Take a bite of Vietnamese dumplings
Most everyone knows Chinese dim sum, but Vietnam has its own dumplings. It’s easy to find banh cuon, banh beo, banh bot loc and other Vietnamese dumplings in restaurants and on the street in most cities in Vietnam. But until recently I didn’t know where to find them in Honolulu. After asking Vietnamese friends and wandering around Chinatown, I finally stumbled upon Song Huong restaurant at the bottom of Kekaulike Street near Nimitz Highway. This hole in the wall is easy to miss but worth searching for. Here the specialty is the special banh cuon, which is kind of like Vietnamese look fun. The owners make their own rice flour wrappers, rather than using dried wrappers or sheets of rice noodles from the noodle factory. They’re stuffed with pork and mushrooms and served with fish cake, sliced pork roll, vegetables and nuoc cham dipping sauce. Other Vietnamese dumplings are also made here, like banh beo, small rice pancakes topped with shredded shrimp or pork, and banh bot loc, shrimp or pork in tapioca wrappers, which are more chewy than Chinese dim sum. If you aren’t in the mood for dumplings, they also serve pho and other Vietnamese soups and rice dishes.
–Craig Gima
Hexbugs will skitter into your heart
With two boys at home, it seems I’m always tripping over a construction truck or being startled by an all-too-realistic rubber creepy-crawly. There isn’t very much cute or cuddly in boys’ toys. But a few months ago my son received his first set of Hexbugs, and the tiny robotic critters are cute, if not cuddly, and totally mesmerizing. The brightly colored, inch-long "bugs" are propelled by a vibrating motor and skitter across the floor through kid-constructed mazelike habitats, or across my desk in a moment of creative lethargy. Three little critters fit snugly in the original packing tube for on-the-go fun. Hexbugs are sold for $7.99 to $9.99 at Brookstone, Radio Shack, Toys R Us and other toy stores. Or for a do-it-yourself version, attend the free BrushBot workshop at Pearlridge Center from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Feb. 19 and make a microrobot from the head of a toothbrush.
Donica Kaneshiro
Nobody solves a mystery like ‘Sherlock’
British television is known for shows with high-quality storytelling. "Sherlock" is one of those. Benedict Cumberbatch stars in this contemporary take on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s legendary sleuth, Sherlock Holmes, with Martin Freeman as his documentarian-sidekick, Dr. John Watson. The series debuted here in August 2010 with three 90-minute programs on public television, followed by another three-episode run last month. The clever mystery solving and strong character development make it one of the best crime dramas around. The first-season DVD ($25.49 at amazon.com) includes commentaries from the actors and creators, and an unaired version of the pilot. I can’t wait for the third season … in 2013. "Sherlock" is also available for download from iTunes, $6.99 per episode or $13.99 for the season, and on Netflix.
Joe Guinto
Minimitts beat the heat
During a Christmas visit my daughter-in-law found these cute but very useful miniature microwave oven mitts at an ABC store at Ko Olina for $2.99 — cheap for such a handy item! Just slip your fingers into the pockets to grab hot dishes or baked potatoes. Maui Microwave Mitts, made of quilted, machine-washable fabric, are available at ABC Stores across the island or at www.abcstores.com.
Janice Pechauer, Foster Village
Chillin’ — Hawaiian style
I love supporting Hawaii-made stuff. These awesome Hawaiian Cooler Cool Ice reusable gel packs come in two sizes: eight ounces for about $1 and 24 ounces for about $2. They are really pretty with hibiscus blossoms on the wrapper, so not only is your stuff cool, but it looks cool, too! I found mine at Longs, but they are also sold at Walgreens, Walmart, Kmart, Foodland, Sears and Target. Visit www.hawaiiancooler.com. — Linda Kaiser, Kuliouou
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