The Chicken & Marunggay Recipe

In January, Vicky Domingo of Domingo/Edra Farms & Produce was on the newscast for the monthly “Buy Fresh, Buy Local” segment in conjunction with the State Agriculture Department. Many viewers e-mailed asking for the chicken and marunggay recipe, and I promised to post my Mom’s recipe. Then I lost the paper I wrote it on. Then the blog went down.

I was able to get the recipe back. My Mom actually has an old Filipino cookbook, which she follows with her own personal modifications. So, finally, here it is:

CHICKEN MARUNGGAY

1 stewing chicken, cut in serving pieces (bite size)
1 cup marunggay leaves
½ tablespoon cooking oil
2 cloves garlic
1 inch of ginger, pounded
1 tablespoon fish sauce (patis)
Salt to taste

Fry the garlic and the ginger. Then add the chicken. Mix well, and when partly done, add enough to water to cook the chicken until tender. Skim the fat off the top of the water when the water boils.

Add the fish sauce and a pinch of salt.

Add the marunggay leaves. Cook for one minute.

Serve at once, with rice.

You can also add green papaya, cut into one-inch cubes, to the recipe. Add it when the chicken is about half done boiling.

Mabuhay!

Ben.

ben@kitv.com

A Reluctant Birthday?

I just had a birthday this Sunday and managed to keep this one fairly low key and away from any hoopla on television. I guess you can say that this is the first time I’ve felt weird about my birthday. While I wasn’t dreading it, I wasn’t completely celebrating it either. I remember in my 20’s, birthdays used to be huge events that lasted until the wee hours of the morning. This year’s 34th birthday was certainly more toned down than in years past. My husband kept asking me what I wanted to do for my birthday and the thought of planning something actually started stressing me out so I put it off. In the end, we had a very small impromptu gathering, which surprisingly made me feel better about the birthday process. Getting older isn’t too painful as long as you have family and friends to hold your hand along the way.

aloha,
Mahealani
mahea@kitv.com

The Worldwide Buzz on Kahala Avenue

This week’s stories about Japanese real estate developer Genshiro Kawamoto letting low-income Native Hawaiian families move into his Kahala Ave. homes has attracted worldwide attention. A story I did earlier this week when the Japanese billionaire showed the homes to the media was apparently shown on CNN; an article about the families getting their keys was the top story this morning on Yahoo! News; and we even got e-mails and calls in the newsroom from the BBC World Service radio news in London.

There’s also been a lively discussion on this Web site that you should check out.

All this because of an unpredictable businessman. Kawamoto burst upon the Hawai`i scene when he rode around O`ahu in a limousine, eventually snapping up some 160 homes and condos during the so-called Japanese real estate bubble in the 1980s. then in 2004, he was in the news again when he evicted tenants from many of those homes because he wanted to sell them.

He was even unpredictable this week. Last Friday, the media were told he would be present to tour the first four homes he would be renting out. When we arrived Monday morning, we were told he would not be there. Then a half hour after that, it was announced he would be coming after all. He pulled up in a cab (no limo).

Then yesterday, when he gave the keys to the first house (pictured above), he made the announcement that the rent would be free, which took the family, and the rest of us, by surprise.

While more than a few people are questioning Kawamoto’s motives, there’s no question that the first three families we met are genuinely grateful. I covered the Kahale family’s arrival at their home; Dorie-Ann Kahale and her five daughters looked like they had just landed on another planet as they made their way through the house, somewhat dazed, followed by the media horde. Dorie-Ann said she had written a letter to Kawamoto in November, the first day he announced his plans. The eldest daughter, Zandi, looked around the kitchen in awe as she told me that they found out they were one of the chosen families just last week Thursday. She said she didn’t think it would sink in until she gets used to returning to the new home from work for a few months; for now, it was still unreal.

Perhaps the one lasting image from all this — one that would have been unimaginable even just a few months ago — would be of Kawamoto being hugged by a tearful and grateful Dorie-Ann Kahale.

ben@kitv.com

Andy Bumatai’s Weather Head II, Plus "Stand-Up News"

Local comedian Andy Bumatai appeared this morning to promote this weekend’s Brown Bags to Stardom concert, which he’s emceeing. Now a year ago or so, he was a hit in our informal “Celebrity Weather Head” segment, in which only the floating head of the celebrity in question is seen doing the weather (one of the previous participants was Jon Lovitz).

We knew he wanted to do something again, but I didn’t know what it would be. A minute before the weather segment, I asked him what he’d like to do. Without hesitation, he said, “Can we do the weather head again?” Last time, I guided him through it. This morning, I stayed out of the way and let him do his thing — including “swallowing” the tradewind direction arrows on a satellite map. Hard to describe properly, but you can just imagine.

Andy also did a bit he called “stand-up news,” which you can watch here.

Ben.
ben@kitv.com

Let The Music Play!

If you missed a musical guest we’ve had on the newscast, or just want to hear one of their songs again, you’re in luck. Some of the artists are now providing us with mp3’s of their music here. We hope to have a pretty good playlist going. It’s our way to support the local artists you see and hear in the morning. Let us know what you think.

morningmail@thehawaiichannel.com

We Are The Robots

In the process of getting caught up, an update: Members of the McKinley High School Robotics Team are in the San Diego Regional First Robotics Competition this week. You may recall that they were on the newscast back on February 7th with their robot, Nai`a V. I’ve had various celebrities do the weather with me, but I’ve never had a robot do it.

I got these photos from their Web site, where you can find out more about how they built their robot and got into San Diego and other robotics competitions. The site also includes videos of their appearance on the show. We wish them the best of luck this weekend.

Ben.

ben@kitv.com

The Blog Is Back! And We Brought Food.

Welcome back. Sorry about the absence. You can see that we kept posting despite the technical hiatus, and Dave’s eyebrow wax can now see the light of cyber-day.

During the time off, we’ve had an astonishing amount of food on the show from a host of new restaurants, including the Yard House and Holokai Grill. Both are located at the new Waikiki Beach Walk, which you should check out. And there’s also been the most beer that has ever appeared on our air. I only mention the beer because viewers keep asking me about it; the question is usually, “So, did you guys drink the beer?” Uh, no. We’re too busy. Drinking the beer is the chef’s job.

Seriously, much of the beer you see on the air is usually pretty darn warm by the end of the show. I personally like my beer ice cold and after 6 pm, so that counts me out. But the food? So far this year, the food brought in by the various chefs has been excellent.

There was even a day we had two chefs in the house at the same time. But that’s for another post coming up soon.

Aloha,
Ben.
ben@kitv.com