Totally Unauthorized

I’m in training now, keeping in top fitness to face the task of imbibing as many different lava flows as possible.  Just saying that makes me feel like Travis Bickel.

Consequently, I did nothing today, to prepare myself for the evening.  Played Bridge Base.  Lay in the sun a little, not too much.  Drove to the airport about 2 to pick up Toby and Molly.  Traded our “full size” car in on a mini-van, so we could get all 7 of us in one vehicle.  Ate lightly.  Took a short nap.

So I was in peak form as we entered the Planation restaurant, in Poipu, at the southern tip of the island.  The Plantation is just a big resort–they have a menu on the wall from 1975 where they mention being a “Victoria Station Restaurant”.  Made me wonder what happened to all those old railroad cars they turned into steakhouses in the mid 70’s.

Walked through a gorgeous orchid garden, then into the building.  We had a lovely table outside on a balmy evening with just a hint of rain on the drive down.  Eventually a waitress found us, and I placed the order for the Lava Flow.

There is a reason that big city restaurant reviewers try to be incognito and unrecognized.  The first drink I ordered was pretty plain.

What they give the proletariat.

It wasn’t a bad drink, it just wasn’t great.  Good proportion of strawberry puree, no big ice chunks, but just standard.

However.  The waitress noticed us hold up napkins trying to make a decent photo, and I told her about the Totally Unofficial blog’s quest for the perfect Lava Flow.  So when the second one came (because you really have to try two to make sure), I think she had a word with the barkeep, because it looked a trifle better:

A true tropical work of art.

Notice that this one has the blue umbrella–the mark of a great drink, I should think.  The green thing is a frond from the top of a pineapple–you can’t eat it and trying to lick the drink off it will shred your tongue, but it’s the thought that counts.

This one had more strawberry, too.  And I think even a bit more alcohol, although it’s really hard to tell.  Once they heard about the blog review, they went all out to give me a great drink.

Yes, there was dinner, too. I had grilled Ono, which is a much denser fish than I really prefer, but I’m flexible.  Gail had the seafood curry and loved it.  Toby and Molly split the vegetarian soba noodles.  The kids all shared the garden rolls–sort of like a sushi roll with veggies instead of fish.  Demi was drinking virgin Mojitos, which were served in a Mason jar for some esoteric reason.

Gail and I debated whether the service was as poor as it seemed to me or is everything here on “island time” and one should just expect things to happen when they do and no sooner.  The debate continues, no answer is immediately apparent.

No dessert tonight, so we could get back to the condo and surprise Toby with a birthday cake his cousins baked this afternoon.  Then he went right back to work–he has homework due at 9:30 tomorrow morning.  I looked at the questions, hoping that I would at least recognize the subject, but it was hopeless.  He is studying discrete math, whatever that is, and it’s way over my head.

So far, the score stands at 4 lava flows consumed.  The Plantation is better than The Oasis, and if they know you are a famous blogger they make better, or at least prettier, drinks.

Now I need a good nights sleep to be ready to continue the search tomorrow.