lite bites
Feasting on Camellia’s savory buffet offerings
amellia Buffet serves up a spread of phenomenal all-you-can-eat Korean cuisine for lunch and dinner. Located on McCully Street, this yakinikustyle eatery has more than 50 items to choose from, running the spectrum of main dishes such as kal-bi, bulgogi, flap meat and oysters to irresistible banchan (side dishes) as kimchi, taegu and more. The lunch buffet ($14.95) is served from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. while the dinner buffet ($21.95) is available from 2:30 to 10 p.m. Diners are given the opportunity to cook their 1
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food on tabletops, a guaranteed fun activity for the entire family. “We only use ‘A-grade’ beef,” says longtime server Kelly Park. “In terms of our flap meat, kal-bi and bulgogi, it’s all very tender. The beef rib-eye is also very popular.” The secret behind the flavorful meat can be credited to Camellia Buffet’s magnificent marinade of shoyu, sugar, garlic ginger and other secret ingredients. Crowds also can’t seem to get enough of the fresh oysters that recently hit the buffet line. Imported straight from Korea, the oysters are only available Friday through Sunday as part of the dinner buffet. “We also have sashimi that the locals love to pair with their meal, along with the Korean pancakes,” Park states. Then for dessert, cleanse your palate with a refreshing selection of fruit and ice cream.
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Camellia Buffet Where: 930 McCully St.
Call: 951.0511 3
1 Server Kelly Park 2 Customers often pair sashimi with their meals. 3 Fresh oysters were added to the buffet line in mid-February. 4 Kal-bi is available on the buffet line for lunch and dinner. Nathalie Walker photos 4
what we’re eating at...
La Palme D’or Patisserie ocated at Ala Moana Center, La Palme D’or Patisserie masterfully blends French flavor and Japanese craftsmanship in creating delightful cakes, pastries, drinks and more. Head chef Akiko Kimura utilizes only the best ingredients, obtained directly from Japan, to create fresh pastries and desserts on a daily basis. Dining Out recently paid a visit to the patisserie and bumped into sisters Lauren and Haley Nagao. As first-timers to the establishment, they were excited to not only give the menu a try, but also share why the patisserie has so much more to
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Siblings Lauren and Haley Nagao had a memorable first experience at La Palme D’or Patisserie. Leah Friel photo 14 | DINING OUT | MARCH 27-APRIL 2, 2011
offer than just sweets alone. Lauren Nagao: “It’s our first time here. My mom said that she heard about the Plantation Tea Jelly drink, so we wanted to try it. The food here is really pretty. We ordered the House Made Croissant Sandwiches.” Haley Nagao: “We ordered a BLT ($4.14) and a Tuna Sandwich ($4.14), as well as the Plantation Tea Jelly Drink ($3.50). The Plantation drink is a textured drink made with 100 percent pineapple juice jelly with sweetened black tea.”
La Palme D’or Patisserie Where: Ala Moana Center 1450 Ala Moana Blvd.
Call: 941.6161