Comments on: Different take on “local” food

By: the lone gunman

the lone gunman — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 18:28:27 +0000

The Lone Gunman’s Cafe makes the best Beef Eggplant dish ever! Oh and the best Zucchini Katsu… ever!

By: Not "The LG"

Not "The LG" — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 09:19:00 +0000

Some of my non-Asian restaurants:

Cafe Laufer (they serve pasta dishes now)
The Greek Corner
Olive Tree Cafe
Koa Pancake House
Bravo
Boston’s Pizza (although we go to Papa John’s for 2 for Tuesday)

Drawing a blank for other non-Asian places.

By: Not "The LG"

Not "The LG" — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 09:13:33 +0000

Oh, if a restaurant was known to support the local community *and* had good food, I would patronize that restaurant more.

By: Not "The LG"

Not "The LG" — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 09:12:08 +0000

Luckily, for me, I actually prefer Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Asian influenced foods. So, I think most of them seem to be more locally owned than not. At the least, they are small businesses as opposed to chain types. Although, they could be funneling their money out of Hawaii (to Asia) just as well. Problem is, these type of restaurants don’t seem to accommodate groups as easily as the chain restaurants. Thereby, not the same social environment.

Anyway, an immediate exception to the theory Asian influenced foods are local is Panda Express. It got rid of Patti’s in Ala Moana’s food court. When Panda first started competing against Patti’s, I would always choose Patti’s. But then, Panda started expanding to other locations that didn’t have Patti’s, so I would eat at those Panda Expresses. Soon enough, I became more accustom to the food from Panda or it really did taste better. Either way, when at Ala Moana, I stopped going to Patti’s.

I do think about local versus not. But that’s it, I think about it. In the end, good food wins out. I just happen to prefer the food at those restaurants that are more “local.” But as you guys know, the Mac Grills, CPKs, and such can be found among some of my favorite restaurants too.

By: the lone gunman

the lone gunman — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 19:44:11 +0000

technically, all eateries support the local economy or community,it’s just a matter or how much extra they do or don’t .

By: the lone gunman

the lone gunman — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 19:41:59 +0000

why? why would I press the same button twice when I’m clearly not done!

OK , Get your hands off the mouse!

… Phuket Thai… we’ve been going here for take out recently.
… Tasty BBQ (both local I’d imagine)

Actually, we cook a lot… so we mostly frequent the middle of the road or faster food places…

I don’t think the fact that a establishment is locally owned or not is a factor in where we decide to eat. It’s pretty much all about the hunger jones. Sometimes it’s about convenience… Unfortunately, McDonalds is really really close… so one the days when we are in a hurry for food, we tend to head on over there.

I suppose if we are craving a certain type of food and we knew about a certain establishment’s record for supporting the community we may opt to chose it over another similar establishment if we knew that place did not, BUT I don’t believe we would bend over backwards to get that food… So it it were a place in Hawaii Kai that supports the community verses a place in Waikele that does not… 9 times out of 10 we end up at Waikele.

Definitely… Go to the places that you like, if you would like to contribute to them sticking around.

By: the lone gunman

the lone gunman — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 19:24:01 +0000

… oops… I’ll continue…

… Long John Silver (not local)
…

By: the lone gunman

the lone gunman — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 19:21:46 +0000

We go to the Koa Pancakehouse for breakfast about 2-3 times a month… It seems like it would ne locally owned. Also, since moving out to Central Oahu, we’ve frequented Chili’s (not locally owned), New Genki Ramen (seems local, Ginger House (Chinese food, seems local),