Big City Diner

On Monday I got together with my good friends from Punahou days. We had dinner at Big City Diner and it was great seeing everyone again.

Kim, Rebus (Nicole's husband), Noah's niece, Jodi, Noah (Jodi's husband), me and Nicole

Honolulu Zoo

I took the boys to the Honolulu Zoo on Wednesday. I myself had not been there in quite a few years, and was excited to see the new (2006) addition of the Keiki Zoo. The zoo has added more exhibits, however many exhibits were empty. There was a sign at the Meerkat exhibit that said 'our meerkat has died due to old age' so the exhibit was empty. I guess they only had one meerkat.

The Keiki Zoo was really neat, and they had some cool things for the kids to play with. However, the zoo is in need of some major donations or extra city funding. They could increase the price of admission - it was pretty cheap to get in.

Our zoo in Phoenix charges $14 for ages 13-59; $6 for ages 3-12; under 2 is free.

The Honolulu Zoo charges only $8 for ages 13+ (Kama'aina is $4 with ID); children 6-12 with an adult is $1; and children under 5 are free! That's the cheapest zoo I've ever been to.

The Zoo could be really nice, because they have such a great piece of property and room for a lot of exhibits. The reptile exhibit is still housed in the same old wooden building since I was Alex's age. And it is in need of a major facelift! I'm sure it is a funding issue though.

Alex at the zoo

The Hawaiian Goose or Nene, Hawaii's State Bird

Alex and the Komodo Dragon

Alex at the Keiki Zoo

Honolulu Zoo

151 Kapahulu Ave.

Honolulu, HI 96815

Pho Dreams

Alex had some Pho for dinner tonight...

Mmmmm...Alex likes Pho!
...and then fell asleep at the dinner table
dreaming of Pho! Zzzzzz.......

Peppa's Korean BBQ

I love Peppa's Korean BBQ!

Today I picked up 2 plate lunches at the King Street location: one meat jun and one BBQ beef. I also found out they now serve brown rice.

I love their ban chan. I got the kim chee, kim chee cucumber, wakame (seaweed), and bean sprouts for my sides. Each regular meal comes with 4 sides and 2 scoops of rice. For an extra $1.25 you can add 4 mondu (deep fried wonton). A mini plate only comes with 2 sides. You'll have to ask for extra meat jun or mondu sauce though because they only give you a very small side portion.

It was so good. I usually eat all the ban chan first and then eat the meat. FYI - Kim Chee has virtually no calories, but is probably high in sodium. There was enough in a regular plate to save 1/2 for tomorrow's lunch.

Their meat jun is really good too. It is a very large portion, and one plate can definately be split between 2 people.

I highly suggest this restaurant for sit-down or take-out.

Peppa's BBQ
1240 S. King St.
Honolulu, HI 96814
(This location has more parking available)

Peppa's BBQ
1249 Wilder Ave.
Honolulu, HI 96822

Hale Vietnam Restaurant - Kaimuki

Today I felt like some Vietnamese food for lunch. After reading my favorite food blog 'Ono Kine Grindz, I decided I would try Bac Nam, located on S. King Street. Well after driving up and down S. King, and not having the actual address (I just knew it was on S. King between Ward and Pensacola) I gave up and drove to a Vietnamese restaurant my mom had taken me to the year before.

Hale Vietnam is located in Kaimuki, on 12th Ave. and is pretty well hidden, unless you know where to look. Parking is located in the back at Kaimuki's Municipal Parking Lot, but to my surprise parking is no longer coin-fed meters, but now they are equipped with attendant booths and gates at the entrace and exits. Parking is about $0.75 per hour, for the first two hours, and no, Hale Vietnam does not validate.

I parked, and with the boys in tow, headed for the restaurant. I was seated immediately, even though it was around 12:30 p.m. The restaurant was fairly full, but I was served quickly. I ordered a medium Beef Pho (Pho Tai) and some fresh spring rolls (Goi Cuon). The goi cuon came first, with a very interesting dipping sauce I've never had before. It was pretty bland, so I asked for a side of fish sauce (Nuoc Cham) and added some hot sauce (Sriracha) to it.

Their Nuoc Cham was a bit strong, more on the fishy side, but still did the trick. My pho tai arrived quickly thereafter and it was steaming. They had added the rare beef to the soup before it got to my table, (I'm used to having the rare beef served on the side) and there was not a lot of beef given with the soup. The sides (jalapeno, bean sprouts, basil, lemon) arrived earlier and I added those to my soup. Funny though, the only condiments on the table were Sriricha and Hoisin sauce.

While it smelled pretty good, I was surprised to find that it tasted pretty bland. The soup base didn't have enough of a beef flavor - although on the plus side, the soup base wasn't overwhelmed with anise.

All in all, it was okay, but not terrific. And I want to find a terrific place. I have tried the Pho To-Chau down on River Street in Chinatown; the one that ALWAYS HAS A LINE OUT THE DOOR, but that was just okay too. And I think they use thick rice noodles instead of thin ones. It was good, but I don't think I'll wait an hour to get in there again. They have a limited menu as well.

So now I'm going to try and go to Pho 97 on Maunakea St. I'll let you know how it goes!

Hale Vietnam
1140 12th Ave.
Honolulu, HI

Juvenile, I know....

We used to drive by this restaurant all the time in high school after Kayaking practice at the Ala Wai canal. It still cracks me up...I'm so juvenile!

So Gong Dong

I love local food. I love Korean food, Vietnamese food, Hawaiian food, Japanese food, Chinese food, Plate Lunch, etc., etc. So when I'm back at home in Honolulu, I head out to all my local haunts. Since a good Korean restaurant is nowhere near where I live in Phoenix, I try to eat as much Korean food as I can here.

My sister told me that So Gong Dong at the McCully Shopping Center on Kapiolani Blvd. is the place to go. So my mom, Cathi, Alex, Colin and I headed out there for dinner one evening. I've driven by the place so many times, but have never been in it.

They ordered the Soon Doo Boo (Tofu Soup), which is supposed to be the best in town, and the seafood pancake. I ordered the Yukgaejang, a spicy beef soup with rice noodles, and ate the banchan (vegetable side dishes). It was pretty yummy, but I still prefer Peppa's on Wilder Ave. or their other location on King St. next to the Zippy's.

So Gong Dong interior

Mom, Cathi and Alex at the table
Banchan - they were all very tasty!
Yukgaejang - very hot!
Tofu Soup

Colin and Alex

Baby Colin

Grandma, Cathi & Alex

Alex at Ala Moana

Colin and Bachan

Colin and Alex at Grandma's house Baby Blue Eyes...just like Grandpa's!
Alex looking at the carp at Ala Moana

Golfing at Forest Highlands

Some pictures from our most recent golf game...I shot a pathetic 141 - my worst game ever!

Annmarie or Alex

Here are some pictures of me when I was 2 & Alex at 2:

New Pictures

Grandma Myra, Colin & Great-Grandma Primorac

Colin's christening

This is how Alex fell asleep... Colin
At the San Diego Zoo

Polar Bear Statue
A "Poopoopottamus" according to Alex

Alex & Great-Grandma Primorac

Colin's christening at St. Alexander's Parish in Palos Park, Illinois

Alex in a Laguna Beach candy store

Mr. Blue Eyes

Mommy & Colin

Cousin Madeline & Alex

Colin's first meal...CARROTS! Yum!

Here is a video of Colin's first meal. Carrots are what I picked out to feed him, and it gets quite messy. He still has that thrusting reflex with his tounge, so most of the food ends up on his bib.

Colin Rolling Over

Here is Colin rolling over at 4 months and 4 days!