The Hamakua Coast, Lunch, and What We're Eating in Hilo, Hawaii

Aloha!  Before we get rolling, check out today's lunches, above.  First up is Mr. L.'s tempura shrimp roll. I had the Cobb Salad.  Pretty spiffy, eh?  True confessions:  Both came from Sack N'Save.  I added the avocado and plated them, since I'm not crazy about eating out of plastic boxes.  They came to $14.98, which is a good deal when you consider the rather spendy ingredients in these (bleu cheese, shrimp, bacon, etc.).  I'm not usually much of a "joiner," but I did join SNS's Meal Club.  Once I fill up the seven little boxes on my card, I get a free meal of my choice.  

Yesterday, we were headed to Kona, but were thwarted from our usual Saddle Road route due to a power pole being down. So, we turned around and decided we'd take the Hamakua route, instead.  We hadn't been that way in about two years.  It's very pretty -- lots of greenery, ocean, and then, closer to Waimea, bucolic pastureland. I'll pop a slide show in, below.  From Hilo, it took a half-hour longer than the Saddle, but the sights made it enjoyable.  Here is the slideshow.  Menus will be posted below.

A good place to stop along the way:  Tex Drive-In for malasadas. 

Sunday:  Corn Chowder with Chicken, Red Peppers and Potatoes; Popovers
Monday: Brown Sugar and Balsamic Pork Loin, Italian Potatoes, and Tomato-Mozzarella Salad
Tuesday:  Mediterranean Crepes filled with Langostino, Feta, Olives, Green Onion, and Artichoke Hearts
Wednesday:  Tortilla Soup with Chicken, Black Beans, Corn, and Tomatoes topped with Avocado and Sour Cream; Tortilla Chips
Thursday:  Salmon, Zesty Fries, and Coleslaw
Friday:  Pasta Bake with Meatballs, Peppers, and Mushrooms
Saturday:  Split-Pea Soup and Crackers

Let's hope we get a break from this rain, soon. Have a great week, everyone!
-C. Ironing