A Tribute to All Drinks Lychee: ENJOY!

A peeled lyche

Lychee’s, which are  native to southern China, Taiwan and Southeast Asia, are one of my absolute favorite fruits. Great for snacking they are packed with vitamin C and their delicate sweet flavor makes them a stellar addition to any dessert. However, there is one way in particular that I enjoy lychee’s best and that is in a drink!

You can find them at Asian markets and food specialty stores near almost every major city (the canned ones in syrup are best for happy hour usage) and they are relatively inexpensive. Though I am not a big fan of vodka I find that this is the best liquor to use when making these drinks as it tends to take on the flavor of this tropical fruit easier than other liquor. Below are a few of my favorite recipes that you can use this weekend. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

Cheers,

Kath

Lychee Drinks with Vodka:

1.       http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/rescue-chef/lychee-martini-recipe/index.html (*My favorite!)

2.       http://www.drinksmixer.com/drink10312.html

Lychee Drinks with Rum:

1.       http://www.cocktailatlas.com/Lychee_Rum_Swizzle/Swizzles.htm

2.       http://www.drinknation.com/drink/lychee-mojito

Lychee Drinks with Tequila:

1.       http://www.food.com/recipe/lychee-margarita-100344

2.       http://cocktails.about.com/od/tequilarecipes/r/crchng_tgr_shtr.htm (A shot because let’s face it; if you love tequila you probably love to take shots!) 

Kayaking Through a Century Old Canal? Yes, Please.

Over 100 year old canal

 Amidst all the drinks and food you encounter while traveling, it is nice to throw in a few aerobic and anaerobic activities to level out the inevitable caloric intake. I am a HUGE fan of trying something new on every trip and outdoor adventures are no exception. When I booked my trip to Hawaii I started to do some research on different activities, but there was one in particular that made me stop and think, “Wow, I have never even heard of this!” That activity was a kayak ditch adventure. 

Kohala Ditch Adventure on the big island offers this unique experience and a little something extra. From the time you arrive to sign in you are loaded into Pinzauger's and taken on a half hour ride up the mountain, which is stunning,  to the start of the “ditch”. The ditch is actually not a ditch at all, but a 100 year old canal that was previously used to irrigate the sugar plantations in the area. After your ride up the mountain, you cross a foot bridge, hop in the kayak and off you go! 

Be advised the person on the front and back have to do some work as the water moves fairly slowly, but going through the underground canals and rainforest makes every ounce of effort worth it. A bonus; the invasive species guava is everywhere and for those who like fresh fruit it is available to pick and eat before and after the trip. Some things to remember before you head out; a change of clothes, a pair of sandals (flip flops are not permitted), a towel and sunscreen. You will be out in the sun during this excursion and you will get wet!

A strawberry guava

 

To find out more, or to schedule your adventure, visit http://kohaladitchadventures.com/.

 

Little Lunch-Big Flavor

Another stop on the Hilo food adventure was a little shop called Tamari Lunch.  A relatively small establishment, this Japanese restaurant changes their menu daily ensuring that whatever item you chose is as fresh as it is tasty. I had the pleasure of trying one of their small portion lunches consisting of one meat, shredded cabbage and rice. It was the perfect amount of food for a day of walking, shopping and, well, eating! 

For my meat choice I opted for pork bulgogi, which is Korean in origin, and is translated to mean “fire meat.” Slightly spicy with stir-fried veggies and a sweet garlic/shoyu sauce, I recommend stopping by for a bite when you make it to the big island. 

They also offer vegetarian options as well, so for those who prefer to say no to all things with eyes, you too can still enjoy a great, cheap eat at Tamari. Just be open, be adventurous, and be HUNGY. 

P.S.- It tastes even better when you eat it on top of a newspaper stand. 

Mahalo,

Kath

Spam Musubi

I first heard of this Hawaiian delicacy whilst watching the famed “No Reservations”. Considering this show to be a relatively accurate portrayal of restaurant and food know how, I was intrigued when Anthony Bourdain referred to this food as the one he would most like to eat when stoned, and decided that when I took my trek to the big island I too would eat this savory snack. Since it was touted as a relatively common snack I did not waste my time googling to find what place served the best “Spam sushi”. That is what Spam musubi is after all. Wrapped in seaweed and sandwiched between rice and thick slice of lightly fried spam, it would be hard to miss.

Koji's: Hilo, Hawaii

So on my trip to Hilo, I decided to stop a local, disheveled man who had just stepped out of his, what seemed to be duct tapped together car, and asked him where I might be able to find the best local food. He pointed half way down the block and with a wave of cigarette smoke directed me to Koji’s; a rundown lunch stop that also looked like it could use some duct tape. Yes, this would certainly have the coveted Japanese-gone-Hawaiian treat. And as my food profiling perceptions tend to be, I was right.

Sitting on the lunch counter, wrapped in plastic wrap there it was. I ordered one, which was about the size of my hand for under $3 and took to the street. It was salty, it was fatty, and it was GOOD.  There isn’t much else you can say about it. It isn’t vibrant; it doesn’t have layers of flavor, but rather just stops itself at damn good. Rest assured as scary as spam may be, you haven’t eaten Hawaiian food, REAL Hawaiian food, until you’ve had some!

Spam Musubi

I am:

By: Katherine Russo

I am a distaste for 40 being the new 20,

Just as much as I am an aversion to 13 being the new 30.

I am reverence for the societal past tense of common sense

 just as much as I am a veneration for the nation that used to stand for something.

I am contemplation.

I am restoration.

I am the syndication of an idea we have long since forgotten.

An Idea:

It is this noun I speak of,

 the four letters that spells speak up

 that pushes to the forefront on my mind the myriad of wasted time that has consumed us.

We have spent so long looking for progress in congress

 that we grew restless and spoke so loudly that no one heard us.

Our ideas lack a mission and instead take note of only individual person’s positions

and in the one man tradition we have lost the point.

The point of standing together,

of pushing for whatever from whomever,

because it is never given to us from birth but it is our right.

It is our right to demand.

It is our right to reprimand our governing body when we so choose.

It is our right to stand up and be counted;

but let us not get so lost in our ideas of progress that we become countless.

Because individual missions will never hold positions of power like individuals who are dedicated to a cause.

So instead:

Lets our missions be counted and our ideas countless.

And focus on the content of our struggle with you unity that resides outside of you and me,

because you and me are just the WHO.

The WHO that means nothing in relation to the WHAT.

So for the entirety of my mentality that is what I will strive to be:

No longer a WHO but a WHAT

And what that what is: IS AN IDEA.

Because very simply put; Ideas never die.