Author: Gail

Eating My Way Through the Alphabet: Letter V

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Virginia Smoked Ham Sandwich! The wonderful thing about baking a Virginia smoked ham is the assortment of menu options you glean from a three-pound ham purchase. And with picnic season upon us, this is a quick and easy meal to enjoy at the park. 
VIRGINIA SMOKED HAM SANDWICH 
Ingredients:

1/2 pound shaved precooked smoked Virginia ham pieces

4 slices sesame seed artisan bakery-fresh bread

2 tablespoons butter

2 slices Baby Swiss cheese

Mayonnaise or Mustard, optional to taste

Dill Pickle wedge for garnish
Instructions: 

Butter top sides of bread all the way to the edge. Put two slices into a heated skillet over medium-low heat. Assemble ham and Swiss cheese; top with remaining bread slices. Cook until golden brown on each side, turning once. Serve with the slightly tart taste of a dill pickle. Add a tossed salad and sea salt Kettle chips for the perfect meal!

Fire on the Hill

What we assumed would be another day at the beach turned out to be the exact opposite. The tropical sun hung high in the azure sky as though it were a yellow yoyo suspended from a length of string connecting it to a fluffy white cloud. From our vantage point on the cliff, Kalapaki Bay offered its unbeatable ocean view. On the walk to the beach, just beyond the Pali Kai security gate closure, Gerald suddenly glanced backward, as if on instinct. Thick plumes of gray-blue smoke appeared to be pouring from the row of seaside cliff houses into the bay directly beyond the Lincoln condo. In an instant, we pivoted on our heels and headed in the direction of the smoke. As far as we knew, some of the cliff houses were not yet occupied for the winter months. This caused concern in our eyes…and dread as to what lie ahead. Passing each place brought relief, followed by curiosity. What was on fire? And where were the fire trucks? Finally, at the end of the road, where the cliff sharply drops off to a lighthouse beacon surrounded by jutting black lava mounds, the plumes of heavy smoke thickened like fog. Down the sandy path banked by tall dry grasses, past the 6th hole of the resort golf course, the sea turned a lush green. Unfortunately today, the sky appeared a hypnotic smoky grey color. As if from the depths of Hell, suffocating smoke plumes intensified like smog. Suddenly, the bleating, looping wail of sirens signaled help was on the way. A city fire truck followed by a reserve water tanker dispensed a crew of experienced firefighters to access the situation and quickly get it under control. In a marginal amount of time they had it sized up, contained, and extinguished. The investigating officer took it from there. 

Dining Outside the Home: Café Art Hemingway in Old Kapaa Town, Kauai

Dining Outside the Home: Café Art Hemingway in Old Kapaa Town, Kauai.  At first glance, it may appear as though this quaint little eatery, in that elusive shade of French Blue, is located along a scenic waterway flanked by a pastoral countryside in the south of France. On the front terrace the prized wicker chairs, with their airy casual character, suggest this is a place where friends kick off their shoes and relax while sipping espresso coffee and nibbling on buttery baguettes. After all, the simpler things in life can be an adventure on a somewhat ordinary day. Step inside Café Art Hemingway where food becomes art. It can be a raw delicacy, a creative masterpiece, an expression of the chef, or a delight for the eyes as well as the palate. You choose the genre from the diverse menu offerings, as long as it’s Old World European blended with a shot of Hawaiian cuisine. Merci Aloha!

Hemingway Sighting? 

“You can write any time 

people will leave you alone 

and not interrupt you. 

Or rather, you can if you will be 

ruthless enough about it. 

But the best writing is certainly 

when you are in love.” 

~ Ernest Hemingway 

Movie on the Lawn Under the Stars

Grab a lawn chair, cuddle under a beach towel, or dip your toes in the sand….as long as you stick around when the sun begins to set below the Kauaiian sunset. The Marriott Beach Resort at Kalapaki Bay offers ocean-front seating for an outdoor movie presentation that is sure to entertain. Watch the original 1961 release of “Blue Hawaii”, starring the heartthrob, Elvis Presley and sexy Joan Blackman. You’ll, no doubt, recognize the Coco Palms Resort Hotel on the east coast of Kauai as well as Lydgate Park. Absorb the romance, snap your fingers to the music, clap with the sounds of the waves on the seashore. This is what vacations are made of. Aloha, Kauai!

Dining Outside the Home: JJ’s Broiler in Lihue, Kauai

Dining Outside the Home: JJ’s Broiler in Lihue, Kauai!  When visiting a tropical island, it’s not unusual to expect fresh fish daily as well as locally-grown ingredients. Open the menu at JJ’s Broiler and see. “Voted Island’s Best” Fish and Chips is a natural choice, in my opinion. A generous platter of Pacific Mahi Mahi engulfed in a crispy beer batter coating is paired with seasoned french fries for a salty crunch that does not disappoint. The house tartar sauce is a nice complement. Take advantage of the spectacular ocean view. Dine on the outdoor terrace for an open-air experience. Ignore the feathered friends wandering around. They simply cannot resist a crumb or two that has fallen to the ground. 

Millennial Pool Chair Thieves Lack Respect 

Me, me, me. I want it, I deserve it, I’m gonna take it. Everyone who travels to a 5-star beach resort understands about pool etiquette. Senior citizens get it. Adolescent boys are taught it. Generation Xers understand it. Respect, Regard, Refrain. Pool security guards expect it…because there are distinct clues. Those who take the time to visit the staff at the Towel Hut, receive the day’s color-coded wristbands, arrange two chaise loungers under a patio umbrella, and neatly fold the beach towels so they meet in the middle, are clear indications that “These chairs are taken”. In many resorts, the Pool Manager even goes so far as to lay out towel-covered cushions over a chaise lounger placed in the shade of a patio umbrella hours before an elderly guest needs it. So why is it that a couple of Millennials have the audacity to scoop the beach towels off the chairs of their choosing, toss them in a heap, and plop themselves down as if “Entitlement” is their middle name? Where do they think they are? On an All-Inclusive Party Boat where chair hoggers are known to greedily grab more chairs than they need? News flash: the ones who placed the towels there initially ARE going to show up. And they will not be pleased with your rude actions! So don’t pretend you’re asleep or cast your eyes away as if you’ve done nothing wrong. Grow up, learn how to respect others, and learn about etiquette. Because in the end, you “reap what you sow, more than you sow, later than you sow.” Do the right thing. Then you won’t have to spend the remainder of your vacation looking over your shoulder. Rant over!

Dining Outside the Home: Gaylord’s at Kilohana in Lihue, Kauai

Dining Outside the Home: Gaylord’s at Kilohana in Lihue, Kauai!  Nothing compares to an enchanting plantation sprawling with cool island breezes, fragrant foliage, flirting dragonflies, and a tropical Hawaiian buffet that’s easy like Sunday morning. Gaze upon the lush landscape where children frolic, beyond the terrace, on the estate lawn. Romantic music fills the air with cello music soothing the soul that can make a wise man weep; especially Pachelbel’s Canon in D which brings back memories of wedding day bliss. Who hasn’t felt that before? Kudos to Diane Rubio for being spot on. Gaylord’s Sunday Brunch offers healthy farm fresh selections as well as Polynesian favorites. Choose wisely. Whatever the craving, pace yourself. The bounty continues long after you’ve had your fill.