Birthday!!!!

It was a great day of tearing up the windward side of the island on my birthday tooling around in the yellow jeep.  Stopped at a few beaches and grabbed a lunch in Kailua to pack in the cooler to bring to Hanauma Bay.  The snorkeling at Hanauma was amazing.  For the second time while on this trip I had a sea turtle swim with me for a while.  Saw a bunch of other fish as well.  Got home in time to join Jeff and Jenn at Morimoto's for birthday dinner and it was AMAZING.  It topped everything off that we got to see the Chef himself as we were walking out.

 Hanauma Bay is an incredible natural pool that has formed in a volcanic crater. The crater is evidence of a volcanic burst of activity on the island tens of thousands of years ago. These volcanic eruptions formed the crater on the sea floor, and waves from the ocean eventually filled the circular bay.

Jenn and I pre-dinner cocktail



Edition nightclub where the restaurant is.  We watched Waikiki fireworks before heading in to eat.

Chow Time!

Shellfish Balls (I don't remember the real name- they were good though!)

Tempura pineapple with jamon wrap

Pork Gyoza - Inside the pocket were the separate dumplings

This was a local fish dish and all of our favorites.  The waiter prepared the dish table side.  The raw fish was placed on the sides of the hot bowl and seared, then he mixed a raw egg into the hot rice which allowed it to cook.  Amazing!

By far the most fancy dish and had a TON of flavor.  An entire fish fried up.  I stayed away from some parts of it but overall it was phenomenal.

Finally - dessert on the house!  Aw.

To top off a perfect night we get to meet the chef while walking out.  IRON CHEF MORIMOTO!!!

http://www.morimotowaikiki.com/  When am I going back?!