North Shore Kauai Eats

Here's some insight into our dining experiences on North Shore of Kauai. For starters, a Mai Thai at The Nui is a must!

We had a great dinner at BarAcuda in Hanalei Town offering small plates sourced from Island Fisherman + local organic farmers. 

We ate Papas Ajo - fried marble potatoes tossed in fresh garlic with paprika aioli. These were basically the local version of my favorite tapas - Patatas Bravas! There were tender Banderillas - grilled flank steak skewers rubbed with ancho chili coffee spice and a chipotle honey sauce, and a beautiful piece of Hawaiian Ono with roasted corn puree, grilled summer squash, green coriander + True Leaf Farms sunflower sprouts. 

And a Lilikoi Cheesecake with graham macadamia nut crust and lilikoi curd for dessert!

It was so nice to have the gorgeous St.Regis luxury resort a ten minute walk from our Airbnb condo complex Hale Mole. We fell in love with their Macadamian Old Fashioned. It was one of the best cocktails on this trip! 

On our first night we were met with a super lively bar crowd. The whole place was dancing to a husband wife duo who played local instruments and fun cover songs. We grabbed a front row table and ordered dinner. The bar menu features Japanese plates; really good ceviche, maki rolls, miso soup, edamame and more. We were delighted with our first experience here and knew we'd be back. 

A couple days later we dined at the glamorous Makana Terrace. The views over Hanalei Bay are incredible, but that was about all. The menu was lacking - they were out of a lot of items we wanted to order and we were not overly impressed with the food or service. We got the sense our waitress didn't like us - never a good feeling on your honeymoon or at an exceptionally luxe venue. 

The bad experience at Makana didn't outweigh our love for the good vibes at the bar. We came back on our last night for a final round of Macadamian Old Fashioneds at sunset. 

Tahiti Nui or the Nui is the local Hanalei dive. Live music plays late into the evening and the Mai Thais are flowing. The food was decent. We had coconut shrimp (can't go wrong), beef poke (not my favorite) and a local fish and rice dish (average).

Piazza was a real treat and somewhat of a surprise! Serving local Italian cuisine in the Princeville Plaza (next to Foodland) this polished establishment served us well on our last night in Kauai. We sat at the bar where the staff was fun and attentive. The masterful Ahi Tuna Carpaccio with a deconstructed tapenade, lemon confit and black lava salt was one of my favorite plates in all of Hawaii. The wine list and cocktails were on point - my Vespa with Aperol, lychee puree and prosecco was the perfect blend of Italia meets Hawaii! The Kauai Shrimp Scampi with handmade squid ink linguine, garlic butter, tomato, lemon preserves and chili flakes was a terrific entrée. As was the gorgeous Tagliatelle Bolognese!

Overall, we had some pretty great food on Kauai's North Shore, but not without a couple misses in the mix. If you've visited this part of Hawaii, where are your must eats?!

Matlaw's Stuffed Clams

This past weekend my sister Leah turned 30! There were lots of celebrations on Cape Cod - one of which was this late afternoon summer feast on my Mom's back deck! 

We started with classic New England style stuffed clams from Matlaw's. These stuffies from Gloucester come frozen - simply place them on the grill for 25 minutes, serve with lemon wedges, and your appetizer course is set! Succulent clams meet golden crispy breadcrumbs with chopped celery and peppers and a dusting of parsley and paprika; everyone around the table nodded in agreement - the stuffies were super fresh tasting and full of flavor. They paired perfectly alongside a hearty arugula salad featuring blueberry balsamic marinated and grilled peaches, toasted pecans and creamy goat cheese crumbles. Then, we enjoyed teriyaki marinated steak tips, corn on the cob, mushrooms and crispy potatoes - and for dessert, warm brownies and vanilla ice cream!

Special thanks to Matlaw's for providing the stuffed clams. Check out all their seafood products and where to purchase them right here.

july outtakes

Just a few shots from July. minus the beach time because my camera and beers and sand and waves don't always mix. I loved this month. 

nighttime balcony views | pasta salad, grilled steak tips, asparagus, watermelon + feta | bluefish tacos with pickled onions, corn, tomato and jalapeno | kitchen views | purple flowers on the RKG | herb garden | fish stew and fried scallops | daytime balcony view

The Island Cow

Vacation is invigorating.

Exhibit 1: Tan faces and huge smiles on display at the condo before heading out to dinner one evening.
Exhibit 2: Dining out with a fun party of ten at a relaxing, casual restaurant called The Island Cow.
They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner in a lively and friendly atmosphere, encouraging you to "come as you are". Straight from the beach, showered with a couple drinks in you, children in tow; the staff here accommodate all types of crowds with ease. They were patient as members of our party staggered in at different times, seating folks and taking drink orders before everyone arrived. Our waitress asked who would be needing separate checks, and I was pleasantly surprised that she offered before we even had to ask. It was also comforting to know at the end of a big meal we wouldn't have to spend more time dividing up the bill.Other memorable touches at The Island Cow included $1.99 Coronas, cups full of crayons and a plate full of blueberry, cranberry and corn muffins to snack on.
Adam and I shared an appetizer and an entree, beginning with the Buffalo Shrimp ($9.99) Finger lick'in Gulf Shrimp - wow spicy! We passed the basket around the table - the portion was plentiful and the sauce was spicy without overpowering the fresh crispy battered shrimp. Another app of Frickles ($5.99) A heap'in helping of fried pickles was passed around.I definitely could have eaten a whole basket of these. A must order when they dine here, Tricia's cousin Karen commented. I concur!
Our dinner was fantastic. And reasonably priced too! Cowrazy Kabobs ($17.99) Over 1 lb. of skewered satisfaction. Gulf pink shrimp, tender cuts of steak, bacon wrapped bay scallops, bell peppers, sweet onions, all flame grilled. Served with sweet corn and smashed red bliss potatoes. Inside you'll find white walls collaged with framed photographs of the island and a plethora of cow-themed decor. Worn wooden booths line the perimeter and pastel blue, yellow and pink chairs surround the tables nestled into the center of the restaurant. Outdoor dining is offered on the front porch flanked by green vegetation and shell lined paths. Guests may choose to relax with a drink at the bar, or outside where colorful Adirondack chairs are set up about the grounds.
Serving up "Udderly Great Food" at reasonable prices in a bright and colorful atmosphere that is bustling with positive island energy; another solid spot to dine at on a Sanibel vacation discovered!