Forked Up

SHAVE ICE

MATSUMOTO SHAVE ICE
66-087 Kamehameha Hwy.
Phone number (808) 637-4827
website matsumotoshaveice.com

It’s summer, so we know you’re making North Shore trips as often as you can. And while you’re out there, it’s almost an obligation to get shave ice from Matsumoto. The iconic shop runs like an assembly line these days, filtering salt-streaked beach-goers in and out in mere minutes, even if the line winds around the courtyard. But the shave ice is as tasty as it ever was. Today, we’d like to extoll the virtues of strawberry-cream syrup. Mellowing the tartness of strawberry with smooth milkiness, the result tastes exactly like guri guri, a sherbert/ice cream hybrid that is a common sight on the Neighbor Islands. You can’t get more country than that.

FILET MIGNON WITH SHRIMP

RUTH’S CHRIS STEAK HOUSE
500 Ala Moana Blvd.
Phone number (808) 599-3860
website ruthschris.com

Fine dining is awesome — until you get the bill, right? Still, sometimes living it up is absolutely necessary, and Ruth’s Chris can be a pretty savvy choice. If you eat early (between 5 and 6 p.m.), you can get a three-course meal for about $25 less than if you bought everything a la carte at 6:30. As for us, a soft, savory filet mignon is great, but filet mignon with two big, juicy pieces of shrimp is even better. We also recommend mashed potatoes or creamed spinach as your side (you can skip the mushrooms and corn).