Aloha!

Cue Hawaiian music, soft island breezees and the smells of coconut-scented tanning oil and salt air. A lei with purple and white flowers lies around your neck and there's a mai tai in your hand.

That's me as of Sunday, when Mr. Food Musings and I jetted off to Kauai for a week's holiday. Mom, Dad and Little Sister flew in from various cities on the East Coast, and Little Brother flew in from Asia. Hawaii isn't much of a foodie destination, but we'll munch on homegrown macadamia nuts, fresh fish like opakapaka and opah, and plenty of juicy pineapple. I am hoping to take Little Sister and head to the farmer's market in Koloa, bringing back bags of fresh produce and tropical flowers. With any luck, I'll have a few tales to tell when I return.

A couple of our favorite places to eat on the island...
~ Roy's Though I don't much like chef Roy Yamaguchi's San Francisco location, the one on Kauai is in an open-air setting and just feels like the real thing. Yamaguchi's use of just-from-the-water Hawaiian fish and local ingredients epitomize the philosophy Alice Waters and millions of chefs since her have adopted. In the June issue of Gourmet, Caroline Bates called Yamaguchi "the father of contemporary east-west cooking" -- think macadamia nut-crusted fish that flakes at the barest touch of the fork paired with rich French-inspired sauces.

~ Dondero's Tucked away in a quiet corner of the sprawling Hyatt property, Dondero's offers Italian in one of the few spots on the island where flip-flops are not proper attire. Last New Year's Eve we sat outside on the covered patio, far enough away from the rain lashing down on the grasses and the wind whipping up palm fronds to enjoy the sight. It was a beautiful night, Mother Nature at her fiercest, and we washed down tender lamb, which the chef has flown in from Colorado, with a delicious Italian red.

~ Poipu Beach Broiler This is Mr. Food Musings' and my favorite spot in Poipu. It's casual, with open windows, fresh lobster, and a great wine list. The burgers and fish tacos at lunch could go toe-to-toe with anything in burger-crazy LA or San Diego's numerous taco stands.

And so I bid you aloha for the next seven days.

Comments

[Tracy]

Greetings Ms. Food Musings,
I'm an avid reader and just had to offer some info regarding Kauai. Don't miss the Wishing Well located in Hanalei for the best Hawaiian Ice. I especially liked the flavor with sour plum addition. Overindulge while in Kauai because when you return to the mainland you'll wish you had eaten more.

The Princeville Beach Resort (PBR) Restaurant is fabulous especially when the sun is setting. The food is okay but the cocktails and view are worth a million bucks. Also when near PBR check out Queens Bath when the tide is coming IN, not out. It's glorious, but can be dangerous.

Hike the NaPali trail to the waterfall. It's worth the time and the energy loss(2 miles up), but make sure you take drinks and some protein bars with you. Also wear clothes that dry quickly or a bathing suit as you'll want to go swimming.

For inexpensive little gifts for friends and coworkers there is a Walmart on the island. The have a good selection of trinkets, food and music. They also have a row of Spam. Literally a row. We took a picture with Spam in the background. It's quite odd. For quality gifts I would shop at island stores.

Also, did you know that you can send a whole coconut through the U.S. Post Office. You write the address on the coconut and mail it. That too is quite odd.

Wishing you a memoralble vacation.

[catherine]

Tracy, thank you for the ideas! I didn't see them till I got back, but am planning to mail a coconut to myself next time I go to Hawaii, what a hoot! We did hike part of the Kalalau trail, as far as the beach...gorgeous.

[NS]

Thanks for the roundup of restaurants on Kauai. I'm heading out there next week for my second visit, and I remember being rather underwhelmed by the dining options the first time around. I'll be sure to check out the places you suggest, however, as they certainly sound quite good.

[catherine]

You should also check out Tidepools at the Hyatt. Their crab-stuffed opah was divine (though stay away from the over-gingered mango cobbler). We had a disappointing experience at Poipu Beach Broiler -- overcooked fish and oysters that didn't taste super fresh, warm, as though they'd been shucked earlier in the night. But I'd give it another go because I've also had several great meals there. Have a great time and make sure to get ice cream at Lepperts!