December 25, 2008
December 11, 2008
Antonio's New York Pizzeria
Brick walls, a few old-school arcade games, and pictures of professional wrestlers on the walls. This spells authentic New York pizza. At Antonio's New York Pizzeria their pies are fresh and made to order. You can choose from a host of specialty pizzas on their menu or if you're the picky type make your own by choosing from a list of delectable ingredients.
Among the specialty pizzas that stood out were the Paesano (genoa salami, italian sausage, green peppers, onions, italian seasonings and parmesan) which came with the traditional red sauce, the Broadway (spinach, sun dried tomatoes, garlic, mushrooms, and parmesan) which was served with pesto sauce instead of red sauce, and The Hamptons (tomatoes, garlic, parmisan and italian seasonings) served with a olive oil and sweet basil sauce.
At Antonio's New York Pizzeria pizza is served only one way -- the correct way: thin with over-sized slices. They say you can tell that someone is from New York if they fold their pizza even if the slices aren't over-sized. In my opinion this is the way to go. If you want to try authentic-style New York pizza here on the islands Antonio's is the place to go.
Aside from their pizza, Antonios also serves up the newly "rediscovered" calzone. I'm sure you've recognized it from the endless pizza hut commercials but real calzones (those that aren't just a marketing scheme) can be truely a God-send. A Calzone is basically a pocket pizza. This means that it is easy to handle while eating and is great for people on the go. Antonio's serves a three topping calzone with mozzarella cheese and tomato sauce for $7.49 with additional toppings for $1.00 a piece.
What more could Antonio's offer? How about authentic philly cheesesteaks, hoagies, Nathen's Famous hot dogs, salads, baked spicy wings, appetizers, pastas, garlic fries, the list goes on. Did I mention cannoli's? Yes they even serve that hard to find authentic cannoli for $4.00 a piece. Trust me. It's worth the $4.00 just get one you'll thank me.
All good things aside, what flaws can I pick out of such a great establishment voted #1 best pizza by Honolulu Magazine? Just a few. I found that the pizzas had too much cheese on it. I'm a big cheese fan and I regularly order extra cheese on my super-deluxe home delivery pizza. But this time it was just too much cheese. Having an excess amount of cheese takes away from the other flavors of the pizza but hey, that's just my opinion on cheese.
Overall, if you want to try that authentic New York-style pizza, Antonio's New York Pizzeria is the place. Would I go there again? Sure. But I'd probably just end up ordering
"6431111" if you catch my drift (I'm such a sucker for pan pizza some times).
Antonio's New York Pizzeria
Rating System: 1-2.5-5 (poor-average-excellent)
Service: 2.5
Food Quality: 2.25
Monetary Value: 2
Quality vs Quantity: Quantity
Overall: 2.25
Contact Information;
Kahala Outlet
Address: 4210 Waialae Avenue
Phone: 808-737-3333
Hours: 11:30 AM - 8:15 PM Mon - Sat, 12:00 PM - 8:15 PM Sun (take-out available)
Pearl City Outlet
Address: 719 Kam Hwy.
Phone: 808-454-1233
Hours: 10:30 AM - 8 PM Tues - Thurs, 10:30 AM - 9 PM Fri, 11:30 AM - 9 PM Sat, 12 PM - 8 PM Sun (take-out available)
Among the specialty pizzas that stood out were the Paesano (genoa salami, italian sausage, green peppers, onions, italian seasonings and parmesan) which came with the traditional red sauce, the Broadway (spinach, sun dried tomatoes, garlic, mushrooms, and parmesan) which was served with pesto sauce instead of red sauce, and The Hamptons (tomatoes, garlic, parmisan and italian seasonings) served with a olive oil and sweet basil sauce.
At Antonio's New York Pizzeria pizza is served only one way -- the correct way: thin with over-sized slices. They say you can tell that someone is from New York if they fold their pizza even if the slices aren't over-sized. In my opinion this is the way to go. If you want to try authentic-style New York pizza here on the islands Antonio's is the place to go.
Aside from their pizza, Antonios also serves up the newly "rediscovered" calzone. I'm sure you've recognized it from the endless pizza hut commercials but real calzones (those that aren't just a marketing scheme) can be truely a God-send. A Calzone is basically a pocket pizza. This means that it is easy to handle while eating and is great for people on the go. Antonio's serves a three topping calzone with mozzarella cheese and tomato sauce for $7.49 with additional toppings for $1.00 a piece.
What more could Antonio's offer? How about authentic philly cheesesteaks, hoagies, Nathen's Famous hot dogs, salads, baked spicy wings, appetizers, pastas, garlic fries, the list goes on. Did I mention cannoli's? Yes they even serve that hard to find authentic cannoli for $4.00 a piece. Trust me. It's worth the $4.00 just get one you'll thank me.
All good things aside, what flaws can I pick out of such a great establishment voted #1 best pizza by Honolulu Magazine? Just a few. I found that the pizzas had too much cheese on it. I'm a big cheese fan and I regularly order extra cheese on my super-deluxe home delivery pizza. But this time it was just too much cheese. Having an excess amount of cheese takes away from the other flavors of the pizza but hey, that's just my opinion on cheese.
Overall, if you want to try that authentic New York-style pizza, Antonio's New York Pizzeria is the place. Would I go there again? Sure. But I'd probably just end up ordering
"6431111" if you catch my drift (I'm such a sucker for pan pizza some times).
Antonio's New York Pizzeria
Rating System: 1-2.5-5 (poor-average-excellent)
Service: 2.5
Food Quality: 2.25
Monetary Value: 2
Quality vs Quantity: Quantity
Overall: 2.25
Contact Information;
Kahala Outlet
Address: 4210 Waialae Avenue
Phone: 808-737-3333
Hours: 11:30 AM - 8:15 PM Mon - Sat, 12:00 PM - 8:15 PM Sun (take-out available)
Pearl City Outlet
Address: 719 Kam Hwy.
Phone: 808-454-1233
Hours: 10:30 AM - 8 PM Tues - Thurs, 10:30 AM - 9 PM Fri, 11:30 AM - 9 PM Sat, 12 PM - 8 PM Sun (take-out available)
December 4, 2008
Food Spotlight #2: Ikizukuri
WARNING: The following post is meant to be informative and may not be suitable for those with a weak stomach. I highly advise that you at least attempt to read this article as it is full of information. There are no pictures in this post but I will have links to videos if you are interested in viewing them.
Here's a short summary that may be easier to stomach: Ikizukuri is the Japanese term for "live sashimi". It is a tradition in Japan and requires a very high level of skill to produce. While this may be shunned as immoral, I ask that you keep an open mind and formulate your opinion at the end of the article
NOTE: Below contains my article on Ikizukuri "Live Sashimi"
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Ikizukuri
Ikizukuri, better known as "live sashimi", is a traditional delicacy in Japan. The traditional meat used for ikizukuri is fish. To produce a plate of Ikizukuri requires a highly skilled chef as the fish must still be alive when eaten. This means that the fish must go from tank to plate in the matter of minutes. The fish is taken out of the tank, the meat is taken off in a matter as not to disturb the organs (to keep the fish alive longer) and then is quickly sliced into strips for sashimi. The beating heart is then placed on the plate with the rest of the fish (still breathing) along with the sashimi and is then served to its diners.
In this video you can see that the fish is still alive when presented (YouTube)
In this video you can see the skill involved in preparing ikizukuri as the fish is still alive and able to live in a fish tank (YouTube)
In addition to fish, the Japanese also serve live lobster and shrimp sashimi. While the shrimp may not actually be alive as the head is severed from it's body, the shrimp still moves and is called odori ebi or "dancing shrimp". In Asia it is also common to find live baby octopus tentacles that have been cut up into bite-sized pieces.
In this video you can see a plate of odori ebi (YouTube)
In this video you can see "live" lobster sashimi (YouTube)
In this video you can see live abalone sashimi (YouTube)
Is this immoral version of sashimi justified? To be served alive? It is on the other hand, a tradition and a show of skill and is very expensive. It is also the same as eating raw opihi right out of the ocean or eating live oysters on the half shell. It is because of the fact that it is still moving as it is dieing or after it is dead make it immoral? Wouldn't eating live shellfish be immoral as well? I myself view this as an act of horror but at the same time view it as tradition. It is traditional to eat some foods live. We have been eating live shellfish for ages -- why stop now? i hope that by now you have formed your own opinion about this matter and I hope that I have enlightened you on the topic of ikizukuri.
--Upcoming Posts and News--
Gyotaku Review
Here's a short summary that may be easier to stomach: Ikizukuri is the Japanese term for "live sashimi". It is a tradition in Japan and requires a very high level of skill to produce. While this may be shunned as immoral, I ask that you keep an open mind and formulate your opinion at the end of the article
NOTE: Below contains my article on Ikizukuri "Live Sashimi"
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ikizukuri
Ikizukuri, better known as "live sashimi", is a traditional delicacy in Japan. The traditional meat used for ikizukuri is fish. To produce a plate of Ikizukuri requires a highly skilled chef as the fish must still be alive when eaten. This means that the fish must go from tank to plate in the matter of minutes. The fish is taken out of the tank, the meat is taken off in a matter as not to disturb the organs (to keep the fish alive longer) and then is quickly sliced into strips for sashimi. The beating heart is then placed on the plate with the rest of the fish (still breathing) along with the sashimi and is then served to its diners.
In this video you can see that the fish is still alive when presented (YouTube)
In this video you can see the skill involved in preparing ikizukuri as the fish is still alive and able to live in a fish tank (YouTube)
In addition to fish, the Japanese also serve live lobster and shrimp sashimi. While the shrimp may not actually be alive as the head is severed from it's body, the shrimp still moves and is called odori ebi or "dancing shrimp". In Asia it is also common to find live baby octopus tentacles that have been cut up into bite-sized pieces.
In this video you can see a plate of odori ebi (YouTube)
In this video you can see "live" lobster sashimi (YouTube)
In this video you can see live abalone sashimi (YouTube)
Is this immoral version of sashimi justified? To be served alive? It is on the other hand, a tradition and a show of skill and is very expensive. It is also the same as eating raw opihi right out of the ocean or eating live oysters on the half shell. It is because of the fact that it is still moving as it is dieing or after it is dead make it immoral? Wouldn't eating live shellfish be immoral as well? I myself view this as an act of horror but at the same time view it as tradition. It is traditional to eat some foods live. We have been eating live shellfish for ages -- why stop now? i hope that by now you have formed your own opinion about this matter and I hope that I have enlightened you on the topic of ikizukuri.
--Upcoming Posts and News--
Gyotaku Review
December 1, 2008
Shirokiya and Steak & Fish Company
Aloha, I hope you have all had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend. Today we will be taking a closer look at Shirokiya in Ala Moana Shopping Center along with a couple of other food stalls. This is only the first of many posts that we will be making about Ala Moana as the shopping center contains many unique food options.
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On the upper-most level of Ala Moana there lies a jewel of Japanese cuisine. Shirokiya. Shirokiya has been a much loved establishment here in the islands since 1959. In 2001 Shirokiya was threatened by closure but in 2002 it was reopened as the company was bought out. The bottom level of Shirokiya consists of many Japanese novelties, consumer electronics, and furniture. However, take the escalator upstairs and you will be transported to a food destination unlike any other here in Hawai'i. The upper level of Shirokiya is filled with food vendors (many who have come from Japan to practice their trade here in Hawai'i) dishing out food right before your very eyes. From sushi to katsu to made to order ramen, Shirokiya is a mecca of both traditional and local Japanese food. Besides the food, you can also find groceries that are hard to come by in most supermarkets such as quail eggs, fresh Japanese produce, a large assortment of miso and tofu and much more.
Shirokiya is always packed full of customers and vendors especially around meal time.
A variety of bentos.
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Shirokiya
On the upper-most level of Ala Moana there lies a jewel of Japanese cuisine. Shirokiya. Shirokiya has been a much loved establishment here in the islands since 1959. In 2001 Shirokiya was threatened by closure but in 2002 it was reopened as the company was bought out. The bottom level of Shirokiya consists of many Japanese novelties, consumer electronics, and furniture. However, take the escalator upstairs and you will be transported to a food destination unlike any other here in Hawai'i. The upper level of Shirokiya is filled with food vendors (many who have come from Japan to practice their trade here in Hawai'i) dishing out food right before your very eyes. From sushi to katsu to made to order ramen, Shirokiya is a mecca of both traditional and local Japanese food. Besides the food, you can also find groceries that are hard to come by in most supermarkets such as quail eggs, fresh Japanese produce, a large assortment of miso and tofu and much more.
Shirokiya is always packed full of customers and vendors especially around meal time.
A variety of bentos.As we wandered through the seemingly endless food stalls, I couldn't help but feel like I was being herded from one place to another like livestock. Catching the aroma of something that I haven't had in a long time we made our way to a vendor across the room. It was as I had expected. Guytan (Cow tongue). In our previous post about yakiniku I believe I had explained that if you ever have the chance of eating cow tongue you should definately take that chance. Here it was glazed in a yakitori-type sauce and lightly grilled. It was excellent. I haven't had cow tongue in such a long time that I had almost forgotten how much I loved it.
Gyutan (Beef Tongue).
Gyutan (Beef Tongue).Of course being brought up in Hawai'i, I need starch with my meat. This means rice. And what better time to introduce one of my favorite rice dishes of all time, seki-han. Seki-han is a rice dish containing short grain glutinous rice and red azuki beans. The rice and beans are cooked together and when it is finished cooking, the rice turns a light purple color. The rice is then topped with toasted sesame seeds and served. There is a Korean equivalent that I also enjoy but that is for a later post.
Seki-han (red bean rice)
Seki-han (red bean rice)As we made our way around, we came across a vendor selling hamachi. It was a shame that there was no hamachi collar as that is my favorite part of the fish. I picked up a small cross-section of the fish to go with my meal. Hamachi is sweet and is my personal favorite fish when grilled or broiled. Its flavor however, also reflects its price making it a very expensive fish as well.
Hamachi
HamachiAs we made our way to the checkout isle I found another food item which I haven't eaten in a long time. It is basically a nori-wrapped musubi with a sea-kelp filling in the middle. It tastes like a standard musubi but what really makes it special is the salty sea-kelp.
Sea Kelp Musubi
Sea Kelp MusubiWe made our way through the seemingly endless line and payed for our food. The Host was being treated that day to lunch by a friend who was with us so we made our way down to the food court so that he could decide what he wanted to eat.
The Ala Moana Shopping Center food court is a thing to be marveled at. Although there are bigger food courts in the world, Ala Moana's food court proudly displays what the culture of our islands have become. A melting pot of foods. Traditional Hawai'ian food sat next to Italian, Chinese, Japanese, American, and so on. A new stall at the far end caught our eyes as we had not seen it before. The Steak & Fish Company seemed like an out of place establishment. It had dim lights and a more upscale feel to it. If you don't already know my take on take out steak places such as blazin' steaks I will just say that I frown upon it. When The Host told his friend that he wanted to try this place, I figured that it would at least be a good addition to our blog. He ordered an 8oz ribeye steak (the shrimp and fish looked dry so he decided not to order any seafood). What he brought back to the table didn't look too bad. It seemed a bit on the over-done side as he ordered it medium rare. It came with mashed potatoes and steamed vegetables. The steak itself was tough and hard to cut with a plastic fork and knife and was equally tough to chew as it was cooked to about medium/medium-well instead of medium-rare. The seasonings weren't that great (I assume just salt and pepper). As for the price, lets just say I'd rather not speak of it. I would however suggest going to blazin' steaks (regardless of what I said earlier) as the price at least reflects the quality and quantity there. But what can I say, it was steak and it was cheaper than a dine-in restaurant and it is located in the middle of Ala Moana (where rent is very high) so I guess they must be doing something right.
The Steak & Fish Company.
8oz Ribeye Steak Plate
The Ala Moana Shopping Center food court is a thing to be marveled at. Although there are bigger food courts in the world, Ala Moana's food court proudly displays what the culture of our islands have become. A melting pot of foods. Traditional Hawai'ian food sat next to Italian, Chinese, Japanese, American, and so on. A new stall at the far end caught our eyes as we had not seen it before. The Steak & Fish Company seemed like an out of place establishment. It had dim lights and a more upscale feel to it. If you don't already know my take on take out steak places such as blazin' steaks I will just say that I frown upon it. When The Host told his friend that he wanted to try this place, I figured that it would at least be a good addition to our blog. He ordered an 8oz ribeye steak (the shrimp and fish looked dry so he decided not to order any seafood). What he brought back to the table didn't look too bad. It seemed a bit on the over-done side as he ordered it medium rare. It came with mashed potatoes and steamed vegetables. The steak itself was tough and hard to cut with a plastic fork and knife and was equally tough to chew as it was cooked to about medium/medium-well instead of medium-rare. The seasonings weren't that great (I assume just salt and pepper). As for the price, lets just say I'd rather not speak of it. I would however suggest going to blazin' steaks (regardless of what I said earlier) as the price at least reflects the quality and quantity there. But what can I say, it was steak and it was cheaper than a dine-in restaurant and it is located in the middle of Ala Moana (where rent is very high) so I guess they must be doing something right.
The Steak & Fish Company.
8oz Ribeye Steak PlateWe ended the meal off at Zagu Crystal & Pearl Shakes. Most of us islanders know what a bubble or pearl drink is (fruit flavored syrup mixed with crush ice with tapioca balls at the bottom) however a crystal drink was something new. A crystal drink is the same as a bubble drink but instead of tapioca balls there were coconut crystals at the bottom. I had a honeydew melon drink and it was so good that I forgot to take a picture of it. Sorry guys. Needless to say, it is hard to screw up a bubble drink so it was pretty much your standard honeydew melon drink. If you like honeydew melon bubble drinks then I suggest that you try a Melona bar from 7-11 or your local supermarket.
Zagu Crystal & Pearl Shakes
I will not be rating Zagu Crystal & Pearl Shakes as it is just a bubble drink stand.
Shirokiya (food vendors)
Rating System: 1-2.5-5 (poor-average-excellent)
Service: n/a
Food Quality: 3.5
Monetary Value: 3.5
Quality vs Quantity: Quality
Overall: 3.5
Steak & Fish Company
Rating System: 1-2.5-5 (poor-average-excellent)
Service: 2.5
Food Quality: 2.25
Monetary Value: 1.75
Quality vs Quantity: Tie
Overall: 2.2
For Ala Moana Shopping Center Store Hours Please Visit Their Website www.alamoana.com
--Upcoming Posts and News--
Food Spotlight #2
Gyotaku Review
Shirokiya (food vendors)
Rating System: 1-2.5-5 (poor-average-excellent)
Service: n/a
Food Quality: 3.5
Monetary Value: 3.5
Quality vs Quantity: Quality
Overall: 3.5
Steak & Fish Company
Rating System: 1-2.5-5 (poor-average-excellent)
Service: 2.5
Food Quality: 2.25
Monetary Value: 1.75
Quality vs Quantity: Tie
Overall: 2.2
For Ala Moana Shopping Center Store Hours Please Visit Their Website www.alamoana.com
--Upcoming Posts and News--
Food Spotlight #2
Gyotaku Review
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