Visit Hilo: Short N Sweet Bakery & Cafe

I think Short N Sweet Bakery & Cafe has some of the best sandwiches around!  We picked up lunch from there recently (I conveniently ordered online), and I couldn't resist picking up some sweet treats as well!

BLTA

The BLTA - bacon, lettuce, tomatoes, and avocado, was served on their housemade focaccia bread.  The bread is amazing, and the sandwich was stuffed with lots of bacon!  

Chocolate Chip Cookie

The treats were a perfect to satisfy my sweet tooth!  I especially liked the soft, chewy chocolate chip cookie.

Short N Sweet Bakery & Cafe
374 Kinoole St
Hilo, HI 96720

(808) 935-4446

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Visit Hilo: Kandi's Drive Inn

There are not too many spots in Hilo that are open at 5am, but Kandi's opens early, and it was where we went to pick up bentos before drone fishing one morning.  

They have small and large bentos, along with a bunch of other grab-and-go eats, or you can simply order some local eats off of the menu.

We picked up large bentos, which included corned beef hash, chicken, kamaboko, teri beef, and more.

The contents were nothing extraordinary, but there was a lot of food, so it was a decent value.

It was ideal for a day of fishing!

Kandi's Drive Inn
56 W Kawailani St

Hilo, HI 96720
(808) 959-8461

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Ahualoa Family Farms

Ahualoa Family Farms on the Big Island cares for over 90 acres of macadamia nut orchards, and Hawaii Mom Blog was lucky to have sampled some of their products, including their macadamia nuts and macadamia nut flour.

At Na`au, we received some macadamia nuts, and Chef Brian made some amazing brittle with it.  

He made a Macadamia Nut Brittle with Chili Flakes and sprinkled with Sea Salt.

It was so delish on its own, but even more amazing when mixed in with ice cream!

Ahualoa Family Farms also offers coffee, chocolates, granolas, and more!

For more information or to shop Ahualoa Family Farms products, visit https://ahualoafarms.com/. 

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Giveaway - Family 4-Pack of Movie Tickets at Regal Pearl Highlands

Regal Pearl Highlands is re-opening on May 7! 

Visit Hawaii Mom Blog on Instagram to enter to win a family 4-pack of movie tickets (not valid for special events or private screenings) so you can enjoy a movie at Regal Pearl Highlands!

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New Tasting Menu at the Beachhouse at the Moana

Ahi Poke

island big eye tuna, maui onion, guacamole, cassava chips, bubu arare, wasabi aioli 

The Beachhouse at the Moana Surfrider, A Westin Resort and Spa has reopened for dinner with a new three or four course tasting menu with a variety of options for each course. Hawaii Mom Blog was very grateful to be invited to a media dinner to experience the new menu. The Beachhouse has one of Waikiki's prettiest settings with the hotel's Victorian architecture overlooking the beach and ocean.

Seating on the veranda

For dinner, I recommend starting with one of Nadine Madera's signature cocktail creations that range from highballs to tropical and sweet. For each tasting menu, guests will select an appetizer, entree, and dessert. With the four course menu, you have a selection of 2 appetizers. Appetizer options include a very delicious ahi poke, shrimp cocktail, beef carpaccio, scallops, and salads. Entree options include a 14 ounce ribeye, Big Island steamed kampachi, risotto, and rack of lamb. You can also supplement your tasting menu with king crab, grilled prawns, and/or lobster tail. The menu is subject to change so be sure to visit their website for the most up to date information. 

A signature cocktail created for the Sand Bar at the Sheraton Maui

Beef Carpaccio - island mixed greens, yuzu soy vinaigrette, truffle aioli, parmesan

Pan seared diver scallops - truffled sweet pea puree, parmesan crisp, prosciutto

Persillade Crusted Colorado Rack of Lamb

charred spiced honey carrot puree, potato goat cheese croquettes

Big Island Steamed Kampachi

Hong Kong sauce, choi sum, shiitake mushroom, lobster fried rice

Chocolate peanut butter crunch cup

chocolate mousse, dark chocolate ganache, peanut butter and praline crumble, 

red wine berry jelly

Beachhouse at the Moana is open for dinner Wednesday through Sunday and overlooks The Beach Bar where there is live sunset entertainment.

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Elena's To-Go

It's been a long while since I've been to Elena's, and since I've had many discussions with friends about Filipino food lately, I made an order there.

They have really great take-out deals!

Their April Special is a huge plate for just $14.99, and consists of lechon special, pancit, pork adobo fried rice omelette, Shanghai lumpia, and pork adobo.

They also have a great Elena's Pack deal for just $49.99, which includes rice, and:

Lechon Special

Pork Adobo

Guisantes

Sari Sari

Pork Adobo Fried Rice Omelette

My faves were the guisantes, pancit, and lechon special. My kids loved the pancit.  I grew up eating at Elena's, and everything tasted just as good a I remembered.  

The Pack has so much food - it lasted us several meals!

If you love Filipino food, I would highly recommend taking advantage of this deal.  It's available every day!  

Elena's
94-866 Moloalo St
Waipahu, HI 96797
(808) 676-8005

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Celebrate Mother's Day with Big Island Candies

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. 

Mother's Day is just around the corner, and Big Island Candies has a couple of sweet gift ideas perfect for the occasion!

At the center of the From the Heart Gift Box is a huge Heart-Shaped Milk Chocolate Covered Macadamia Nut Brownie!  I would be excited just to get that brownie (I LOVE Big Island Candies' brownies!), but the box contains so many goodies!

Full contents: 

• 4 Heart-Shaped Macadamia Nut Shortbread
• 2 Pink Sugar Heart-Shaped Macadamia Nut Shortbread
• 1 Heart-Shaped Milk Chocolate Covered Macadamia Nut Brownie
• 2 Macadamia Nut Toffees
• 4 Mika Mints

The entire box is full of confections that would brighten up anyone's day.

The Mother's Day Gift Box is loaded with Big Island Candies favorites, such as brownies, mints, and their very addicting snack mix.  The box also includes their exclusive Heart-Shaped Macadamia Nut Shortbread cookies!  

Full contents:

• 1 box of Dark Chocolate Covered Macadamia Nut Brownies
• 1 bag of Sweet and Salty Snack Mix
• 2 Pink Sugar Heart-Shaped Macadamia Nut Shortbread
• 4 Heart-Shaped Macadamia Nut Shortbread
• 3 Macadamia Nut Toffees
• 1 Macadamia Nut Biscotti with Milk Chocolate Waves
• 1 Chocolate Macadamia Nut Biscotti with Milk Chocolate Waves
• 2 Mika Mints

The Heart-Shaped cookies are just the cutest, and I love that the basket is reusable!

The deadline to order for Mother's Day is May 4, so don't delay!  These gifts are available for a limited time only!

Visit the Big Island Candies website to shop their entire collection!

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Visit Big Island: Merriman's Waimea

Although I've been to several of Chef Peter Merriman's restaurants, so many have told me I need to go to the flagship Waimea location, which they deem to be the best.  And finally, I went!

Merriman's Mai Tai

I went on a Sunday, where in addition to the lunch menu, they also offer brunch.

Ceviche

Tomato Soup

Caesar Salad

Fish Sandwich

Punaluu Sweet Bread French Toast

Avocado Toast

I enjoyed the ceviche, the Caesar salad (made with Hirabara Farms baby romaine and topped with a fried tomato "crouton"), and the avocado toast, which was garnished with Kawamata tomatoes.  

I thought the French toast had just the right amount of sweetness.

The service was excellent, and we were thoroughly entertained by "Uncle Jay," who seated us and continually cracked jokes with us.

I'm glad I finally tried Merriman's Waimea, but I definitely am eager to go back to try the dinner menu, as I've seen online the dishes that Executive Chef Chad Yamamoto creates, and they look amazing!

Merriman's Waimea

65-1227 Opelo Rd B

Waimea, HI 96743

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Cocobonz by Coco's Cravings

Another great local business that was born during the COVID-19 pandemic is Coco's Cravings, specializing in homemade Japanese milk bread.  They first started out making just savory milk bread, but now they have branched out to cinnamon rolls (which they call COCOBONZ)!

Available by pre-order only (pick-ups are usually on Saturdays), these Cocobonz are better than the C place, IMHO.  And the fact that they're made by a local small business is just the icing on the cake!

I spotted these mouth-watering Cocobons on Instagram one day and immediately DMed @CocosCravings808 to inquire on when the pick-up date was going to be.  A few days later, I picked up my order from the owner/chef and took my first bite in my truck.  I just couldn't wait until I got home.  

The Cocobons are made with homemade milk bread which makes these cinnamon rolls the lightest, fluffiest, softest rolls you'll ever sink your teeth into.

The cream cheese frosting is soooo good!

 

Follow @CocosCravings808 on Instagram to find out when the next pre-order opens! 

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Visit Hawaii Island: Island Lava Java

I visited Island Lava Java in Waikoloa for breakfast a few years ago, and I recently did take-out lunch there.

We ordered Ali`i Sandwiches and Mauna Kea Sandwiches.

The Ali`i Sandwich consisted of a garlic and herb-marinated chicken breast that was topped with provolone cheese, crispy fried onions, a chipotle aioli, and organic arugula.  The chicken seemed a bit on the drier side, but the toppings were a nice addition.

The Mauna Kea came with turkey breast, provolone, organic arugula, sliced avocado, and roasted garlic aioli.

Sandwiches come with fries, sweet potato fries, soup, or salad.  

You can text your order in advance to minimize wait times!

Island Lava Java
68-1845 Waikoloa Rd

Waikoloa Village, HI 96738
(808) 769-5202

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Leung's Chop Suey House

Chef John Iha often mentions Leung's whenever I go to Hilo, and I finally had a chance to try it out with my Na`au co-worker!

The restaurant offers a menu you can order off of, or ready-to-eat items that you can pick and choose from.  

Fried Noodles, Roast Pork, Chicken

They did not have Oyster Sauce Chicken the day we went, so the lady ended up giving us regular chicken and a container of oyster sauce.  The chicken turned out to be really tasty without the oyster sauce.  

The Roast Pork and the Kau Yuk were both good, and I really liked the Leung's Special Cake Noodle. 

Kau Yuk

Leung's Special Cake Noodle

It was definitely some of the best Cake Noodle I've had, and I loved the abundance of meat and veggies in the gravy.


Leung's Chop Suey House
530 E Lanikaula St,
Hilo, HI 96720

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Chuckle & Roar's Pop-It Review

 Disclosure: Complimentary product was received for review purposes.

My youngest and I have been playing Pop-It, a fun game by Chuckle & Roar that's also a sensory toy.

The rules of the game are simple - players take turn popping bubbles in a single row, and the player that pops the last bubble loses.

Simple, right?  But for some reason, I lost nearly every game that I played with my son.

There's an even slightly more difficult version of the game to play, but either way - it's endless fun, as once the game ends, you simply flip over the Pop-It and start a new game!

The engaging tie-dye game is perfect to take on the road, or can occupy anyone for hours at a time.  Made out of durable, easy-to-clean material, you can toss Pop-It in a bag or leave it in the car for when the need for a distraction strikes.  There are no tiny pieces that can get lost, and just about anyone of any age can play.

For the littlest of kids, this fun toy can help with gross motor skills, counting, color recognition, and more!

You can find Pop-It at Target.com.

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Tanaka Ramen & Izakaya Cook-at-Home Ramen Kits

Tanaka Ramen & Izakaya now offers Cook-at-Home Ramen Kits!  I was lucky have been invited to try a couple of these kits (currently only available at the Ala Moana location), which include prepared soup broth, a package of noodles, and garnishes.  

There are four varieties to choose from: Tanaka Classic, Tanaka Tori, Tanaka Rich Garlic, and Spicy Creamy Vegan.

Tanaka Classic

I chose the Tanaka Classic, which included pork broth, thin noodles, pork chashu, green onion and kikurage, and the Tanaka Tori, which included chicken broth with thin noodles, chicken chashu, green onions and spinach.  

The kits were a cinch to prepare.  Simply heat the broth, cook the noodles, and garnish!  In a matter of minutes, I had a tasty bowl of ramen!

Tanaka Tori

You can even add any other garnishes you may have in your fridge or pantry.

These kits have come in very handy, as I still rarely dine out (but do a lot of take-out), and they are so convenient for when the ramen craving strikes.  

The kits are $12 each, and $42.99 for any four kits.  

Call 808-400-0506 to place an order.

More information on Tanaka Ramen & Izakaya:
In addition to its new Cook-At-Home Ramen Kits, Tanaka Ramen & Izakaya also launched a new Happy Hour menu available at their Ala Moana Center location (Monday through Friday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.) and Kapolei Marketplace location (Monday through Friday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.). Both locations offer a different assortment of pupus priced from $3 to $5 such as edamame, crispy chicken wings, karaage chicken, pork gyoza, fried oysters and more. To wash it all down, drinks – including a house sake, Asahi draft, Orion draft and more – are also available on happy hour starting from $4.

Tanaka Ramen & Izakaya’s Ala Moana Center and Kapolei Marketplace locations are open for dine-in and take out daily – with proper safety measures in place from – Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. To place an order, call your nearest restaurant or order online at www.tanakaramen.com. Delivery is also available through Uber Eats and Bite Squad.

The business is planning to open an additional location at Pearlridge Center in April 2021.

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Rokaru Shabu Shabu

The last time I went to Rokaru Shabu Shabu was shortly after they had just opened nearly 5 years ago.  

Rokaru Bento

The Rokaru Bento consists of rice, gyoza, arabiki sausage, sukiyaki beef, fried chicken, tonkatsu, and tsukemono.

The serving of tonkatsu was a lot smaller than what I saw on the original photo on their Instagram, but it was still a pretty good deal at just $10.  

Deep Fried Pork Gyoza

Miso Garlic Shrimp Plate

Fried Ramen

Garlic Chicken Plate

Zucchini Fries

Eggplant Fries

The Eggplant Fries and Zucchini Fries were great - I imagine it would be even better eaten just cooked at the restaurant.

You can order take-out online, and they have a service charge for COVID Materials (2%).

Rokaru Shabu Shabu

1140 Kuala St
Ste 104

Pearl City, HI  96782
(808) 455-3000

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