Tag Archives: Eat & Drink

Carnival in the Caribbean
Bahamas, Bahamas-Grand Bahama Island, Bahamas-New Providence, Bahamas-Out Islands, Barbados, Caribbean, Curacao, Eat, Guadeloupe, Plan, Trinidad & Tobago, Trip Ideas, U.S. Virgin Islands

Authentic Caribbean: Carnival Celebrations

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It’s a party for the people, where everyone is welcome. Locals and visitors of every ethnicity and class join together in Carnival, a riotous island-style celebration that takes to the streets. While Trinidad is home to the mother of all Caribbean Carnivals, every island has its own unique and equally lively version, focusing on local traditions and heritages. French planters first introduced this pre-Lenten ritual to the Caribbean in the 18th century as a masquerade party for the elite; it caught on with the masses and is now an annual explosion of creativity with undertones of renewal and liberation.

On islands such as Trinidad, Guadeloupe and Curacao, the festivities typically begin on Boxing Day, and end on Ash Wednesday. Others like the US Virgin Islands celebrate in April and May. During July and August, Barbados keeps the action going through the season known as Cropover. In the Bahamas, the week between Christmas and New Years is Junkanoo time. With dozens of islands and hundreds of parties, parades and shows, revelers can follow the circuit throughout the islands for a year- long party. The delirious crowds, the deafening sounds, non-stop dancing and marching in the streets keep revelers up all night. Participants and followers marvel at the flamboyant costumes of feathers and sequins, body paint, giant headdresses and steel-pan bands which are all part of the festivities leading up to the competition when groups go before judges to define the most outrageous show.

Across The Street Bar USVI St John
Caribbean, Eat, Trip Ideas, U.S. Virgin Islands

St. John’s Best Bars

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St. John might be a small island, but it’s big on celebrations. And it doesn’t take a holiday or even a special occasion to justify hoisting an ice-cold beer or savoring a rum drink at the end of a day of sun, sand, and sea. From classy open-air lounges to beachfront bars and block party-style watering holes, there are plenty of places to choose from when you’re looking to wet your whistle. Here are our top 10 favorites.

Joe’s Rum Hut

When four o’clock hits, follow the 20-something crowd to find the best happy hour on St. John. Those in the know head to Joe’s Rum Hut, located right on Cruz Bay beach in Wharfside Village. Come 4 p.m., the beachfront open-air bar at Joe’s is deep with patrons enjoying $3 you-call-its. Favorites include the liquor-laden bushwacker, the famous Virgin Islands painkiller, top shelf liquors and Joe’s renowned made-from-scratch mojitos. Your wallet will thank you, your liver will hate you. Pair your happy hour experience with some of Joe’s surprisingly delicious, internationally-inspired bar food to mitigate the effects of liberal indulgence.

Joes Rum Hut Bar St John USVI, St. John's Best Bars

Wallet-friendly drink specials lure laid-back crowds to Joe’s Rum Shack. This flip flop-friendly tavern sits right on Cruz Bay Beach, and celebrations often spill over onto the sand. Photo: Debbie Snow

The Tap Room

Two words: air conditioning. While The Tap Room offers much more than a place to temporarily stop sweating, the A/C alone is a big selling point. Even better than the cool air is the fact that you can sample draft beers and sodas made on-site by St. John Brewers, who own and operate this Mongoose Junction bar. Enjoy some of the brewers’ more inventive concoctions, like Coffee Stout or Frozen Cistern Winter Ale, while picking the brains of the bartenders, some of the most knowledgeable drink slingers on island when it comes to insider St. John info. Consider your time at The Tap Room a public service—the more people who sample St. John Brewers’ ales and provide feedback, the better the recipes become. And better-tasting beer makes everyone happy. In a sad turn of events, the Tap Room suffered a complete loss in a January 2015 fire. They expect to reopen in their original location by the end of 2015. In the meantime, they’re still slinging drinks at their temporary spot just behind the original Tap Room location. Stop by and give them some love!

The Tap Room St John USVI

The Tap Room provides a cool oasis from tropical sun, along with a tasty array of locally brewed beers and sodas. It’s also a great place to pick up some local island knowledge. Photo: Debbie Snow

Tourist Trap

Way out on St. John’s southeastern side, far from any traces of modern life, there’s an oasis of sorts— an oasis where bumper stickers, random signs, and other bric a brac adorn a small shack of a kitchen sitting right in the front yard of Cheryl Geller and Larry Grenier. The decor hints at the duo’s colorful personality, but what’s not immediately obvious as you take your seat at one of the tables in the yard is that the Tourist Trap serves up food and drinks almost as delicious as the sweeping view of John’s Folly Bay. The lobster roll is a must, as is Larry’s own Drink Right Keep Left, a blend of six flavored rums and five tropical juices that tastes like heaven and candy.

St John Tourist Trap Bar USVI

On St. Johns quiet southeast side, the Tourist Trap commands sweeping views of Folly Bay. Owner Larry Grenier serves up signature drinks and tasty lobster rolls. Photo: Debbie Snow

Skinny Legs

Longtime islanders, boaties, local families, and of course, tourists, sing the praises of this island institution for its chill vibes. Skinny’s, a harborfront open-air bar and restaurant in Coral Bay, is a laid- back venue that promises same-day service. Sports are king at Skinny Legs, where football, hockey, soccer, and more dominate the television. The bar hosts annual regattas, a women’s horseshoe tournament, no rules golf tournaments, a popular Kentucky Derby party, and a Super Bowl party where you can watch the game on a big screen in the back yard. Coral Bay’s innate funkiness permeates the atmosphere here. Patrons wash down juicy burgers with mixed drinks like the Creamsicle, a delectable pairing of vanilla and citrus rums with OJ. The backyard smoker is fired up every Saturday with delicious results, and on Sundays, homemade pulled pork nachos are the perfect after-beach snack.

USVI Skinny Legs St John

On the shores of Coral Bay, yachties on shore leave join locals and savvy tourists at Skinny Legs. In addition to televised sports, the bar hosts the island’s favorite theme parties. Photo: Debbie Snow

Castaways Tavern

This spot in the heart of Cruz Bay has been home to many different bars, and Castaways itself has been through many reinventions. And finally, they got it right. The riff-raff has been cleared out in favor of young professionals enjoying a drink after work, families gathering over live steel pan music and Mexican-inspired fare, and locals and tourists alike taking advantage of dollar drinks and $2 Coronas at happy hour. This tiki-themed spot is the only place on St. John where you can belt your heart out at karaoke, test your knowledge at trivia night, try your luck at bingo, and enjoy a variety of other low- key entertainment. A new drink menu features inventive creations by well-known island bartender Jason Howard, and the chicken wing lollipops are the hands-down favorite on the revamped food menu.

Castaway Tavern St John USVI

Located in the heart of Cruz Bay, Castaways is the island’s go to location for karaoke, trivia contests and bar games. The kitchen also turns out savory Mexican-inspired meals. Photo: Debbie Snow

Woody’s Seafood Saloon/Across the Street Bar

One of the preferred stops of a certain very famous country singer with a well-known love for St. John, Woody’s has been satisfying patrons with its delicious burgers and fun, block party-style atmosphere for years. The bar changed hands recently, and the new owners decided to also buy out a competing bar across the street. And that’s how the aptly named Across the Street Bar came to be. Both Woody’s and Across the Street feature the same beloved burger recipe. Across the Street offers a more mellow atmosphere, ideal for families looking for a laid-back meal, while Woody’s offers more of a party scene along with one of the island’s best happy hours. It’s not uncommon to see patrons jumping back and forth between the two bars; just remember to look left before you cross the street.

Woodys Bar USVI St John

By day, Woody’s is a favorite stop for a burger or fresh seafood, accompanied by the chef’s signature hot sauce. Come evening, the atmosphere turns lively and the libations flow. Photo: Debbie Snow

Quiet Mon Pub

An island institution, the Quiet Mon Pub is an Irish bar transplanted to the Caribbean that’s earned a big mention in one of country superstar Kenny Chesney’s songs. After your after-dinner drinks, Quiet Mon is the place to go for a nightcap. Located above one of the island’s finer restaurants, this bar overlooks the busiest stretch of Cruz Bay. Sit at the rail and you’ll see diners dressed in their best island fancy duds coming and going at said fine restaurant, as well as the often hilariously entertaining block party that tends to materialize between nearby Cruz Bay bars. Tear yourself away from the show on the street long enough to challenge your fellow bar patrons to a game of darts, and take a look at all the pictures on the wall for a glimpse of the St. John party scene back in the day.

Quiet Mon Pub St John USVI

The Quiet Mon Pub is a little bit of Ireland transplanted to the Caribbean. Located above one of the island’s finer restaurants, this bar overlooks the busiest stretch of Cruz Bay. Photo: Debbie Snow

Cruz Bay Landing

This is the place to come and get a buzz — coffee buzz, alcohol buzz, or a little bit of both. Cruz Bay Landing, situated on the edge of the park across from the ferry dock, is new on the scene, but they’ve already established themselves as a favorite among locals and tourists alike. The coffee menu is a caffeine addict’s dream. Signature drinks like the Sweet Bean with vanilla and caramel flavorings get you up and going; coffee cocktails like the Almond Joy with coconut rum, amaretto, and chocolate give you the zing to kick butt on CBL’s tournament- length shuffleboard table. Caffeine not your thing? Try the Summertime, a super refreshing combination of watermelon vodka, ginger beer, and fresh lime juice. No matter what you’re drinking, belly up to the bar at 5 p.m. for a free shot of beer.

Cruz Bay Landing USVI St John

At Cruz Bay Landing, the drinks can either mellow you out or pick you up, as the bar also serves a range of coffees and coffee-themed libations. It’s located near the ferry dock. Photo: Debbie Snow

DR!NK

When you’re ready to class it up a bit, head to DR!NK. Comfy blue-cushioned sofas face out into Cruz Bay harbor, and fresh, inventive drinks are the perfect pairing to this bar’s sunset view. The vibe here is cool, a little more grown-up than other island bars, but you’ll feel at home at DR!NK whether you’ve come to watch the sunset after a day out on the water or you’re dressed up and on your way out to dinner. This bar knows how to throw a party. Themed events take place on a regular basis, from parties with a purpose like Mustache Madness, a mustache runway event whose proceeds benefit the St. John Cancer Fund, to the No One is Getting Married Party in late summer, a welcome celebration at a time when the island is typically quiet. Don’t miss DR!NK’s happy hour, when you can sample appetizers from adjacent fine dining venue The Terrace—the small, five-item tapas menu pairs perfectly with DR!NK’s artisanal cocktails.

St John Drink Bar USVI

West-facing DR!NK draws a more sophisticated crowd for sunset happy hours. In addition to signature cocktails, the bar offers savory tapas from the adjacent kitchen of The Terrace. Photo: John Alvarado

Beach Bar

If you’re looking for a place to park it and enjoy a cocktail while watching the sun set over St. Thomas, Beach Bar is it. Like a fine wine, this well-established bar on Cruz Bay beach has only gotten better over time. Whether you find a seat at the bar or grab a table down on the beach, make sure you stick around for dinner to enjoy some of the best bar food on island. The French fries are seriously amazing, and don’t be afraid of sushi on a bar menu — the tuna down now is a crowd favorite. The Beach Bar also has a regular schedule of some of the island’s best live music, so you can dance the night away on the beach with the stars overhead.

St John Beach Bar USVI

A long-time island favorite, the Beach Bar provides a tasty menu and spectacular sunset views of neighboring St. Thomas. Later in the evening, it is also the place for live music. Photo: Debbie Snow

Angelitos Pig in Puerto Rico
Caribbean, Eat, Puerto Rico, Trip Ideas

La Ruta del Lechón’s Pork Perfection

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For an authentic taste of Puerto Rico, it doesn’t get any better than lechon asado. This savoy favorite begins with a whole pig that is fired-roasted to create a crispy outer skin that keeps the meat inside succulent and tender. It’s a favorite all over the island, but as local will tell you, there’s one particular area that draws lechón lovers in droves.

Guavate Rancho Puerto Rico

After hours of slow roasting lechón asado is carved into chunks and ready to be served at El Rancho Original. The results are a crispy outer skin and a juicy interior. Photo: Debbie Snow

If your pork pilgrimage begins in San Juan, you’ll want to escape the city on Highway 18, then continue on Route 52 into the mountains and through the town of Caguas. Keep going a couple more miles to hang a left on PR-184, 18, AKA “La Ruta del Lechón” (Pork Route). This winding secondary road carries you into the Sierra de Cayey Mountains, and the village of Cayey. Just when you think you’ve gone too far, a slightly ramshackle restaurant appears just off the road. If the car windows are down, the tantalizing aroma of slow-smoked meat will tempt you to apply the brakes. But you have options, as this is just the first in a line of lechóneras. Traffic slows as drivers jockey for parking spaces, and pedestrians mill about in a carnival-like atmosphere. It’s a gathering that takes place each weekend, with friends and family converging on their favorite dining stop, where they linger over heaping platters of roasted meat, washed down with a cold cerveza. And the feast isn’t just for the locals.

182-PR-Angelito's-Pig

The savory flavors and unique textures of lechon asado are created by spit roasting a whole pig over an open fire. Junior Rivera of Angelito’s uses natural wood for coals. Photo: Debbie Snow

As word of Ruta del Lechón spread, a growing number of island visitors now join in the fun and feasting. Try to arrive midday, as most of the kitchens close by early evening, and you’ll want to have time to savor not only the food, but also the live music, dancing and camaraderie that are as much a part of this gathering as is the pig itself.

El Rancho Original

There’s no doubt that this is one of the favorite stops along the Ruta del Lechón, as it’s hard to find a parking spot out front and there’s always a line inside waiting to place an order. The restaurant has a park-like ambience where the building resembles a wooden tree house. The dining area is scattered about with large wooden picnic tables, some inside under cover, others out in the lawn and a few near the slow flowing brook. Painted signs with cartoon-like pigs dressed in aprons are posted throughout the grounds; some attached to trees others hanging over entrances. Patrons pass by the glass window and order cafeteria style. Most order the roasted pork with rice and pigeon peas, morcillas (blood sausage), yucca and a cold Medalla beer.

Guavate Rancho Pig, Puerto Rico

An order at El Rancho Original is usually accompanied by a side of arroz con gandules (pigeon peas and rice). A selection of hot sauces are available to spice it up according to tastes. Photo: Debbie Snow

Angelito’s Place

If you can’t make it to the mountains for the weekend pig roast, you can enjoy the same flavors closer to San Juan in the Trujillo district. At Angelito’s Place, owner Junior Rivera has been roasting pig for 25 years, and garnering accolades from lechón connoisseurs for almost as long. His secret to the smokey flavor is in the coals, which according to Junior Rivera must be natural wood. He insists the succulent taste of the pork comes from the pigs’ diet, which consists of rice and beans. While some may choose to dine inside, most patrons head to outdoor tables carrying plates filled with of mounds of glistening pork. After the pig is carved up, its weighed and served with a variety of sides. At Anglelito’s an assortment of starches served include the mainstay, arroz con gandules (pigeon peas and rice), along with white sweet potatoes, pasteles, plantains and cuerito—the brittle, seared pork skin. Angelito’s Place consistently wins top billing and deserves the moniker “El Rey de Lechón Asado”—the king of roasted pork.

Angelitos Puerto Rico Food

Plates of succulent pork along with cuerito, the brittle hard skin, and the basics of arroz con ganules mound a plate served at Angelito’s. Photo: Debbie Snow

Hawaii Plate Lunch
Eat, Hawaii, Hawaii-Big Island, Kauai, Lanai, Maui, Molokai, Oahu, Trip Ideas

Hawaii’s Local Favorites

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If your idea of Hawaii cuisine is tropical fruits and luau food, you need to expand your culinary horizons. The islands have long been a cultural mixing pot, with culinary influences from around the world blending to create a slew of unique-to-the-islands dishes and drinks you can’t find anywhere else. If you are ready to discover the diverse tastes of Hawaii, here are some of our favorite starting points.

Plate Lunch

The most iconic meal in Hawaii is called the plate lunch, an un- apologetically starch-heavy combination that dates back to the plantation period. The meal consists of two scoops of white rice, another of mayonnaise-based macaroni salad and some kind of entrée, which can range from teriyaki beef to pork adobo. The best place to sample one of these simple meals is at Rainbow Drive-In (3308 Kanaina Ave., 808-737-0177, www.rainbowdrivein.com) in Kapahulu, less than a mile outside of Waikiki. The landmark restaurant first opened in 1961 and is one of the few remaining drive-ins from this era. It’s been a favorite of residents for generations, though a recent stint on Food Network’s ‘Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives’ with Guy Fieri (who eats the fried chicken here whenever he’s in town) has put the drive-in in the guidebooks. And because of its proximity to the beaches in Waikiki, it’s a popular stop for surfers and beach-goers, who often arrive in beachwear for their fix of burgers, fries and the drive-in’s famous Slush Float. While it serves a variety of plate lunches—from hearty chili to chicken cutlets smothered in brown gravy—the most popular is the mix plate, featuring beef or pork teriyaki, a breaded chicken cutlet and mahimahi. There’s lots of parking at the drive- in and next door, but expect a crowd at lunchtime with lines spilling into the parking lot.

Rainbow Drive Inn Hawaii Local Food Plate Lunch

Oahu’s Rainbow Drive-In serves up traditional plate lunches. These date back to the plantation days, when workers sought a simple yet filling mid-day meal to fuel their labors. Photo: Catherine Toth

Spam Musubi

A popular snack found in most convenience stores in Hawaii is the Spam musubi —a block of white rice topped with a slice of grilled Spam, wrapped together with dried seaweed. Sometimes the musubi comes paired with egg, other times the Spam is flavored with teriyaki sauce. Hawaii has a long history of affection for the pink canned meat. Residents eat nearly 7 million cans of Spam a year, according to Minnesota-based Hormel Foods. That’s more than any other state in the nation. One eatery has perfected the snack. Tanioka’s Seafoods & Catering (94-903 Farrington Highway, 808-671-3779, www.taniokas.com) in Waipahu in Central Oahu prepares a Spam musubi that has quickly become one of the most popular items on the menu. The Spam is seasoned with a sweet teriyaki sauce that ramps this musubi to another level. These grab-and-go treats are located right at the cash register at Tanioka’s. But you have to go through a line to get there, passing display cases of poke, fried chicken, shortbread cookies and other local favorites. There isn’t anywhere to eat in or outside, so you’ll have to drive somewhere to enjoy your treat—we recommend visiting the nearby Hawaii’s Plantation Village (95-695 Waipahu St., 808-677-0110, www.hawaiiplantationvillage.org) in Waipahu, where you can walk around a restored plantation village that tells the story about Hawaii’s multiethnic history.

Spam

Spam musubi is a popular grab-and-go snack found all across Hawaii. Slices of flavored Spam provide the signature ingredient, which is paired with rice and wrapped in seaweed. Photo: Catherine Toth

Poke

Of the favorite types of pupu, or appetizer, in the Islands is poke (pronounced poh-kay). This consists of cubed ahi (yellow fin tuna) marinated in sea salt with shoyu (soy sauce), inamona (roasted crusted kukui nut), sesame oil, seaweed and chopped chili pepper. And it’s a fixture everywhere, from high-end restaurants to grocery stores. (Even Costco sells poke.) There are many variations of this dish, ranging from raw salmon to cured octopus. Try any of the ones served at Poke Stop (95-1840 Meheula Parkway, 808-626- 3400, www.poke-stop.com) in Mililani in Central Oahu. Here, you can even get a poke bowl with seared ahi served over kim chee- flavored fried rice. It’s a small shop located behind a McDonald’s, with some seating inside. While poke is its specialty, you’ll likely smell other dishes like garlic shrimp or grilled rib eye steak cooking up in the kitchen. Don’t be surprised to see owner Elmer Guzman prepping in the kitchen or his young daughters helping out in the dining area.

Hawaiian Poke

From high-end restaurants to supermarkets, you can find poke on every menu. The dish is typically marinated seafood topped with seaweed, chili peppers and even fish roe. Photo: Catherine Toth

Saimin

This is a noodle soup dish that came out of Hawaii’s plantation era. Drawing on the influences of Japanese ramen, Chinese mein and Filipino pancit, it is a curly egg noodles in a hot broth. One of the best bowls is on Kauai at Hamura’s Saimin Stand (2956 Kress St., Lihue, 808-245-3271), which uses locally made noodles. This old-fashioned saimin shop has been around for about 70 years and still popular as ever. Its long, S-shaped community table is almost always packed with diners, sitting on wooden stools and huddled over their bowls of steaming hot saimin. You can watch the longtime workers prepare the broth and noodles right in front of you in the open kitchen. The most popular is Hamura’s special saimin topped with luncheon meat, roast pork and veggies.

Saimin

Saimin is an Asian-influenced noodle soup turned Hawaiian. It consists of soft egg noodles immersed in a hot broth. Garnishes can include a variety of meats and vegetables. Photo: Catherine Toth

Mai Tai

A favorite libation in the islands, the Mai Tai is a combination of light and dark rums, lime, orgeat and curacao or triple sec. It was purportedly invented in 1944 at the Trader Vic’s restaurant in Oakland, California, but it soon became associated with Hawaii. The original concoction is vastly different from the imitations served in many restaurants and bars. The 1944 drink, which means “good” in Tahitian, used J. Wray & Nephew Jamaican rum, fresh lime juice, orgeat (an almond syrup with French origins), orange curacao and sugar syrup. There’s only one bottle left in the world of the Jamaican rum, so modern bartenders use various rums instead. The Royal Kona Resort hosts Don the Beachcomber’s Mai Tai Festival, which lures about two dozen mixologists who blend their best recipes in the hopes of winning $10,000. But you can find Mai Tais on just about any menu in Hawaii. The oceanfront House Without a Key (2199 Kalia Rd., 808-923-2311, www.halekulani.com/dining/house-without-a-key) at the posh Halekulani in Waikiki boasts a popular Mai Tai, perfect for sipping at sunset. Go in the evening and grab a seat outside, facing the Pacific Ocean, and listen to live Hawaiian music with hula dancers gracefully moving under a century-old kiawe tree. The refreshing drink is perfection in this atmosphere.

Mai Tai

Though thought to have originated in California, the Mai Tai has long been associated with Hawaii. With slight variations, the drink combines one or more rums, fruit juices and syrups. Photo: iStock

Loco Moco

You likely won’t find this dish—or a variation of it—anywhere but Hawaii. Another product of the plantation culture, the loco moco is just white rice topped with a hamburger patty (or two), an egg and brown gravy. It was first created in Hilo on the Big Island, where you can still get one of the best versions of this dish at Café 100 (969 Kilauea Ave., Hilo, 808-935-8683, www.cafe100.com). This old- time drive-in serves more than 30 different kinds of loco mocos, including one with fish and another topped with homemade chili. It started serving loco mocos in 1949 and now sells about 9,000 of them every month. The menu on display is dizzying, so take your time. Like Rainbow Drive-In, Café 100 has take-out windows but with some open-air seating where you can feast on your loco moco plate. This is a popular stop for Hilo residents seeking a quick bite to eat, though more visitors are finding it despite its location off the main highway. If you’re on Kilauea Avenue, you can’t miss it, with its name in huge red letters on a wooden facade.

Loco Moco

Loco moco is one of several distinctly Hawaiian creations that pairs a serving of rice with one or more protein toppers. This example comes from Cafe 100 in the town of Hilo. Photo: Catherine Toth

Malasadas

This popular Portuguese dessert is simple: it’s just fried sweet dough doused in white sugar. But few have perfected the art of making these round, sugary donuts. While Leonard’s Bakery in Kapahulu on Oahu is the most well known bakery to specialize in these fried treats, Agnes’ Portuguese Bake Shop (46 Hoolai St., 808-262-5367, www.agnesbakeshop.com) in Kailua on Oahu’s windward side whips up the most authentic version—complete with the traditional hole in the middle. The malasadas here are made to order and coated generously in white sugar. It’s located in a parking lot shared with a couple of other shops. There are display cases features other baked good such as bear claws, apple fritters, jelly donuts and scones. Grab a cup of freshly brewed local coffee and take a seat while you wait. Since the malasadas are made to order, it might take a few minutes.

Malasada

A close cousin to the donut, the Malasada originated in Portugal. These savory chunks of sweet fried dough are coated in sugar, and may or may not have central holes. Photo: Catherine Toth

Shave ice

Hawaii’s version of this icy treat is nothing like the chunky snow cones served on the mainland. Shave ice—also called ice shave on the Big Island—has a finer consistency, and more completely absorbs the sweet syrup toppings, which come in flavors ranging from strawberry to piña colada. Most shave ice stands like Matsumoto Shave Ice on Oahu’s North Shore and Ululani’s Shave Ice on Maui top these desserts with homemade mochi (sweet glutinous rice), red azuki beans and sweetened condensed milk. But if you’re looking for something truly unique, visit Shimazu Store (330 N. School St., 808-371-8899) in Honolulu. This small hole-in-the-wall boasts more than 50 different flavors including lychee, red velvet crème, durian and creme brulee. This shave ice shop is in a former neighborhood grocery store. It’s tiny inside, and you’ll likely have to eat on the small bench just outside the door. The workers will make your shave ice to order right before your eyes, including shaving the ice.

Hawaiian Shaved Ice

Hawaiian shave ice is a favorite treat. Unlike a snow cone, which uses crushed ice, shaving produces smaller ice slivers that more readily absorb flavoring syrups and additional toppings. Photo: iStock

 

Ma's Fish Camp Islamorada Key Lime Pie, Florida
Eat, Florida, Florida Keys, Key West, Trip Ideas

Best Key Lime Pies in the Florida Keys

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Capturing sunshine in a pan, Key lime pie represents the heart and soul of the Florida Keys. Each slice is a reflection of the pioneering spirit that led settlers to these isolated islands in the 1850s. Fresh milk was scarce, but the indigenous Key limes were plentiful. When condensed milk reached the market in 1856, it became the perfect marriage of ingredients. The acidic lime juice when mixed with egg yolks and condensed milk caused the filling to thicken without baking—a process called souring. The creamy concoction was poured into a pastry crust and topped with a whipped meringue made from sugar and the leftover egg whites. A classic dessert, named the official Florida state pie in 2006, was born.

Variations of the original recipe have emerged over the years from the graham cracker crust to whipped cream topping. Only one rule holds true: Key lime pie must be made with real Key limes. In 1965, Florida State Representative Bernie Papy, Jr. even tried (unsuccessfully) to make it illegal for anyone to advertise Key lime pie not made with Key limes. The unique taste of the Key lime is more tart and aromatic than Persian limes, which have a slight bitter flavor. The juice is yellow, making the filling of any Key lime pie a pale yellow—never green. Want to embark on your own quest to discover the best Key lime pie? These five restaurants always make the shortlist of favorites in the Florida Keys.

Fish House, Key Largo

Key lime pie is the perfect finish to a meal of fresh local seafood. It’s fitting that the creamy dessert at the Fish House has been making mouths water for more than 25 years. José Ornelas has been baking the pies for 20 of those years, providing the delicate touch needed to whip the meringue topping into the perfect peaks and valleys. People driving by on U.S. Highway 1 have been known to pop in for a slice after simply smelling the pies baking in the oven. The Fish House recipe balances equal parts sweet and tart and uses the graham cracker crust, which became more popular than the pastry shell in the 1940s. They bake 100 to 200 pies a week, depending on the season, for both the main restaurant and their sister eatery Encore. You can pick up a bottle of Key lime juice if you want to try and bake your own pie once you get home. They’ll happily give you the recipe.

Mrs. Mac’s Kitchen, Key Largo

You can’t miss the glowing neon sign advertising the award-winning Key lime pie at Mrs. Mac’s Kitchen as you drive down U.S. Highway 1 in Key Largo. Featured on PBS’s Flavors of the Florida Keys and Check Please as well as in Cosmopolitan and Travel + Leisure magazines, their silky pie is more on the sweet side. Perfect for a hot tropical day, they serve a cold version more similar to an ice cream pie in texture. The recipe, in use since 1976, was handed down from the original owner’s mother, who is the namesake of the restaurant. They bake their pies daily, using a graham cracker crust for the base and a fresh whipped cream topping. Hungry patrons savor about 200 slices a day, and the restaurant mails an average 300 pies per year to devotees around the country. Now with a second location, also in Key Largo, Mrs. Mac’s makes it easy to stop for a slice on the way south to Key West and north back to the mainland.

MA’s Fish Camp, Islamorada

At MA’s Fish Camp, Barbara Cockerham bakes Key lime pies daily in small batches. A Keys resident for over 48 years, she remembers the joy of watching her mother baking and aims to invoke that same nostalgia in the diner. She uses the meringue topping in the spirit of tradition, but each slice also comes with a dollop of fresh whipped cream. The meringue is so delicate that the pies have to be kept at eight degrees until sliced up and served on a cold plate. The tart filling is the consistency of a chilled stick of butter and layers nicely with the nutty graham cracker crust. During the high season, Cockerham makes at most 15 pies a day, so make sure you put your orders in early. They’ve been known to run out. MA’s doesn’t ship their pies, so you’ll have to make the trip to taste her delicious creations in person.

Kermit’s Key West Key Lime Shoppe, Key West

The pie at Kermit’s Key Lime Shop in Key West has garnered national attention with spots on Food Network’s America’s Best Sweets and Pie Paradise. Cooked up by Kermit Carpenter, who has been using his grandmother’s recipe for over 25 years, his Key lime pie has a clean, refreshing taste. Carpenter, decked out in his trademark green toque, even showed TV host Al Roker how to make a Key lime pie live on the Today Show. People flock to the Elizabeth Street store to try their specialty: Key lime pie slices dipped in a dark Belgian chocolate and frozen on a stick. Since the chocolate is not too sweet, it provides a nice contrast to the pucker-inducing pie. The store also features more than 125 products made with Key limes from cookies to soaps. Spend some time at the tasting station sampling sauces and jams like Chipotle Key Lime Barbecue Sauce or Key Lime Jalapeno Pepper Jelly.

Blue Heaven, Key West

Meringue lovers will be in, well, heaven at the funky Blue Heaven Restaurant in Key West’s historic Bahama Village. Featured most recently on Travel Channel’s Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern, their mile-high topping is whipped into tall airy peaks and valleys and lightly tanned in the oven. Country crooner Kenny Chesney loves it so much that he flew his grandmother from Tennessee just to have a slice. Since 1994, owner Richard Hatch has based the recipe on his mother’s classic lemon meringue pie. The limes are fresh-squeezed for each pie, and they go through about a case each day. Blue Heaven also wins the contest for best atmosphere. Their private courtyard (once home to Hemingway’s boxing matches) is filled with roaming chickens and lounging cats soaking in the sun. Grab a seat outdoors under the shaded canopy of the gumbo-limbo tree and prepare to be wowed.

Aruba Kukoo Kunuku Bus
Aruba, Caribbean, Eat, Trip Ideas

Aruba’s Party Bus

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The Dutch island of Aruba, just off the Venezuelan coast, is known for a lot of things: an avid windsurfing crowd, a striking desert landscape, gorgeous beaches and a steady flow of mainlanders who come to unwind and celebrate. One of the best ways to do so is to join the Kukoo Kunuku tour company for their six-hour bus pub crawl. You’ll see more of the island, and get a little buzzed and a little rowdy with fellow fun-loving travelers.

It’s red and white and covered with graffiti. The moment the open-air Kukoo Kunuku party bus pulls up at your Aruba hotel for a 6 p.m. pickup, you know it’s going to be a good night. Climb aboard and the other guests cheer and shout. Before you find a seat, your evening’s host hands you maracas to shake things up and get you in the party spirit. With all revelers gathered, the bus stops first at a beach in the shadow of the iconic California Lighthouse. You’re poured a plastic cup or two of champagne to toast the sunset while meeting the other guests.

Then it’s on to dinner at Casibari Grill, located next to the massive boulder formations of the same name. Everyone is served a heaping plate of barbecue: ribs and a skewer of chicken and peppers, plus salad, rice and bread. If you have any interest in face painting, queue up before the watermelon dessert arrives. An artist from Britain provides the service when she’s in town; otherwise, her son takes over. The next decision should be an easy one. Yes, you want the souvenir water bottle, not for its Ronald McDonald color scheme, but because for six dollars, it saves money on drink specials all night at each bar that the group visits.

Note: The cocktails aren’t overly stiff. They’re strong enough that you taste the rum, but light enough that you won’t be hung-over the next morning, especially if you dance. Throughout the evening, the bus stops at three or four bars for an hour each. The line-up changes nightly, but typically includes neighborhood watering holes like U-Wanna Beer, Tumazu (which has billiards) and La Ronda Cafe. The tour host lives to rile up the crowd, getting you to dance on the bar, wear silly hats and whatever else she’s in the mood for. The bars themselves lean toward the plain side, but the fun is in meeting your fellow revelers, joking with the host and dancing.

Just before midnight, the group stops at one last bar—Mojitos—known for keeping its dance floor hopping. If the music isn’t enough to get you joining the Cupid Shuffle and Macarena, then the company will be. But perhaps the best part is simply riding on the bus. It’s when your mica-wielding host cracks jokes and even the driver seems free- spirited, wheeling ’round the roundabouts several times, making the night feel a little bit wild and full of possibilities.

St. Thomas Iggies at Dusk
Anguilla, Aruba, Caribbean, Eat, St. Kitts, Trip Ideas, U.S. Virgin Islands

Five of the Caribbean’s Best Beach Bars for Live Music

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No island experience is complete without at least one night of we-be-jamming. And the best nights happen when you find just the right mix of atmosphere, energy, potent cocktails and bands so lively that you can’t sit down. We traveled, listened in and danced all night to find the best Caribbean joints delivering colorful atmosphere, good crowds and, of course, live music that keeps you in the party spirit until the wee hours. Read on to rock on.

Dune Preserve on Anguilla

Ladies, watch out: Bankie Banx is the famous founder of this open-air reggae joint on Anguilla, but it’s his son, Omari, who’s the main act now—and his looks are every bit as luscious as his voice. The wooden boat-like venue at Rendezvous Bay is cozy. Every seat is a good seat for watching the acts and the impromptu dancing happening in the aisles and in front of the stage. During the day, the beachside bar crowd is mostly tourists— many straight off cruise ships—but at night, it’s a mix of locals and visitors of all ages.

MooMba Beach Bar on Aruba

Dance with your feet in the sand at Aruba’s Palm Beach hot spot. The lineup of local acts playing Friday and Sunday nights constantly changes, but it’s within a category the bartenders jokingly call tropical rock. The scene here starts early, typically around 7 p.m., so you’ll find a more family friendly crowd. But that doesn’t mean the party is tame. Two bars—one big one under the restaurant’s large thatched roof and one out in the sand— make sure you always have a cold one to keep you in the mood to shake it.

Fort Christian Brew Pub on St. Croix

This dockside, open-air venue sees the biggest crowds on St. Patrick’s Day when they bring in five bands to keep the crowd boogieing all day. During high season, they offer live music four nights a week, including Friday and Saturday. Their regular acts include the one-man band of Kurt Schindler, whose music is a blend of calypso and reggae, and DJ Cypha, who spins his own mix of reggae and rap. Expect high energy from the crowd that’s mostly twenty-somethings off duty from the tourism industry. Earlier in the night, you’ll see a wider range of folks who come in for the five beers crafted on site.

Iggies Beach Bar on St. Thomas

Every night of the year, this restaurant, part of Bolongo Bay Beach Resort, serves up live music right at the water’s edge. Wednesday is carnival night with steel-pan calypso music and moko jumbies—masked dancers on stilts traditionally believed to ward away spirits. Sunday sees the all-you-can-eat barbecue buffet, and any night is a good night to try the VooDoo Juice. Iggies is popular with visiting families thanks to the quick delivery of conch fritters, sliders and other island-y pub grub. Find the twenty-something set at the joint’s sand volleyball courts.

Mr. X’s Shiggidy Shack, St. Kitts

Frigate Bay on St. Kitts is the place to be Friday night. Pretty much everyone looking to party—the expat community, locals and college kids—flocks to this beachside joint with live music. You’ll hear what’s known as soca music: a mix of calypso, soul and funk. Also, on Thursday, the beachside joint hosts bonfires, and Saturday, it’s karaoke night.

Cabo San Lucas, Cabo Wabo Mexico
Cabo San Lucas, Eat, Mexico, Trip Ideas

Where to Party in Cabo San Lucas

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Cabo San Lucas is a town that likes to party. As the sun sinks over the mountains, the libations flow and the bars and clubs fill with everyone from sport fishermen on shore leave to incognito A-listers behaving badly. But there’s more to the scene than upside-down margaritas and boozy Macarena line dances, and you don’t have to be a spring breaker gone wild to join the party. The town at Land’s End offers many flavors of relaxation, from laid-back beach bars to pulsing dance clubs, quiet jazz to driving rock and supple sauvignons to lime-laced tequilas. Here is a sampling of the best ways to celebrate a Cabo vacation in your personal favorite style.

Cabo Wabo Crownd, Cabo San Lucas Mexico, where to party in Cabo San Lucas.

Serving more than just bar food, the kitchen at Cabo Wabo turns out a full range of entries. Those seeking to indulge can add a pour of the cantina’s namesake tequila. Photo: Cabo Wabo Cantina

Cheer

Die-hard sports fans like to know the score, even when on vacation. Those who don’t want to fight for a view of a small screen down at the corner of the room can head to the Mango Cantina. Though relatively new, this marina-side sports bar has already become one of the town’s favorites, with steaming major-league action to 16 high-def screens. And you won’t have to settle for potato skins and wings, because the kitchen turns out a full spectrum of breakfast-to-late-night offerings that include regional Mexican and fresh seafood—plus Buffalo wings for those who just can’t do without. Closer to the town center, and air conditioned for those steamy summer afternoons, is the spacious Desperados, where wall space is split between Hollywood memorabilia and a collection of plasma screens that are kept tuned to the sports channels. After the games are done, the action shifts to the dance floor, with a disc jockey most nights and live music several times a week.

Cabo San Lucas Desperados Mexico

At Desperados the wall art may be vintage Hollywood, but the daytime vibe is sports action. After dark, the dance floor takes over, with live music. Photo: Desperados Restaurant & Cantina

Dance

When you are ready to swap flip-flops for dancing shoes and spend the night moving to the mix, you need look no farther than the corner of Marina Boulevard and Ignacio Zaragoza Avenue, where the site once occupied by the Zoo has been transformed into the Pink Kitty Nightclub. The vibe is young, hip and beautiful. Italian glass chandeliers hang overhead, and eel- skin leather seating lines the corners—a decor management refers to as “modern baroque boudoir.” Sound and lights are state-of-the art, disc jockeys are imported from the West Coast, Vegas and beyond, and the requisite VIP area awaits to accommodate celebs and special occasion splurges. Equally fabulous is the Passion Club, which is located at the ME Cabo Resort. House and dance music dominates, and there are separate lounge and VIP areas with table service and top-shelf brands. Passion is best known for its themed parties, including one of the Cape’s most memorable New Year’s celebrations and an off-the-hook anniversary party each April.

Cabo San Lucas, ME, Passion, Me Cabo Mexico

Located within the ME Cabo resort, Passion is one of Cabo’s swankest night spots. The club is especially known for its theme parties and Thursday Ladies’ Nights. Photo: Victor Elias/Melia Hotels

Party

Over-hyped or totally awesome. Whatever your option of Cabo’s anything- goes watering holes, no vacation would be complete without a stop in one of them, if only to buy the T-shirt. But should you choose to give in and cut loose, you might find yourself hanging upside down like a prize catch at the Giggle Marlin, rocking out when Sammy Hagar makes a personal appearance onstage at his Cabo Wabo Cantina, or being goaded into an exhibitionist strut by the gregarious staff at El Squid Roe. Just be warned, it will take stamina to close these joints down, because the tequila flows freely and the action goes well into the wee hours.

Cabo Wabo Musicians, Cabo San Lucas Nightlife

Cabo Wabo has a reputation as the best place to hear live music in Cabo San Lucas. Internationally known performers share the stage with up-and-comers and Sammy Hagar himself. Photo: Cabo Wabo Cantina

Chill

If barefoot and beachfront is your thing, head for the office. No, not that familiar cubicle back in the states, but rather Cabo’s original waterfront hangout, The Office on the Beach. This thatched palapa has been a fixture of Médano Beach since the 1970s when it was a hangout for windsurfers and locals who dropped by for a quick cerveza and a fish taco. As Cabo grew from a quiet fishing village to an international destination, so too did the Office’s menu. Breakfast patrons can now opt for lobster omelets, while the dinner fare includes a range of fresh seafood and steak offerings, along with regional favorites and a notorious 16-ounce margarita. Tables spill out onto the sand, and the iconic rock formations of Land’s End loom in the background. The beachfront action can get lively in the afternoon and often spills over to the next-door Mango Deck. Here, a DJ presides and in-the- mouth tequila shooters are dispensed by a roving server who keeps his bottles in a hip holster, ready for deployment. For a quieter take on beachfront refreshment, head a quarter-mile up the sand to Tabasco Beach.

Quaff

If you are here for the beer, you can get it fresh from a pair of microbreweries located within walking distance of the marina district. The Baja Brewing Company blazed the way, serving up a selection of craft beers on a rooftop terrace at the Cabo Villas Beach Resort. Offerings range from blonde ales and ambers to oatmeal stout and a fruit-and-vegetable brew. A favorite savory accompaniment is the Beer Pizza, which as the name suggests, incorporates a bit of the brew into the dough. The menu pays homages to traditional pub favorites such as shepherd’s pie and onion rings, but also offers fresh fish and pastas. In early 2013, a second microbrewery joined the mix. The Ramuir Cerveza Artesanal Mexicano is a partnership between a local restaurateur and Tijuana-based microbrewer Cerveceria Ramuri. The downstairs restaurant cooks up a savory mix of entrees from land and sea in an open-air kitchen, while the best view in the house is from the rooftop beer garden, where handcrafted brews flow from tap and bottle.

Cabo San Lucas Drinks, Ramuri

Freshly brewed craft beers are the best call at the Ramuir Cerveza Artesanal Mexicano, which has an on-site brewery and rooftop beer garden. Photo: Leon Felipe Chargoy/Ramuri Cerveza Artesanal

Savor

With Cabo being just a quick hop from California, it’s no surprise that a bit of the Golden State’s wine culture has found its way south. The Los Cabos Winery was founded by Robert Turnage, who relocated from Santa Cruz, Calif., to establish the region’s first full-spectrum winery. Here, house labels are blended, barrel-aged and bottled in a temperature and humidity- controlled environment, and an adjacent retail venue offers a range of labels for sale. The venue is also home to wine tastings and one of the town’s premier restaurants, where meals are savored against a backdrop of live or recorded jazz, and a private wind cave awaits those seeking a truly intimate dinner setting. Another local favorite for oenophiles is the DOC Wine Bar, where chef Emanuele Oliviero cooks up traditional Italian favorites from locally and organically sourced ingredients. To complement these culinary offerings, owner Pietro Gioco has curated an extensive wine list that highlights Italian and Mexican vintages, with more than 200 labels to choose from.

 

 

postcard inn Islamorada, best tiki bars in florida
Eat, Florida, Florida Keys, Sarasota, Trip Ideas

Best Tiki Bars in Florida

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Thatched roofs, bar stools and crazy concoctions, made with lots of potent rum, are what you’ll find at these old and new tiki bars. Set on the Atlantic Ocean or the Gulf of Mexico, these Florida bars continue to attract the party folk. It doesn’t have to be happy hour to visit any of the on-the-edge-of-the-water bars, where making new friends gets easier with every sip.

Isle Tiki Bar, Islamorada

Back in the day the old salts packed this bar at the Holiday Isle Resort. And even after a 21st century face-lift and rebranding turned the property into the Postcard Inn Beach Resort & Marina, the outdoor Holiday Isle Tiki Bar with its thatched roof and vistas of the Atlantic Ocean continues to draw a crowd.

The Drink: Nothing will do but a Rum Runner, which supposedly was invented here.

Casey Key Tiki Bar, south of Sarasota

Any Saturday afternoon, the hogs are lined up roadside at the Casey Key Tiki Bar. Perched on an island between Casey Key and the mainland, the open-air bar is packed with the regulars in T-shirts and shorts and the visitors with signature Tommy Bahama attire. Squeeze in under the fringed roof or hang out on the little beach in the back, where doggies are welcome. 

The Drink: A pina colada on a hot sunny day works really well in this setting.

Stan’s Idle Hour, Goodland near Marco Island

If you’re on Marco Island on a Sunday, you have to make the drive to Goodland, an obscure spot made famous by the late Stan Gober when he opened Stan’s Idle Hour almost 30 years ago. This is a let your hair down kind of place where folks arrive by boat, bike and Benz to party the afternoon away with live music and curious conversation.

The Drink: You got to have the signature Stan’s Buzzard Punch, a concoction of light and dark rums, orange and pineapple juice and splashes of grenadine and sour mix.

Guanabanas, Jupiter

Definitely one of Florida’s more sophisticated choices, Guanabanas’ horseshoe-shaped bar is tucked behind thick tropical foliage under a palm-fringed roof just steps from the Loxahatchee River. Locals, from boaters to golfers, mix with visitors. During season, February to May, the line’s out the door.

The Drink: Topping the list is the My Wave Mojito, made with the Dominican Republic’s Atlantico Platino rum, muddled mint, lime juice and sugarcane.

Lido Key Tiki Bar, Sarasota

This tiki bar is right on the sand, so stroll on over sans sandals. One of the oldest around, the traditional Lido Key Tiki Bar was saved from bulldozers in 2003 by preservationists with help from the Ritz-Carlton, which now owns it. Guests from the hotel’s nearby beach club mingle with the locals who love this breezy Gulf-front spot.   

The Drink: Hurricane Category 5 is one of the strongest drinks served here. Banana, coconut, mango and pineapple rums get a 151-proof-rum floater, and the mix of orange, pineapple and cranberry juices disguises its potent character.