Kauai 2009 (Day 8)...Last Plate Lunch

Our vacation in Kauai was going to end today. We were leaving for Los Angeles in the afternoon. Before getting to the airport, we stopped by at Koloa Fish market (again!) to pick up our final plate lunch of this trip. We will miss this small fish market as much as the island itself.

My final plate lunch was Pan-fried Ahi with Wasabi Cream Sauce, and Roasted Pork with Teriyaki Sauce. Fantastic.

Kauai 2009 (Day 7)...Final Dinner

It's already been a week since we landed in this island. We are leaving tomorrow. We decided to do our final dinner in our vacation home again. Today was a group of 5 people. I quickly fixed all the dishes for us.

I picked up more fish from Koloa Fish Market. Fresh Ahi and Opa fish. I sliced the ahi to serve as sashimi.

And for opa, I cut it into pieces and marinated quickly in light vinaigrette I made before pan-frying.

Ooooh, the quality of the fish was just superb.

It was such a wonderful dinner with a lot of wine.

Kauai 2009 (Day 7)...Plate Lunch in Salt Pond Beach

We drove down to Salt Pond Beach in the west Kauai to hang out today.

On our way, we picked up our lunch at Koloa Fish Market again! My plate lunch was Pan-fried Ahi with Teriyaki Sauce. Their teri sauce was light and very nice. It's not like the typical thick sweet sauce you find at other market.

More poke...and Jason and their Lau Lau and Kalua Pig Lunch Plate again.

The beach was so peaceful and nice. The ocean was calm and very clear. I saw so many fish.

Before we went back home, we stopped by at Ishihara Market in Waimea. It's another good market for bento, etc.

Fun day.

Kauai 2009 (Day 6)...Home Dinner

Since we are staying at a vacation rental condo by the ocean in Poipu Beach, we took advantage of the situation and dined in tonight.

We picked up most of the ingredients at Big Save (4444 Rice Street, Lihue). This is a popular market for the locals. They have a good variety of fresh fish there also.

Mmmm...Hanalei Poi! I love it so much. It has a mild and very fresh flavor.

I quickly fixed some poke, etc...I also pan-fried mahi mahi.

Simple, but delicious island style dinner...we enjoyed the poke with temaki-style.

Kauai 2009 (Day 5)...Dinner at Kalaheo Cafe

Our dinner tonight was at Kalaheo Cafe (2-2560 Kaumualii Hwy., Kalaheo), which is a cute little cafe/ restaurant up in the mountain. Our local friend is a frequent diner there, so we met him there.

It's a very casual and low-key place with mostly local people. I liked their relaxing ambience.

I had Beets and Kalaheo Greens Salad, and Fresh-catch Crab-stuffed Mahi Mahi with Purple Yam.

Jason had Grilled Pork Chop.

We brought nice wines.

Dessert was Pumpkin Crunch.

It was a fun nice dinner.

Kauai 2009 (Day 5)...Plate Lunch from Koloa Fish Market

We drove up to Waimea Canyon for picnic.

On our way there, we picked up some lunch at Koloa Fish Market (5482 Koloa Road., Koloa). This is our favorite fish market and also the lunch plate spot.

Ahi poke and seaweed salad...I think both are the best kinds you can find in the island.

My Lau Lau (pork, wrapped in taro leaf and steamed) was phenomenal. Best lau lau I've had!

Dessert was Popo's cookies. Their cookies are also Kauai's best.

And, of course, the view of Waimea Canyon was breathtaking!

Kauai 2009 (Day 4)...Dinner at BarAcuda in Hanalei

After the long fun day on the beach, we stayed in Hanalei for dinner.

Mai Tai tasted especially good after all the beach activities.

Our dinner spot was BarAcuda (5-5161 Kuhio Hway., Hanalei), which is a cool tapas restaurant in the area. They use a lot of local ingredients, while the food presentation is more updated and less "Hawaiian fusion" style.

We shared a bunch of dishes such as...Kailani Farms green salad with the goat cheese from the local goat cheese farm), Bacalao, Grilled scallop, Opa, etc. etc...

Very good food. We had a good time.