Today is Cinco de Mayo. Thus we find ourselves at Rosa’s Cantina and Sunset Grill. The location is ideally set in Coconut Grove shopping area on Ali’i Drive in downtown Kailua-Kona. The restaurant is upstairs. Other than the power lines cutting through the horizon the view is great and an excellent place for sunsets. The waitstaff delivers chips and salsa while Leise awaits her virgin strawberry daiquiri. At first look I am… Read More

I am excited to try the food and experience of Kona Canoe Club which is part of the Wind & Sea restaurants family.  The location is ideally set in the downtown, bay front section of Kona town.  Leise starts with a virgin piña colada and potato skins. I start with a Big Wave Golden Ale. The breeze is light and relaxing. This location is divine. We can smell the ocean water and… Read More

We are back at Fish Hopper Seafood & Steaks restaurant. We enjoyed our lunch the other day so much that we had to come back for breakfast. Leise ordered the pancakes. I ordered the eggs benedict. I find eggs benedict to be a defining dish for a restaurant. If they get that right usually everything else will be fantastic. Initial responses are that the pancakes are uninspiring. They taste processed and Leise… Read More

We arrived on a Wednesday afternoon at the Fish Hopper Seafood & Steaks Restaurant. Not a good day to be downtown Kona. If you follow my blog then you know, Wednesday is cruise ship day. Thus we had a 15 minute wait in slow, relaxed Kona town. Since we are all about the ambience, we requested a bay front view table. The good news is the 15 minute time estimate given us… Read More

We are back at Don the Beachcomber’s Mai Tai Bar on Kona Bay, Hawaii. I am relaxing with a Lavaman Red Ale. Leise is enjoying her iced tea. The ale is smooth like a local microbrew on tap should be. Tasty robust flavor of a darker beer which I prefer. We start happy hour with the sweet potato fries with a hint of rosemary. Leise can’t keep her hands off of them…. Read More

Peaceful and relaxed, we settle in for breakfast at Honu Restaurant Buffett at Marriott’s King Kamehameha hotel. As we look out over the ancient heiau (religious building) and out to Kona Bay we hear the soothing Hawaiian guitar music. The location is wonderful and has none of the noisy overtones we have experienced in lesser buffets. Time for food… All the dishes were disappointing. There was not 1 which we were impressed… Read More

Today is St. Patrick’s Day and we find ourselves at Quinn’s Almost By The Sea restaurant in Kona almost on Kona Bay. In honor of the named saint who I have done zero research about. I admit it. I know nothing about this person who is the reason I have a drink of Guinness beer or Jamison Irish Whiskey each year while eating corned beef and cabbage. I do this regardless of… Read More

We are sitting in an outdoor, covered, open air patio with Hawaiian accents. Don the Beachcomber’s Mai Tai Bar is on the rocks in beautiful Kailua-Kona with one of the most amazing views I have seen of Kona Bay. I am finding very tranquil listening to the melodious sound of the continuous waves on the rocks.  The pristine blue water turns white as it washes up on the rocks below. It’s very… Read More

Today we dined at one of our favorite places in Kailua Kona, the Kona Inn Restaurant. The setting is truly special.  When you first walk in, you instantly feel the soothing relaxation with defines this place.  As you enter the rotunda shaped lobby, you feel the cooler air trade winds caressing your skin as you feel the loving aloha which is Hawaii.  As you look around you see the myriad of world… Read More

After a busy morning of filming, Leise and I decided to go to Merriman’s Market Cafe at The Kings’ Shops, in Waikoloa Beach, Island of Hawaii.  Since the day was so beautiful we opted for the relaxing outdoor seating.  Sitting under the shade of the trees we ordered the Hamakua Mushroom Pizza and the Vegetarian Antipasto Plate. I chose the Hamakua mushroom Pizza, because a few weeks ago I ordered the Angus… Read More

I recently met Sam Suiter, a man who impressed me. He is the Director of Operations for a family owned business named Honolulu Coffee Co.  When I first met Sam it was in passing. He said he was on island to open a 2nd coffee shop at the south end of the Hilton Waikoloa Beach Resort. The first shop is at the north end of the Hilton’s rather expansive property.  Sam offered… Read More

We ate at the Hilton Waikoloa’s Big Island Breakfast Buffet at Water’s Edge Restaurant and enjoyed it very much. You have to understand, we love buffets, when we lived in Vegas we went to a buffet every week. The selection was vast and varied.  The food was good but not great.  Some of it was a bit bland.  Our favorite dishes and drinks are as follows: Guava juice (great flavor), Glazed Monkey… Read More

I was thinking back this morning to when we had first landed in Hawaii… I can’t believe we are finally Living In Hawaii. Finally!!  It almost doesn’t seem real. We have been planning this for so long. I guess this is the definition of surreal. I remember when we first arrived here. I would look in the closet.  It was so barren, devoid of the normal amount clothing I would expect to… Read More

Aloha. Today I am excited to share with you the long awaited opening of Ippy Aiona’s new restaurant, Ippy’s Hawaiian Barbeque, at the Queen Shops in Waikoloa Beach, Hawaii. Ippy Aiona is the son of Max and Robin Aiona, owners of Solimene’s Italian Restaurant in Waimea, the Island of Hawaii. Ippy made it to the center of the U.S. culinary radar when he had great success on the Food Network Star Season… Read More

If a picture is worth a thousand words than I am scared. I just ordered the ‘b.l.c. nachos’ at Boat Landing Cantina at the Hilton Waikoloa Hotel, Waikoloa, Hawaii at the north end of the property. The cheap, velveeta-looking, cheese and the scary looking guacamole is concerning me. Well, I am a believer in facing my fears. So here it goes… It’s not as much bad as just cheap or lower quality… Read More