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Cream Pot, a closer look
Top of the mornin'
7/22/08 - Isn't it great to see what the world looks like before 6am? Not something night-shifter's see too often, lemme tell you. I had a reason for not forgetting to set the alarm last night, though. Half-way through a pot of snow crab legs, Havarti cheese, and Spanish olives, I was hit by a sudden and inexplicable desire to check out the Cream Pot in Waikiki, a recently-opened breakfast haunt that's been quietly acquiring good review after good review. Not sure what dinner had to do with the inspiration, but I take it as a call to arms every time. Stop acting on that inner voice and pretty soon you forget how to follow your heart altogether! Unless, that is, your inner voice tells you to streak naked down Kalakaua Avenue or take out your neighbor because he is actually the anti-Christ. If this is you, my name is NOT Aku and I don't actually live on the island. I'm really of Aboriginal origin and residing in the Outback, doing this website long-distance via the nearest Internet Bush Cafe.
Freaky neurosis aside, traffic this morning was super-light and wifey and I got to the Cream Pot just as they opened, at 6:30am. Parking was provided right at the Monarch Hotel/Condominium that houses the eatery for a $4 charge. And before you get all ruffled and hoo-hoo about it, remember that this is Waikiki.
Though a bit of a hide-away spot, it is located right on the busy mauka/Diamond Head corner of the hotel, it's cozy tables clearly visible from the corner of Ala Wai and Niu St. Most may not be familiar with Niu St. off the top of our heads, but we have, no doubt, taken this route many times before - it is the left we take when driving down the Ala Wai and when needing to either circle back onto Kalakaua Ave. into the heart of Waikiki or are traveling on to Ala Moana or Nimitz Highway and beyond.
Luckily, we were early enough to have the whole place to ourselves for a good half-hour or so, a perfect time for picture-taking without worrying about nervous fellow customers wondering what you're up to. I took advantage of the situation and cozied up to a little angel, just to get a look at life from his perspective. It was serene and peaceful, indeed.
The decor and ambience, straight out of a French countryside home, would charm and woo tourists by the droves, I thought out loud. Nathan explained that he didn't really do much advertising, so I guess it'll take a while for them to catch wind of this place. The Japanese women, especially, love this cutesy, yet sophisticated European village look, with its collection of rustic wooden tables, frilly curtains, whimsical-looking chair backs, fresh, petite flowers, faux clay or stone walls of stucco-white, and collection of pots and pans hanging on the walls.
Wifey was duly charmed by it all, saying "wow - hobbit house!" Perfectly said..... Intuitively, at least. Technically, I'm not so sure, but something tells me that her two words work brilliantly better than I could have ever explained in an entire paragraph, nonetheless!
Wifey, in her simple, very intuitive, and pure way, says that everything here must be stylish, because the owner, Nathan, had a stylish hat! Yes, he did have a general sense of style in appearance and demeanor, but it was the cool hat that sealed the deal. Nuff said. Wifey, boy - she does have a way!
The one we settled upon was the salmon benedict, coming on small medallions of shredded potato and topped with salmon, lightly-poached egg, caramelized onion, and Mornay sauce. Absolutely fabulous. Soft, bright orange/yellow yolks running all over the salmon and crisped potato? Dee-lish.
Our third order was a banana waffle. Quite simply put, this was the best waffle I've ever had! I mean, was it really even a waffle? Yes, it did have the familiar square pockets I normally use to fill up with maple syrup, but this was no ordinary Leggo-my-eggo. These were large, feather-down-fluffy, air-hole-rich, moist inside/crispy outside masterpieces that will impress even the fussiest of critics. I couldn't get over how airy and moist it was on the inside and how delicately crisp it was outside. And that batter-spilling-over-the-side-of-the-waffler look gave it a touch of rustic character for added effect, matching the quaint atmosphere and embience to a tee.
Instead of thick, soppy syrups, there was a thin caramel sauce, reduced in sweetness by the addition of a salt component, and was a perfect complement to the delicate waffles. Add to that thin-sliced banana, a sprinkling of almond and powdered sugar, and two types of cream, one a white and the other a kind of light custard, and you get as close to breakfast perfection as anything I can imagine!
Eggs 'n Things down the road? Yeah, they're good, too, but the feel and focus is completely different, like more of an every day, neighborhood coffee house. That's not a bad thing at all, but if you want something a little different, if you want artisan-quality, very unique, and artfully delicious breakfasts in a hopelessly trendy and stylish boutique-like atmosphere, you need to check out the Cream Pot. You won't be dissapointed.
Until next time, bon voyage and happy eats! Take care.
Aloha,
Aku
