Dole Whip with Li Hing Mui from Hula Girls Shave Ice

After hacking the dole whip at Disneyland with tajin, it was time to try another addition to the dole whip. This time I went to Hula Girls Shave Ice where they not only have dole whip but they have several options of seasonings to add on top of your dole whip. It was time to add the li hing mui powder to the dole whip.

What is li hing mui you may ask? Well li hing mui is a sweet and sour powder that transforms pretty much anything into an exotic, candied treat. You take pickled plum skins in licorice, salt and sugar and grind them into a very fine powder. A few dashes go a very long way.

How does the dole whip with li hing mui taste? The li hing mui actually neutralizes the acidity of the pineapple in the dole whip and you are left with a sweet and slightly sour dole whip that tastes even more amazing than just the dole whip itself!

Try this amazing combination yourself at Hula Girls Shave Ice:

16556 Bolsa Chica Street
Huntington Beach, CA 92649

or check out their site:

hulagirlsshaveice.com/

Seasalt Woodfire Grill Brings Santa Maria-Style BBQ to Huntington Beach

Santa Maria-Style BBQ is one of my all-time favorites and it's great to see it here in the OC. Seasalt Woodfire Grill brings this style of cooking to Huntington Beach. What sets this style of cooking apart is cooking meat seasoned with sea salt blends over red oak coals.

The bar has farm crafted cocktails, wines and a good selection of locally crafted beers. The first cocktail we tried was the The Grilled Pina which has tequila, pineapple and jalapeno. A great blend of flavors and I loved the kick of the jalapenos.

The second cocktail we tried was the The Boozy Horchata which has vanilla vodka, spiced rum and horchata. I am a huge horchata fan and this cocktail won me over with it's flavor and smoothness.

The Smoked Pork Belly Mac N Cheese is simply quite amazing. The smokiness of the pork belly goes perfectly with the mac n cheese.

When in doubt, you try all the various cuts of steak they bring out. The tri-tip, ribeye and the New York strip are all amazing and melt in your mouth delicious!

Take a look at the 28 oz bone-in ribeye. Doesn't it just make your mouth water?

Some of the most flavorful ribs I have ever experienced.

The linguisa is unreal. So much flavor and spice that will keep you coming back for more and more.

Even the seafood offerings are rubbed in the unique sea salts. The shrimp is perfectly grilled and salted.

The jumbo tiger prawns and snow crab is unbelievable. You won't want to share what's on your plate.

The last cocktail we tried was the Salty Hog which has vodka, grapefruit and bacon. A great blend of sour and salt. Typically not a flavor combination I typically would enjoy but this has changed my mine.

We ended the meal with this delicious vanilla ice cream with Central Coast Olive Oil and topped with black lava seasalt. The flavors blend together seamlessly for a totally unique experience. The perfect ending to our meal.

So, if you love Santa Maria style BBQ or just interested in experiencing it (and you will love it), then head to Seasalt Woodfire Grill. It will be an unforgettable meal from start to finish.

To learn more about Seasalt Woodfire Grill, check out their site at the link below:
seasaltwoodfiregrill.com

First Drive: 2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid & Plug-In Hybrid in Huntington Beach, California

The amazing team at Hyundai invited me to Huntington Beach, CA to drive their new Sonata Hybrid and Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV). After being invited by Hyundai to their Sonata factory in Alabama last year, how would the hybrids fair against their purely gasoline-powered cousins? Take a drive up and down the Southern California coast with me and find out.

The morning started at the Hyundai America Headquarters in Fountain Valley, California. It was fitting to begin our day here at the impressive environmentally friendly building. Hyundai thinks green even though they tend to favor the color blue (as do I). There was no better place to showcase the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid and Plug-In Hybrid.

Before we take the 2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid out on the road, let's take a quick tour around the car.

A very sleek, streamlined body helps the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid add a 10% improvement on fuel economy over last years model.

Even the eco-spoke alloy wheels help to give the 2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid a class-leading 0.24 drag coefficient that is the same as the Tesla Model S.

The Hybrid comes in several trims including SE, Limited and Limited Ultimate and the plug-in comes in base and Limited versions only. The lower trims offer blind-spot detection, rear cross-traffic alert and a rearview camera. The high-end trim adds forward collision warning and lane departure warning.

One look at the roomy cockpit makes you want to sit down and take a drive. The 2016 model is actually longer than last year's for even more leg room.

The view driving down the California coast! A few dark clouds on an otherwise perfect day in Southern California!

The control panel is neatly laid out. All of the displays are easy to see and all of the controls are easily within reach. The infotainment center has a large screen that is bright enough to even see in direct sunlight. Navigation is standard on the plug-in and the hybrid's Limited Ultimate trim. There is also USB ports, bluetooth connectivity and satellite radio. There is also "Blue Link" on the plug-in only. This smartphone app features remote start, door-locking, climate-control presets and more.

Taking a look under the hood of the hybrid and you get a 2.0-liter GDI four-cylinder engine that gets 44 mpg on the highway, 40 mpg in the city and 42 combined. The battery sits in the tire well and allows for a full trunk space. The plug-in has the same engine but gets more horsepower and the battery generates more power as well. This means 40 mpg combined but with the battery you can expect 93 MPGe.

But how is the ride itself you ask? Well, let me tell you that the road was simply just sucked up by the hybrid and the plug-in. The car handles well through the twists and turns of Pacific Coast highway and more than enough power on the I-5 freeway. The cabin is quiet and the ride is smooth as can be.

The panoramic sunroof was perfect for the drive along the coast. There is something that makes you feel more alive when the windows are down, the sun is shining upon you and you can smell the ocean.

My friend and fellow blogger Nicole Wakelin loves cupcakes and makes sure she finds cupcakes on all the media trips. So, since we were in my neck of the woods, I made sure we stopped at B. Candy for a 6 pack of their mini cupcakes! It's all made in house and some of the best cupcakes you will ever have! It also helped that this was actually on the set driving route!

The drive took us down to the Torrey Pines golf course for lunch! The only public course that is part of the Pro Golfers Association (PGA) Tour was an incredible place to stop for lunch!

The 2016 Sonata Hybrid and the plug-in are fantastic vehicles! A smooth ride with lots of room, great fuel economy, friendly to the planet, advanced safety features and enough tech items to keep any gadget person happy all make this a highly recommended family vehicle or even the daily to and from work vehicle.

Hyundai isn't releasing pricing details until some point closer to launch.

*Disclaimer: Hyundai paid for all of my expenses to test drive the 2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid and plug-in but all of the opinions are strictly my own.*

Restaurant Review: Hula Girls Shave Ice - Ice Cream, Dole Whip & More!

Time for another restaurant review! This time I went next door from Dough Dough's Hawaiian Cafe to Hula Girls Shave Ice!

This is shave ice like you would get on the islands. Not that snow cone stuff but actual shave ice. Soft ice with delicious fruit flavors. You can choose from several pre-set options or create your own. You also have a lot of options like adding a snow-cap (condensed milk) which I always do. You can also add ice cream or even dole whip! Dole whip you say? Yes, just like at Disneyland but without the massive long line!

The shave ice creation above has both a snow-cap and dole whip! Heaven must taste like this!

Here is a regular shave ice with a snow-cap! The regular size shave ice is large enough to satisfy pretty much anyone. I can't imagine how big the large is!

Here is a look at their dole whip! Just as good if not better than Disneyland without the long wait!

The entire dole whip in all of it's glory!

Hula girls Shave Ice is located next door to Dough Dough's Hawaiian Cafe and is actually connected on the inside. So have breakfast, lunch of dinner and then get dessert!

http://www.hulagirlsshaveice.com/

16556 Bolsa Chica St.
Huntington Beach, Ca 92649


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Restaurant Review: Dough Dough's Hawaiian Cafe - Good Kind Grinds!

Time for another restaurant review! This time it is off to Huntington Beach and to Dough Dough's Hawaiian Cafe! As many of you know I love Hawaiian food and both of my parents are from Oahu!

The simple front of the place leads into this taste of the islands on the inside! My parents would love this place! The folks that run this place are from the islands and that friendliness truly comes forward! Plus everything they make is made right there and then! No food sitting around and then just plated up! So it may take a bit longer to get your food out but trust me it is totally worth it!

The first time I sat down for a meal I order this massive Big A's Loco Moco! This was one amazing plate. Rice, a hamburger patty, spam, Portuguese sausage, eggs, onions and gravy make for a super filling meal! Yes, I ate it all! I was full for the rest of the day but I ate the whole thing! The flavors are so good! Everything mixes together so well!

The next time I came back I went with the plate lunch! Rice with mac salad, kalua pig and chicken teriyaki! I tasted like the pig was cooked in lava rock for hours buried in the ground and the chicken had been marinated for a day and then cooked up. It felt like home! Ono!

They also make malasadas! Once again these are made once you order them and you get them filled with different fruit fillings like this apple one here! Fresh, hot malasada makes for a perfect finish to any meal here!

Dough Dough's Hawaiian Cafe
16552 Bolsa Chica St.
Huntington Beach, CA 92649

Hours

Mon	Closed
Tue	8:00 am - 9:00 pm
Wed	8:00 am - 9:00 pm
Thu	8:00 am - 9:00 pm
Fri	8:00 am - 9:00 pm
Sat	8:00 am - 9:00 pm
Sun	8:00 am - 9:00 pm

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The Cronut at The Donuttery

The craze began in New York and you knew it was only a matter of time before others started to give it their own take. Here is The Donuttery's version of the cronut. What is a cronut you ask? Think of a donut and a croissant having a child and that is the cronut. It looks like a glazed donut but it light and airy like a croissant!

Take a look inside to see how light and airy it is! So delicious, but here at The Donuttery, you have more options than just the regular cronut.

For an additional dollar you can add fresh strawberries and whipped cream! There are several other options if this isn't your thing!

Lil Oishi is happy that the strawberry and whipped cream filled cronut is almost as tall as him!

The Donuttery
17420 Beach Blvd 
Huntington Beach, CA92647

Restaurant Preview: Solita in Huntington Beach!

Sasaki Time was invited to check out a special media preview of the brand new Solita Tacos & Margaritas opening in the Bella Terra in Huntington Beach!

Solita Tacos & Margaritas is the sister restaurant to SOL Mexican Cocina in Newport Beach. The idea behind this sister restaurant was to create a new neighborhood Mexican restaurant. Using only fresh, local and sustainable food to create the menu that chef and partner Deborah Schneider had in mind for Solita. 

My favorite thing is the oak-fired Santa Maria-style wood grill and smoker. The food definitely has a smoky edge to it. All the proteins are cooked on the grill.

Delicious house margaritas! The secret here is just keeping it simple. Water, sugar, fresh lime and lemon juice is combined with 100% blue agave tequila! More on other margaritas later!

Even Sasaki Time mascot Lil Oishi couldn't resist one of the house margaritas! He loved them so much he needed another right away!

There is are so many beautiful hand crafted wood tables throughout the restaurant.

I love the use of the agave plant throughout the entire restaurant!

The entire space just says comfort. It feels like being at home. A bigger home but it still feels like home.

Almost too many things to take photos of. The simplicity of the place seems to lend itself to wanting to take more photos.

The spicy evil green salsa and the smoky chipotle salsa are made in house and are very addicting. You have been warned! Plus, they are served with salted durros! A favorite of mine!

The amazing work of art called the tequila shrimp and avocado sundae! Take your spoon, stir and enjoy!

With the word tacos in the restaurant name you will get an amazing array to keep you satisfied in the day and months to come. You will find no fewer than 13 different taco plates to choose from.

The yellowtail ceviche was one of the best ever. You can really taste the freshness here from the fish to the tomatoes and onions.

The nachos are layered so every bite is full of all of the flavors you see here.

Wood-grilled wild fish looks amazing. This is probably one of the most expensive items on the menu as it is market price but the rest of the menu does not exceed $21.

This was the biggest quesadilla I had ever seen.

The grilled corn elote may very well become the most popular item on the menu. The whole ear of sweet corn is grilled with butter, chipotle salsa, california chiles, cotixa and green onions. 

You are looking at the hands down my favorite drink here, the horchata margarita! The housemade horchata is mixed with Agavales Tequila Blanco and 1921 Crema de Tequila and topped off with a sprinkle of cinnamon! Seriously this is my favorite new drink of the year. I cannot wait to go back to have another!

Here are just two of the several fruit flavored frozen margaritas. On the left is the mango frozen margarita with a chili salt rim! This will become your new favorite! The one on the right is the strawberry frozen margarita! I think a frozen margarita flight should be made available.

Solita Tacos & Margaritas opens December 26th serving dinner only. Lunch will be added during the second week of operation. Happy Hour, Taco Tuesday, brunch and other ideas are all in the planning stages.

Follow Solita Taco & Margaritas:

On Facebook

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*Disclaimer: The food and drinks were provided for but the review is strictly my own opinion.*