My last Locomoco Craving created a Northwesternized version, using wilted kale, shallots, some mushrooms, and a pan gravy that was a mad mix of everything. I used pan drippings from the burgers being cooked,. some reduced poultry stock, a few shakes of Worcestershire sauce, some porcini powder -- basically anything in the pantry to build a richly flavored gravy. The burger was made from local beef, so good quality meat. This was definitely no $2 breakfast special, locals would likely consider this too fancy. And it was all on brown rice, to boot. Not that I was trying to make it healthy, it's just the only rice we keep around, and by the time you pile on all this stuff, plus a fried egg, any hopes of balanced nutrition is out the window.
At-home version vs Kihei Caffe's awesome Fried Rice Moco - Photos by Wasabi PrimeThis messy pile o' food satisfied a humble craving, plus helped clear out the produce drawer in the fridge. Proof yet again that kale goes with everything, it's also a great way to eat your greens. I always think back to the last great 'Moco I had, which was the Fried Rice Locomoco at Maui's Kihei Caffe last year. What a marvelous beast that was! And sometimes you just can't beat packet gravy, which I know sounds crazy. But the Cascadia 'Moco was no scrub; fresh ingredients and a homemade pan gravy makes it a dish all its own.
While I can't be in the Aloha State as often as I'd like, and I'm still hoping I can fit a trip in this year, here's to wishful thinking, eh, brah? Let's just pretend we're in Hawaii for a moment, shall we...? - Photo by Wasabi Prime
