Keoni by Keo's in (Waikiki, Hawaii) Review

Keoni by Keo's is a Thai Restaurant located on 2375 Kuhio Ave near Waikiki Beach.  It's close to several hotels and other stores, which is a very convenient and visible location. It's one the restaurants we visited during the first two weeks of our stay in Honolulu.  Every time we walk by, it looks pretty busy and I do like the outdoor seating area.  Finally, we decided to give it a try.  It looks nice and elegant from outside, but the decor inside was average and casual in my opinion. Serving was a little slow but the food tasted really fresh.

We ordered two dishes, Pad Thai with mixed vegetables and "Evil Jungle Prince" Curry with vegetables and tofu.  The portion was average, but we felt really stuffed after.  I believe that means the dishes contain a lot of oil and coconut milk :(

Pad Thai with mixed vegetables (around $15).  

Came with fresh mixed vegetables (broccoli, red pepper, green pepper and bean sprouts), a few fried tofu and a little bowl of peanuts on the side.  The vegetables were really nice and fresh, and I really liked it when the peanuts came in a separate bowl, which kept them a little crunchy.  The only problem was the Pad Thai had a very strange flavor, which I had never had before.  I didn't really like it, but it wasn't too bad. 

"Evil Jungle Prince" Curry with vegetables and tofu (around $15).  

On the menu, it says it's their special curry, which you won't find it at other places.  If I didn't remember it wrong, we had to order rice separately (maybe $3 a bowl, brown rice). The curry tastes delicious, but I don't like the fact that they charge for rice separately.  Usually rice just comes with curry.

Paradise, Hawaiian Style (Week 1)

I have been in Hawaii for about two weeks now.  When I first landed in Honolulu International Airport on June 11, I was amazed by how beautiful it is.  Now, about two week later, I still feel like I’m living in a paradise.  I have explored several places in Oahu which were absolutely wonderful.  I only have my cellphone with me on this trip, all the pictures were taken with it. I should have brought a better camera with me, but I really wanted to travel light. 



Landed in Honolulu International Airport on June 11.  A quick photo of a beautiful garden at the airport



After unpacking our stuff, we took a short walk on the beach. Peaceful Waikiki beach in the afternoon



Next day, early in the morning, I was still in the process of adjusting time.  Woke up early and took this picture from our hotel balcony. I was amazed by what I saw.







We went to check out the hotel roof and found this amazing view.  I felt truly blessed.


 


Went to this coffee shop called "Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf".  It's a chain, but I've never had a chance to visit any of them.  I ordered this drink, couldn't remember the name.  It's super sweet and delicious. How could I resist such sweet drink when I was in Hawaii :)

Night view from our hotel room

Found this little Korean food place, great and healthy food. 



Kalbi Beef with fresh vegetables :)



Went to Ward 16 Movie Theater and finally saw the movie Avengers.  It’s a huge movie theater, so much better than I thought.



At Turtle Bay Resort at North Shore, this was a little different than Waikiki. It felt less crowed and more relaxing.



At Turtle Bay Resort



Had a light lunch-grilled mahi mahi, steamed veggies and brown rice.

This chocolate cake looked moist and nice, but didn't taste that good :(

 

The DASH Diet and Hypertension

DASH stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension. The DASH diet is a low-fat eating plan that is high in vegetables, fruits, and dairy foods with reduced amounts of red meat, sweets, and sugar-containing drinks. The DASH diet is proven to reduce blood pressure. Besides the role in lowering blood pressure, the DASH diet is generally a healthy eating plan which encourages nutrient-dense foods and cuts back on relatively unhealthy ones.

The DASH diet consists of:

•  6-8 servings of Grains per day -Whole grains are richer in fiber and nutrients than refined grains.
• 4-5 servings of Vegetables and Fruits per day, respectively - Most vegetables and fruits are high in potassium and magnesium. These two minerals aid in controlling and even lowering blood pressure.
•  2-3 servings of Dairy per day- Peptides derived from milk proteins, especially fermented milk products, have been shown to lower blood pressure.
•  6 or less servings of lean meat, poultry and fish per day – Eat fish which are high in Omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon. Cut back on meats which contain a lot of fat and cholesterol.
•  4-5 servings of nuts, seeds and legumes per week - Nuts and seeds are usually high in magnesium, potassium, and sometimes protein in certain types. Still, they are high in calories as well, so they need to be consumed in moderation. Legumes, such as soy products, are good alternatives to meat.
• Limit fats and oils to 2 to 3 servings per day – One serving of fat is about 1 teaspoon of butter or vegetable oil. Limit saturated fat and avoid trans- fat.
• No more than 5 sweets per week - One serving of sweet is about 1 tablespoon of sugar. Use sugar substitutes instead of sugar, but still in moderation.

Often times, the DASH diet is prescribed along with a low sodium diet. Combining the DASH diet with a low sodium diet works better in reducing blood pressure than adopting either diet alone. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) conducted a study on the DASH diet and released the results in 2001. The study concluded that either following the DASH diet or restricting sodium intake would generate significant health benefits. Moreover, the combination of the two would control blood pressure significantly more in general population. The effects on blood pressure from sodium reduction were particularly great for those with hypertension, African Americans, women, and those over age 45.

The DASH diet is an eating plan, which is rich in potassium, calcium, magnesium, fiber, and protein. Numerous studies have revealed the positive effects of the DASH diet on reducing blood pressure. For better results, restrict your dietary sodium intake when you are on the DASH diet eating plan.

References:

1. Mahan, L. Kathleen, and Escott-Stump, Sylvia. (2008). Krause’s Food & Nutrition Therapy. 12th ed. St. Lois, MO: Saunders-Elsevier.
2. Mayo Clinic. (2010). DASH diet: Healthy eating to lower your blood pressure. . Retrieved Jan. 25, 2012, from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/dash-diet/HI00047
3. National Institute of Health. (2001). NHLBI Study Finds DASH Diet And Reduced Sodium Lowers Blood Pressure For All. Retrieved Jan. 25, 2012, from http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/new/press/01-12-17.htm

Cuisinart Stir Fry, Chef's Classic Stainless 14" Covered - Review

I got this wok from Macy's about 1 month ago. It's a new addition to my cookware cabinet.  So far, I like it a lot.  I'm able to cook different sorts of stir fries, soups, fried rice, and some other random dishes. I have beening using it on medium/low heat according to the instruction. I have been trying to find a nice wok which is not too expensive since they can get pricey sometimes.  I found this one when it was on sale for about 35 bucks (reguarly $80).  I'm still excited I grabbed this at such a good price.

Pitcure borrowed from cuisinartwebstore.com

So here are some Pros and Cons....
Pros:
1. Heats up quickly (According to Macy's description, it has an "Aluminum-encapsulated base".  It heats up fairly fast, the main problem for me is that only the bottom part seems to heat up well, the wall of the wok remains at a lower temperature for a long time)
2. Looks and feels very sturdy (well made)
3. Comes with a glass lid (It's great for cooking soups and some other food when you need to cover it)
4. Easy to clean after using (I just use a sponge and wipe off the wok, and it's easier to clean it if you soak the bottom the wok in water for a while, maybe 5-10 minutes)
5. It's safe in freezer and oven, but I haven't tried it yet.


Cons:
1. Stains easily (after a few uses, you can see stains everywhere inside the wok, it might be water stain or food remaining; but it's made for cooking, so the stains don't bother me too much)
2. Food sticks easily on the bottom while cooking, especially eggs and cooked rice (It causes some food waste because a portion of food sticks on the bottom and, often times, burned. Cooking spray doesn't solve the problem. However,  it's pretty easy to clean up after using) 
3. Both the wok and the glass lid are very heavy (it's actually can be bad or good, heaviness=sturdiness I guess)