Category: Beer

Road Trip – Zuzu Revisited and Grabbing a Beer from Craft 64 (Scottsdale)

American/New American Restaurants, Beer, Dog Friendly, Phoenix/Scottsdale/Chandler/Central AZ, Road Trip, Travel

Back in January, we took JJ for his first road trip of the year. The Missus really wanted to take him to Sedona. Well, I figured we’d stop for a couple of nights in Scottsdale again. The Hotel Valley Ho is very dog friendly and the Missus really enjoyed the restaurant there; Zuzu.

The weather was much more pleasant this time around. On our previous trip, which was during the month of March, Phoenix was experiencing record heat! This time, JJ really enjoyed walking around old town Scottsdale.

And we decided on an early dinner at Zuzu.

I settled in with a nice, stiff Old Fashioned.

The Missus enjoyed the Cauliflower the last time….it was replaced by Romanesco ($14).

We find it interesting that the combination of fromage blanc and Thai Basil works well together. Though the capers were a bit too much for the dish. Still, this was our favorite dish of the meal.

If there’s one thing I want right away after leaving the state of California, it’s foie gras. So, I just needed to order the Beef Cheek and Foie Gras Gyoza ($22) from the Chef’s Special menu.

Well, this was a bit of a disappointment. The wrappers were plasticky and brittle, the chili crunch overwhelmed the dish. We could barely make out the offal-ly-savory flavor of the foie gras, the beef cheeks was really stringy. It was perhaps a too “over-the-top” dish?

We got 2 Short Rib Empanadas ($5 each).

The Chimichurri was very oily and bland…I like a lot of garlic and good sharp tones in my chimichurri and it was missing here. The crust of the empanada was much more crumbly and delicate than I was used to.

The filling was tasty, but a bit on the dry side.

Of course we had to get our favorite dish from our last visit; the Terra Heritage Wagyu Beef Carpaccio, which is amazingly, still just $21!

While still a bargain, this was not as good as what we’d had previously. The beef was room temp, so it lacked that refreshing edge. It also had a metallic taste to it. Loved all the Grana Padano which added some milky-savory-saltiness to the dish and the pumpernickel crumble added textural contrast. Not enough Dijonnaise this time around and we missed the anise tones of caraway which was missing this time around. Kind of a bummer since we really loved this dish last time.

Oh well, at least the service was nice, the price with my cocktail and the Missus’s wine was under $100 before tip! And our dinner the following night was a winnah!

ZuZu (In Hotel Valley Ho)
6850 E Main St.
Scottsdale, AZ 85251

After dinner, the Missus wanted some time to relax, so “Da Boyz” had to find something to do. Well, there’s a Brew Pub – Pizza place less than a block away from the hotel named Craft 64. I walked over and the place has a nice back patio….and it wasn’t super busy so JJ and I got a table on the patio.

They’ve got over 30 beers on tap here! Talk about analysis-paralysis right?

In the end I got a light and refreshing Rocky Point Blonde.

4.5 ABV, low IBU. Just a nice and light brew.

And JJ enjoyed hanging out as well.

Craft 64 – Scottsdale
6922 E Main St.
Scottsdale, AZ 85251

We enjoyed our evening in Scottsdale and the Missus had some activities up Her sleeve for the following day!

Road Trip – Seaside Gardens and Zookers Restaurant (Carpinteria)

American/New American Restaurants, Beer, Dog Friendly, Road Trip, Santa Barbara County, Travel

On the way back from Summerland, I decided to make one more stop. The Missus is really into Her plants these days….and I had read about Seaside Botanical Gardens right outside Carpinteria. Yes, it’s a nursery and plant shop….however, it spans three-and-a-half acres featuring plants from various regions around the world.

It’s also dog friendly……and plants are separated by region. The folks working here are so very knowledgeable.

It was so relaxing and yet overwhelming at the same time…….it just went to point out how little we know!

We’ll be stopping here whenever we’re in the area!

Seaside Gardens
3700 Via Real #3050
Carpinteria, CA 93013

When we got back to the downtown area, we decided to do some shopping…..the Missus had fun with some of the thrift stores….some of which had fun items…..

And no….that’s not a “real” goldfish!

Walking down Carpinteria Avenue we passed this huge tree.

This is the Wardholme Torrey Pine, standing at 126 feet tall, it is the largest Torrey Pine in the world!

After a short respite in our room, we decided to head on out for dinner. I had chosen a place a short walk away, named Zookers. Located in the Casitas Shopping Center, Zookers also has a meat and seafood market…so I thought the food might not be too bad.

Plus, they had a large patio area…perfect for JJ!

Service outside was a bit slow….we noticed this for others who sat al fresco as well. Very nice and friendly folks though. The Missus enjoyed Her glass of a White Blend from Paso Robles and I got a Island Brewing Blond, made locally in Carpinteria, fairly clean and refreshing, with a hint of hops.

We ordered one starter and an “entree” salad.

First up were the Duck Confit Tacos ($22).

Man, this was not very good. The tortillas were waxy-mass produced stuff. The duck “confit” was dry and chewy; really lacking in flavor as well. Not enough cheese to have an affect on the tacos as well.

What was good was the Dry Aged Rib Eye Steak Salad ($33). I think I need to put salad in quotes since the only representative “garden green” in this was the very crisp and refreshing Romain Lettuce. It was quite good and we were told it’s locally grown.

The rib eye, while a bit overdone for our requested medium rare was very tender in spite of the looks! It was perfectly seasoned and man, it was so beefy and earthy.

Since Zookers had a meat market; in spite of the Missus’s reservations, I wanted to order some red meat and I’m glad we did! This was our favorite meal in Carpinteria and nowadays, the Missus will order a steak now and then! It was a nice way to end our little road trip.

Zookers Restaurant
5404 Carpinteria Ave. (in the Casitas Plaza Shopping Center)
Carpinteria, CA 93013

Breakfast was provided by the hotel. And the next morning, before checking out I took JJ for a short walk where he managed to meet a “cousin”, named Louie…..who it turned out was also staying at the same hotel!

It was a rather short, but fun road trip…..the 11th week took in 2025! Crazy, huh?

Galapagos – Urbina Bay (Isabela Island) and Volcanic Eruption on Fernandina Island

Airport/Airline/Cruise/Rail Food, Beer, Ecuador, Galapagos, Travel

After exploring Punta Espinoza and an awesome snorkel session, we headed off to Ubina Bay which is on the largest island of the Galapagos Archipelago, Isabela Island.

We did a smooth wet landing. Apparently; this bay really didn’t exist until 1954, when a tectonic uplift caused the seabed to rise over 16 feet, creating an additional half mile of coastline. We were told to keep our eyes peeled as the largest known land tortoises, the Volcán Alcedo giant tortoise, named after the volcano in the area and some of the largest land iguanas live in the area.

We started seeing the giant tortoises immediately after the trail edged away from the newly formed shoreline.

There was one large empty tortoise shell from one that had died a while back.

And then we started seeing the land iguanas in the scrub.

And yes, they looked very large and well fed.

We ended to walk a bit early and were told that we were going to make a detour for something special.

So, while folks settled in, our Concierge, the wonderful Jocelyn said she had set up something for us and directed us to the a small door. Thru the door was the tiny galley. The couple of days before, both the Missus and I had noted how much we had enjoyed the chimichurri that was served. Jocelyn had apparently been overhearing the Missus and I chatting about our meals during the trip….were we that obvious? Sheesh….

Anyway, we were led into the phone booth sized galley and met the chef. And then he went thru making the chimichurri.

Jocelyn explained that they serve a “smoked” chimichurri…that is, once the chimichurri has been prepped, two hot stones are placed in the sauce to create a deeper, smokier flavor!

Pretty cool, huh? This little “excursion” really gave me an immense respect for what was being served….it all came out of this tiny kitchen!

From here, while the Missus freshened up, I sat on the deck, having some liquid refreshment….

While watching our “escort” to our next destination.

As we got back to Fernandina, it became clear what our destination was going to be…..

No, you can’t see it here….but….

You see what I see?

Yes, La Cumbre Volcano was erupting!

The lava getting to the ocean made for quite a dramatic sight!

Especially as the sun started to set…..

Lest you think this is an everyday occurrence…..even the crew wanted their photos taken. This is Farley and Luiz, two of the amazing bartenders/staff……

As night settled in; the view got even more dramatic.

And for most people; this would be a once in a lifetime view.

I now feel that I’ve been blessed by Madame Pele twice in my life!

And our dinner on this evening was one of our favorites on this cruise!

The grilled prawns were really delish!

That sopa de choclo, was quite good….great corn flavor…..and it gave us a taste of some Ecuadorian cuisine.

That chimichurri we saw them making was presented with dinner on the beef. Though it was the roasted potatoes with a hint of truffle that I enjoyed.

All in all, a fun, eventful day!

Roadtrip – Kalani’s Revisited, South of North Brewing Company, and the Echo Lake Trail (Lake Tahoe). A revisit to The Alchemists’ Garden (Paso Robles)

American/New American Restaurants, Asian Fusion/Pacific Rim/Hawaii Style Fusion, Beer, Dog Friendly, Lake Tahoe, Paso Robles/Cambria/San Luis Obispo County, Road Trip, Travel

On our last full day in South Lake Tahoe; the Missus chose the Echo Lakes Trail, which you need a permit for. It was a pretty easy trail.

There’s an area called Echo Pass which has wonderful views.

The trail is basically along the lake.

JJ’s not fond of the heat and direct sunlight, so we’re glad we made an early start.

Another benefit of getting an early start is that we easily found parking. The lot isn’t very big and was full to the brim upon our return. The trail was starting to get busy, so we were happy to leave and head back to the hotel.

For lunch, we just stopped by the Whole Foods and got some prepared food and it enjoyed it on the porch and relaxed. And of course we had a nice nap!

When dinner time arrived, we strolled on over to Heavenly Village. This was a Tuesday evening so things weren’t quite as hectic.

We had enjoyed Kalani’s the previous evening; so we decided to head on back.

We walked in, fully intent of doing HH in the bar area again; but strangely, it was quite busy. The wonderful hostess just sat us in the dining room. As it was just past 5pm, we were the only customers.

I only got a mocktail on this evening….which was quite refreshing.

The Missus wanted those Brussel Sprouts again, which were just as good as what we’d had the previous evening.

And of course that crisp; then buttery textured pork belly.

Though we tried it with the sauce again….well, it’s still “no bueno”. The lovely pork belly was just perfect for our taste as is.

The Missus wanted one more dish and decided to try the Baby Back Ribs.

The Ginger-Soy-Garlic sauce was pretty good; if a bit strong in terms of ginger flavor; but the ribs were super tough and chewy. We probably should have stuck with the Miso Chilean Sea Bass.

Still, if we’re in the area, we’ll definitely return to Kalani’s. Here’s some history on Kalani’s if you’re interested. The founders are from Oahu.

Kalani’s
1001 Heavenly Village Way
South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150

On the way back to our room…..well..to give the Missus a break I took JJ to South of North Brewing.

It was a nice outdoor, really mellow area.

And we had a nice Blonde Ale……

And all seemed right in the world…….

South of North Brewing Co.
932 Stateline Ave.
South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150

The next day we had head back home……

But my goodness, a direct 7-8 hour drive wasn’t going to do it for us. So, we stopped in an area we had been to several times…….Paso Robles.

And then, after doing some shopping, had dinner a a place we’d been to many times before….The Alchemists’ Garden.

And while there were other places we’d prefer to dine at; the rail here was so very convenient. And having been here so many times; things were kind of easy.

The cocktails here are “king”….. I had the Nicolas Flamel…nice and spicy…..

The Missus got the Fifth Heaven, Mezcal with Dragonfruit and apricot…..

The last time we’d been here we thought the food was pretty good. So, we had dinner here.

This time though, it wasn’t quite as enjoyable.

The Yellowfin Tostadas were really fishy.

In fact, the Missus had one bite and couldn’t bear with anymore. It was on the very “pungent” side and quite assertive in flavor.

And then there was the Deviled Eggs.

Very strong tumeric tones….on the bitter end of the scale.

At least the bone marrow was still as good as before.

That cherry onion jam went really well with the rich, fatty, savory bone marrow.

Still, one out of three wasn’t really great for us…..we’ll need to find other options next time we’re in the area.

The Alchemists’ Garden
1144 Pine St.
Paso Robles, CA 93446

As for where we stayed….well, the Missus has developed an affinity for boutique style motels….and the Stables Inn really was that.

I mean…..it was a very hipster style motel…..very convenient.

I guess we’ll be staying here whenever we’re back in Paso Robles.

Road Trip – Dumpling 85, South Lake Brewing Company (Lake Tahoe), Van Sickle Rim Trail (Stateline NV), and My Thai Revisited (Lake Tahoe)

Beer, Chinese Restaurants, Dog Friendly, Lake Tahoe, Nevada, Road Trip, Thai Restaurants, Travel

Leaving Avila Beach, it was almost a seven hour drive to South Lake Tahoe. We had enjoyed our time in Tahoma during a previous road trip, but there weren’t dog friendly places to stay or eat in the area, so we thought we’d stay in South Lake Tahoe. I had wanted to book The Landing for our entire 5 night stay, but I wasn’t able to get accommodations there until Sunday. So, for the Friday – Saturday night stay, I got us a room in Forest Suites Resort, which was basically across the street from the very touristy Heavenly Village. We arrived and checked in…our room was on like the third floor.

Since it was almost five pm, we decided to head on out and find somewhere to eat. I recalled seeing a Chinese restaurant when doing my research…and by this time, the Missus wanted some Asian food already. We walked thru Heavenly Village.

And up Lake Tahoe Boulevard and saw Dumpling 85 in the Chateau at the Village Shopping Center.

We crossed the street and noted that they were pup friendly. They led us to a table and the Missus placed our order.

We saw the XLB and jiaozi on the way in and they didn’t look real good. We had breakfast at Avila Lighthouse Suites and heated up the leftover Beef Bourguignon so we just got the Stir Fried Green Beans and the Pork Baozi.

The Stir Fried Green Beans were undercooked and underseasoned.

Super hard and in need of more savory components. Almost raw…..

The Pork Baozi was strange. The “bun” portion had almost a chalky texture, really weird, that gave way to a soggy doughiness. The bottoms were almost like crackers!

The filling was fine, if on the chewy side. At least it was porky.

Dumpling 85
4125 Lake Tahoe Blvd.
South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150

The Missus went back to the room, while I took JJ to the corner of Heavenly Village Way and the South Lake Brewing Company Libation Lounge.

They had outdoor seating, so I walked in, ordered myself a Pilsner and had a seat outside.

I picked up my beer when ready and enjoyed the crisp, clean Pilsner.

South Lake Brewing Co. – The Libation Lodge Restaurant & Brewery
4000 Lake Tahoe Blvd. Suite 26
South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150

After which we walked along Heavenly Village Way which led us back to our accommodations. I could see the Heavenly Mountain Gondola passing right over our hotel.

We slept well.

The Forest Suites Resort has a free breakfast, which is nice. We just ran over and got some yogurt and stuff, before walking to our morning destination.

One great thing about where we stayed is that basically across the street is the entrance to Van Sickle Bi-State Park. We just walked along the road, crossing the border into Nevada.

A bit further up the road was the Van Sickle Rim Trail. A nice, almost 7 mile hike, with a 1,000 foot elevation gain. And of course, JJ handled it much better than I did.

Nice views…..

And even a waterfall along the way.

It was nice to have access to a trail in walking distance from our accommodations.

Returning to our room, we decided on a return visit to My Thai which was a ten minute drive away. We had been pleasantly surprised when we had dined here back in 2023. We weren’t sure if they were dog friendly and thought we could do takeout. The host was really funny, he said we could bring JJ, but there was a “two bark” rule in place! Lol! There was an Australian Shepherd having lunch with his family there as well.

We ordered our two favorite dishes from our precious visit. The Lao Style Papaya Salad, which we got medium spicy. Just as before, this was quite legit, from the salted crab to the funky fermented flavors.

All balanced out by the acidic tones and tomatoes. The shredded papaya was crisp and refreshing. I enjoyed the chicharrons as well.

We also got the Basil Duck.

Which was a bit sweeter than on our last visit, but still nice anise-savory tones. The duck was chewy, but flavorful. There was much more “meat” this time as on our previous visit it was mostly skin and fat.

It seemed like they used an onigiri mold to plate the rice, don’t you think?

The rice was on the drier side, but fragrant.

All in all, a nice lunch.

My Thai Cuisine
2108 Lake Tahoe Blvd.
South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150

And after lunch…well, it was nap time of course!

Road Trip – Locals Taproom, Mr. Rick’s/Custom House (Avila Beach) and Industrial Eats (Buellton) Yet Again

American/New American Restaurants, Beer, Paso Robles/Cambria/San Luis Obispo County, Pubs and Pub Grub, Road Trip, Santa Barbara County, Travel

Just three weeks after returning from our short stay in Idyllwild we were headed out again. This time for a bit of a longer Road Trip. Because our final destination would be over 9 hours driving, I decided we should break things up a bit. We’d be going in a bit of a roundabout way, but I thought the combination of both the shore and the mountains would be fun.

On our way out, we stopped at a place I’ve posted on numerous times; Industrial Eats in Buellton. Of course, we just got our favorites; the Smoked Duck Salad and Miso Cod which never fails to satisfy.

Industrial Eats
181 Industrial Way
Buellton, CA 93427

From there it was just an hour drive to our destination in SLO. I’d read a bit about a little beach town named Avila Beach. So, we decided to stay there to expand our horizons a bit. It is a charming little town of about 1,600 people. There’s basically one avenue where most of the businesses are located, Front Street, a portion of which is pedestrian only.

We stayed at the Avila Lighthouse Suites, which is very dog friendly, at one end of Front Street, and right across from the beach.

A decent view of the park and the some of the beach from our patio.

After checking in, we decided to take a short stroll.

Being just a short drive from SLO, I can imagine how busy the beach here must be during weekends and holidays. But this was a Wednesday, so things were so laid back and mellow.

We walked down Front Street until the road headed up the hill.

Then wandered back down the street to the pier, which is dog friendly.

Which gave us an nice view of the waterfront.

We headed back to our room to relax for a bit. Dogs are allowed on the beach before 10am and after 5pm. So a bit before 5 we headed out and took a look at the lagoon and river on the other side of Avila Beach Drive. I wanted to find the path we’d be taking for our walk the following day.

And immediately at 5pm, we were back on the beach, right across from Avila Lighthouse Suites where JJ had a “swinging time”.

The Missus went to change and freshen up for dinner. JJ and I decided to grab a “cold one” and the Missus would meet us for dinner.

There was a place about a block away, down on the corner of San Miguel Street and 1st named Locals Taproom.

I asked the woman manning the bar if dogs were allowed, she laughed and said, “of course!” The small bar was full of folks, all of whom seemed to be from the area. All of the brews were also from the area….I guess that’s why they call it “Locals”.

I got the Aurora a Belgian Blonde made by the Apogee Brewing Company made in Grover Beach, just south of Pismo Beach.

Very easy to drink…perfect for a warm day!

All the folks came to pet JJ….who ate it up!

It’s totally our kind of place!

The woman working, who is also one of the owners was so welcoming saying if we wanted to, we can bring outside food here as well. She also introduced me to one of the local brew masters who was having a beer at the bar! Really nice folks!

Locals Taproom
90 San Miguel St.
Avila Beach, CA 93424

Soon enough, the Missus walked on over and we strolled down Front Street looking for a place to have dinner. There are two businesses right next to each other; a large bar named Mr. Rick’s……

We had a seat on the patio and I ordered the Missus some wine and I got myself a cold one. The food is provided next door at Custom House, which has a typical food menu; everything from burgers to sandwiches, salads, fish and shrimp tacos, that sort of thing. I ordered the Carne Asada Fries from the counter at Mr. Rick’s when grabbing our drinks. And soon enough it was brought to our table from Custom House.

Man, this was huge! I’m thinking it was worth the $21 price tag.

It was typical, cheesy, chewy, but slightly smoky tri-tip, the fries were nicely crisp. The hot sauce was pretty mild, but it was what we basically expected.

And it was more than enough food for both the Missus and I!

Mr. Rick’s/Custom House
404 Front St.
Avila Beach, CA 93424

We rolled back to our room at Avila Lighthouse Suites and enjoyed a restful evening.

Thanks for stopping by!

Revisits to Romanella and The Pub – Happy Hours with JJ

Beer, Cocktails, Dog Friendly, Italian Restaurants, Pubs and Pub Grub

While I’m not a huge fan of most of the eateries in our area; I do appreciate the fact that many of them are dog friendly and that the folks working at these places are friendly….giving out a real neighborhood vibe. Recently, I took JJ to a couple of happy hours. I’d already done visits with him to Luce, Bay Park Fish, and the High Dive. And so it was time to revisit a place I hadn’t been to in over two years….

The Pub:

It was perfect weather for JJ….slightly overcast….he doesn’t care for direct sun and heat, so I decided to see what happy hour was like at The Pub. So we took the 20 minute walk down the hill. The place was really mellow when we arrived. Though I’d been going to The Pub from the days they first opened and was named “Dan Diego‘s”, I had never eaten on the patio. Which is now nicely covered.

Our Server, I believe her name is Angela was so sweet to JJ…who of course would then kiss up to her every time she passed.

I was just going to get myself a Guinness….beers are $2 off during Happy Hour which is before 5pm on weekdays making it $5.50. It was a nice pour, smooth, perhaps a bit too much of a head.

Nice malty, lightly bitter, smooth and mildly coffee-ish.

I was just going to have my pint and head home….but I noticed that several of the appetizers were 50% off during weekday happy hours! And I saw something on the menu that caught my attention…and no, it wasn’t the haggis which I’d had last time. It was the Poutine, which was just $5.50 during HH! It supposedly had Wisconsin Cheese Curds, which of course instantly brough my trips to Madison back into view.

What arrived really didn’t remind me of poutine. I mean, I wasn’t expecting what I’d had at.. say La Banquise, but this even looked weak as Irish Poutine.

I did enjoy the thick cut chips, which actually kept a bit of crispness for most of the meal. The gravy was too gluey, salty, but lacking in the dark brown color, and other than the sodium pretty weak in other aspects….I usually enjoy a bit of savory complexity given by Worcestershire sauce, or a beefy, mild sweetness.

The ratio of cheese curds to fries was also off and the curds lacked that lovely mild “squeak” I enjoy. And unlike most cheese curds I’ve had melted fairly quickly.

Still, this was more than enough to fill me up and for $5.50……with the Guinness, just $13? These days that’s a bargain, right? Plus, Angela was so nice to JJ. I’m sure we’ll be back…..I hope to find something I like on the menu.

The Pub
2415 Morena Blvd
San Diego, CA 92110
Current Hours:
Wed – Thurs 330pm – 10pm
Fri – Sat 1pm – 11pm
Sunday 930am – 330pm
Closed on Monday and Tuesday
$2 off drinks before 6pm
50% off Pub Bites before 5pm on Weekdays

I’d recently checked out Romanella‘s website, thinking about taking JJ for Happy Hour and noticed a bunch of changes. They’ve stopped serving lunch during the week, replacing it with “brunch” during the weekend. And Happy Hour was now from 4pm to 530pm weekdays only. I guess that 2pm – 5pm HH and weekday lunch wasn’t working out? Anyway, JJ and I headed up to Romanella; the Missus was craving some of those Oxtail Meatballs; so I figured JJ and I would get an early dinner and save the rest for the Missus.

Romanella:

We were greeted as always and had a nice table on the patio.

A couple of the folks working here are always nice to JJ and he even sometimes gets his “water” before I do!

So, of course I had to get my favorite HH cocktail, the Smoke of the Gods ($9).

Nice, somewhat fruity tones from Tequila, with a touch of smokiness from Mezcal. Not overly sweet.

I was happy to note that the HH items have not changed in price.

Though the Oxtail Meatballs ($14 – HH) seem to have more ground beef than oxtail as the texture has become more firm and is less beefy in flavor. Per a text from the Missus, I was allowed one meatball…..

Still, that tangy marinara sauce went nicely with the bread provided…at no extra cost mind you!

In terms of portion size the Pinsa Porchetta is still a bargain at $14 during HH.

Not the thickest slices of porchetta, but the flatbread has been nicely toasted, the marinara is acidic, tangy, with a hint of fruitiness. The mozzarella is stringy, though very mild and there’s some potato in this as well. Two slices usually fills me up!

So, the Missus got Her meatball and could only finish two pieces of the pinsa. I’m hoping Romanella stays in business. There was only one other table filled during our stay.

Romanella Cucina Romana
3055 Clairemont Dr.
San Diego, CA 92117
Current Hours:
Mon – Thurs 4pm – 9pm
Friday 4pm – 10pm
Saturday 9am – 3pm, 4pm – 10pm
Sunday 9am – 3pm, 4pm – 9pm
Happy Hour – Mon – Fri 4pm – 530pm

Honolulu – Bozu Japanese Restaurant

Beer, Honolulu, Japanese Restaurants, Oahu, Travel

Man, it’s so hot right now yeah? Like record heat. So, when I was looking at stuffs I had to post on…well, there was ramen, pho, more chinese food and noodle soups….not quite up to doing those posts right now! So, I thought I’d just do a post on our final meal in HNL during our last trip.

“FOY” XJ and her wonderful husband Mikey recommended a place not too far away, in McCully Shopping Center on the second floor. I’ve always thought of MSC has having some of the skinniest parking spaces around. So, I was happy we could walk on over. Plus, at least when I lived kinda close by, it was kind of a revolving door for restaurants, though Fook Yuen (which my friends had another name for….I’m sure you can guess it!) is still there!

It was a pretty quick walk, even with rush hour traffic on Kapiolani which is no joke!

We didn’t have reservations and were seated at the sushi bar. Looking at stuff online, I pretty much was sure I didn’t want any sushi here.

And of course a beer to start. A nice refreshing Kyoto Bakushu White Yuzu Ale. It seemed to have a mild herbaceous nuttiness to it as well.

We went with stuffs from the Otsumami menu, a couple of daily specials, and a couple of amiyaki (grilled) items.

First to arrive was the Tsubugai (Whelk) Sashimi ($35) something you don’t see on many menus.

Quite crunchy, clean and oceany, with a nice sweetness.

Next up was the menu item that Missus loved; the Pickled Bitter Melon ($5.50).

It was definitely bitter melon, with the puckery bitterness, but was really enhanced with sour and salty tones, with a hint of sweetness. This is what made the Missus request that I make pickled bitter melon at home.

The Missus really enjoyed the Chawan Mushi ($11). Served cold, it was very refreshing.

Topped with Uni and Ikura, this was quite savory with the kiss of the ocean. The brininess of the ikura really gave the cold-creamy, and slightly sweet chawan mushi the kick it needed. A really good dish.

And the, even more Bitter Melon.

Followed by Fried Tofu with Natto ($8).

This was really beany tofu, combined with the pungently “neba-neba” natto, topped with savory katsuobushi and shoyu, this was my kind of dish.

Then the two Amiyaki items arrived; starting with the Chicken Wings ($5). I got the version with tare.

The skin was really rubbery and the meat dry. The tare was overly sweet for my taste. Even a squeeze of lemon didn’t help much.

And of course I had to try the Tsukune ($6.50). Sadly, I ordered this with tare as well.

I’m sure regular readers know that I will often figure out if a Yakitori shop will be to my taste is by ordering Tsukune which, at least to me displays both the kitchen and grilling skills. This was not good, very tough, too lean, and lacking in flavor other than the tare.

Well, these two dishes meant we had to have “dessert”; which was guess what?

So, the meal definitely ended on a high note. In the end, while Izakaya Uosan seemed a level above Bozu, we enjoyed many of the dishes here. If Bozu was in our neck of the woods, we’d probably visit on a regular basis. I’m sure we’ll return!

Bozu Japanese Restaurant
1960 Kapiolani Blvd Suite 209
Honolulu, HI 96826

Thanks for the recommendation XJ and Mikey!

We took our time heading back to the Ala Moana Hotel….we actually went for a walk along Ala Moana Beach for the sunset.

And enjoyed our last evening in HNL….

Thanks for stopping by!

Galapagos – Cerro Dragon – Santa Cruz Island

Airport/Airline/Cruise/Rail Food, Beer, Ecuador, Galapagos, Travel

After refueling, both for the humans and the yacht, we headed out to our next stop, still on Santa Cruz Island, Cerro Dragon (Dragon Hill).

After relaxing until we reached our destination, we did some snorkeling off the pangas.

Before heading back on board to refresh. After a short break, we headed on board the pangas and did dry landing at Cerro Dragon.

This is Dragon Hill the namesake of the area.

We did a nice hike/walk which got to enjoy the diversity of the Island. Both Marine Iguanas…..

And Land Iguanas….

We were taught to tell the difference. Marine Iguanas have blunt noses and long rudder like tails. Land Iguanas have that yellow-brown color, pointed noses, and some major claws.

If you see an Iguana “blowing snot”; it’s a marine iguana which has a special gland that allows it to “sneeze” out excess salt they get from ocean grazing.

Land Iguanas have sharp teeth and a really tough mouth which allows them to eat prickly pear cactus whole without injury!

It quite picturesque.

We ran into this band of Land Iguanas on the trail. You can’t interfere with wildlife, so we just slowly strolled down the trail.

We were told that in the mid-70’s the Land Iguana population was almost wiped out by packs of feral dogs. This initiated a program by the Charles Darwin Foundation and Galapagos National Park to reintroduce land iguanas and ensure their survival which was a success.

As we continued to walk, this Galapagos Mockingbird decided to stroll down the trail with us!

It displayed no fear, no hesitation as it “joined” the walk! Amazing!

We came across two lagoons, which sometimes houses Flamingos, but none were present on this day.

Even though there were no Flamingos; there were interesting things to see…..

Always under the watchful eyes of “you know who”!

We were back on board by 6pm. After a break while we set off to our next destination, I headed to the deck to have a “cold one”. I enjoyed this American Ale Brewed in Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island.

Low IBU, very clean and refreshing. A great beer to have while watching the Sunset.

Soon after, we had our destination briefing for the next day and then it was dinner time. Like I mentionecd in my previous posts, every night was different….we started really gaining an appreciation for the efforts of the kitchen.

On this evening, we enjoyed the Seared Duck Breast, though not so much the Citrus and Grape Sauce and also the tender and super sweet-oceany Grilled Prawns with Garlic Aioli.

I think this was when the Missus and I really started getting into the rhythm of things onboard.

Just in time for our next stop; Fernandina Island!

Thanks for stopping by!

Galapagos – Isla Plaza Sur (South Plaza Island)

Airport/Airline/Cruise/Rail Food, Beer, Ecuador, Galapagos

After our visit to Santa Fe Island, lunch, and a post lunch break we headed off to the east of Santa Cruz to the small island of Plaza Sur. We had to make several detours because of the Avian Flu outbreak on Genovesa Island. The island itself is tiny at 3/4 of a square mile. Don’t be fooled; there’s a lot to see and unique to this island.

We did a dry landing on a cement dock.

And proceeded with our nature walk. First thing I noticed were all the tall and stately cactus.

Plaza Sur is also known for another thing. Because of the size of the island, this is where one kind find what they call “Hybrid Iguanas“. That is where Male Land Iguanas have mated with Female Marine Iguanas creating a Hybrid. These were first noticed in 1977 by Howard Snell, a Biology Professor Volunteering with the Peace Corps. We were told to keep our eyes peeled.

The Marine Iguanas are black-grey, with webbed feet. Are we saw those first as we disembarked. And then we saw all the Land Iguanas. Because of the size of the island; these were on the smaller size, though quite colorful.

This fellow was hilarious. Having no fear of hoo-mans, he decided to cross the path. And of course, we could not approach wildlife here. We stood still and he strolled…and I do mean strolled past us.

The island features some dramatic cliffs.

Which of course means more wildlife. Like Swallow-Tailed Gulls, which are nocturnal feeders.

And since they are year ’round breeders; we even saw a couple of chicks with their parents.

And of course with all the volcanic rock; those Sally Lightfoot Crab really stood out.

They call this the “Light House”.

Not sure if these were actually “Hybrids”….I forgot to ask.

But we saw them on the walk back to the dock.

Speaking of dock, as we boarded the zodiac, this little fella’ cut in line and tried to get a “free ride”.

It made for a humorous moment….especially since you can’t approach or touch wildlife here.

Finally, after a short “discussion”, the little understood that there were no free rides being given out today. You can tell it was a bit disappointed!

Back on board everyone had some time to relax. After a shower and a short break I headed to the deck and had myself some liquid refreshment.

And a nice sunset…..

And then dinner was served.

This Prawn Bisque was really good. Not fishy in the least, creamy, nice oceany flavors, a hint of sweetness.

For some reason, I enjoyed the cous cous.

And the Missus enjoyed dessert.

We had our usual briefing. And retired to our cabin. About an hour or so later, there was an announcement to head to the aft deck. We headed on out and saw these sharks following the Evolve, looking for handouts I guess!

This was a wonderful exclamation point for an awesome first day which started on Santa Fe Island. Little did we know that each day would be full of wildlife and adventures!