Taking Hawaiian Food To Another Level at Aina

So tender, the meat literally does fall right off these divine ribs at Aina.

So tender, the meat literally does fall right off these divine ribs at Aina.

 

When dear friends recently visited from the Midwest, I knew I wanted to take them somewhere to dine in San Francisco that would give them a taste of something new, fresh, modern, and fun.

The choice, of course, was Aina, because the odds were that they hadn’t experienced much Hawaiian cuisine in Wisconsin, and certainly none on this level.

This small gem in the Dogpatch neighborhood is always packed. In fact, at brunch, there is almost always a line out the door.

Owned by Chef Jordan Keao and his wife Cheryl Liew, and assisted by Chef de Cuisine Chris Yang, Aina’s flavors will be familiar to anyone who’s ever visited Hawaii. But the form that they take has been refined considerably, as our party found on a recent Saturday night when we dined and paid our own tab.

A taste of Hawaii in San Francisco.

A taste of Hawaii in San Francisco.

The chef's counter offers a tasting menu.

The chef’s counter offers a tasting menu.

While the counter seats are reserved for Aina’s tasting menu, the regular dining room orders off the a la carte menu.

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RIND It Up

RIND Orchard Blend (front) with big pieces of persimmon with their rinds, of course.

RIND Orchard Blend (front) with big pieces of persimmon with their rinds, of course.

 

Did you know that rinds are gold — containing more fiber and a higher concentration of nutrients than the flesh of the fruits themselves?

Matt Weiss knows, as did his great-grandmother who had her own health food store in Michigan back in the 1920s that sold bulk natural foods. Following in her footsteps, Weiss has come up with RIND, dried fruit with skins intact.

The fruit snack is just that — simply fruit, with no added sugar, sulfites or additives.

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A Potato Salad Brimming with Herbs

Potato salad with yogurt, lemon and a plethora of home-grown herbs.

Potato salad with yogurt, lemon and a plethora of home-grown herbs.

 

In my mind, I’m a passionate gardener.

In reality, I’m often a disgruntled one.

Martha Stewart sure makes it look easy. But does she have to contend with lightening-fast squirrels that seem to think they have squatter’s rights in my yard? I think not.

I water and fertilize diligently, nurturing my plants and trees, and waiting for that moment when they give forth their riches in fruits and veggies. Apparently, the squirrels play that same waiting game. And more often than not, they trounce me at it.

Who will be first to snag the ripe tomatoes and peaches? Usually them, alas. This season, I got so fed up that I picked all my peaches off my dwarf tree just a hair before they ripened — just so I could enjoy them before the critters did. Take that, varmints!

Maybe that’s why I actually get joy from growing herbs. Because for whatever reason, my herbs are mostly left alone, able to flourish undisturbed, enabling me to get my pick of soft green leaves to enjoy.

Saladish

On a recent afternoon, I felt fairly smug, going through my backyard, snipping chives, lemon basil, Italian basil, shiso, tarragon, and thyme, all in pristine condition.

Yes, it was all mine — to incorporate into “New Potatoes with Soft Green Herbs.”

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Happiness Is A Lazy Sunday Afternoon In Berkeley When…

Boiled gyoza afloat in a spicy miso-pork broth at Ippudo.

Boiled gyoza afloat in a spicy miso-pork broth at Ippudo.

 

When the traffic gods cooperate so that Interstate 880 isn’t a nightmare…

When you find parking off bustling University Avenue easily…

And when there is no line at Ippudo, so you can stroll right in for a seat immediately.

Because, I mean really, is there any better way to spend a rare relaxing Sunday afternoon than slurping up a big bowl of ramen?

Surely not.

A column in the center of the dining room.

A column in the center of the dining room.

A few weeks ago, I was fortunate to enjoy all of that when my husband and I waltzed into one of the Bay Area’s hottest new ramen joints just before 5 p.m. to enjoy an early dinner, which we paid our tab for at the end. Normally, there would be a line out the door. But we managed to beat the crowd. And this place can fill up fast because it’s not very big. A nice touch are the black boxes underneath the table to stow a purse or backpack so you don’t have to just drop them on the bare floor.

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Summer’s All Right With Beach House Pasta with Shrimp & Grilled Limes

A load of grilled shrimp accent this easy pasta dish.

A load of grilled shrimp accent this easy pasta dish.

 

Even if you don’t have a beach house — yeah, that would be me, too — you’ll find yourself kicking back with pleasure when you dig into this dish.

“Beach House Pasta with Shrimp and Grilled Limes” is from the new cookbook, “Food52 Any Night Grilling” (Ten Speed Press), of which I received a review copy. It’s by Austin cookbook author Paula Disbrowe and the Food52 team.

As the name implies, the book includes 60 grilling recipes easy enough to make any night of the week. There’s a primer on gas versus charcoal, basic information on setting up your grill, and judging its heat.

Enjoy everything from “Crispy Greek Pies with Dandelion & Feta” and “Grilled Branzino with Thai Basil Butter” to “Smoky Tomato & Red Lentil Soup” to “Tipsy Chicken with Smoky Pan Drippings.”

Food52AnyNightGrilling

With this shrimp pasta, I know what you’re thinking: Why start up the grill just for cooking some shrimp and a few limes when making pasta?

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