One Scheme of Happiness

Breakfast at Hickatee

Freshly baked bread, still warm from the oven.  And the jams!

Guava. Mangostein. 

I could live on this stuff.  Local coffee.  A fruit plate.  Oh yum.

Marie Sharp's

The local hot sauce.  Yes, I will certainly be bringing home some of this.

Also: it smells so lovely here!  Every time I turn a corner, some new flower is shooting yummy fragrance my way. 

Dinner at Asha's

We were supposed to eat elsewhere this night, but the thing about Punta Gorda is that if a cook doesn't feel like cooking one night....well, he just doesn't.  So when we arrived for our reservation at Earth Runnings, no one was there!  Instead, Ian (from Hickatee Cottages) - ever resourceful - took us over to Asha's new restaurant over the ocean (which opened only four days prior).

We had the place to ourselves and settled into a cozy corner.  The surroundings were basic but clean.  Only one other table of guests arrived during our entire dinner.

First up - order the local beer!  Belikin!

Tasty!  And dinner itself - amazing.  For me, conch curry, mashed potatoes with garlic and steamed veggies.  Ben had grilled fish.

Everything was fresh and cooked to order by Asha, who also took our orders and brought our drinks.  We relaxed over the ocean, watching the waves and clouds and enjoying our food and drink in the cool evening breeze.  Because nothing was pre-made, our dinner experience took several hours.  But we had no other other pressing plans, aside from relaxing.

Conveniently, Ms. Flo (the owner of the best  - and I suspect only - taxi in town) lives right next door and drove us back down the potholed road to Hickatee.

Post Easter Debrief

Another busy, delightful weekend is just behind us.  Why Monday always has to follow such happiness is beyond me.

Ben, Doolin and I continued our yearly Easter tradition and treated ourselves to a leisurely brunch.  This year, we enjoyed a four course extravaganze outside at Bar Boulud, near Lincoln Center.  Toward the end, the breeze picked up and we got a bit chilled, but otherwise it was a wonderful experience.  We began with pastries and coffee, then I had a decadent yogurt parfait, while Ben warmed up with oatmeal.  For my main course, I ordered the mushroom frittata and Ben had the Croque Madam.  Then there was dessert!  I could barely mover afterwards!  Doolin, of course, had a bit of everything and was the happiest puppy in the world. 

In addition to brunching, we spent much of the weekend out with friends.  We kicked things off with cocktails at Flute, then dinner at Petrossian and more frivolity at Don't Tell Mama.  I saw Clybourne Park on Broadway and dined after at Toloache(my absolute favorite Mexican restaurant in NYC).  We also snuck in a meal at Eaterysomehow and vowed to stop eating out so much!  So I walked the aisles of Whole Foods and bought bunches of groceries, forgetting that we have show tickets for tonight for Nice Work if You Can Get It (in previews on Broadway) and will thus most likely need to grab food out after the show, since I won't have time to cook.

Yes - if you haven't figured it out, I have a life once again!  It's amazing how much easier everything is when you actually work in somewhat proximity to where you live! 

Those NYC gardeners know what they are doing.  The tulips exploded into bloom exactly on cue, just in time for Easter/Passover crowds to invade Central Park. 

I confess, I had little time for knitting this weekend.  Besides the eating and playing and park-enjoying, much of my time was taken with test driving Fiats and Minis.   Specifically, the Fiat Cabriolet and the Mini Cooper Clubman.  If you have expert knowledge on either of these car, please shout out!  We are in a quandary.  We both prefer the Clubman, but the Fiat comes with an unbeatable parking deal....and it's a convertible.  Seriously?  But the Clubman has a sunroof and feels more safe and sturdy to me.  If it comes down to price, we will be getting the Fiat, I suppose.   Long term, the Mini Cooper would be a better "investment" but we are essentially looking for a short term solution.

IF we do get a car at all, that is.  We are still considering our options.  What is NOT an option is me taking the bus to work much longer!  I am over it, let me tell you.

But the sock knitting, it stands here.

I am poised to turn a heel.  This sock does have quite the interesting heel construction, too - I've not seen anything like it, so i'll give it a whirl. 

BELIZE

I confess, I've done nothing.  The book is still sitting there, waiting to be read.  Nothing is packed and I haven't had time to even dream about the fun adventures ahead.  I need to get on that.

Eating in Honolulu ~ Alan Wong's

I've had more time to cook these days, being home and on the bench, so I've been thinking more about food.  And thinking about food takes me back to some of the delightful meals we enjoyed in Hawaii. 

Traveling gives us such a wonderful opportunity to enjoy different foods cooked in novel ways.  It's one of the highlights for me, always.

One of those meals that lingers in my memory is from Alan Wong's.

This restaurant was one of the few not sporting a view, but we knew that.  You go to Alan Wong's for the food, the wine and the service.

It was late at night in downtown Honolulu.  Every corner of the restaurant (and of the island, for that matter) was decked out for Christmas.

From our seats, we could watch the goings-on in the kitchen.

Ben and I threw ourselves into dinner, as usual, ordering up the 5-course tasting menu (happily adapted to a no-meat version for me).

To start: Grown-up grilled cheese with tomato soup.

Such a succulent little treat!  The Sandwich - soft, melted cheese with a seared portabello (for me) or pig confit and truffle (for Ben).  The Soup - a swirl of red and yellow tomato soup, so thick and succulent!

Then: Mixed Seafood Lasagna.

The best of all the tastings!  A soft, giant noodle contained a creamy pile of shrimp, lobster, scallops and fish.  I can't even describe this dish to you, it was so amazing.

Course Three: Fish!

This was a delicate tilapia in a white wine sauce of some sort, with corn and scallions.

Course Four: More fish!

This one, a ginger crusted snapper, was a stronger, more robust fish.   At this point, I was totally full, but kept eating anyway!

Course Five: A Medley of Chocolate!

I'll admit, we had most of this course boxed up to enjoy later, when we didn't feel sick from all of the food.  What can I say?  It was rich, dark chocolate goodness!  Those little balls contained some sort of liquid nectar that exploded in our mouths.

Fia Fia (The Luau)

When you visit Hawaii, you go to a luau.  That's just the way it is...and the way it should be.

Ben and I - along with his dad and Dawn - settled in for a night of fun, feasting...and fire.

We stood in line for traditional luau foods - pork (for them), fish (for me), poi, rice, vegetables, bread...

...and some non-traditional items, too (like dinosaur shaped chicken fingers).  I loaded my plate to try (almost) everything.

The fun began with tribal chant and songs...

...and then the dancing began.

We saw traditional dances from many polynesian cultures.

We also learned how to make leis and other native crafts.

Many of the dancers displayed their cultural tattoos.

(the commentator said that a number of men died from infection while receiving these tattoos.  Only the warriors of the tribe can wear them)

The guy above is a  fire juggler and the chief of the Samoas in this area.  He was the master of ceremonies and all-around pretty incredible.

There was tree-climbing...

...and ritual torch-lighting to welcome us.

(they didn't make us climb the trees or play with fire...we just had to drink mai-tais and cheer)

Much of the show took place in the dark - and since my camera is less sensitive than our video, you'll have to wait for footage of the rest of the evening.

Relaxing in Paradise

Aloha, over there on the mainland!  Here I am again.  I've been spending way too much time relaxing and staring at the view from my balcony.

A little red-headed bird dropped by and told us that we needed to get out more. 

So we ventured around the property.

Even on a gentle stroll, there is much to see.

Lagoons dot the shore.

They are well stocked with Koi.

Little bars abound as well.  We paused for refreshment.

Drinks in hand, we wandered.

Down every path, we discover the beach again.

There it is!

We contemplate the sky for a while before moving on.

It's a nice sky down here.

There is so much to do, when you are busy not doing anything!

Our red-headed friend swooped back down to guide us to our room for lunch.

And now, methinks, a nap.

Aloha from Oahu!

Hello my dear readers!  I am sorry I've been a bit absent here lately.  I have missed you! 

Wrapping up my Chicago client - plus managing the festivities of Thanksgiving - kept me running around and  running amok and generally away from the internets and friends and other important things in my life. 

But my client is done (yay!) and we are in vacation mode around here.

Here being, in fact, Hawaii!

We arrived at the Ko Lina resort in Oahu just in time for sunset last night.  We are staying right on the beach!

We look a bit worse for wear after our seven-hour flight, I'm afraid.

After sunset, we settled in at Longboards, a little beach bar...

...for cocktails... (I had a Mai Tai)...

...and dinner.    I wolfed down the ahi tuna melt...

...which was stunningly delicious!  The french fries, however, were sub-par.  Ben enjoyed his fish and chips.

(of course, I'm willing to bet that all food is more delicious when your toes are dug into the sand and your view is this...)

Last night, we made a run to Safeway for supplies...

 

...and I whipped up some tasty cheese and pepper quesadillas for breakfast this morning...

...which we enjoyed on our balcony, drinking Kona coffee and admiring the ocean.

Ben is catching up on some work, spread out with his computer in in our dining area...

...while I am chatting with you and preparing to relax with my book and my yarn.

Tonight we have reservations at Alan Wong's restaurant - I can't wait!

As for our wee pup, alas, he could not join us on this vacation due to quarantine restrictions.  This is the first time that both of us have been away from our little one and we are missing him.  He would love it here - he is quite the beach dog!

Instead, he gets a snow vacation with Ben's aunt and uncle in Park City, Utah.  We left him with smooches and cuddles two nights ago.

He will spend the next two days romping with his cousins, Rocky and Ginger, in a snow-covered back yard.  He will love it.

Doo's little cousin, Ginger.  They love to play chase around the living room!

Living It Up in Suburbia

 

Hey, there you are!  Did you have a fun little flashback with me, back to bright and glorious days of summer?

Well, here we are now, back in the distant suburbs of Chicagoland where I do my Monday through Thursdays. 

Welcome to my Monday Night Dinner Special ~ Whole Foods Spicy Asian Chicken Noodle Soup.

Do they offer this at your Whole Foods?  I haven't seen it elsewhere.  They make it to order in Northbrook, right behind the sushi counter.

 

I'm addicted, actually.  The flame grilled chicken, jalepenos, bok choy, mushrooms...celephane noodles....

 

...rich, steamy broth that I pour right over the top.

So far, this soup is the only good thing I have to say about Autumn.

 

Flashback: Utah in August ~ Leatherby's

 

When we were in Utah for a week last August, we kept our priorities straight and visited Leatherby's (our absolute favorite ice cream place) several times.

We had French fries...

 

...with special Utah fry sauce.

 

On our first visit, I tried the Almond Joy sundae.

 

(Don't even ask me how it was - you can tell from all that drippy chocolate, it was blissful.)

 

Ben dug into his old standby, the Tracy's Peanut Butter Cup.

The second time we went to Leatherby's, we had company.

 

I know how to chase that sulky face away...

 


Much better, little one!

Ice cream can be confusing sometimes...

 

....but you really can't go wrong by taking a lick at it.

 

Mmmm....the green flavor!

 

Now that one looks just decadent!

 

They make shakes too! 

 

Uncle Ben shares a sundae with his newest little nephew, Lincoln.

 

Then we ignore the ice cream for a while and play pass-the-baby...

 


I'm not sure who is enjoying their ice cream more (or who is making the biggest mess...)