Totally Unauthorized

And we’re gone.

I’m sitting in Dallas (where else?), having flown all night from Honolulu.  Meeting Mike in a couple or three more hours, then on to Knoxville, renting a car and driving to Gatlinburg for a week of big boy bridge with the Unit 499 travelling squad– Micky, Bob Munson, Danny Friedman, Jack Scott and Bruce Tuttle.

We’ll play three sessions a day, rotating our three pairs in and out.  Play 24 boards, sit out 12.  It’s my third year on the team, Mike’s seventh or eighth.  Mike takes a hotel, the rest of us share a house and talk too much bridge when we aren’t playing.

But I need to finish the story of Hawaii.

Friday night we ate at the St. Regis, a stunning resort on the north side of the island.  The economy must still be bad–there were more staff than guests.  The lobby must be more than acre, with not a single person in it.

We ate in the Grill, in a semi-private room for the 7 of us. We had enjoyed the sunset on the drive, and could still see a hint of color in the sky as we sat down, then watched the headlights of the cars on the road across the bay. The dinner was excellent, and we have a winner for the Lava Flow Quest.

Yes, it needs an umbrella.

By far the best Lava Flow I had–smooth, deep rich coconut taste, just the right amount of strawberry, I could even taste the liquor.

I can't resist foie gras

I started with the foie gras, a particular weakness of mine.  It’s pretty much impossible to OD on, because it is on so few menus.  This dish was interesting because it was served with roasted mango, something I’ve not seen before.  You need the intense sweetness to balance the richness of the goose liver, and foie gras is often served with a fruit confit of some sort.  This was better.

Gail had the heart of palm salad.  She likes that much more than I do, and where can you find it better than in Hawaii?

We started with a bottle of Prosecco to celebrate Toby’s 21st birthday (and Molly’s, who is 6 weeks older).

Entrees came and went, all excellent.  I had Ahi, Gail had short ribs.  We all had a good time and a fine meal.

Saturday, we went back to the North, to the very end of the road, and sat on the beach all afternoon.  Some snorkeled, I even waded out just enough to say I had been in the water.  Kauai is overrun with wild chickens, since there are no natural predators on the island, and they are all over the beach, often with chicks in tow.

Our last meal of the trip was at the Beach House, in Poipu, on the southern tip.  It’s only about 45 or 50 miles from one end of the island to the other, so even though you never go over 50 you can get everywhere fairly easily.

The Beach House didn’t impress me, although Toby loved it.  The facility is spectacular–right on the beach, completely open on the ocean side.  Flood lights on the water and tiki torches on the lawn, ocean breezes coming in the room, the setting is wonderful.

The first bad sign was the Lava Flow.  It was awful.

How not to make a Lava Flow

Way too much strawberry, no discernible liquor, just not a winner in any way.

The rest of the dinner was just OK.  Not bad, not great.  I just wasn’t thrilled with this restaurant at all, perhaps because I was so disappointed with the drinks.

And that’s it–we had a blast.  Kate and the girls are staying a few more days, Toby and Molly are back in Seattle, Gail is home and I’m in Dallas for a two more hours then a week in redneck heaven.  Life is good.