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Found the Dou’ssants

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A serendipitous visit to the Safeway in Manoa yielded the last box of donut croissants in the store. But not only are these donut croissants, you call them dou’ssants and make sure you really play up your French accent when talking about this fluffy goodness.

Call them Dou'ssants
Call them Dou’ssants

I couldn’t find them in Kailua, and I’m not sure if there are other varieties, but the dou’ssants come in a box (or container) of four for $6.99.

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Save a buck as a Safeway Club Card member

Look for them in the stands with the other fresh baked goods. Sadly, I’m too stuffed to try one. Come back tomorrow for a review of a dou’ssant.

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Sorry for the blurry pic, too excited

CroDough Hawaii Coming Soon

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Or actually now. In a food truck. In the Kakaako area. Yes, another cronut source as arisen in the Aloha State. CroDough Hawaii just had their first offering as captured in their Twitter stream @crodoughhawaii shortly after their story in the Pacific Business News.

These CroDoughs look legit and handcrafted with love. That and I like the gangsta, square look of them. Check out more CroDough pics on Instagram. Some Yelp reviews are already posted.

Would You Play Cowboy Poker?

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I’d never heard of Cowboy Poker before, but now I’ve seen it “played” at the Surf & Turf Bull Riding and Concert. Held last week at the New Town & Country Stables in Waimanalo, this event also featured bull riding which I’ve never witnessed before either. All I can say is crazy.

Out of the gate, cowboys were flying off the bucking bulls after a few seconds. Staying mounted for three to five seconds was a good ride. Just ask former UH QB, Colt Brennan, who rode his first bull for charity purposes.

Colt Brennan rides a bull for charity

This bull just looked nasty and mean.

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So about cowboy poker. Four dudes sitting around a table supposedly playing poker…except that there’s a bull loose in the ring with them. And when the bull charges you best be watching him and not your cards.

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Last cowboy to remain seated wins.

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The cowboy in the red shirt wins this round!

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A few more pictures from this experience.

A Sacrifice Was Needed

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With a renovated Starbucks and a brand new Starbucks in Kaneohe, you know something had to give to sustain the balance within the coffee universe. Unfortunately, this was the sacrifice necessitated.

Mocha Java Windward Mall Closed
Mocha Java Windward Mall Closed

Mocha Java Cafe in Windward Mall is now closed. I’m not sure when they closed, having bought a drink in August. I’m guessing the temptation of the SBUX siren came with a cost of not having competition a few scant yards away. So sadly, Mocha Java’s Windward run is over lasting nearly two years. They opened shop during a coffee drought in the mall and right before the holidays so shopping excursions were always caffeinated. I sincerely thank Mocha Java for chancing expansion outside of Ward.

Starbucks Windward City Renovated

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I was worried that the caffeine addicts in Kaneohe wouldn’t have enough sources. But then, the Starbucks inside Windward Mall opened, and the busy Windward City location finished its renovations and is also open to quench coffee cravings.

From the outside, everything looks the same at the Windward City Shopping Center.

Starbucks Windward City Reopened
Starbucks Windward City Reopened

The inside has adopted the modern rustic look like the Windward Mall location. Not as original as the Waikiki Park Shore store, more like the Kakaako store, but definitely different from its previous look. The seating has changed the most. Gone is the short, four-seat counter and barstools by the entrance, replaced by a counter that spans the entire window front.

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Long countertop

The small, two or four-seater tables have been replaced by a massive single table.

Center table
Center table

The lighting also changed. I don’t remember what the lighting used to look like but now, there are incandescent or incandescent-looking bulbs with a branded diffuser.

New lighting
New lighting

But alas, my hope that this renovation would also bring in Hawaii’s first Clover brewing system wasn’t realized. The Aloha State is still Clover-less.

Starbucks Windward Mall Now Open

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The mermaid

As of Thursday, September 5, 2013, the Starbucks location inside of Windward Mall is open for business. A scant month ago, the construction sign was posted, and now it’s here, neighboring the Pa’ina Ko’olau food court.

This is the third Starbucks location in Kaneohe with the drive-through located across the street and the renovated storefront in the Windward City Shopping Center. The Windward Mall addition is on the small side, occupying a mere cornered angle of mall real estate. So far, there is no Starbucks signage, just the familiar mermaid logo identifying their arrival.

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Starbucks Windward Mall

Being new, this Starbucks has the modern rustic look that’s making its way through other stores. Shades of various browns, wood finishes, and tiled patterns appear to be the trend.

I Have Eaten a Croissant Donut

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And probably so have you, especially if you’re a long time fan of Saint-Germain Bakery.

A Brief Intro

Limited and at Makai only
Limited and at Makai only

Long time Hawaii bakery, Saint-Germain, has followed the course of the cronut, introducing their aptly named Croissant Donut. But here’s the catch. Only 100 of these are prepared daily, and you can only get them at the new Makai location on the ground level of Ala Moana. You got that? Only 100 available at the Makai Saint-Germain (next to See’s Candies). So in order to indulge in the Croissant Donut, you have to get there early (opens at 7am on the weekdays), wend your way through the messed up Ala Moana parking, and battle the influx of senior citizens.

Got Lucky

On a Friday morning while in the Ala Moana area, I took a chance and stopped by the Makai location. I got lucky. There was still a tray of both the plain and cream croissant donuts at 9am.

I grabbed a few upon which the perusing seniors started the dialog.

“You tried those yet?”
“They supposed to be good.”
“They’re a big thing from New York.”
“How they taste?”
“My son went to New York, and I told him to bring me back one.”

Anyways, you get the idea of how it went as I stood in line waiting to make my first ever purchase of Croissant Donuts.

My Croissant Donut Purchase
My Croissant Donut Purchase

My Verdict

I’ve had these before – that’s the singular thought in my head after my first taste. Now that’s not necessarily a bad thought but just somewhat anti-climatic. True, I don’t know what an authentic cronut tastes like, but I do know the pastries of Saint-Germain, and the Croissant Donut fit their flavor profile.

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Inside

Over the years, have you ever tried the regular donuts from Saint-Germain? How about their long skinny donuts that are lined with apple, custard, or chocolate? Yeah, those. Now imagine taking that long donut and encircling it. Then take two of these circles and stack them. There’s your Croissant Donut. Want a cream variant? Use cream to bond the two donuts together. Again, the Croissant Donuts are not bad since the Saint-Germain donuts are good and flakey anyways, but this variation isn’t distinctively unique either.

So as always, I encourage you to form your own opinion based on your own tastes and preferences. Head on over to Saint-Germain Bakery, and try a Croissant Donut and let me know what you think.

Where Is Gregg Hammer?

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Ramen Burger from Tanaka Saimin
He’s eating a ramen burger. Oh wait, if you’re wondering what happened to Gregg (not Greg) Hammer on Island 98.5, read this post about Hammer’s career change. Recently though, Gregg was praising Tanaka Saimin’s latest menu addition of a ramen burger.

Another foodie fad from the East Coast like the cronut, the ramen burger “traveled” to Hawaii much faster than the donut hybrid. So far, Tanaka’s is the first location I know of that serves this Asian American combination.

Thanks for the tip, Hammer! And we’re still missing you on Hawaii radio waves.

Aroma Caffe No Longer at Ala Moana

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On a recent trip to Ala Moana, I made my rounds then headed to Aroma Caffe for a caffeine pick-me-up. With a location in the center court area, this cafe is typically empty which makes for short waits. Let’s be honest, the Starbucks end caps in Macy’s and Sears are just way too crowded and your drink takes forever. I never got into the Honolulu Coffee Company even with their convenient locations. So Aroma Caffe was perfect – good location, short waits, decent prices, and I personally liked my espresso drinks.

Aroma Caffe at Ala Moana Center
Aroma Caffe at Ala Moana Center

But on this day, the location was vacant with no trace of the colorful Italian themed kiosk. Maybe they relocated in the mall due to all the construction? I couldn’t find their relocation using Foursquare or Yelp so instead I headed to my backup coffee spot, the eBar at Nordstrom’s.

Looking online, Aroma’s site still lists Ala Moana, but Ala Moana’s web site does not show them as a vendor. On Facebook, there are pictures of a new storefront with no location given, but on Yelp, a recent review places Aroma at the Ilikai Hotel. Aw bummers, looks like I lost my coffee oasis in Ala Moana. 🙁 Thanks for the memories, Aroma Caffe.

Starbucks Windward City, Kaneohe Closed?

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So I hear that the Starbucks at the Windward City Shopping Center in Kaneohe is closed for renovations. I haven’t yet verified this however.

This is a busy location and so is the other Kaneohe Starbucks across of Windward Mall. The new Starbucks inside the mall needs to open soon to better distribute the coffee load.

I wonder if Starbucks would consider installing a Clover at this renovated location. This would be the first in Hawaii, but I doubt the Windward side would be the beneficiary. Then again, the first drive through SBUX was in the 96744.

Where to Find Cronuts in Hawaii

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Officially, you’re not going to find a true cronut in Hawaii but cronut-inspired treats have popped up in Hawaii. Where can you find these cronut derivatives? Here’s a growing list.

Pacific Beach Hotel

Croissada at the Pacific Beach Hotel. Described as “a delicate blend of a croissant and malasada filled with a Polynesian vanilla Bavarian cream.”

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Croissada

Regal Bakery

BUTTerNUT from Regal Bakery, but you can call them BUTTNUTs.

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BUTTNUT

Halekulani Sunday Brunch

Croissada from Halekulani. Available at Sunday brunch in a mini version.

Dusted with sugar and cinnamon
Dusted with sugar and cinnamon

Saint-Germain Bakery

Croissant Donuts or is it Donut Croissants from Saint-Germain’s Bakery. Available with or without cream but only at the Ala Moana Makai location.

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Limited

CroDough Hawaii

CroDough Hawaii is mobile to satiate your cronut craving in your neighborhood.

Safeway

Yes, donut croissants are available at Safeway locations, going for four for $6 (with Club card membership). They are called Dou’ssants.

Dou'ssant
Dou’ssant

Leave a comment if you know of or find any other cronut-like creation.

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