Dining Out Oahu: Cheeseburger in Paradise, Waikiki, Oahu Hawaii

 

We ventured out yesterday morning in search of breakfast.  There are coffee shops galore, but we were hungry and ready to eat!

We came across this menu board and everything sounded delicious!

Before we get to the food, I have to show you the interior of this fun restaurant!

Now if these photos didn't get you into island vibe, nothing will!

Check out the breakfast options including the mimosa flight!

Before we get into our breakfast selections let me tell you this....Sweet Harold adores pineapple.  I like the "flavor" of pineapple (think drinks, punches, candy, etc.), but don't care for eating actual pineapple.  Yes, I know.  But it is what it is.  

When he spied a Hawaiian Omelet on the menu, he didn't look at the menu a minute more.  

So here is his three-egg Hawaiian Omelet complete with cheddar, Portuguese sausage, and pineapple.  His verdict? He LOVED it.  So much in fact that he has mentioned numerous times since yesterday how good that omelet was!  Who would have thought?

Look at the paper umbrella in the toast.  That has to make you smile at breakfast, right?

There wasn't just a random piece of pineapple here or there....this omelet was full of diced pineapple.  He loved it.  I suppose we'll be trying this once we return home.

I chose two scrambled eggs with hashbrowns, toast, and Portuguese sausage. This type of sausage is a major staple in Hawaii.  Even McDonald's has it on their breakfast menu!  It's a little like our smoked sausage, but it milder and a little sweet.  I thoroughly enjoyed my breakfast!

The eggs were so light and fluffy.  The hashbrowns were crispy and lightly browned...so good.

I fell in love with the Portuguese Sausage.  In fact, I'd go so far to say it's right there with my adoration of my beloved Conecuh sausage.

We enjoyed our time with the crew at Cheeseburger in Paradise.  The food was served hot and fresh and Lauren, our server, was the BEST.

Dining Out Oahu: Lulu's, Waikiki Beach

Our first meal in Oahu was at Lulu's - Waikiki.  It's located adjacent to our hotel, Park Shore.  

Now you must admit that view is incredible.  The restaurant has indoor/outdoor seating and when the host learned we had just arrived, he cleared off a table so we could relax and take in the reality of actually being in Hawaii. 

Here's a view from ground level.

The menu cover certainly gives an island vibe, doesn't it?

We began our meal with Mai-Tais.  These were delicious!

Now those of you who followed us around Ireland, know that Sweet Harold made it a goal to try as many fish and chip meals as possible.  I'm afraid he's going to do the same thing here!

Here's his Hawaiian Fish and Chips!  The fish was tender and flaky and well seasoned, but the batter wasn't as crunchy as he would have liked.

I knew I was going to start trying the local favorites immediately and I certainly did!  Lulu's version of Moco Loco caught my eye immediately.

If you're unfamiliar with this dish, the original version will have white rice as the base, topped with a beef patty, then that covered in brown gravy and grilled onions, then THAT topped with sunny side up eggs.  Lulu's dish add Kaluha pork!  Trust me....this was the PERFECT first meal in Hawaii.  

The pork was fork tender, the gravy tasted like someone's grandmother had made it, the wagyu beef was so flavorful, and the eggs?  Cooked to perfection.  This was an amazing dish.

Service was good, atmosphere was 5-star, and the food was excellent.  

We couldn't have chosen a better spot for our first meal in Oahu!

Dining Out Southeast: Malone's Steak and Seafood, Atlanta, Georgia

Sometimes the best restaurant finds happen when you aren't really looking for one.

On our way to Atlanta for our flight to Hawaii, we spent the night at the Drury Inn & Suites near the airport. Right next door, and I mean right next door, is Malone’s Steak & Seafood.

We could literally walk across the parking lot from our hotel to the restaurant, so we decided to give it a try.

And I'm glad we did.

Malone’s has been in operation since 1975, and when you walk through the door, you immediately get that old-time steakhouse feel. There’s something comfortable about a restaurant that has been around for decades. It doesn’t feel like it’s trying too hard to be trendy. It feels established, welcoming and familiar.

And welcoming is exactly how we were treated.

Our server, Nicole, was excellent—attentive without hovering and genuinely friendly. She made us feel welcome from the moment we sat down.

We did arrive after the lunch menu had ended, and there was a little wrinkle in our plans. We both wanted burgers, and the burgers aren't on the dinner menu. But rather than simply telling us we were out of luck, the staff graciously prepared the burgers we requested.

Now that's the kind of service I appreciate.

Harold, of course, indulged his current food obsession: jalapeños. 😂

The moment he realized they had a Roasted Jalapeño Burger, his decision was made. There was really no further discussion necessary.

His burger was cooked to a perfect medium-well, topped with shredded lettuce, two slices of tomato and red onion. A dill pickle spear rested right on the spine of the burger, a little old-school touch that seemed perfectly at home at Malone’s.

I went with the American Burger, topped with American cheese and the same classic toppings as Harold: shredded lettuce, tomato and red onion. Mine was cooked well done, just the way I ordered it.

Both burgers were nicely seasoned, which I appreciated. Sometimes a burger doesn't need a mountain of toppings or fancy ingredients. It just needs to be well seasoned, cooked properly and served hot. Malone’s got all three right.

And then there were the fries.

Oh, these were good.

They were freshly cooked and served hot, with that perfect combination I look for in a restaurant fry—crispy on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside. No sad, lukewarm fries making their way to our table. These were done right.

Would I recommend Malone’s?

Absolutely.

If you're flying out of Atlanta or have just arrived from a trip and want a good meal without having to venture far from the airport, Malone’s is a terrific option. Being right next to the Drury Inn & Suites made it especially convenient for us. We simply walked across the parking lot and were at the restaurant.

But here's the thing:

I wouldn't limit Malone’s to an airport stopover.

I can easily picture myself coming back on a Saturday night, settling into that old-fashioned steakhouse atmosphere, ordering a nice, thick, perfectly cooked steak and a glass of wine, and taking my time over dinner.

And that's probably the best compliment I can give a restaurant:

I can see myself coming back when I don't have a flight to catch.

Malone’s Steak & Seafood gets a Fleur de Lolly thumbs-up from us. 💜

Here are pictures of the menu!

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Lolly's Mexican Street Corn Casserole

I started out with the idea to have a Weight Watcher friendly version of a street corn side dish.  With a few tweaks, I was able to make a delicious casserole that in no way tasted or looked like "diet food."  In fact, I believe next time I might just add some shredded chicken to make it the main course!

1 can Del Monte Street Corn, drained
1 can Del Monte Fire Roasted Corn, drained
½ medium onion, finely diced
1 small can diced green chiles, drained
1 small fresh jalapeño, finely diced
5 oz. plain nonfat Greek yogurt
3 T. Duke's mayonnaise
1 cup Reduced Fat Mexican Blend cheese, shredded
A little additional cheese for topping
1–2 T. lime juice
1 t. chili powder
½ t. smoked paprika
½ t. cumin
¼ t. garlic powder
2 T. chopped fresh chives or cilantro

Salt and black pepper, to taste

Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly spray an 8 × 8-inch baking dish with olive oil spray.

In a large bowl, whisk together the Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, lime juice, chili powder, smoked paprika, cumin and garlic powder.

Stir in corn, onion, green chiles and jalapeño.

Fold in 1 cup of the reduced-fat Mexican blend cheese and season with salt and pepper.

Spread the mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish.

Sprinkle a little additional cheese over the top.

Bake for 20–25 minutes, until hot and bubbly and the cheese is beautifully browned in spots.

Let it rest for about 5 minutes, then sprinkle generously with the fresh chives before serving.

Pork Sirloin Roast

I recently came across a Pork Sirloin Roast at Food City.  I'll be honest, I have never cooked a pork sirloin roast.  But this was a good price and I was feeling adventurous.  

I didn't want to heat up the oven, so I opted to use the air fryer and the roast setting!

But first I needed to season this roast up!

I sprayed the roast lightly on both sides with olive oil spray.  Then I sprinkled all of these all over the roast!

Then into the air fryer on "Roast" for 35 minutes.  I checked it at 32 minutes and it was right at 145℉.  Perfect!  I let it rest for about 5 minutes before slicing.

This roast was flavorful, beyond tender, and super easy.  I mean, really, how more simple could it be?  Season, 35 minutes in the air fryer, 5 minutes of resting, and dinner was served!

I'll be purchasing more of these!