Pâté So at JJ Bistro & French PastryI snack more in Hawai'i than I do in NYC. It might be because my parents tend to keep copious, Costco-sized amounts of food in the kitchen and I've set up my makeshift office at the breakfast table. Or the fact that mom uses my visits home as an reason to purchase more snacks, "oh Kathy, I stopped by xxx bakery this morning, thought you might like xxx and xxx. AND I bought a few extra xxx because I know you can't get that in NYC, right?"
But I'm not complaining, oh no :) A few extra holiday pounds doesn't hurt. Awhile ago, Monsieur P introduced me to the notion of goûter, the traditional afternoon snack in France. And since then I've used every afternoon as an excuse for my between lunch and dinner indulgences. In Hawai'i I have goûter at 2pm, 3pm, and 4pm! After all, we're on vacation.Here's what I've been munching on...
JJ's French Bistro and Pastry in Kaimuki is most popular for their Chocolate Pyramid, which they have in every size ranging from giant birthday cake single biters for $.95. But the main reason mom stops by JJ's so often is for the Pâté So ($2.50 each). It's pretty difficult to find Pâté So in Hawai'i (a few places I know in Chinatown make them to order), but JJ's makes the best, and also most reliable ones. This was a popular snack in Vietnam where my parents grew up, and they'll never turn down an offer of Pâté So. The puff pastry is stuffed with a mix of ground pork, fish sauce, onions, and black pepper. My aunt likes to use a mix of chicken and pork, with wood ear mushrooms. Sometimes she adds vermicelli noodles as well. So many options!
These Ham Rolls used to be $1.10 each when I worked at Saint Germain in high school. It was my first "real job," and my manager hated me for reasons still unknown. But that was ok because I befriended the baker and he packed me a freezer bag full of Ham Rolls at the end of each work shift. The Ham Rolls are now $1.90 each, and I'm still in love with them. Soft sweet white bread, rolled with plenty of mayonnaise and a twirl of ham. They used to top the roll with cilantro, but did away with that two years ago...now I bring my own cilantro to add!
Dad's friend has a farm on the other side of the island and one of his employees makes these incredible sweets of Steamed Coconut Sticky Rice and Apple-Bananas. Take a look at the inside...
...^_^. They brought over a dozen to our house the other night and we devoured them in two days. The Apple-Banana is cut in long thin slices and tucked in the middle of the coconut milk-soaked rice.
Inside Palama Market (near the Korean plate lunches) is a bakery counter that carries just a few items including this barely sweet Black Sesame Mochi Bread. It's sold by the 3-pack for $4. Super chewy, soft and pockmarked with plenty toasted black sesame seeds. When someone call out "mochi bread time," at home, it's dad's cue put on the tea, and then we all gather round the kitchen counter for goûter!
I have yet to make it to V Lounge, but am already a fan of their pizza based off leftovers mom and dad brought home yesterday. Still have to go there to try the Margarita. Check out their menu here, the pies have a beautiful char, unlike any other pizza I've had in Hawai'i. V Lounge is just as pricey as Motorino and Keste in NYC. Crazy, right? Above is the Prima Pizza ($16), topped with, "Pancetta Di San Daniele, locally grown sweet onions, Hamakua Ali'i oyster mushrooms, thyme, parsley, fresh homemade mozzarella, local egg, and truffle oil." Now that is truly drool worthy. I think we're actually going there for dinner tonight...Hope everyone is enjoying the week!
P.S. Buddy says 'hello'!
Poor fellow caught a cold last week...achooo! He's getting so old - 13 years now. Right leg still busted, but he's in good spirits. Merry Christmas!JJ's French Bistro and Pastry
3447 Waialae Ave
Honolulu, HI 96816
(808) 739-0993
Saint Germain
Multiple Locations
Palama Market
1670 Makaloa Street
Honolulu, HI 96814
(808) 447-7705
V Lounge
1344 Kona Street
Honolulu HI, 96814
(808) 953-0007
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