Things I'm a fan of right now...

...warm weather, sundresses, haupia, crazy-colourful Prada Spring 2008 bags (this pic does not do them justice), lash extensions (thanks, Kristin), Anthony Bourdain's "No Reservations" episode on Vancouver this week, and having almond soy lattes at Starbucks until I exhaust their supply of almond syrup (it's being discontinued!)

Postcard: Eating my way around Oahu

Just got home from a long weekend in Oahu (island #3 of my list of Hawaiian islands to visit...) and I feel fat. Not a complaining-for-the-sake-of-complaining-cuz-I'm-a-girl kind of fat, but really. We basically spent our entire weekend eating our way around Oahu, and I've got the pictures (and new waistline) to show it.

First it was Alan Wong's, the venerable institution of fine Hawaiian dining. Let's just say that Alan didn't disappoint -- the dinner we had was probably one of the best we've had -- the flavours were clean and simple, and the execution of fusion blending Hawaiian, Asian, and western influences was probably one of the most flawless I've seen in a long time. We started with the opihi (limpet) shooters (yum!), butter poached Kona lobster and a beet and tomato salad. Entrees were a crusted kampachi and a pork duo. The crispy pork in the pork duo was probably one of the most amazing pork dishes I've ever had. Desserts were "the Coconut" (haupia ice cream in a chocolate shell), and a "New Wave banana split" which was mochi wrapped banana ice cream topped with homemade sorbets and ice creams in chocolate, strawberry, and coconut flavours. All this washed down with some amazing Onaka Ranch Kona Cowboy coffee. DELISH!

Another highlight was Ono's Hawaiian Foods. It's a hole in the wall, the lines can be long, the bathroom's permanently broken and the furniture hasn't been replaced in decades, but the food is local, authentic, and yummy. We were a little ambitious and ordered the combination plate (laulau, kalua pork, lomi salmon, poi and haupia), AND the tripe stew and some chicken long rice. So we didn't finish. But hey, did you know that day-old poi *does* taste better?

And then there was Zippy's. Ahhh Zippy's. What can I say? Chili and rice and fried chicken all mixed with mac salad has a new place in my heart now. You can't beat fast, delicious and consistent Hawaiian-American fast food.

As we drove around the island, we also managed to hit up Giovanni's Shrimp Truck (to see what all the hype was about, naturally) where the greasy yet addictive shrimp scampi made the stop worthwhile. The guidebook said that Ted's Bakery at Sunset Beach had some chocolate haupia cream pie that locals loved, but that the guidebook writer thought was only so-so. Let's set the record straight. I side with the locals on Ted's pie.

So between all that eating, I did manage to visit some sights and take in some sun on the beach. The highlight of this trip, by far, though, was definitely the food. (But the Frette linens at the Kahala didn't hurt, either.) Next up...I'm off to Tahoe to catch some snow this weekend!

Reminiscing: 2007 in food

Wow. I ate a lot this year.

(And as proof that karma exists, I also had a lot more stomach "issues" this year as well.)

But even for my standards, this was a memorable year in food. There were lots of the oldies but goodies, hole-in-the-wall type places mixed in with some extraordinary, once (or maybe several) in a lifetime Michelin-starred meals that simply blew my mind, and stomach away. I decided that I really liked the city name collage for my travel post, so let's try one for restaurants! Of course, unlike the travel ones, I can't actually name all of the restaurants I've been to this year, so consider these to be highlights.

Mama's Fish House Blue Elephant Esoffier Comerç 24 Perbacco Pazzia Zazie Can Fabes American Bounty Family Fortune Grand Honour Hot Pot Cafe 100 The Jade The French Laundry Meric
Sala Rim Naam Hog Island Oyster Company Da Kitchen Tofu House
Ke'ei CafeTwo Ladies' Kitchen Shanghai Dumpling House Slanted Door Home St. Andrew's 'Wichcraft Tao Town Hall Gary Danko Spruce Tangerine MarketBar Morimoto Chow

And here are some other food-related tidbits worth mentioning:

Most consumed beverage - (tie) Starbucks iced tall almond soy latte, Coke Zero

Longest meal - 4-hour lunch at the 3-star Can Fabes in Sant Celoni (outside Barcelona). It was a 13-course "menu du surprise", which I think requires no translation.

Cheapest meal - Pho and iced coffee all for $1 at Pho 24 in Hanoi. And it was served in under 5 minutes.

Best in-flight meal - (no winner) - This is usually one of my favourite categories, but alas, I flew pretty crappy airlines this year so even the business class meals couldn't legitimately make this list.

Most random foods to drive long distances to eat - (tie) Loco moco at Cafe 100, and hand-made mochi's from Two Ladies' Kitchen, both in Hilo, Hawaii.

Weirdest foods - Surprisingly, they were both consumed in the same meal during the tasting menu at Meric in Siem Reap, Cambodia. The winners were fried snake salad, and frog-on-a-stick -- not the more palatable frog lollipops that you may see in French restaurants consisting of parts of a frog skewered, I'm talking the whole damn frog, breaded and fried and skewered whole. Lovely.

Most elaborate meal - That would, of course, be the French Laundry.

Best breakfast foods - (tie) I would kill for either pastries from Bouchon in Yountville, or a chocolate pastry puff thing from Pinxto Cafe inside La Boqueria Market in Barcelona.

Best outdoor meal - Picnic lunch up in Tomales Bay with friends and shucking through 100 oysters fresh from Hog Island Oyster Company.

Food worth risking deportation to smuggle into the country - Iberico ham. I should smuggled some back from Spain. Some nights I still dream about it...

And so there it was...2007 was definitely a year to exercise my inner (and outer) foodie. 2008 brings more exciting eating adventures -- there are more 3-star places on my list (Joel Robouchon, Per Se), more ridiculous but must try places (Masa), and the return of some perennial favourites (Matsushita, Spruce)...and the list goes on!

Reminiscing: 2007 in travel

Another year already? Admittedly, I haven't been exactly prolific in my blogging this past year, except for those 7 or 8 weeks in the fall when I wasn't, well, either working or sick, or working while sick. This year was a much less stellar year in terms of miles traveled (only about 70,000, didn't make it to 1K on United -- ack! No more red carpet for me!), but in terms of life experiences and perspective, it's definitely got a one-up on 2006.

Cities visited in 2007 (in no particular order) -- in an homage to the Facebook / TripAdvisor variable-sized text format:

Barcelona Hyde Park Hong Kong Las Vegas Orlando Bangkok Albany New York Frankfurt Hanoi Siem Reap Maui Point Reyes Monterey Napa Detroit Cambria Kailua-Kona Manassas Carmel Hilo Macao Bangkok Chiang Mai Vancouver Yountville Denver San Diego Washington DC
Ann Arbor San Simeon

Some particularly memorable moments:

All beds and no breakfasts - stayed at not one but two B&B's this year, one for night, and another for a week and still managed to not eat a single breakfast. The two places were the Maison Fleurie in Yountville and the Journeys Inn in Hyde Park. Both were excellent and highly recommended. Not so sure about the breakfasts though.

The upgrade of a lifetime - that would be the Peninsula Hotel in Bangkok. We booked two regular rooms, and got upgraded to one of the penthouse suites in the hotel (the hotel was sold out), complete with formal dining room, a separate entrance for 'the help', and a jacuzzi on the wraparound balcony / patio with panoramic views of Bangkok. I mean, what else would you have on your patio? My parents are still talking about this one.

The most un-vacation-like vacation - the Pastry Boot Camp at the Culinary Institute of America. Lectures at 7am, baking in the bakeshop by 8am. And yet I loved every moment of it.

Most "duh" moment - going to Hawaii (Maui, to be precise) for the first time. Ever. Closely followed by the second time (Big Island). Why didn't anyone tell me about this place?!

Best last minute getaway - Barcelona. Planned only 2 weeks in advance. 4 days of all-out Spanish goodness. Doesn't get better than that.

Biggest luxury - Time. Taking 2 months off this year really helped to put life in perspective. And gives a whole new meaning to work/life balance.

Hardest farewell - You know who you are. It's been one crazy roller coaster ride these last couple of years, but it just wasn't in the cards for us. It's been fun traveling the world with you. Take care of yourself, and goodbye.

And with that, 2008 starts with a bang! First up, Honolulu (island #3 of 5 in my Hawaiian adventures), closely followed by LA, Vancouver, and Vegas. And who knows what other travel adventures await this year!