Monday, December 26, 2011

Leonard's Bakery: Whaaaat, not the malasadas?

Yummy visit to Leonard's last week when a friend was in town on vacation. We were wondering where to go for dessert after taking her to Ono Hawaiian Food, so I sneakily suggested either Bubbie's or Leonard's, since I'd been hoping to try either (a) the holiday flavor mochi ice cream at Bubbies -- cranberry & pumpking, or (b) the banana cream pie at Leonards. Random, right? Who goes to Leonard's for the pastries? I can't remember where I read about it, but I knew I had to try it.

Malasada menu: Just 90 cents! For Original, cinnamon sugar, or li hing mui (sour plum powder). And just $1.25 for a custard filled malasada (original, chocolate, haupia, or flavor of the month).
Love the schedule of malasada filling: mac nut, pineapple, mango, guava and lilikoi.
 Mmmmm, the squares of banana cream pie. They don't look that good behind the glass pastry case, but man they were worth it.

Inside the bakery

 Some cute holiday cupcakes: poinsettia and snowflake
 All wrapped up to go
 Ooh, I want some of that Portuguese sweet bread next time I am there.
933 Kapahulu Ave
Honolulu, HI 96816
(808) 737-5591
Yelp 

Favorite of the year: Monarch Seafood





Monarch Seafood

Somehow Monarch had flown beneath my radar all of these years. I know that the best grinds are in Kalihi (Ethel’s, Gulick Deli, etc) and I have Kahai Kitchen on my list to try, but never heard about Monarch until my friend Ali brought me a menu and told me I would love it.


She created a monster in me...now I’m obsessed with their crab stuffed ahi and the banana cream pie. And I haven’t even tried their poke yet. Between Tanioka’s and here, these are my two favorite finds since moving home a year ago.
 
No seating, take out only, but totally worth the drive to Kalihi even if you eat it in the parking lot in your car. And don’t forget the banana cream pie!

Crab stuffed ahi with wasabi sauce -- to die for


Hawaiian plate - along with some of the best poke on the island. You usually get one cup of poke and one of lomi salmon, but we went late and they were all out of lomi salmon.


Monarch Seafood
515 Kalihi St
Honolulu, HI 96819
(808) 841-7877
Yelp