Fine fishy feast:
Poke platters from Tanioka's in Waipahu start at $30.
This large platter, which includes the more expensive sashimi,
goes for about $70, depending on weight.
Fine fishy feast:
Poke platters from Tanioka's in Waipahu start at $30.
This large platter, which includes the more expensive sashimi,
goes for about $70, depending on weight.
Help!
It's time to dash out of the office, jump into traffic and grab something appealing to bring to the potluck pupu party.
Where to go?
If you're truly desperate, just grab a pie at a supermarket - but they may be picked over.
Here's a list of 30 selected holiday takeout pupu and dessert ideas, starting with several of the fastest and cheapest:
Cheap and Easy
Boiled peanuts - Simple but totally local, for $1.80 a pound at Bob's Peanuts, at Ward Farmers Market, phone 597-8020.
Mini bagels and cream cheese - A dozen minis will cost $2.90, with cream cheese from $1.25 for 3 ounces, at Hawaiian Bagel Inc., 753-B Halekauwila, phone 596-0638.
Look funn, or rolled sheets of Chinese pasta - Plain or with bits of char siu or dried shrimp and green onions, 60 and 80 cents a sheet. The proprietor will slice it on request. Tuck an attractive plate and matching sauce bowl in the car before leaving in the morning - for the look funn and accompanying mustard-shoyu sauce. Pick up meat or seafood varieties by 2:30 p.m. at Ying Leong Look Funn Factory, 1028 Kekaulike St., phone 537-4304; or at other Chinatown "funn factories."
Pies - Available on a first-come, first-served basis at Napoleon's Bakery at Zippy's restaurants, with 50 cents off on Wednesday and Thursday. Note that the Ala Moana and Pearlridge Napoleons will be closed Thursday.
Sometimes notice required
Healthy alternative:
Safeway makes up a fruit and vegetable plate with carrots,
celery, cauliflower, olives, broccoli, cantaloupe,
melon and dip for $39.99.
Crispy spring rolls and fresh summer rolls - 75 cents apiece and $3.50 for two, respectively, at 19 Ba-Le Sandwich Shops, phone 521-3973. Also, six spring rolls cost $6.75 and two summer rolls are $4.25 at Hale Vietnam, 1140 12th Ave., 735-7581.
Finally, try a favorite Thai restaurant for crispy spring rolls.
Kosher - Seventeen bagel varieties are 75 cents per bagel, and various cheesecakes such as classic, chocolate and pumpkin are $25 and $30, at Bernard's New York Deli, Kahala Mall, 732-3354.
Poke - Buy ahi poke for $5.95 a pound and aku poke for $7.25 at Bob's Fish Market, Ward Farmers Market, 596-8220. Don't underestimate the art of the arrangement. The same poke placed on a nice plate and garnished with some veggies will look like you put much more thought into the holiday than rushing in with poke straight from the plastic container.
Pizza - Generous rounds start at about $9 at six Boston's North End Pizza Bakeries, 263-2253.
Vegetarian manapua - Several varieties sell for $1 apiece at Broke The Mouth, downtown at 1117 Union Mall St., or at Puck's Alley, 524-0355.
Peking roast duck with buns - Half duck $13, whole duck $25 - both with buns; extra buns 50 cents each, at Eastern Garden Chinese Seafood Restaurant, Pearlridge and Kahala, 486-8882 or 737-2828. In Windward Oahu, Kin Wah Chop Suey sells the duck for $24 whole, $12.50 half, with 20 buns and 10 buns, respectively. Extra buns are $3 per dozen. The restaurant is at 45-588 Kamehameha Highway in Kaneohe. Call 247-4812.
Dim sum - An order of two manapua or taro gok is $1.50; for pork hash and har gau (pepeiao), an order of three is $1.50, at Empress Restaurant, Chinatown Cultural Plaza, 521-5055.
Also, at the adjacent Legend Seafood Restaurant, an order of three baked manapua, taro gok, pork hash or har gau is $2.65; an order of two steamed manapua is $2.65. Call 532-1868.
Hawaiian food - Premium-grade poke is $9 to $17 a pound, boiled peanuts $2.90 a pound, laulau $2 and $3 each, dried aku $17 a pound sliced to order; at Fort Ruger Market, 3585 Alohea Ave., 737-4531.
Coco Puffs - The perfect dessert is small and decadent but not too sweet, at popular Liliha Bakery, 531-1651.
Chinese takeout - Sample shoyu chicken ($5.25), noodles ($2.95) or char siu ($5.25 a pint, $5.65 a pound) at Lin's Canton Foods, Liliha Square, 533-6844. Also, buy succulent char siu at Chinatown meat markets.
Sushi - Order ahead and pick up early at popular Mitsuba Delicatessen, 1218 N. School, 841-3864.
Chi chi dango - Individually wrapped pink and white mochi confections are $4.30 a pound (20 pieces) at Nisshodo Candy Store, Kokea Shopping Center, 1095 Dillingham, 847-1244.
Manapua - Each order of two smaller but exquisite buns is $2.55 at Panda Cuisine, 641 Keeaumoku, 947-1688.
Fried squid - Tote three bags, at $1.20 a bag, at Rada's Piroscki, 1146 Fort St. Mall, 533-2388.
Pupu platters - A 7-Eleven brochure details platters from dessert pastry arrays at $12.99, to sushi spreads for $25.99 at 7-Eleven Hawaii stores; call 944-2711, Ext. 200.
Also, a foldout brochure shows 14 colorful party platters, from fresh fruit and vegetable trays to impressive shrimp platters at Safeway stores (available at other supermarkets with deli sections). The large Safeway platter of fruits and veggies illustrated in this story was priced at $39.99.
Buffalo wings - Hot and spicy enough to make you step back when you inhale, an order of six Shack's wings costs $5.21 while a bucket of 15 pieces is $10.68, at The Shack in Kailua or Hawaii-Kai, 261-1191.
Barbecue ribs - Not too sweet, or greasy, charbroiled baby-back pork ribs are available at Simone's Pizzeria, at a half rack for $9.95 and large rack for $16.95. Simone's is at 870 Kapahulu Ave., 739-1928 (free delivery to some areas).
Fresh strawberries - Fill a platter with fresh berries and add a bowl of powdered sugar for dipping; then everyone will say, "Wow." Fresh strawberries are $3.25 a pound at Strawberry Connection, 1931 Kahai St., 842-0278. Other upscale items include mini Forelle pears at $2.85 a pound; bright red and green mini Lady apples for $4.25 a pound; 12 pates at $8.85 to $12.50 (mousse truffle pate) a pound; imported and domestic cheeses for $3.50 to $14; biscotti at 50 cents each; and panettone (Italian fruit bread) for $1.50 to $21.50.
Super subs - Gigantic sandwiches with lots of "oooh" mileage, about $12 a foot; 6 feet will feed 21 generously, at Subway Sandwiches and Salads shops.
Large flatbread - such as Armenian bread or lavosh, with a tub of favorite dip, available at supermarkets.
Poke platters - "Super platter" with six fish and six nonfish poke is $25.50; twice the size will feed 35 to 50 people for $51, at Tamashiro Market, 802 N. King, 841-8047. Availability of platters is limited, so order early; store opens Thanksgiving day 8 a.m. to noon. Also, people come from all over the island to procure poke at Tanioka's Seafoods & Catering, 94-093 Farrington Highway in Waipahu, 671-3779. This establishment sells 500 pounds of limu/shoyu poke, 150 pounds of sashimi and 2,000 cone sushi on Thanksgiving - with some quantities doubling on Christmas Eve! Poke platters start at $30; the one illustrated in this story with five poke varieties plus sashimi is priced at about $70, depending on weight.
More poke and peanuts - Boiled peanuts are $2.99 a pound and poke $7.99 a pound at Tanabe Superette, 934 Keeaumoku St., 949-8301. Also boiled peanuts are $2.39 a pound at Toyo's Superette, 2801 E. Manoa Road, 988-6814.
Crispy gau gee - They're not sexy but these large, rectangular packets are heartier and more filling than smaller, triangular won tons; try 8 for $6 at Waimalu Chop Suey, Waimalu Shopping Center, 98-020 Kamehameha Highway, 488-1616.