Thru Jim's Eyes 
This is a most special time of year. There’s a chill in the air. The scents of cinnamon, nutmeg, and peppermint waft passed us as we walk through the shops. There is a warmth and friendliness that says Thanksgiving. The anticipation of hot turkey with gravy, cranberries, stuffing and all the trimmings is almost unbearable.
Would you believe that Hawaii has wild turkeys running around all over the place? You see them in the neighborhoods, hiking up in the hills and just walking down the road. I have no idea if you are allowed to hunt them and this is not what I mean by “Preparing for Thanksgiving.” That is WAY to much Preparing work for me!!!! I like buying an organic turkey at the market all PREPARED for me. As in, no removing feathers or killing required.
As you may recall I am not a fan of watching sports. I would rather go out and play the sport. But there are three days out of the year where I will make an exception. These days are Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. These are days to relax in front of the big screen t.v. peacefully reclined in a food coma.
Each holiday is special in it’s own unique rite. Thanksgiving is always the obligatory turkey/triptophan food coma (uuuuuuhhhhhhh) while watching parades. Christmas will vary with the family. Some years we eat at home. If we are at home our family is usually eating all day. Other years we serve the homeless people while working the food lines at the local place of worship. Still others we have eaten out so everyone gets a break. New Year’s is whatever my wife feels like doing. Since we do not follow sports we can’t tell you which games are on or when. If I recall correctly, from my youth when my dad would watch sports, Thanksgiving is traditionally college bowl football games. New Years I think there are college football games as well. Christmas, I have no idea. Like I said we really don’t follow that stuff. There is too much of my life to live. This is a feature my wife loves about me. The fact that I don’t follow sports.
The day after Thanksgiving every crazy shopper will be out first thing in the morning to get the best deals. Now that is something I have little interest in, but I do love a good crowd. A bunch of crazy hens fighting over the last pair of shoes, cabbage patch doll, or Dr. Zeus’ flying crib (I made up that last one) really is entertaining, but alas I would rather be home in front of the fireplace enjoying the day. On the other hand, come New Year’s eve, I will definitely be out celebrating the passing of the old and welcoming in the new year. Then, I shall sleep until 11am, get up, watch football, and snack until bed. There are certain rituals that I do enjoy. Rituals around food are big in my book of life.
Oops. I was just informed by my wife that she is thinking about having people over to our place for New Year’s Eve and we can watch the fireworks from our lanai. That will be nice (although I am still thinking about how much I enjoy the energy of a BIG crowd. We will see).
So, as you are sitting down and watching sports, eating, sharing the day with family, or whatever your rituals are, remember if you eat a little too much it’s okay. Don’t diet. Simply eat a little more servings of fruits and vegetables each day for the rest of the year. Relax, loosen your belt a notch, and enjoy your life. It is only a few days out of the year we gorge ourselves and you can always cleanse off the extra pounds.
James Christopher
ThruJimsEyes.com
We are back at Daylight Mind Coffee Company. This time for breakfast. Yes, my wife actually got me out the door early enough to make it for breakfast. Lol. We arrived and were seated immediately. We chose to sit at the higher table and bar stool seating facing south. This way we can see over the railing. This turns out to be an excellent choice. The waves are beautiful. The slow undulating surface of the ocean in the bay causes me to relax and unconsciously reminds me to be mentally on vacation as all the cares or concerns of life melt away into obscurity.
Leise ordered a latte, a side of sausage, and the Traditional Eggs Benedict with ham, English muffin, and hollandaise sauce. I ordered black coffee. They have their coffees defined by Origin, Farm, Variety, and Cherry Processing Method. I chose the Kona, Kona Earth, Typica, Washed, Sowden Softbrew method because I like a dark full and robust flavor. Leise enjoys her latte. My coffee is a perfect combination of all that I look for in a great cup of coffee.
The eggs on the Benedict were overcooked and hard. They rectified the problem immediately by poaching some new eggs. They are done perfect and very flavorful. The ham is amazing and brings her whole meal together. Her latte was a little stronger than she likes. She likes her coffee very blonde. Side of sausage sounded good and it is. A perfect hint of spicy which hits the tip of your tongue and fades into the distance as the herbs slowly take over the back and sides of your mouth.
The Kalua Pork waffles look beautiful. They start with a base of toasted waffles. On top of that it a layer of Kalua pork, then toasted local Hawaiian macadamia nuts, Maui pineapple and topped with a drizzle of coffee BBQ sauce with whipped butter on the side. At first bite I find it to be a disgusting mix of good quality parts… which I like. I like different foods and discovering what the thoughts were in the artist chef’s mind. The Kalua pork is good but not amazing. I have been spoiled by Ippy’s Hawaiian BBQ. His is the standard by which I judge all Kalua pork. The coffee BBQ sauce is amazing. I am going to ask for a bit more. I don’t know that I would order it again, because the Kalua pork was a little lacking but I did enjoy the experience and the meal.
Both plates came with a slice of beautiful fresh papaya which is delicious and red grapes, and red grapefruit. The diversity of colors makes for a great presentation. As I finish my cup of coffee I notice the Mississippi Mud or Cowboy Coffee impression of thick layer of finely ground coffee at the end of the cup. It warms my heart and soothes my soul.
With the light live local musician playing in the background and the music the surf plays on the rocks accompanied by the light breeze on this unusually cool day makes for another amazing and memorable Daylight Mind Coffee Company experience. For ambiance I give Daylight Mind Coffee Company 5 out of 5 surfboards. For food quality I give 4 out of 5 surfboards. For service I give 5 out of 5 surfboards. Overall I give it a 5 surfboards.
Aloha, James Christopher
ThruJimsEyes.com
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The 3 most important things in real estate are location, location, location and Daylight Mind Coffee Company has all of these. The setting is beyond wonderful as we are sitting for lunch on their lanai listening to the water crashing on the rocks a short 20 feet away. Looking into Kona Bay we see a local boy gathering his fishing nets with his fresh catch of the day. You know he’s eating good today. Looking out to the paddle boarders, kayakers, bobbing sail boats, submarine, and people parasailing an overwhelming sense of peace and calm comes over you as you realize this is going to be a great experience.
The menu does not disappoint with selections like local grass fed beef burgers with aged cheddar, coffee BBQ sauce, on a brioche bun and hale smoked chicken sandwich with prosciutto, bocconcini, macademia nut pesto, ranch dressing on a brioche bun. Wow!!! We must come back and try more.
Today, I start with the Iced Coffee-Cherry Tisane which is a tea with coffee-cherry (the outer cover of the coffee bean), mamaki, ginger, and mint. It is light and delicious and the flavors are articulated in a dance on your tongue. Leise ordered the cappuccino which has arrived and is beautiful. However, we have now been over 20 minutes for the waitress to return to ask if they have raw sugar. Leise’s cappuccino is now cold. She’s upset. Service shouldn’t take this long. Eventually the waitress returned and they don’t have organic raw sugar. How can you have organically grown coffees without organic sugar? The waitress was nice enough to bring some rock sweetener which Leise said tasted like sweetener. The waitress then brought a fresh hot cappuccino without drama. Her demeanor was quite friendly and helpful.
Leise ordered Steak Tartine which is a local filet with aged cheddar, chimichurri sauce, heirloom tomatoes, and sweet Maui onions served open faced on wheat bread. She finished it saying “This is so good.” She just upgraded that comment to, “It was Phenomenal. I wish you could have tried it.” Too improve it she said she would have put the sauce under the steak medallions instead of on top of it. The sauce just smothered the beautiful meat. The second thing she said she would do is use sourdough rolls, open faced, instead of sliced sourdough bread. The flavor of the bread was fantastic, but sliced bread just isn’t very attractive or even very visually appetizing.
I ordered the Loco Moco. It is delicious. It has an unusually strong pepper flavor which I find uniquely inviting. The beef patty is cooked evenly and the flavor is good and it has great texture. The gravy is balanced and tasty. Even the egg on top has wonderful flavor. The pepper has become a theme in my mouth throughout this meal. I like it. This is a wonderful spin on the local favorite Loco Moco.
And the surf drones on in the background relaxing all who are here.
The weather today is too breezy for the paper napkins they use. They should’ve gone with linen. Later, relaxing to the beautiful view and all that Kona, Hawai’i has to offer we discuss how soon we will come back for more good food. For ambience I give Daylight Mind Coffee Company 5 out of 5 surfboards. For food quality I give 4 out of 5 surfboards. For service I give 3.5 out of 5 surfboards. Overall I give it a 4.5 surfboards.
Aloha, James Christopher
ThruJimsEyes.com
http://www.tripadvisor.com/members/ThruJimsEyes
Life is good. Gosh, life is amazing. Right now I am relaxing in a round, well cushioned chair looking out passed the palm trees to the ocean while listening to the music Keali’i Raichel. Stopping at Pine Tree Cafe for lunch we arrived in Waikoloa Beach for some fun and business. Feeling the need to relax and remember why we moved to Hawaii I walked into the Marriott Waikoloa Hotel and order a Longboard beer. Seldom do I ever drink, but on occasion I do enjoy relaxing with a good local beer. Walking out to the lanai and selecting the perfect spot to share this great day I notice the trade winds are particularly light and nicely warming. Fall is not over. The cooler temperatures spurred by the winds off the mountain haven’t settled in yet. Drawing in a deep breath and releasing it I let go of any and all concerns in the world. All is right. All is good.
We ate the French fries on the drive here. They are always good. Thick cut but not wedges. Perfect golden color. The macaroni salad was perfect. A little potato and a little tuna mixed in with a few peas and pieces of carrot make it 3 salads in 1 and a very nice blend. We split a Reuben and a turkey club sandwich.
Taking a break from writing I look up, put on my sunglasses, stare out over the vastness of this little respite. A common mynah bird struts up between the couches, then another. They are working their way around to get behind me. I think they want my sandwiches. Then again….
As I look out to the beach I see some of our favorite spots for filming, taking photos, or just splashing around and watching the honu (Green Sea Turtle). With the prospect of going snorkeling later today my spirit picks up even more while relaxing deeper. This is why it has been worth it to chase our dreams. This is why we worked through the pain of learning the lessons we did while growing as individuals. This moment right now makes it all worth while.
From the beautiful Island of Hawaii I bid you aloha and encourage you to follow your dreams. It’s worth everything you will go through to get there.
Aloha from the Beautiful Island of Hawai‘i,
James Christopher
ThruJimsEyes.com
Today we are dining at the Three Fat Pigs Restaurant at the King’s Shops at Waikoloa Beach, Hawaii. The restaurant is owned by Chef Ippy Aiona, the Hawaiian local chef who became famous when he became Food Network’s top chef star. Raised in the kitchen of his parent’s Solimene’s Italian Restaurant in Waimea, Hawaii, Chef Ippy learned the fine art of cooking at a young age. Armed with an inspired curiosity as he grew he experimented and has earned the accolades of the finest critics.
I order a cup of black Kona coffee with a little organic sugar. The Kona coffee is particularly smooth today. The weather is cool, partly overcast and cloudy. The temperature is around 70 degrees. The sunset was spectacular with it’s red, orange, and purple hues. Sitting on the patio seating and looking across the resort lake up to Mauna Kea we relax and settle in with great anticipation. Relaxing, we listen to the India inspired indie music over the sound system.
We both had the same thought this evening: grilled sirloin burger. It comes with blue cheese, bacon (a staple for Chef Ippy), and tomato relish. I ordered my burger with triple cream Brie instead of blue cheese. Yum. At first bite the fries are delicious. Leise says her burger is fantastic and normally she doesn’t like cheese on her burger. While I’m enjoying my fries, she is loving her organic green salad. With the first bite of my burger and I say, divine. Local Hawaiian boys often cook their meat until its charred. They want to make sure it’s really dead. (lol). This burger, however, is cooked to perfection: medium rare with an emphasis on rare. We wanted blood this evening. The saltiness of the bacon accents the soft melting Brie cheese beautifully with the flavor of the grass fed local beef comes through nicely. I am reminded why I love eating in Hawaii. You always eat so close to the ground. It’s always so fresh.
With no room for dessert we call it a night and retire to the hula show going on in the Kings’ Shops mall stage. We love Waikoloa Beach!
With the strong breeze this evening and the great food and drink we are truly enjoying this experience and will come back again. For ambience I give Three Fat Pigs 4.5 out of 5 surfboards. For food quality I give 5 out of 5 surfboards. For service I give 5 out of 5 surfboards. Overall I give it a 5 surfboards.
Mahalo,
James Christopher
ThruJimsEyes.com
http://www.tripadvisor.com/members/ThruJimsEyes
It’s autumn again and I am excited. I love watching the leaves on the deciduous trees change through the spectrum that defines autumn. The air is cool and the colors are warm. I can already smell, in my mind, the fireplaces burning last years seasoned wood. Yes, when you live at 3,000 feet elevation in Hawaii it is cold and people do have fireplaces, unfortunately I haven’t seen any leaves changing yet.
When we lived in Flagstaff, Arizona I always kept a cord of wood ready for burning. I liked to have a mix of oak, aspen, pine, and juniper. Each have their own distinctive characteristics. The oak burns hot and has a wonderfully robust warmth. The aspen burns very clean. The pine happily pops a lot from the sap trapped in the wood. The juniper is messy because of the sheddy bark but it smells great. I always made sure I would burn a load of aspen after the pine or juniper to make sure the flue was cleaned out.
The holiday decorations are starting to go up everywhere. This cracks me up. I remember when…. (You know you are getting old when you start sentences with “I remember when….”) I remember when no Christmas decorations would be put up until after Thanksgiving. In fact, you would spend Friday, Saturday or Sunday after Thanksgiving putting up the Christmas decorations. It was usually Friday because Saturday is college football day and Sunday is pro football day.
Now, in order to extend the holiday shopping season the retailers start putting up Christmas decorations the day after Halloween. I am sure some do not even honor Dia De Los Muertos. What is this world coming to? Lol.
I enjoy carrying the Christmas spirit throughout the year. I believe every day is a perfect day to spread love, joy, and surprise someone with a gift. Every day is a perfect day to be grateful for the blessings in my life. So what are you grateful for today?
Hopefully the first snow will fall on Mauna Kea (Elev. 13,796 Feet) just a short 30 minute drive from Waimea. With any luck we will get up there and have a nice snowball fight. Of course I will have to let my wife win. 🙂
James Christopher
ThruJimsEyes.com
Thru Jim's Eyes 
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