ramblings of a Seattle travel, food and photography hound
An Italian restaurant doesn't immediately come to mind when trying to decide where to have a happy hour drink in Honolulu. Along the short stretch of Lewers Street south of Kalakaua, several cafes, restaurants and bars compete for your happy dollar. We intended to get a drink at Yard House known for its plethora of... Continue Reading →
Last time, we missed out on the grilled abalone at the Saturday Farmers' Market. How is it that a mollusk long banned from fishing can make an appearance here in Hawaii? It turns out they are farmed off the coast by Big Island Abalone, which cultivates a Japanese species primarily for export. I was (am)... Continue Reading →
You could make a case that the biggest development in American dining trends in the last few years has been the explosion of food trucks. Literally, an explosion. Maybe the weak economy has been somewhat responsible. For a business, it kind of makes sense because you don't have huge capital expenses, can "move" your restaurant... Continue Reading →
One of our favorite breakfast spots in Waikiki is Eggs 'n Things. It also happens to be hugely popular with Japanese tourists who easily could make up over 75 percent of the clientele. Last time, we got seated within 15 minutes after we arrived just before 8. Thinking I had discovered the secret, my wife... Continue Reading →
Tourists buy inexpensive souvenirs (and lots of crappy stuff) at the International Market Place, strategically situated in Waikiki on Kalakaua. The most enduring sight here is the giant 100-year-old banyan tree that seems to cover the entire open-air market like an enormous umbrella. Every time we're in Waikiki, we find ourselves walking through here, not because... Continue Reading →
We were really eager for lunch after the forgettable breakfast on our flight from Auckland. Only a few blocks from our friend's condo where we were staying, we headed straight for Ramen Nakamura on Kalakaua for their specialty, ox-tail ramen. While my usual choice for ramen broth is miso, Nakamura offering it (as well as... Continue Reading →
Breakfast is my least favorite airplane meal. Airlines seem to spend the least amount of effort to make anything remotely appetizing, at least as far as I'm concerned. Most, if not all of the meal consists of pre-packaged items that have been thrown together and weigh in heavily on refined carbohydrates and sugar. Hawaiian Airlines... Continue Reading →
Time has no meaning when you're in flight. When traveling in any direction other than along a longitudinal line, the clock shifts earlier or later. What does it mean, as a friend wondered, when my flight departed Auckland before midnight on the 28th and arrived in Honolulu on the same calendar date, but early in... Continue Reading →
The Waipara Valley Wine and Food Festival is an annual event that celebrates the wines produced in the namesake valley. Such festivals are generally fun to attend, so when our son-in-law told us about this one, it didn't take long to decide on going. In order to reduce traffic and congestion at the venue, several... Continue Reading →
Ask a bunch of Kiwis where they enjoy their favorite fish and chips and you're likely to get a range of opinions, so ubiquitous is this kind of shop throughout New Zealand. As an aside, an odd fact in New Zealand and Australia is that hamburgers are often sold in fish and chip shops, too.... Continue Reading →
zoomeboshi 