I grew up on saimin (a Hawaii noodle bowl inspired by Japanese ramen, Chinese mein and Filipino pancit). Popular in sugar plantation and ethnic camps, teriyaki barbequed beef sticks were almost necessary compliments. The combination cost, perhaps, 35 cents in those days.
It is said, though, that Honolulu Stadium is where saimin gained cult status. I got my fill at Matsuda's stand in Kakaako. Mrs. Matsuda to the right. My first job at the University of Hawaii was working under her son, President Fujio Matsuda.
Then came Shimoko Saimin (S and S, probably standing for Shimoko and Sons). I knew the family well because son Rodney was my best friend in high school, and I later golfed with his older brother Clarence. Sister Florence ran Naris Cosmetics.
Franz Shiro Matsuo, graduated as I did from McKinley High School, became the chef to Governor John Burns, then helped start the Kapiolani Community College Culinary School, and, finally, in 1967, opened up his own saimin restaurant. Today simple saimin costs $4.60, but if you add a teriyaki beef stick, double that. Compared to 1950, the price should have gone up by a factor of 10, but this combination is 30 times more expensive today.
As I grew up I suffered through those dried ramen noodles to which you added hot water. You got to admit, though, that as obnoxious as this meal might be, it is cheap. I have, though, graduated to more epicurean international options, such as cold soba (buckwheat) and Vietnamese pho (made from rice). Of all the ironies, today I'm back to saimin (served at 15 Craigside). 
People have asked me, what is your favorite ramen? Simple saimin remains #1. However, if its fancy you want, there is the truffle version at Goma Tei for $20. But my all-time favorite is the Belly Bowl, served at Lucky Belly on Smith Street in downtown Honolulu. I first went there more than five years ago when Chaine des Rotisseurs hosted the Young Sommelier Awards Dinner. I was always the lowest ranked member with the fancy title of Chevalier. The others in this photo are high officers of some kind. My colleague at the University of Hawaii, Bruce Liebert, heads the society, and he is tall...but I'm sitting. So, anyway, I returned to Lucky Belly yesterday:
I then went next door for a haircut:
The cost for a senior male is only $11.
Next, a walk through Chinatown. I was tempted to purchase that durian, but at almost three pounds, the cost was close to $35. More importantly, I didn't think the diners at 15 Craigside would have appreciated the smell. In Singapore you can be hit with a $500 fine.
-
Typhoon Krosa came, killed 3, injured 50, and left Japan:
-
No comments:
Post a Comment