Kailua | Oahu

We flew into Honolulu from Lihue (Farewell, Kauai) and headed to the Leeward side of the Island (east!) to a town called Kailua. Our Airbnb just a few minutes walk to Kalama Beach was incredibly underwhelming. It was teeny tiny, musty, and not what we expected based on the photos and reviews. Our hosts were the kindest most welcoming folks who greeted us with champagne and presents and thought nothing of it (like it was the best honeymoon spot and they catered to honeymooners all the time..) There were issues I won't get into with the space, but after one night sleep we knew we had to bail. 

We still enjoyed our one night and one morning in Kailua. If you wanted to check out this part of the Island, and it certainly is worth it, I'd recommend a day trip or perhaps just staying one night in passing. 

Kalama Beach is gorgeous. We took a sunset beach walk upon arrival and an early morning run the next day. I definitely felt immersed with the locals here, everyone was walking their dogs on the beach. There were good neighborhood vibes for sure! 

We had dinner at Tokaname a crowded sushi bar + restaurant where we were the only non-Hawaiians. In Kailua we truly did find a neighborhood off the beaten path, and the crowd certainly reflective of a good Japanese restaurant.

The Chashu Pork Ramen was terrific. The sake sampler hit the spot. The Yellowtail (Hamachi) Nigiri and Yellowfin Tuna Nigiri sushi were super fresh. The green tea tempura ice cream sealed the deal. 

The next morning we awkwardly bid adieu to our hosts. In search of brunch we discovered a cool couple blocks in Kailua housing trendy cafes and surf boutiques. We ate at Kono's known for their 12 hour slow roasted pig. My shredded pork buns and Bob's pork and egg biscuits were excellent. 

Our original thoughts in planning the Kailua leg of the honeymoon were to get off the beaten path - to go somewhere less touristy, perhaps somewhere up and coming? Plus, many frequent travelers warned against Waikiki and its crowds. In retrospect this seems odd to us. We love beach cities. Our dowdy Kailua accommodations inspired a change of pace and we were off to Waikiki, booking the Alohilani Resort on Hotel Tonight as we drove back into the city. 

Travel surprises you. That's what's to love!

Simon Pearce | Vermont

 The best of Vermont eats week - that's a wrap (3/3)!

Simon Pearce | Where: Quechee | exit 1 off I89

When: Brunch on the trip home from Killington

Simon Pearce is a famous glassblower + entrepreneur. The location of the restaurant was an addition to the hydro-powered mill glassblowing facility that defines his empire. Browse the expansive shop filled with stylish and elegant glassware, tableware, lighting and home décor. Watch the artisans at work downstairs, and then enjoy brunch in the airy, light filled dining rooms overlooking the river and covered bridge. 

All your food and drinks are served on / in the handmade wares. Start with an order or two of Crispy Buttermilk Beignets ($9) with maple bourbon caramel and apple butter for an instant crowd pleaser. Follow those up with a cup of savory soup like Carrot Ginger, or Creamy Mushroom, Parsnip and Pear or the Vermont Cheddar ($7). The rich velvety broths and generous flavors sing comfort. With fried eggs, prosciutto, shaved parmesan, local tomatoes, and chive hollandaise over roasted garlic naan, the Ham and Eggs ($17) exceed the brunch norm while Pork Fried Biscuits and Gravy offer a refined take on a southern classic. A homemade eggnog and rum cocktail is served in their elegant goblet stemware.

Simon Pearce Restaurant
1760 Quechee Main Street

Quechee, VT 05059

The Progress | San Francisco

We are 20 days into 2016 and I've found my favorite meal of the year! An impromptu girls trip over MLK weekend brought me to California, and I'm so glad I decided to make the journey. When is girl time in SFO, Sausalito, and Sonoma ever a bad idea?!

The Progress located in the Western Addition neighborhood of San Francisco defines themselves as a vehicle for a completely local production. Innovative banquet-style meals served with memorable wines. The greatest dinner party ever.

 

Everything about The Progress feels fresh and inspired. No one is doing it quite like they are here. Take for instance their Manhattan ($12) made with a smooth and intense black butter bourbon - the butter is made in house before it is steeped it in the bourbon. We also drank some delicious and interesting wines including a Georges Descombes Gamay ($14) (Morgon, Beaujolais, France) and a Piquentum Refosk ($15) (Istra, Croatia).

Meals are shared family style for a fixed price of $58, starting with five rotating small plates - served in a portion size to compliment your party. Pictured up close and personal are the bahri dates with hazelnut crema and bite size roasted carrots with curried yogurt. Then, smoked trout + seven pepper cracker, fish fry with kimchi tartar sauce, and buttermilk biscuits with apple bourbon black butter. These small tastes were a welcome prelude and we had fun each ranking our favorites to least favorites. 

Then you choose four meals which are listed on the menu from lightest to heaviest, with a recommendation to order two from the lighter section and two from the heavier section. We ended up with one light and three heavy - and although it was a bit too much food to finish as our waiter warned it would be, we were happy that we chose what spoke to us! 

In order of appearance: 

Fried Rice | tea-smoked liberty farms duck, lap cheong (Chinese sausage), bok choy + maitakes 

Celery Root Ravioli | wilted escarole, apple paste, shavings of goat gouda 

Half Moon Bay Black Cod | pea greens, pomelo + aromatic vinegar 

Lamb Merguez, Octopus + Crispy Squid | Mediterranean stewed yellow-eye beans

The Progress

1525 Fillmore Street

San Francisco, CA 94115

Poogan's Porch | Charleston

The ladies and I had a fabulous lowcountry lunch at Poogan's Porch; located on charming Queen Street in an elegantly restored Victorian mansion. We started with a basket of warm, fluffy buttermilk biscuits and classic Aviation martinis (gin, maraschino liquor, creme de violette, lemon). We also shared an order of their lust-worthy pimento cheese fritters ($7) with green tomato chutney.

The Fried Green Tomato BLT ($12) comes overflowing with gorgeously fried - super crispy green tomatoes, a crab meat remoulade, apple wood smoked bacon and arugula. Easily, this one takes the spot for best BLT I've ever had. No one does Buttermilk Fried Chicken ($14) like they do in the south, and Poogan's rendition is splendid with sage herbed pan gravy and simple, well executed sides of whipped potatoes and collard greens. 

This was a meal I won't soon forget. Embodying all the classic Southern charm there is, definitely have a meal here (they do brunch, lunch and dinner) when visiting Charleston! 

Poogan's Porch

72 Queen Street

Charleston, SC 29401

Sweet Cheeks Q

Sweet Cheeks serves up Texas Style BBQ in a refined rustic setting with heavily distressed wooden tables and delicate strands of white lights. Located on Boylston Street in the Fenway neighborhood, the exteriors signage is loud with exposed bulbs, a giant glowing BBQ sign presides on the corner.

The Biscuits ($10) which come four to a tin bucket with creamy honey butter, are as good as every single person who has ever set foot in this establishment (and ordered them) says they are. Flaky yet sturdy on the outside, warm fluffy layers on the inside, heaven. Do not let the fact that you must order four at once deter you, portion sizes are huge, so leftovers in general are highly likely. (In other words, take those biscuits home with your meat!)

 

Served in mason jars, cocktails stick with the theme of being on the large side. The Federale with tequila, habanero simple syrup, agave, grapefruit and lime was super spicy, a great drink if you like a punch of heat. A Genesse Cream Ale also makes an appearance. 

A tray of Berkshire Pulled Pork ($18) comes with white bread, tangy mustard pickles + onions and two sides - I chose collard greens and the carrot salad. I had heard lots of praise for that salad specifically; I guess that's the plus side of visiting a regularly hyped restaurant opened by a Top Chef Alum over a year after its debut. (I already knew everything I should probably order.) I would concur with the beauty of that cold scoop, it was memorable with thin shards of crunchy carrots, golden raisins, toasted walnuts and blue cheese crumbles in a zesty dressing that nicely tied everything together. As far as the hot scoop, I thought the collard greens were pretty amazing, too.

 The pulled pork was juicy and tender, a Texas style dry rub renders it subtly smokey and three types of tableside BBQ sauce add another layer of flavor. (Depending on which you choose - standard flare, intense heat or a sweet North Carolina vinegar style.)

It is completely worth it to muster room for dessert, the unassuming little mason jar of Butterscotch Pudding ($6) is terrific, super rich and smooth in texture, equally as sweet, and then balanced out by a cap of sea salted caramel.  

So if you're craving some good BBQ in Boston, I'm pretty sure this is where you want to end up!

Sweet Cheeks Q

1381 Boylston Street

Boston, MA 02215