli at this spot right off the bat but thanks to a local pro Bodyboarder that I met named Aka Lyman, thanks to him for giving me advice on where to paddle out at.  I was stoked to meet him because this was somebody I grew up watching and for him to be the first person to meet on Oahu was sweeet!

So my bodyboarding session was finally over around 8:15pm I think and I was hungry! my gf was hungry and you know what that means, it's time to grub!!

DINNER

From SANDYS to Honolulu.. it was time to get get some dinner here:

 KOBE Japanse Steak House

Yeah I know.. why visit a KOBE Japanese Steak House in Oahu when you can eat at the one in Seal Beach?? You know this place is good and if you have a Buy 1 get 1 free coupon.. what the heck right?!!!

We watched as our entire dinner is skillfully being prepared by their highly trained master chefs!

Shrimp, onions & stuff..

to this!

some good dipping sauce that I can't recall what..

coooook it uuuuuuup!

hooooo ohhhh hoooo!!!

Kobe Beef & Chicken w/ been sprouts

guess what??!! the finale to the plate!

furrrrr-iiiiide  riiiiiiice!

Anyone that's ever been to a KOBE Japanese steak house knows that their fried rice is off the heezy fo sheezy! so of course we had to get this!  To be honest, it was a little bit salty but mixing it up with some of our steamed rice balanced it out.  Even the saucy soup from the KOBE steak and chicken applied on top of the rice was EXTRA YUMMY!! The KOBE beef was tender and juicy like always and the chicken was very flavorful! What made this dinner even better was our Buy 1 Get 1 coupon! haha..

KOBE Japanese Steak House
1841 Ala Moana Boulevard
Honolulu, HI 96815-1693
(808) 941-4444

I must say that despite our Air plane croissant, starting off the day w/ a home cook breakfast of eggs, spam & rice and ending it with tasty dinner from KOBE Japanese Steak house... Day #1 was a food success!! what a way to start off our vacation in OAHU!

21 JUNE 2010.. LAKERS!!!

CONGRATS to the Los Angeles LAKERS for beating the Celtics in a decisive GM 7 in the 2010 NBA Finals. 
Today is the victory Parade which officially puts the NBA 2009-2010 Season to a KLOSE!

Back 2 Back

5 rings KOBE! Keep moving forward! Get more up on Shaq!

Let LeBron win his regular season MVPs while you collect Rings & Finals MVPs!

stone face FISH still can't believe it!

13 May 2010.. Evening

A Thursday evening before our trip to Hawaii and my gf and I were hungry! and tonight's dining was going to be Indian fooooooood! You guys might already know this because I mention it so many times but I love sauce! and when it comes to Indian food, their sauce on the rice is just ohhhh weeee! We decided to order over the phone and pick up @ their location on 2nd st. in Long Beach because we wanted to get back so my gf could watch her SPURS against the SUNS.

Here's what we picked up:

Shrimp Tandoori -

Jumbo shrimp delicately marinated in yogurt and fresh spices. Served with mint sauce, basmati rice, pappadam and raita. 

Look at that sauce!! this was my plate and it was really good.  The onions were delicious! I wish I could describe the taste of it but hey, I'm not a chef remember.  This was filled w/ big o'l shrimps that were very rich in sauce and the green peppers really complimented it.

Chicken Tikka Masala -

Boneless tandoori chicken delicately cooked in a gravy of tomatoes, cream, onions and spices. Served with basmati rice, pappadam and raita.

This was my gf's dish and it was a hit.  Very very flavor full and filled w/ a lot of sauce! I only had 2 pieces of chicken but I had a lot of the sauce that I would spread all over my rice =) The chicken was boneless, tender, and juicy.  A good combination when it comes to chicken, and this dish was filled w/ a lot of small pieces.  Don't let the picture fool you, there was a lot at the bottom!

Rice

Food ain't food w/o rice! I give 2 thumbs up for their style of steamed rice.

 Garlic Pita Bread

Garlic Pita Bread is the shit! this was moist and yet crunchy in some parts.  Perfect for dipping in my gf's dish which I did=)  I think I killed more than half of this Pita. hehe.  I highly recommend Garlic Pita Bread when you guys have dinner at an Indian Cuisine.  

So if you guys are ever on 2nd st. and don't feel like having "FUCK IT THAI" haha.. head on over to the Natraj Cuisine of India.

5262 E 2nd St
Long Beach, CA
(562) 930-0930  

http://www.labite.com/restaurant-menu-870/natraj-cuisine-of-india/

6 May 2010.. Evening

It was dinner time and my gf and I were hungry! It was on me to pick the place this evening and I went with Charo-Chicken! We went to the one located at the Long Beach traffic circle. I love their food! their spices, chicken, rice.. everything.  I'd pick Charo over El Pollo Loco any day because everything to me is more flavor full then dry El Pollo stuff.

Here's what we got:

3 piece combo -

w/ beans, rice & 4 flour tortilla's

My gf and I decided to share and this 3 piece combo turned out to be a 4 piece!! they accidentally gave us an extra breast =) The dripping sauce from the chicken went very well w/ the rice and that probably my most favorite thing about Charo-Chicken, that sauce from the chicken & spices. 

Chicken Quesadilla w/ chips

This was my first time trying their Chicken Quesadilla and I wasn't disappointed! I love quesadilla's and most of the time I can never go wrong w/ them(accept for my last visit to Heritage) and this was definitely a winner.  My gf and I shared this and she loved it as well.  I wish there was one closer to my house but it's fine, I think its better off that way.. haha. 

charochicken.com

4752 East Pacific Coast Highway
Long Beach, CA 90804-3241
(562) 498-5600