PLATE LUNCH SERIES FALL 2013 #6

CHICKEN KATSU CURRY
The ever so popular Katsu Curry, a savory chicken katsu topped with a creamy somewhat spicy gravy or curry. Every plate lunch aficionado knows this plate very well. It is not a plate just for anyone. It is a plate for someone that enjoys to be stuffed so that when he's done, he's on the couch passed out, snoring, that's right junior, make no mistake about it. The Chicken Katsu Curry Plate is the plates of all plates. OK, I may have stated other plates were the plate of all plates, excuse me for being alive!

Okay guys, a great Chicken Katsu Curry to me is made up of boneless chicken thighs with the skin still on. Why? Because the skin gives it some juicy stuff that just makes you go "Shit Yeah!" Now, you would not get that if the skin is off. After the chicken is seasoned with salt and pepper, maybe some garlic salt too, it is dredged in flour, and then dipped in a light egg wash, and then dredged in panko flakes for the final breading. And then, it is deep fried in some hot cooking oil.

When that's all done, the chef or cook, or whoever is at the stove will slice the chicken, usually it's 3 thighs, and then plate it with 2 scoops of white sticky rice and a scoop of macaroni salad, hopefully these kitchen people will use Best Foods Real Mayonnaise, the mayonnaise of choice by many a plate lunch lover in Hawaii. If it ain't Best Foods? YOU GOT NO BUSINESS COOKING PLATE LUNCHES GET THE (BLANK) OUT OF HERE!

Sorry, let me catch my breath a bit... Alright, then after the chicken is sliced, a nice curry or gravy is topped right over it, the chicken katsu that is. So what is the curry made of? Well most local digs will just use Golden Curry from a box and mix it with a chicken broth. Or what I like to do, is use half broth, half coconut milk, put some oil in the pan, and add in some curry powder, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper, and then add in the liquid making my own curry, and use a cornstarch slurry to thicken it. Ooooo! That's the shit! I mean as in good shit, not bad shit because we don't ever want bad shit, has to be good shit all the time, and in cooking folks it is good shit we are after always, so be on the look out for cooking good shit.

So those of you who are just thinking, "Man what do locals in Hawaii love to eat?" the answer my friend is blowing in the wind, and the wind is telling you listen to Ron Sambrano, and it is Chicken Katsu Curry, that's what we love to eat. And I'll repeat myself until I'm purple in my fat ass toe, it's all about the food quality, I do not give a (Blank) about presentation, take that shit outta here! No presentation, a great plate lunch has to be delicious (ono), and sloppy, with no presentation whatsoever in the cook's thought!

Okay okay, here's more pictures that I ripped off.

I AM JUST USING THESE PICS FROM GOOGLE IMAGES AND NOT MAKING A DIME FROM THEM..HELLOOO!

Chicken Katsu Curry folks enjoy.

These pictures depict what a Katsu Curry plate looks like, everyone's presentation is different, I like mine's sloppy looking seriously, I mean come on man, really?!!! Whatever floats your boat or twirls your beanie, this is what it looks like.

Always remember, if your plate lunch doesn't have macaroni salad on it, it's really not a plate lunch, and I can't stand it when a restaurant or food counter sells awesome foods, but no mac salad! I mean come on, it's like going to Disneyland and not seeing Daffy Duck...hold on, wrong duck. I meant what's his name Donald. Yeah that's it. Until next time.. I'm Ron Sambrano and you're not.

If you need a personal chef to make this for you and your lover, give me an email.

chefsambrano@gmail.com

www.chefsambrano.wordpress.com

COPYRIGHT 2013©

PLATE LUNCH SERIES FALL 2013 #5

OXTAIL SOUP (The Killer Soup/Plate Lunch)
In this blog post I'll go over the ever-so popular dish called Ox Tail Soup, and I've talked about this many of times, but it needs repeating all of the time because it is so popular in Hawaii that many a local will have their favorite recipe, or restaurant to get it. So as we move forward in this blog, we will delve in the culture of Plate Lunches.

Here is a typical local brother and his friends, hungry and ready to have a hefty meal.

KIMO: Eh Bobby, we go eat.
BOBBY: What you like eat?
KIMO: I dunno, we had teri beef yesterday cuz, maybe some pork adobo.
BOBBY: Nah we went to one Filipino party few nights ago, I'm all adoboed out!
KIMO: Okay den, what you like eat?
BOBBY: We go grine Ox Tail Soup cuz.

You maybe wondering at this point if you are the uninitiated, "WTF? Ox Tails?"

Where does this piece of meat come from? It comes from the tail of the cattle, it is tough, so it needs to be simmered for a long time to really break down the structure of the meat and muscles and tendons and all that stuff. But it's not gross, it's just beef from another part of the animal.

You may also be asking yourself what does it look like? Well look at the pictures I again ripped off from Google Images. 

DISCLAIMER: I am not selling or making money off of these Google Photos JUST TO LET YOU ALL KNOW!!!

Raw Oxtails looks like this!

Oxtails in a skillet

Look at this tender beef tails Yay!!!

More tender Oxtails Yay Yay!!!

NOW FOR THE HAWAIIAN STYLE SOUP

OXTAIL SOUP THAT IS!!!!!

EAT THIS WITH RICE AND MAC SALAD!!!

U DO NOT FULL AROUND YOU BETTER EAT ALL OF YOUR OXTAILS IF YOU WANT TO GO TO THE MOVIES YOUNG MAN!!!

OH YES! THAT AND SOME HOT WHITE RICE!!

MAC SALAD WITH BEST FOODS MAYONNAISE

GREEN ONIONS, NATURAL BEEF FLAVORS!

OH YES, OH YES!!!

HOW DO YOU MAKE THIS STUFF?

PAY ATTENTION!!!!!

INGREDIENTS

3 lbs. of oxtails, washed

Water to cover the oxtails.

Bring the water and oxtails to a boil over high heat!

Do this for about 15 minutes, and toss that water out!

Now add in some grated ginger to the pot with oxtails in it, and now put about 6 inches of water above the oxtails, bring to a boil again, then once boiling, turn heat down to simmer, and cover for about 30 minutes.

Uncover and add in some vinegar about 1/2 cup, cover and simmer for 30 minutes more, add more water if needed.

Add in some fresh garlic crushed after 30 minutes, and add in some sea salt, not to much, just to get it going, and a little more grated ginger. Cover and simmer for another 30 minutes.

Uncover, and in some chopped greens like cabbage, bring to a boil uncovered, until it wilts, stir around, season with more salt, pepper, and add in some chopped green onions.

This is a simple version, but always remember Junior! Simple is all GOOOOOD!

What restaurants serve this in Hawaii? Hey Yelp it, I'm not gettin paid for this shit! Ha ha.

COPYRIGHT 2013

If you need a cook to make you this contact me 

Email: chefsambrano@gmail.com

www.chefsambrano.wordpress.com

PLATE LUNCH SERIES FALL 2013 #4

BEEF CURRY
Beef Curry in Hawaii is a huge plate, I mean it could be huge, or it could be skimpy if the restaurants sucks. However, we love beef curry, nothing like that stewed beef, and if it has some well marbling it makes it all the better, you see here in Hawaii...we loves us some FAT BABY! I mean c'mon, fat tastes goooood. And if you're a vegan too bad you're missin out.

Okay my friends, here it is, here we go here we go and here we go! When we are empty in the belly, we are hungry, we want something savory, something with some kick, meat, hefty chunks of it, and potatoes, carrots, and celery, and of course gravy, after all in India curry means gravy.

Okay guys I know I know, if you've tasted our version of curry it really isn't like an Indian curry, or a Malay curry, nope, it is really a simple curry, and believe it or not, it's instant curry mix. Haha, the jokes on all them chefs! You see what really makes Hawaiian style beef curry is the half from scratch and half not from scratch...kind of like semi-home cooking with that girl on the Food Network.

The secret to a good beef curry is the meat, and the herbs and veggies, and as for the gravy it's instant..well some chefs will kind of mix their own curry powders, adding in turmeric, coriander, stuff like that, or garam masala. But, a basic ready made curry mix works great, just open the packet and dump it into the stew, and it's all good.

So before you culinary snobs knock our beef curry, think of instant as...well... would you actually make your own sesame oil? Would you make your own mustard? Would you make your own ketchup? You understand now right? Well maybe not, maybe you are anal and are making your own ketchup as we speak, but hey, if you have a plate of beef curry local style you'll be pleased...and I find nothing wrong with cooks & chefs using ready made stuff, I mean I've worked in many a restaurant where the patrons think the chef is some bloody genius, well, lots of restaurants are using ready made everything..as long as the meats and veggies are fresh, man that's all that matters, if some cook was using ready made seasons what the heck, as long as it tastes good I ain't complaining.

Below is some of Hawaii's Beef Curry, all photos belong to someone on Google Images. I am not using this post to make any money, so if your photo is here, thanks, and if anything I'm promoting your photographs.

If you ever get to Hawaii, and want something good and comforting to eat, you gotta try beef curry, most places do it pretty good, and again, some cooks will add to the curry mix and it will stand out. But being honest, you see that box of Golden Curry? That's right junior the secret is out... restaurants use it, but hey...that's the way eateries roll now days, most of the places are semi-from scratch. Now if this box of curry sucked, that's another story. As long as the beef is cooked right, and the veggies, and there's no hairs in the food from the cooks or servers, I AM EATING IT!

Copyright 2013©

If you need In Home cooking services check me out at www.chefsambrano.wordpress.com

PLATE LUNCH SERIES FALL 2013 #3

Tanaka Saimin

New to our plate lunch culture.  Alright junior get ready for a lesson in Hawaiian Plate Lunch Culture, and it is one word "Ono!" or delicious. Plates that are delicious can be found all over on all of the islands, usually it's not promoted on the freeking Food Network.

Photos are borrowed from Google Images- if you posted these photos I am not selling them or making money off of them, it is just to give my followers a vision of what it looks like, so mahalo very much, if anything your photos are being promoted and again I am not taking any profits from this post.

Saimin Bowl

Loco Moco

Ramen Burger

ONO FOOD

ONO FOOD

HAPPY CUSTOMERS

TANAKA SAIMIN

888 N. Nimitz Highway #103

Honolulu, HI 96817

808-524-2020

facebook.com/TanakaSaimin

copyright 2013©

THE GLOVEN & CHOCOLATE RECIPE

THE GLOVEN works!!!!!

This is my personal take on Nola Baldwin's Gloven, it is s stylish product meant for cooks, it has style and ergonomics, removing hot pans from ovens is very easy and not cumbersome like some oven mitts on the market. I used it myself on several cooking videos, and the extra pair that Nola sent me is utilized by my other family members here on the island of Maui in Hawaii, a long swim from Liverpool England.

In Hawaii we do a lot of grilling or we say Pulehu (Poo- Leh- Hoo). so this Gloven can be something that is profitable all over the world.

I do recommend this product for sure, it makes a great gift especially for that lady in your life that loves cooking.

- Ron Sambrano

NOW FOR A CHOCOLATE RECIPE

CHOCOLATE COVERED MACADAMIA NUTS

This is a simple recipe made for cooks that like to make their own Macadamia nuts covered with chocolate, dark sweet chocolate that is.

INGREDIENTS

9 oz. or so of roasted and salted macadamia nuts

9 oz. or so of unsweetened chocolate

1/2 cup of brown sugar

2 1/4 tbsp. of unsalted butter

Pinch or so of sea salt

Directions:

1. Finely chop all of the chocolate.

2. Heat up some water in a double boiler, make one by using a small saucepan with a little water and a heatproof bowl set on top of it. Make sure that the bowl doesn't touch the water, bring water to a rolling simmer (not too hot).

3. Place the chocolate that was chopped into the double boiler along with the sugar, butter and sea salt. Using a rubber spatula, stir the mixture until it melts and becomes smooth. The remove from heat.

4. Get a large baking sheet and line it with parchment paper on the baking sheet, spray some nonstick over it. 

5. Using a slotted spoon, place on nut in it, then spoon some chocolate over it to cover, turn nut and coat bottom, then simply place it on the baking sheet. Continue to do all of the nuts, set in a cool area to harden.

Note: If the chocolate gets hardened in the bowl return for a few seconds to soften over double boiler.

You can also place toppings on each morsel if you like before each covered nut is hardened, like shredded coconuts, or sprinkled colored sugar.

Well I hope this was easy enough, because I hate difficult tasks, ha ha.

And don't forget to go to Nola's site at www.gloven.co.uk

Until next time take care.

copyright 2013 ©

PLATE LUNCH 2013 FALL #2

PLATE LUNCH 2013 FALL #2

Mixed BBQ Plates
There's nothing like a good Mixed BBQ Plate, generally it's some kind of teriyaki beef or chicken, maybe pork. Or it's a Korean style BBQ, more on the sesame soy sauce kick kinda flavors. Nonetheless folks, mixed BBQ Plates rock in Hawaii.

Here's a plate from L&L Drive Inn, it's their version of a Mixed BBQ Plate, with beef and chicken, rice and macaroni salad, and ooops I forgot those Korean BBQ Kalbli Beef Short Ribs, cut thin with 3 bones. Awesome.

http://hawaiianbarbecue.com/live/menu/the-ll-menu/

This next picture is from Pearl's Korean BBQ, it's Kalbi Ribs with veggies Korean style.

So this is another plate we love to EAT!!!

If you are on the island of Maui and need someone to cook you this, hire me, and I'll do the job. Or Google a HawaiianBBQ restaurant near you.

Copyright 2013

PLATE LUNCH SERIES 2013 FALL #1

Aloha and welcome to my blog, and welcome as I begin a new chapter in the Chef Sambrano Blog Spot. Com. Where from now on, every post will be geared towards the ever so growing popularity of the Plate Lunch.

Recently my friends from Aloha Plate Truck (The Great Food Truck Race) Food Network winners, has taken the plates of Hawaii to the rest of the world. So, with that being said, on this post I'll go over some things for all of you, especially my mainland friends who are wondering what we eat here in Hawaii.

First of all our Hawaiian culture is so diverse and still growing. Our typical plates have influences from Hawaii, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, China, Portugal, Italy, Puerto Rico, Mexico, the Philippines, Spain, Tonga, Samoa and it continues to grow.

Now I'm going to borrow some stuff from other websites just so that you can see what we here in Hawaii are all about. Take for example

Da Hawaiian Plate!!!!! 
O.K. what is this? Alright my friends... for one thing, the Hawaiian Plate is the best plate if done right, here's a standard Hawaiian Plate.

2 scoops of white rice, 1 scoop of macaroni salad, a tray of poi (taro), a tray of Lomi Salmon (salmon with tomatoes massaged with Hawaiian Sea Salt), Kalua Pork (pulled pork), and one Lau Lau (steamed beef brisket, pork, and butterfish wrapped in ti leaves).

Now why is local plates so delicious? I asked my buddy Pete.

Pete: What makes local style plates so good is it's simplicity, most plates have the main protein, and the seasonings are very simple, salt, pepper, garlic, ginger, and some other ingredients that's pertinent to the dish itself, but if you are going for a Hawaiian Plate, all the seasonings are basically is Hawaiian Sea Salt, and that let's the natural flavors of the beef and pork stand out.

OK, now you understand we here in Hawaii is comfort foods to the max! And now fancy restaurants are getting into the act. Take Alan Wong's in Wailea, it's upscale local fare, and it's done with that kind of touch, it's all good, but for local food, it's simple, no presentation, just dump the food with gravy over the rice and eat!

So here's some pics of Da Hawaiian Plate.

This pic comes from tastyislandhawaii.com - 1200 × 1135 - Search by image

bigislandgrinds.com - 800 × 600 - Search by image

50thplate.com - 3264 × 1840 - Search by image

On Maui, if you're staying in a condo, hire me and I'll do you an InHome Hawaiian Plate, but if you are looking for a restaurant that serves this up, use your Google and type in Hawaiian Plate Lunches and the town you're in. In the mainland there's Hawaiians there too, so if you look hard enough, I bet you'll find a Hawaiian Plate somewhere near you, but if you're in Hawaii, you'll find it for sure, on all the islands.

Copyright 2013

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