Formaggio's - Kailua, HI (Oahu)

I grew up 20 minutes from one of the most glorious places to buy fresh seafood - Pillar Point, in rustic Half Moon Bay California. My parents would take us there when we were kids to buy straight-off-the-boat seafood. We would watch as my dad would call put his order to the deck hands below the pier, put his money in the fishing net, and then receive newspaper wrapped treasures of the ocean. The food was so fresh and delicious, it was usually eaten raw and with very little enhancement to distort the incredible flavors. To say I'm a seafood spoiled is an understatement.

It was purely by accident did I stumble into Formaggio's, or maybe it was a matter of time - the dining selections in Kailua are great, but very limited. Anyway, I've had a few friends who've been to Formaggio's for both their lunch and dinner services, and the reviews were just 'ok'. After spending my day off, and half my paycheck, shopping with Jenny, we decided were hungry and needed a late lunch. It was a Monday and it was only 4:30 in the afternoon - sadly most of our restaurants are closed on Monday's, or don't open for dinner until 6 - however, Formaggio's is open from early lunch thru dinner, seven days a week.

The hostess greeted us and sat us at a table, and we started to analyze the menu - their wine list is pretty good, so we placed our drink orders and started looking at the food choices. Jenny ordered the escargot bleu and the warm spinach salad. I was scanning the choices, I saw it - LOBSTER BISQUE!! Are you kidding me?? The impossible to make, uber luxurious, rarely ever offered, Lobster bisque? I LOVE LOBSTER BISQUE!! I eagerly ordered a bowl and a house salad.

Jenny's Escargot Bleu smelled incredible, the familiar escargot ramekin was crusted over with bubbling butter and blue cheese, holding the yummy nuggets below this delicious blanket of fatty goodness. It came with a sliced demi baguette for dipping, and was so good it rendered her speechless. My bowl of bisque was beautiful, a swirl of cream and a generous chunk of claw meat was sitting on top inviting me to sink my spoon into it's velvety goodness. Sadly, my soup was cold - really really cold. I asked for it to be taken back and re warmed. When I got it back, it was great! Smooth, rich, full of lobster! SO FREAKING GREAT!!! The salads were good too - Jenny said her warm spinach salad was very good and she ate every bit of it. My house salad had greens, sundried tomatoes, lots of goats cheese, and balsamic vinaigrette. Very delicious.

I've been back several times since - each time the service is half assed, half the appetizer menu is missing, and my soup always comes slightly cooler than room temperature - but after it is sent back and it is returned to me hot and steaming, it is soooo worth the aggravation! My next step will be to recreate nirvana in a bowl, wish me luck! I'll let you know how it goes.



THB

Hello from the Hungry Bunny

Hello hello hello!! I’m Julie – I'm born and raised in the San Francisco bay area, a place known for it's eclectic variety of food choices and international cultures. As much as I love San Francisco, I left my home sweet home in 2002 and moved east to North Carolina and later on to Virginia. I not only moved away from delicious foods, but I left behind my wonderful family, a great group of friends, and my career as a paramedic. Yes, I left it all behind to embark on an adventure that would one day have me waking up to the plumeria scented view of Oahu coast. I moved to Hawaii in 2004; and after holding a host of odd jobs, switching my major twice, getting married and subsequently getting divorced - I have settled into a pretty comfortable life as a highly opinionated 30 something 911 dispatcher who is majoring in Sociology and blogging about my favorite constant - food. In my spare time I do quite a bit of “introspection” – I use the ” ” because I’m using the term introspection in lieu of "lazying around my apartment in my jammies watching television". I also fantasize that I'm a proficient golfer, and will one day walk the Parade of Nations as a Curler. I'm not gonna lie - I love shopping and hanging out with my gal pals, and will postpone housekeeping and laundry for the simple pleasure of gossiping on the beach while reading trashy tabloid magazines.

I have always loved cooking, more so eating! I love breakfast, lunch, brunch, dinner, and supper, anywhere from ultra plush 5 stars to the hole-in-the-walls. Today my friend Jenny and I were commiserating while contemplating a menu, what was good here?! What did other people think?! Wouldn’t it be great to hear it from someone who wasn’t afraid to tell it how it is?! As we looked at the dizzying array of choices, I decided to put my opinions to good use and share my foodie adventures.

Over the teeth and through the gums, look out tummy 'cause here it comes!

Julie, The Hungry Bunny.