Elizabeth Hata Watanabe | Now That’s a Burger !

Even the Swedish know a good burger when they bite into one! In fact, the Swedes liked the Burgers and Things’ “Doe-a-Deer” burger so much, it was named “World’s Best Burger,” by the Swedish TV show Varldens Basta Burgare. “Doe-a-Deer” is fashioned from Maui Nui venison braised in a red wine sauce and topped with pineapple chutney, on a brioche or a pretzel bun.

Sound exotic? Yes, but you don’t have to go to Scandinavia to enjoy this or any of the other delicious burgers at Burgers and Things. That’s because this burger joint is right in your backyard - in Pauoa Valley.

The business is the collaboration of Elizabeth Hata Watanabe and Chef/Owner Ernesto Limcaco, executive chef for 13 years with the Y. Hata Company. Limcaco does his magic in the kitchen and Watanabe uses her business skills to market Burgers and Things. All the burgers are braised not grilled!

And, the creative menu, which occasionally includes the “Doe-a-Deer,” also features other specialties, like the “Wagyu Say,” a wagyu beef burger, with sautéed mushrooms and onions on a bed of creamy horseradish; and the “Un-foie-gettable,” Kauai braised beef in a foie gras demi, atop a bed of truffle mayo.

Creative ingredients, funky names and framed comic book covers adorning the walls. They are all part of the Burgers and Things experience. It’s no wonder a much-loved little hole-in-the-wall in Pauoa Valley could reach all the way across the world.

Source: http://www.elizabethhatawatanabe.com/

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Elizabeth Hata Watanabe | The Road Back…Long, Difficult, but Well Worth it, With Help from the Kindness of Strangers!

At the beginning of a lush Valley, there’s an eatery on Pauoa Road that is tucked into an unassuming building. In fact, you might miss it, if you didn’t know where you were going. Burgers and Things has no big, flashy sign boasting the delicious treats that are concocted from within. But, as you get closer, the aroma of a braised, not grilled, burger will lead you right to the front door. Once inside, three waitresses sporting their “Burger Hero” T-shirts buzz around, attending to a few late-lunch customers. One of those waitresses is 41-year-old Kathleen Waikiki, a transplant from Maui. She greets everyone with a smile. And, after hearing her story, you might wonder HOW she manages to smile at all! She does so, because she now has hope – hope for a future not marred by drugs, or relationships with men measured by the number of bruises on her lean body. “I thought if they didn’t hit me, it wasn’t okay.” She expected to be hit! “ Growing up, I saw my parents fight a lo...

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Hey students? Need some incentive to stick to your studies? How about burgers? Or more precisely, a burger from Burgers and Things, located at 1991 Pauoa Road. Those in Pauoa Valley know where to go for a great tasting burger, with a flair. But, Burgers and Things’ co-owners Chef Ernesto Limcaco and Elizabeth Hata Watanabe have cooked up a reward for students (in all grades up through high school) who do well in their studies. Just show your report card with straight A’s to Watanabe or another member of the Burgers and Things team, and you’ll get a free burger. “ Education is so important. It’s the road to success,” Watanabe, the mother of three school-aged children, says. “So, whenever a student has straight A’s, we encourage them and motivate them with a free burger.” The program also serves as an incentive for students of all ages to study hard and do well in school. Introducing good study habits early on, will carry students t...

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Elizabeth Hata Watanabe | Blog 2017

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