Mar 18 2006
Girl Talk
Joyce and I enjoy lunch at Okonomiyaki Chibo Restaurant
Waikiki, Hawaii
Joyce and I both started new jobs, our effective dates only a week apart. Suffering through the difficult transition period, it was somehow comforting knowing that a kindred spirit was experiencing similar struggles and could relate. We consoled each other over good food and toasted to finding our groove sooner rather than later.
Ohhhhh-konomiyaki…
It’s been a while since I had a good okonomiyaki. Far too long, actually. The staff at Okonomiyaki Chibo Restaurant greeted me warmly as we walked in. I always get that neat “Cheers” feeling there. (“Sometimes you want go where everybody knows your name, and they’re always glad you came…”) As always, the food and service was impeccable and I am reminded why Chibo is still my #1 favorite restaurant. We both ordered what Joyce calls the “Donna Special” which is okonomiyaki with mochi, cheese and bacon. Definitely one of my best-loved comfort foods.
I like people that aren’t camera shy.
After lunch, Joyce’s husband called and asked her if she would make a detour and pick up some Beard Papa’s cream puffs. I had completely forgotten about their presence in Waikiki. While in Hakodate, I had my first Beard Papa’s cream puff and discovered why people went nuts when they offered it for a limited time at Shirokiya in Hawaii.
I was hoping for Matcha Flavor, but this
month’s premium flavor was coffee.
Wrong caffeinated beverage, people.
It was a little bit of an ordeal finding the Food Pantry on Kuhio, then determining where to park. We ended up feeding $4 to the park-and-pay machine behind the building, not realizing that metered parking was just a stone’s throw away from the entrance. Unfortunately, I’m too much of a chicken to tempt fate and run in without paying the fee, even though we were in the store for less than 5 minutes. Nevertheless, I felt that it was worth it. For a taste of Beard Papa’s again, I was willing. Not quite willing to wait hours in line at Shirokiya, but certainly willing to brave the Waikiki traffic and pay a few bucks for parking.
Food and friends - the perfect formula for a day well-spent.
Shh… I already ate two.
A 30-something Christian girl, blissfully wedded to her perfect match (the yang to her yin) of 14 years. Living life in Hawaii, less than 5 miles from her hometown, a slave to her mortgage payment, but seeking balance in her pursuit of family, faith, recreation, and rest.
its been too long since i have been to Chibo also, hopefully i will be able to go real soon, the pics are making me hungry
chibo’s & beard papa’s in one day??? is that legal?! ;P チョうらやましい！it’s dangerous that food pantry is on my way home (and a transfer point for my bus) — let me know if you ever need any & i’ll deliver some to you (esp. on wed/thursdays when i end up on your side of the island anywayz)…
oh, regarding your previous post and description of depression symptoms: you mean that’s not normal??? some days are better than others, but i’ve lived with that to some degree every single day of my life…
Beard Papa’s - dare I say it - better than Liliha Bakery Coco Puffs :^O
When my wife goes to Hawaii Kai to pick up our niece, she sometimes makes a stop at Hawaii Kai Foodland to pick up a 6-pack. A 6-pack of Beard Papa’s! Needless to say, sometimes when it arrives home, it’s just a 4-pack.
And being lactose intolerant - I can scarf down 3 Beard Papa’s without my stomach “churning” ;^)
At our local Beard Papa’s in NYC, matcha is offered every Friday!! None of this waiting for an entire month!
Donna, your blogs are always somehow of great comfort to me. Our experiences are quite different, but I think, just knowing that you have a friend out there who, despite some struggles, is managing to cope very well brings me peace, too.
Never been to Chibo, though I hear it is excellent! Two friends from church are natives of Tokyo and Osaka and one hosted an “okonomiyaki” party at their house about a year or so ago. Of course, you have to have it with that Kewpie Japanese mayonaise, otherwise, it’s just not the same. I must try Chibo sometime, though.
And, the HK Beard Papa’s is, like, five minutes from our home. Amazingly, we’ve managed to limit our visits to four times, thus far. The original is creme is still my favorite, so far, but admittedly, I have yet to try the green tea flavor.
Gambatte,ne!
hello Donna, how are you? haven’t been here (or anyone else’s site) for a while.
what is okonomiyaki? is that japanese food?
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