Citricos Restaurant

While on vacation in Disneyworld, we had the luxury of making reservations last night at the Citricos Restaurant located in the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa on the Disney property.  This was a special Chef's Table dinner.  We had our own private room to dine in.  We had our own private chef for the night.  He came in to introduce himself.  It was a very unique experience.  When visiting Disneyworld, I believe you have to experience at least one fancy restaurant experience even though it is expensive, although we paid for a meal plan for our visit here at DisneyWorld so we didn't really pay the prices on the menu. It was worth it.

Menu Cover

Appetizers & Soup and Salad Menu

 We had to choose from either an appetizer or a soup or salad.  It was so hard to choose from.

Main Course Menu

Even choosing the main course had difficult.  They all sounded good.

Chef's Surprise

 This was the chef's surprise.  On the right is a piece of cheese from Switzerland which was very good for Swiss cheese.  in the middle is a chutney of raisins and some kind of other fruit.  On the left is a fruit reduction sauce.  This was a very good tummy tickler.

Blue Crab Pave

This was my appetizer.  The Blue Crab pave.  It is a lump crab, capers, Meyer Lemon, fennel-celery salad with avocado, olives and a Piquillo vinaigrette.  There was lots of chunks of crab.  It was very tasty.  The crab  flavor wasn't strong and overpowering.  I think it was because it had capers to mix with the flavor.  A very good choice for an appetizer.

Arancini

This was my wife's appetizer.  It is a crispy risotto with Crimini mushrooms, Asiago cheese, and Charred Tomato Coulis.  The waiter called this dish crispy rice balls.  This was actually pretty good.  It was interesting that the risotto was crispy and not soft. I thought it would not be so good but I was wrong.  It had lots of flavor, just like eating regular risotto.

Kid's Cheese and Crackers

This was my son's appetizer.  He actually loved it, especially the gold fish crackers.  along with his appetizer he must have had about 4 pieces of the bread you see on the left.  He just loves his bread.

Braised Veal Shank

This was my main course.  The waiter says this is one of their specialties.  The veal just fell off the bone as i tried to cut it.  I didn't even need a knife to cut it.  Under the veal shank is carrot-potato mash along with roasted vegetables around it.  The mash was very good. a little sweet from the carrots and so smooth and creamy.  The vegetables were cooked just perfect, not too hard and not too soft.  It was a pretty big piece of veal and I was surprised I ate the whole thing.  I guess it was THAT good.

Oak-Grilled Filet of Beef

This was my wife's main course.  Her filet was at least 2 inches thick and about 3-4 inches wide cooked medium.  It came with Spanish onions, Peppadew and Banana Peppers.  Under the filet you have Quattro Formgagi Potato Puree with Glaze de Viande.  It was very tasty and soft even though it was cooked medium.    she must have liked it because she ate the whole thing.  WOW.

Birthday Granny Dessert (view 1)

We celebrated three birthday's at dinner.  My mom's birthday was earlier this month.  They made a special dessert for her.  On the left is a glass slipper made of white chocolate with creme and raspberries.  Below is a raspberry sauce.  Next to the glass slipper is chocolate mousse with pieces of white chocolate.  Next to the chocolate mousse is the Disney castle created entirely with chocolate.  We all thought it was a design on the plate but it was actually chocolate.  We were all is AWE that they could do that.

Birthday Granny Dessert (view 2)

 Another view of the Glass Slipper Dessert.

Birthday Michael Dessert

My nephew's birthday was the same day as my mom's birthday.  This Mickey Mouse was created entirely of White Chocolate.  He was so surprised that it was made of chocolate.  He thought it was just a statue and not actually edible.  I thought it was hollow inside but it is actually a solid piece of chocolate.  He wanted to take it home and not eat it.  He tried to bring it home in one piece but unfortunately the waiter said they had to glue it to the plate to make it stand on the plate.  They tried to box it but it broke into pieces.  He was so disappointed and sad.

Birthday Princess Dessert

My grand niece had her birthday the night we left.  She just loves the Disney Princesses.  This was an actual size cake that they made for her.  we all had a piece of it.  it was a white cake which was very moist.  and in between the layers on cake was a creme layer.  A little sweet but VERY GOOD.

Kid's Make Your Own Sundae

Last but not least was my son's dessert.  He just loves his ice cream sundae.  He was happy that he could make his own.  There were no toppings left in the bowls.  He was very satisfied.




Citricos Restaurant in the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa is a place to go for fine dining.  Our experience of dining at the chef's table was very pleasant and worth it. Check out their website.  disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/citricos

Overall- I rate Citricos Restaurant 5 Stars. 

Jinroku Restaurant

Hi everyone.  I know it's been a while since my last blog.  We haven't been to any new places lately, just our usual eateries.  Well last night we went to this very good Japanese tepanyaki restaurant.  We've been here twice before and really enjoyed it here so we thought we'd try it again.  Jinroku Restaurant is located in the Pacific Monarch Hotel which is located on the Diamond Head side of Waikiki on Kuhio Avenue.  With all the traffic and road closures going on in Waikiki, this was a perfect place to go to eat in Waikiki.  Jinroku has valet parking or you can find parking on the street.  They are open for lunch Mon.-Sun. 11:30am-2pm and dinner Mon.- Sun.5:30pm-10:30pm.  They take reservations and have a full bar.  The service is excellent and the atmosphere is nice and relaxing.  It is fun to eat at the Tepanyaki counter.  You can watch them cook your food and if you have questions, they are more than happy to answer them for you. 

Since we've been here twice before, we decided to try new and different dishes.  And we weren't disappointed at all.

Sauteed Calamari

This was the first time we've tried this dish.  The calamari was so tender and cooked perfectly.  It was not chewy at all.  The mayonnaise dipping sauce adds a light and tangy flavor to the dish. 

Takoyaki

Takoyaki is a popular dish in Japan.  Jinroku Takoyaki is so flavorful that they only serve it with tonkatsu sauce and mayonnaise.  They add big chunks of tako and carrots and other ingredients that I didn't recognize but it was oh so good.  The outside is a little crispy and soft and the inside is filled with ingredients that you will definitely enjoy.  They gave us a dish of bonito shavings and aomori powder to top the takoyaki off but we didn't use it all because it was perfect without it.

Pizza Tama Okonomiyaki

Okonomiyaki is a Japanese pancake.  This one is their pizza tama.  Their ingredients include big chunks of tako, cabbage, cheese and tonkatsu sauce.  They cook it on the tepanyaki grill like a layered pancake.  it takes about 15 minutes to cook so order it first.  There are so many different textures in this one dish.  It was excellent. 

Kim Chee Fried Rice

This was a very good rice dish.  They cook the tako separate from the rice, kimchee, and egg, then combine in the end.  It may look spicy but it wasn't at all.  It was just the right amount of spicyness in the dish.  So much flavor in such a simple dish. 


Kuromitsu Special

This is one of their specialties.  This shave ice dessert was very different from your normal shave ice.  First thing different was that the syrup was made with black sugar (kuromitsu) hence the name of the dessert.  Secondly they add kinako powder on top.  I've only had kinako on mochi so this was different.  It was a very interesting flavor but yet it was VERY good.  It was a pretty big dessert but it was so good that we finished it all. 



Jinroku Restaurant prides themselves on service and excellent food and they do not dissapoint.  This was the third time eating here and everytime we come it just gets better.  The service, food, and atmosphere is the best.  If you ever want to experience great service and food, look no futher then Jinroku Restaurant in Waikiki. 


Overall, I give Jinroku Restaurant 5 stars.

Beef Broccoli and Cake Noodles

Thursday was eat at home night.  I decided to make some beef broccoli with cake noodles.  It was the first time making it.  Nothing like a home cooked meal. 

Marinate Beef

Marinate the beef with 2 TBSP shoyu and 1 tsp grated ginger.  Marinate it for 30 minutes.

Saute Broccoli

Saute broccoli in some vegetable oil only for about 1 minute.  Transfer to a bowl and set aside.

Brown Beef and onions

Saute the beef and onions in some oil until browned.

Add gravy mixture, Broccoli, and green onions

Add gravy mixture, broccoli, and green onions.  Cook until sauce thickens.  You might have to turn fire down to low for sauce to thicken.

Boil Noodles

Boil noodles according to package.

Pan Fry Noodles

Pan fry in oil.  Do not mix or stir.  Let noodles cook until crispy, then turn over to cook other side.

Beef Broccoli and Cake Noodles

Once noodles are done serve beef broccoli over hot noodles and ENJOY.



INGREDIENTS:
3/4lb beef sliced thin
1 tsp finely grated ginger
2 TBSP shoyu
2 TBSP vegetable oil
2 cups sliced broccoli
1 medium onion sliced
4 stalks green onion

GRAVY MIXTURE:
1 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp salt
dash of pepper
1 TBSP cornstarch
2 cups chicken broth
Crispy or soft-fried noodles




Beef broccoli and cake noodles is a popular chinese dish. For the first time it took making this dish, it was fairly simple and fast.  It was also pretty good that there was hardly any left overs. Try it out and let me know how it is.

Overall- the ease of making the dish and taste, this beef broccoli and cake noodle dish  is worth 3 1/2 stars.

Kunio Restaurant

We spent the day at Waikele Shopping Outlet yesterday.  We haven't eaten here in a long time so here is what we had for lunch.  Kunio Restaurant is located in the Waikele Shopping Outlet in Waipahu.  They are located next to Party City.  They are open Sun-Sat 10:30am-10:00pm.  They serve a variety of Japanese dishes.  They have a sushi bar which I haven't tried yet.  They don't take reservations and they do get crowded fast so if you go late, expect to be put on a waiting list for a table.  The prices are resonable and the service is pretty good. 

TenDon

I wasn't that hungry so I ordered their TenDon.  As you can see, it comes in a bento box.  A thin layer of rice on the bottom topped with 2 pieces of shrimp, 2 pieces green bean, 2 pieces carrot, and 2 pieces eggplant.  I was surprisingly full.  The shrimp was not overcooked as well as the vegetables.  A little crunch but yet cooked enough.  They could add a little more rice but other than that, this dish was satisfying.





Combination Teriyaki Beef & Squid Tempura

My wife had a combination meal.  She chose the Teriyaki beef and squid tempura combo.  This was the first time she ordered this combo.  She said that the beef was soft and tender and not chewy.  The squid tempura was just right also, not too chewy and not overcooked.  She was very happy with her meal.    


Wakame Udon

As usual, our son had his wakame udon.  There was lots of noodles and wakame but that didn't stop him from almost eating the whole bowl.




Kunio Restaurant is a small place but very popular.  There is almost always a waiting line but if you are ever in Waikele doing some shopping and find yourself hungry, stop on by for some good ol' Japanese food.  Check out their website  http://www.kuniorestaurant.com/


Overall I give Kunio Restaurant 4 stars.

Macaroni and Cheese

Hey Y'all I'm back.  Tonight I decided to make Macaroni and Cheese for dinner.  Not just a mac and cheese from a box but one from our Everyday Food Magazine subscription.  I thought maybe since I haven't eaten macaroni and cheese in a LONG time, I would try it out.  Here goes......

Cook your Pasta

 Fisrt to start, preheat your oven to 375 degrees.  In the meantime, cook your pasta and drain; reserve.




Melting butter

Melt butter over medium heat. 



Adding onions

Add onion.  Cook stirring occasionally, until softened (about 3-5 minutes).




Adding the flour

Whisk in flour to coat onion.


Whisking in milk

In a slow steady stream, whisk in milk until there are no lumps.  Cook whisking often until mixture is thick and bubbly and coats the back of a wooden spoon, about 6-8 minutes.

Adding Cheese

Stir in Cayenne, if using, and 1 cup each of yellow and white cheddar cheese.  Season with 1 tsp. salt and 1/4 tsp. pepper.


Adding Pasta and Ham

Toss pasta with the cheese mixture; then fold in ham.  


Adding to baking pan

Transfer to a 9-by-13 inch baking dish.

Breadcrumbs and Cheese mixture

I don't have a food processor so I just used a ziplock bag and broke up the bread into large crumbs.  But if you have a food processor, pulse the bread until large crumbs form.  Then add 1/4 cup each of white and yellow cheddar cheese and 1/4 tps. salt and top pasta with the breadcrumb mixture.

Finished product

Bake until top is golden, about 30 minutes.  Then enjoy.





Ingredients:
1 lb. elbow macaroni pasta, cooked and drained
4 TBSP butter
1 small onion
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
4 cups milk
1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper (optional)
1 1/4 cups (5 ounces) shredded yellow cheddar cheese
1 1/4 cups (5 ounces) shredded white cheddar cheese
8 ounces ham, diced into 1/2-inch pieces
2 slices white sandwich bread





This was my first attempt at making Macaroni and Cheese from scratch.  It was pretty good too.  It wasn't as creamy as I thought it would be but it was still good for a first try.


I give my first attempt at Macaroni and Cheese 3 1/2 stars.

Enchilada Casserole

Here's another home cooked meal play-by-play.  This dish is easy to make and is very good too.  All right let's get cooking.

Cooking Onions

First, pre-heat oven to 300 degrees F.  Next, chop 1 medium onion.  In a pot or pan, heat 1TBSP oil over medium heat and cook onion till tender.

Adding Hamburger

Once onion is tender, add 1lb hamburger and brown hamburger.




Adding Enchilada Suace

After the hamburger is browned, add 1 28oz. can of Enchilada Sauce and stir mixing hamburger and sauce.  Reduce heat and cook to reduce sauce a little. 

Adding Corn Tortilla

After the sauce has reduced a little, add 1 pkg. corn tortilla (cut into 1in. squares).  Stir until tortilla is coated with the sauce.  Do not overcook tortilla.

Putting into Pan

Once the tortilla is all mixed and coated with the sauce, pour all contents into a 9x13 baking pan.


Adding Cheese, Olives, & Green onion

Add grated cheese, sliced olives, and green onions over the tortilla mixture.  Place in oven and bake for 20-30 minutes or until cheese melts.

Finished product

Once cheese has melted, take out of oven and enjoy.  We usually eat this dish with salsa.  You can add sour cream and/or jalapeno peppers if you choose (as condiments).





Ingredients:
1lb ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped
1 28 oz. can enchilada sauce or 2 14oz. cans of enchilada sauce
1 package corn tortilla (cut into 1 inch squares)
1 package grated cheese (mexican blend)
1 small can sliced olives
chopped green onions



This is an easy fast mexican dish that the whole family would enjoy.  Try it out and let me know what you think. 

Overall, I give this Enchilada Casserole dish 4 stars.

Skillet Chicken w/Broccoli, Ziti, and Asiago Cheese

Tonight we're having one of our favorites.  This dish is easy to make and it is always delicious.  My wife cooked tonight.  This is one of her many dishes that she has enjoyed making.  Tonight's blog will be a play-by-play on how to cook this dish.  So if it looks good, you can try and make it yourself.  



Cooking Chicken

First cut 1lb skinless,boneless, chicken breast into 1" squares.  Season with salt and pepper.  Heat 1T. oil in a non stick skillet over medium-high heat.  Add the chicken in a single layer and cook for 1 minute without stirring.  After your minute is over, stir chicken and cook until lightly browned around the edges.  Transfer chicken to a clean bowl and set aside.  


Cooking onions, garlic, and Italian seasoning

Add 1T. oil , 1 medium onion to the skillet.  Return fire to medium-high heat and cook, stirring often until onion is soft (2-5 minutes).  Stir in 3 garlic cloves (minced), and  1/4 tsp. Italian seasoning and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.  


Adding Ziti

Add 8oz. of Ziti pasta or any short pasta, 2 cups of water, and 1 can (14oz) low sodium chicken broth. 




Pasta boiling

Bring to a boil over high heat and cook until the liquid is very thick and syrupy and almost completely absorbed, about 12-15 minutes.


Adding Broccoli and sundried tomatoes

Add 12oz. of broccoli florets and 1/4 cup sun dried tomatoes(oil packed, rinsed and chopped) and 3/4 cup water.  Cover, reduce the heat to medium, and cook until the broccoli turns bright green and is almost tender, about 3-5 minutes.  


Adding cream and Asiago cheese

Uncover and return the heat to high.  Stir in 1/2 cup Heavy Cream, 1/2 cup Asiago Cheese, and reserved chicken with any accumulated juices and continue to simmer, uncovered, until the sauce is thickened and the chicken is cooked and heated through, about 1-2 minutes.  Off the heat, stir in 1T. lemon juice and season with salt and pepper to taste.   





Finished product

Serve and add more grated Asiago Cheese is desired.  ENJOY!!!!!




Here is a list of the ingredients:
1lb. Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast (cut into 1" squares)
1 medium onion, minced
3 medium cloves garlic, minced
1/4 tsp. dried oregano or italian seasoning
1/8 tsp. red pepper flakes
8oz. Ziti or Penne pasta
2 3/4 cups water
1 T. lemon juice
14oz. can low sodium chicken broth
12oz broccoli florets
1/4 cup sundried tomatoes (oil packed, rinsed and chopped)
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup Asiago cheese or Parmesan cheese





If you like what you saw and read, try the recipe out.  You will not be disappointed.


I give this Skillet Chicken w/Broccoli, Ziti, and Asiago Cheese 4 stars.