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Dessert for breakfast

Columns Who's Counting?

June 8, 2014

Story By: Jaimie Kim Farinas | Photos by: Anthony Consillio

There’s no better time to indulge than the moment you wake up. Why not, right? Treating yourself to something a little special will give you just the right boost you need to tackle the day.

With this in mind, the best breakfast indulgence are dishes that mimic popular desserts.

Pagoda Floating Restaurant’s executive chef Jason Takemura takes his own love for desserts and translates it into menu items that will satisfy any early morning sweet tooth.

Peanut Butter Banana Stuffed French Toast ($11.50) is a flavorful journey that will awaken your taste buds. After a thick slice of sweet bread is butterflied open, it’s stuffed with crunchy peanut butter and bananas. It is then dipped into the restaurant’s homemade bread pudding custard and cooked to perfection. A caramelized brown sugar sauce (similar to that used for bananas foster) is drizzled over the top and decorated with whipped cream and powdered sugar. To enhance the dish, diners also may select from bacon, Portuguese sausage or link sausage.

Another popular sugary concoction is Baked Apple Pancake ($10.50). Unlike traditional pancakes cooked on the griddle, Takemura bakes them. After caramelizing apples, sugar and cinnamon, the batter is poured directly into the pan and baked. The final product is a single pancake that has risen about 3 to 4 inches, soft, warm and bursting with flavor. It is topped with vanilla cream and a salted caramel sauce, along with a choice of protein.

And, no worries, those who prefer a savory breakfast won’t be left out. Sake Soy Braised Short Rib Loco Moco ($11.50) features short ribs braised in a sauce composed of apple juice, sake, shoyu and other flavors, for about three hours. Placed over a mound of rice (fried rice may be substituted for 75 cents extra), it is served with two eggs and natural braising jus.

In time for Father’s Day, June 15, Pagoda hosts two brunch offerings. One takes place in the main dining area. The other, “Father’s Day with a Brunch of Funny Faddahs,” takes place in Pagoda’s Cest si Bon Ballroom and features local comedians Tony Silva of Da Bruddahs, Andy Bumatai, Kaleo Pilanca and Big Steve Naole. Reservations for both brunch times are highly recommended.

Pagoda Floating Restaurant

1525 Rycroft St.
948-8356
Open daily, Breakfast: 6:30 am.-1 pm. Lunch: Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Weekend Brunch: Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Dinner: nightly 5-9:30 p.m.
Dinner Buffet: Friday-Sunday, 5-9:30 p.m.

Honolulu, HI 96814

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