On Plate Lunches - or, Calories 'n Salt

It is possible that we're not the healthiest eaters, I guess, but we do pretty well. It's all relative, right? However, we do try to seek out cultural favs, irrespective of their health quotient. (Julie and Eric: think of all those great Vieques lunches.....).

"Plate Lunches" are the specialty around here; think, Japanese "Bento". The architectural base is two scoops of white rice, and one of macaroni salad. The entree is what varies, and can be pork, chicken, shrimp, fish, etc. But, it is the way the entree is prepared that is the thing (back to that in a moment).

Liz tells me that our President's favorite place is "the Rainbow Diner". As this establishment is on the way to and fro the kids' last week soccer camp, we visited. We took a photo, we might not go back.

We also had a plate lunch at the ookelele festival (see back a few blogs); ditto at the farm fair. Though we might not have realized the centrality of plate lunch to the cuisine at that time.

The sum total of these experiences have left us wondering about the reviews in our tour books.

Still, we are game, and came upon "Keneke's" the other day after a morning of calorie-burning boogie boarding.




Plate lunch verdict: so-so. It is mostly salty, marinated entree.

But......

Shave Ice verdict: Voila!!! we found the real thing. The place had a sign that said it all:
"Unless it's shaved from a block of ice, it's only a snow cone!"

So, Dan Atkins, we found the place for you!


"Keneke's" had one other thing going for it -- the interior decor. Oh....um, "interior", means, in most establishments along the coastal highways, a partially enclosed seating area (it is the islands, you know...). So, there was this enclosed area with about eight picnic-type tables to sit at. One finds oneself surrounded by three walls, painted with biblical sayings, and representations, like that below:


The proprietors obviously allow customers to add to the ambiance, as there were many additions to the original artwork -- many customers had added in their own favorite Chapter and Verse. A very solemn place.






There was a sense of humor, too, as one noble diner added a chapter and verse (lower case, some would say) from Mike Love:















Oh.... ah, if you do not know who that is, perhaps you are too young to read Steve's postings.....but, the intrepid among you will look it up.


And as for Plates, Steve has not given up; next up, ones with the fish entrees.......

Wish us "Happy dining!"