Girls Day at Waioli Tea Room

Today's overdue BWB outing was in celebration of girls day! 

In related news also in the overdue category, I'm finally sitting still to write a blog post after an extremely busy month during which I spent 1 week out of commission due to what my doctor said was "just a cold!" My diet consisted of H2O, tea with honey, homemade chicken noodle soup, and acai bowls for 5 days straight and I couldn't even think about real, chew-requiring food, much less blog about it.

The ladies and I met today in the historic and charming Manoa Valley at the Waioli Tea Room.

It's located in a huge, old house that couldn't be more adorable if it were wrapped in a polka dot bow from Target.

Egg-cellent Brunch at Longhi's

Getting the group together for Bitches Who Brunch is not an easy task, to say the least. Our Facebook conversation began on September 21 and just this past Saturday, 7 weeks later, our day finally came. These are some busy bees! We had a great turnout, although there are many who couldn't make it!

Our Saturday morning brought us back to Longhi's - the site of our second official BWB outing early last summer.

Lindsay, Lisa, Danielle, Katie, Malia, Jaclyn, Lisette, and Me

Jaclyn's Cocktail Shower and Margarita Cupcakes

Jaclyn and I have known each other for just over four years. We met during an interview in 2008 where she was considering me for a job that would end up being my first "real" job and a position that I held for over 3 years. She took me under her wing and taught me just about everything over many those long days in the office, weekend events, and difficult client personalities and demands. She handles every situation with a level head, professionalism, and logic and I couldn't have picked a better person to learn from. She and I now work together at the Battleship Missouri - the best job ever. Thanks AGAIN for guiding my path Jaclyn, you've truly been my Career Fairy Godmother. 

It's not all business with us, though. In that first interview we were wearing the same Tiffany's bracelet and she excitedly asked me (in casual conversation following the important questions of course) if I was in a sorority! I wasn't, we laughed together, and have had many, many laughs, good times, and great memories outside of work since. Although not a regular, she's been known to frequent the Bitches Who Brunch.

Jaclyn and Chris, her fiance, will get married this Friday after being together for over nine years! Last Sunday I threw her a surprise bridal shower. She's not your traditional bridezilla type who'd enjoy gifts for her home/kitchen (aka: me!), but more of a fun-loving, laid back, stiff-cocktail-sipping bride. We nixed the toilet paper bride game and bow bouquet and threw a Cocktail Shower, complete with margarita cupcakes!

Margarita Cupcakes and Frosting

Doughnut Hole and Fruit Kabobs

I'm Ang. Remember me? Let's hope so.

As we do every 6 months to 1 year, Bryce and I moved apartments. We don't enjoy this process at all but for whatever reason we're always forced to find a new home. Psychotic, radio playing, undies-wearing, joint-smoking in the shower neighbors or friend/landlord needing to move back home to retain the several thousand dollar tax credit - we're forced to move often. Do not pass go, do not collect $200. Our most recent move was on June 1 and for several weeks we were happily "borrowing" internet services from a kind and generous neighbor. (Not to be confused with the previously mentioned type of neighbor!) That all came to an end a few weeks back and, therefore, so did the blogging. A tardy but handsome man (Bryce are you reading this??) came to hook up our internet on Saturday and we are back in business.

Moving is hard. It's on my top 10 list of things that I hate to do, which also includes washing silverware and smelling peppers. That all being said, this recipe is very simple. After all the moving/internet drama, simplicity is welcome 'round these parts!

This lovely and portable breakfast barely deserves the title of "recipe." 

Doughnut Hole and Fruit Kabobs

Inspired by Val So Cal and discovered on Pinterest

Brunch at the Plumeria Beach House

The "Bitches Who Bunch" got together again for a morning at the Plumeria Beach House in the Kahala Resort. We had a relaxing meal and enjoyed each others company and the fantastic view. 

Before we talk food, take a look at some of the perks of the Kahala.

Here's the outdoor portion of the Plumeria Beach House, just one of the restaurants.

The real dolphins!

Finally, the incredible lobby.

It's gorgeous and over the top, I love it!

Brunch started with the menus that were so unique and perfectly themed with wooden plumeria flowers on the back.

For the first time, Danielle the healthy-food-fanatic joined us! She got this acai bowl that she immediately declared was "so refreshing"! It included bananas, strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, granola, and lehua honey. I'm sure it was great but I was ready to indulge!

 The smoked salmon Benedict was very popular. I spy a Bloody Mary in need a of a refill!

Malia opted for the corned beef hash. She swapped the poached a scrambled egg. Please don't let me pretend like I noticed that tiny detail while we were there, I snapped the photos in a hurry and we DUG IN as soon as I gave the green light! Thanks for cooperating ladies. 

There were a couple of omelets, this one partnered with hash browns. I love the individual servings of ketchup!

Another omelet with home fries. 

Anytime we do brunch as a group like this there's always a favorite. Drum roll please... the favorite dish of the Bitches Who Brunch was the "Surf and Turf" Benedict! That's Hawaiian salt grilled beef tenderloin, Alaskan king crab meat, poached egg, and Bearnaise sauce on a toasted English muffin. Maybe they should call it the non-continental states Benedict: Hawaiian Turf and Alaskan Surf! Remember, you heard it here first!

I was one of the kids drinking the Kool-Aid who ordered the most popular dish and I was very happy with my selection. The crab meat was the most delectable touch on the hearty, savory, and creamy dish. My favorite part is when you puncture the yolk of the egg and all hell breaks loose. If they'd cooked the meat just a few seconds less it would have been perfect.

The reason I began this blog is because food gives us such a sense of comfort and a way to enjoy special occasions together. I can't express how WONDERFUL these brunches with our successful, ambitious, loving, and beautiful friends are! It's truly a (loud) chat-fest over (delicious) brunch and (many) drinks.

Honestly, how gorgeous are these women, the outfits, anddddd the view?

For the first time - someone thought ahead and we picked the next date for BWB at the table! We'll see how many we can get together when we plan 7 weeks out.

Bitches Who Brunch - Longhi's

Today, June 11, 2011, marks the second installment of Bitches Who Brunch!  (If you have no clue what I'm talking about, please check out the original Bitches Who Brunch post.)  This morning we gathered at Longhi's Restaurant in Ala Moana, where I had the best breakfast of my life.

Longhi's is on the 4th floor of the mall and has a fantastic view of the Pacific Ocean.  Today we even had a nose-bleed-section view of the King Kamehemeha parade!  (The same parade caused us to cancel our previous reservation at a restaurant in the path of the whole ordeal and reschedule for Longhi's last minute.)  At times we could actually see Mother Nature raining on the parade, sad!

Longhi's is very open and airy and has a great, charming atmosphere.  They put us girls in the far corner of the restaurant next to another loud bunch, which was perfect!  I especially love the curved booths in the nooks on the right and the black and white floor!  

We spent far too long blabbering, gossiping, chit-chatting, and enjoying each other's company right out of the gate and forgot to place our orders!  Many Bloody Marys, mimosas, fancy house drinks, and cups of coffee were consumed before we did any real caloric damage.  In my book, drinks don't have calories!  Like my theory?  (Yes, it's totally incorrect and I'm fine with that!)

The BWB favorite dish was the Crab Cake Benadict.  This was ordered by 3 bitches!

Of course the brides-to-be, Allison & Marichris, were a little more strict with their indulgences and opted for egg white omelets.  Please note the size of the toast.  These huge and delicious slices of toasted baguette were the base for the benedict dishes.  I didn't take note if the engaged ladies actually consumed these delicious carbs or not!

Here's another omlet, these one kept its yolks and was joined by a side of bacon!  Please note: this meal did not belong to an engaged woman!

Finally, I share with you the best breakfast I've ever had: Maine Lobster Benedict.  As you can see the pieces of lobster were quite large and the toast was huge.  The eggs were perfectly poached and the yolks, when poked with a fork, spread their delicious goodness all around!  The hollandaise sauce was amazing.  I was obsessed and didn't offer a single bite to anyone.  About 95% of the dish was gone before I realized how full I was and returned the fork to the plate for good!

Today's brunch included 7 beautiful bitches: (Left to Right) Malia, Allison, Lisette, Felicia, Me, Marichris, and Lisa.  It was almost 3 hours later by the time we finally left.  We tried to set a date for the next brunch but as it turns out our next outing may be Bitches Who Bachelorette!

Thanks for another great brunch, bitches!

Bitches Who Brunch

I have been wanting to go to Morimoto Waikiki for months now.  You know Chef Morimoto from Iron Chef America on the Food Network, right?  That's how I knew about him.  I've heard wonderful things about his hip, new restaurant in Waikiki and yesterday I finally went.

Let it be known that yesterday, April 10, 2011, was the first official meeting of the Bitches Who Brunch (BWB)!  I came up with the clever name while trying to help coordinate a reunion for the "work girls", both current and former office mates.  At 11 a.m., we graced Morimoto with our presence and began chatting and sipping Bloody Marys and Haupia (coconut) Coladas immediately.  I can't tell you what we talked about, because it's against girl rules.  In girl world, there are lots of rules: you can only wear jeans or track pants on Friday, you can only wear your hair in a ponytail once a week...  Let's get down to it, the food.

I had "Tuna Pizza" with olives, anchovy aioli, and jalapenos, yeah right!  The ahi tuna was fresh (yes, raw) and so delicious.  The sauce had quite a zing to it!  The cilantro was a nice, cool flavor in the mix.  Overall, it was a perfect amount of food for a lunch, not too much food that made me want to sleep for the rest of the day!

My "Tuna Pizza"

This delicious Lobster Melt with Miso Mayo and Swiss Cheese was ordered by half of our table!  My generous friends shared with me and it was fantastic.  Those are wasabi french fries and housemade pickles on the side.

Erica, who is known for her healthy food choices, got the Braised Black Cod Lunch Set, which included Miso Soup and Rice.  

Here we are, the Bitches Who Brunch :)  Well, that's 6 of us, there are many more bitches where we come from!

Overall I loved the restaurant!  We had most of the lanai (balcony) to ourselves and it was a perfect Sunday "brunch", although it was really lunch, with the girls.  I'd love to go back for dinner and dessert, since nobody wanted any at lunch!  I did, but didn't want to be the fatty who says "Give ME a dessert menu!"