I’m not really a brunch eater as I’m rather sluggish in the mornings and my stomach is never awake during brunch hour. However, if you can have brunch during lunch time, say between noon and 2pm and I’ve already spent my Sunday working up a sweat at hot yoga, I will eat like I didn’t have dinner last night. Lunch is just one of those meals I eat so I don’t starve to death before dinner. Six Seven was the restaurant of choice this time. It’s a taste of Hawaii – and come dinner, you can get all of your favorites, including saimin, spam musubi, poke, and even a prix fixe luau that include kaula pork and huli huli chicken. They only seem to be missing poi, which is probably okay. But I’ve never been for dinner, so this is about brunch!
Hangover – French fries, kaula pulled pork, brown gravy, cheese, sunny side up egg; this is Hawaiian poutine and it is delicious. Like loco mocco and kaula pork made friends with canadian poutine
chicken and waffles – bubble egg waffles, haupia (coconut) syrup, hot honey, Sriracha, basil; oh yes, this is the combination of all things from the east and west melded together with coconut syrup for a bit of Hawaii. It’s not too spicy and the fried chicken is juicy and crispy. The egg waffle lends a bit more fluffiness, so you’re not dealing with the sharp edges of a waffle and it’s balanced quite well with the sweetness and Srirach.
pineapple cornbread – with basil and honey; fluffy, sweet, and tropical. It’s pretty custardy for a cornbread, but cornbread is so far from Hawaiian, that they can reinvent it as they please. It was amazing – a little bit of crush and plenty cornbread flavor with fresh pineapples to boot. Malasada it is not, but a great interpretation of the south.
Sitting at the bar in this airy garage, I can’t say enough great things about this place. It’s not the mom and pop shop of traditional food like Kona Kitchen as it’s is more nuanced and complex in its flavors melding traditional Hawaiian with the comforts of stateside brunch. I love how they have their own interpretations and how well it all turns out. I shouldn’t be surprised – these are the same people that gave us the original kalibi beef tacos and kimchi fried rice after all. Next time, I’m doing the luau – anyone want to join me?
SUMMARY
Overall: happily ever after
Highlights: chicken and waffles, hangover
Footnotes: try the prix fix luau at dinner; malasadas with passionfruit caramel are also a MUST
