 Barack Obama – The Comfort Foods He Loves!
Posted by HAKEN on Thursday, November 20, 2008 12:42 AM
PRLog (Press Release) - November 16, 2008 - When President Elect Barack Obama is in his hometown of Honolulu, Hawaii, he heads straight for the local fare – The Hawaiian Plate Lunch.
It’s greasy, fatty and absolutely delicious! The treadmill can wait -- while he lines up with all the other locals – from businessmen to surfers -- at one of his favorite dives such as Sugoi, Rainbow Drive-in, or Zippy’s. The “plate lunch” is simple in form but varied in its elements. Its foundation is “Two scoops rice, and Mac” -- which is two scoops of white rice, and a side of macaroni salad - heavy on the mayonnaise, by the way.
This carbo load — usually piled into a plastic foam container — is paired with a protein, generally of the pan-Asian variety. After a morning of hard work, hard surfing, or dunking on the basketball court, Obama knows it’s time for Plate Lunch! Korean kalbi, Chinese garlic shrimp, Philippine pork adobo, Hawaiian kalua pork (a luau favorite), Japanese katsu, Portuguese sausage, American-style beef stew, or Hawaii’s very own loco moco — which is rice, a hamburger patty, brown gravy, and a fried egg on top.
Matthew Gray, who runs Hawaii Food Tours, brings tourists to Oahu's plate lunch outlets and other lesser known hole-in-the-wall spots – and because of popular demand – has a special tour which features some of Barack Obama’s favorite Plate Lunch treats.
"The cultural significance of the plate lunch is that it illustrates Hawaii as a special place where all of our mixed cultures share their foods with one another," said Matthew Gray. “President-Elect Obama grew up in this multi-cultural environment and this is his comfort food. Instead of referring to Hawaii as a melting pot, I prefer to call us a salad bowl, where we all get to share and showcase the individual flavors, aromas and histories of our food."
The Hawaiian plate lunch traces its roots to the 1880s, when giant fruit and sugar companies controlled much of the local economy. Among other factors, the decimation of the local population by disease made the companies desperate for plantation workers, and they drew a labor pool from China, Japan, Portugal, the Philippines and other areas.
For workers who toiled under harsh conditions, lunchtime was a respite, with hearty portions of rice matched with whatever meat was left over from dinner the night before. The standard plate lunch tends to draw local crowds, for its magical mix of large portions and cheap prices.
Often knocked by health-conscious types, the Hawaiian plate lunch seems like odd fare for a man as trim and fit as Mr. Obama, who seems to treasure his treadmill. "People here are prideful that Barack Obama left Hawaii for Harvard, but when he comes back home, it’s so cool that, like everyone else, he heads straight for his favorite Plate Lunch place,” says Matthew Gray from Hawaii Food Tours.
For interviews or additional information, contact Michael Winner, or visit www.HawaiiFoodTours.com. Be sure to ask about the Hole-in-the-Wall Tour that features some of Barack Obama's favorite food haunts.
|
Annual Mayor's Craft & Country Fair at Blaisdell Saturday
Posted by HAKEN on Thursday, November 20, 2008 12:37 AM
The New Mayor's Craft and Country Fair will host a variety of activities for the young and young at heart. This multifaceted Craft and Country Fair will allow both seniors and the general public to start their Christmas shopping early, get a "Free" flu shot from HMSA (HMSA members), purchase fresh produce from the "Peoples Open Market", shop at the White Elephant Sale.
Rediscover Waikiki and Oahu as we showcase some of Hawaii's top hotels, rent-a-car and attractions featuring Kama 'aina specials and promotional offers. Even more...Las Vegas is on sale!...get lucky from Vacations Hawaii as they offer some travel special.... lets just say these travel rates are so good, you have check it out for yourself and I promise…you will be surprised.
There's even a home made Christmas card contest by the City and County Senior Clubs that made and decorated one of a kind Christmas cards that will be sent to our troops overseas. If that's not enough, a food drive for Hawaii's food bank will be another feature to help Hawaii\s families in need, especially during the holiday season. Best of all.... admission is "FREE" for everyone! ??
Highlights of the event includes: Live entertainment, "Try Zone" featuring hands-on experiences that include, tennis, electric wheelchairs, yoga, fitness and exercise, line dancing and so much more. Make and send a homemade Christmas card to our military troops over seas or check out the winners of the seniors Christmas card contest.
There will be craft booths, home made bake sale items, fresh produce and fruits from the "People's Open Market", financial education and banking services by FHB, flu shots by HMSA, service booths from American Diabetes Association, Kokua Care, HUMANA, HPD, Hawaii Humane Society, and many more.
While visiting this fair, don't forget to bring donations for the Hawaii Food Bank for Hawaii's families in need. ??Don't miss the 34th annual Mayor's Craft and Country Fair Saturday, November 22, 2008 from 8:30 am to 3:00pm at the Neal Blaisdell Center Admission is FREE!
This event is brought to you by the City and County of Honolulu, Park and Recreation Department-Seniors Division.
Resort Destination Marketing Group offer unique travel experiences, customize travel packages and services with the focus on California Resorts and Casinos emphasizing on superior customer service , event planning, sales and marketing, and group planning and excursions.
Source: Honolulu Advertiser
|
 26th Okinawan Festival
Posted by HABANADA on Saturday, August 16, 2008 6:55 PM
The smell of hot andagi will be in the air at the annual Okinawan Festival. The event, now in its 26th year, is more than just standing in like to get your fried-doughnut fix. There will be cultural exhibitions, keiki activities, shopping and food booths, performances and a bon dance from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Aug. 30, celebrating all things Okinawan. There's a free shuttle from and to Kapiolani Community College, too. [Taken from The Honolulu Advertiser]
August 30 and 31
www.okinawanfestival.com
|
Fuel Costs Mean Less Customers, More Expensive Goods
Posted by HAKEN on Thursday, July 24, 2008 3:27 PM
KITV reports that Hawaii restaurants are being hit hard by the soaring fuel cost here in Hawaii. People who used to eat out regularly are cutting back, while restaurants are suffering from higher food cost. It's a double edged sword.
Since it's impossible to raise cost on meals, many restaurants are cutting back by laying off staff, which clearly contributes further to the downward spiral of the economy.
For the complete report, you can watch the segment on KITV's Website.
|
Restaurant Week coming November 16 to 22.
Posted by HAKEN on Wednesday, July 09, 2008 11:57 PM
"A week's worth of discounts and deals at restaurants this November may draw diners down paths not previously ventured, in a culinary, Robert Frost sort of way." Writes Erika Engle of the Starbulletin.
Organized by the Culinary Institute of the Pacific, the fundraising event brings together a plethora of businesses and restaurants from within the industry.
"This is an opportunity to ... entice the customers to come in and give us a try and at the same time support a good cause," Conrad Nonaka, CIP director, said of the event.
Souce: Starbulletin
|
|
|
Issues with comments.
Posted by HAKEN on Thursday, June 26, 2008 9:00 AM
There's an issue with comments where the wrong URL is being sent out in the notification.
|
Profile Edit Works!
Posted by HAKEN on Sunday, June 01, 2008 12:27 PM
Now that we have more than a couple of people on this site, I finally took the time to make the profile edit functional. To edit your profile and to upload your avatar, just go to your HOME PAGE on this site and click on the EDIT PROFILE option.
I haven't tested it fully, so If you run into any problems, just let me know.
|
