One Scheme of Happiness

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.

You Have to Love Hawaiian Bathrooms

Although I can't figure out why handicapped people don't get flowers and leis too.  It's discrimination, I tell you.

Plumeria

Each evening in Hawaii, without fail, I discovered a perfect Plumeria blossom waiting for me somewhere one the way to dinner.  Have you smelled these?  Delightful!

Something Else I Did in Hawaii

I knit!  A baby sweater, in fact.  See how happy little Doo is to model this for you?

Okay so maybe not so pleased.  But what a good sport!

This is the "Baby's First Christmas" pullover, in a hand-dyed, worsted mystery yarn! 

For details (not that there are many) see the Ravelry page here.  And this is what it looks like, sans pup:

Pearl Harbor

Hawaiian rainbows, again - bubbling up in oil from the sunken hulk of the USS Arizona, which still lies in the shallow waters of Pearl Harbor, in Oahu, her crew forever entombed.

Although the memorial itself is touching, it will be these images of of the perpetually leaking oil - seeping from the wreckage, staining the water and saturating the air with the reek of machinery - that I will always remember.

Rainbows...floating endlessly to remind us of the tragedy of December 7, 1942.

Perils of Travel

I have completely given up on my hair.  Hotels never leave you with enough conditioner.  When I travel for work to a single, consistent place, I buy the essentials locally (conditioner, toothpaste) and just store them with the concierge.

But my vacation wasn't long enough for that strategy.  Thus, the braids (to prevent dreds).

Copious quantities of sticky sunscreen, chlorine and salt water don't help either, believe me.

Just Another Oahu Sunset

First the clouds roll in, threatening to eclipse our sunset altogether.

And then.

Glorious.

Another photo op as the sun slides seaward.

(too bad random people are in our picure...)

I love the Hawaiian sunset.

Just breathe.

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!