Maui: Old Lahaina Luau

"You have to taste a culture to understand it." -Deborah Cater

Lei Greeting 

Imu Hawaiian Underground Oven

Open Bar all night

Ahi Poke

Pua’a Kalua

Traditional Hawaiian Feast 

Our first time in Hawaii, we obviously had to attend a luau. The Old Lahaina Luau is located on Front Street in Lahaina, and tends to be fully booked all year long, so I would recommend buying your tickets in advance. Upon arrival, we were greeted with leis and drinks from the lovely staff, then we were shown to our table. You can choose either Traditional (sitting on cushions on the floor with a low table) or a regular table and chairs. There were Island crafts and activities including the reveal of the Imu Hawaiian underground oven. The buffet had traditional Hawaiian food like Pua’a Kalua (roasted pork), Maui Style Fish, Ahi Poke and Poi (taro), and it was open bar all night. After dinner there was music, hula dancing and banana bread with guava butter. Mmmm you must try the guava butter!

Maui: Lahaina Fish Co.

"Not all those who wander are lost." -J.R.R. Tolkien

 Coconut Lobster Skewers with sweet chili pineapple-lime sauce

 Mac Nut Crusted Mahimahi with a coconut ginger beurre blanc and sweet chili drizzle over Molokai sweet potato mash

 Ahi Poke Tacos with edamame guacamole, grape tomato, cabbage and ancho chile crema

 Seared Pepper Scallops with mushrooms, soy sake butter sauce and tobiko

The Lahaina Fish Co. is one of many restaurants located on busy Front Street in Lahaina. The seafood is fresh and their view of the ocean and Maui sunset is absolutely gorgeous. Try the Coconut Lobster Skewers, Seared Pepper Scallops and Ahi Poke Tacos.

Maui: Sansei

 "The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page." -St. Augustine

Panko-Crusted Fresh Ahi Sashimi - ahi tuna wrapped with arugula and spinach, panko crusted and flash fried, served with a soy wasabi butter sauce

Ahi Poke - sweet Maui onions, wakame and kaiware sprouts in a spicy poke sauce

Mango Crab Salad Hand Roll - mango, blue crab, fresh greens & crunchy peanuts, wrapped in mamenori, with a sweet Thai chili vinaigrette

“69” Roll - California roll topped with broiled unagi, masago & unagi drizzle

We couldn't have asked for a better first meal in Maui than dining at Sansei. We stayed at the Kapalua Villas so this restaurant was conveniently located at our resort. The staff was friendly (for the record, so is everyone else in Maui) and the food was delicious. Highlight dishes included the Ahi Poke (a Hawaiian staple). Panko-Crusted Fresh Ahi Sashimi, Mango Crab Salad Hand Roll, the buttery-melt-in-your-mouth Cod and the "69" Roll.

Paris: Croque Madame

Croque Madame - Cheese, Tomato & Ham Grilled on Toast w/ a Fried Egg 

Champagne Flavoured Foie Gras with Fig Chutney & Toast

It was a gloomy day in Paris and we just left Coco Chanel's apartment at 31 Rue Cambon. We ended up at a lovely cafe located at the Royal Saint Honore Hotel. The Croque Madame was delightful, more dishes should be topped with a fried egg. We also got our first taste of Parisian foie gras and it was lovely. It's not everyday you get to shop at the first Chanel store and dine on Champagne flavoured foie gras. 

#ParisLife

Paris: Latin Quarter

Pop is more expensive than Wine. Drink up.

Mussels in a Cream Sauce

Escargot = Snails

The French love their Escargot!

Duck a l'Orange - Roasted Duck with an Orange Sauce

Crème Brûlée = Burnt Cream

My favourite dessert!

Gelato

If you are ever in Paris, you must dine in the Latin Quarter. Everyone knows how expensive the City of Light can be but here's a really good tip, you can get a three course dinner for 15 Euros. Yes I said three courses and yes I said 15 Euros. We feasted on French favourites like Escargot, Duck a l'Orange and Crème Brûlée. I know some people may not like the thought of eating snails but they were delicious.

Paris, Je T'aime.

Paris: Steak Frites

Steak Frites and the Eiffel Tower.

A perfect first night in the City of Light.

Sentro

Ripe Mango Shake

Sinigang na Corned Beef - Corned Beef and Boneless Beef Shanks in Tamarind Broth

Nilasing na Hipon - Drunken Shrimp

Vegetable Spring Rolls

Daing ng Bangus - Boneless Milk Fish

Grilled Eggplant with Bagoong

Pork Belly

Chicken and Pork Adobo

Kare-Kare

Sentro 1771 is located in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. The restaurant is famous for their Corned Beef Sinigang, which was delicious! Who knew Corned Beef would be good in Sinigang? They also bring you a cup of the broth to taste and you can make it more sour, salty or keep it as is. Mmmm Sinigang is my most favorite Filipino dish ever! Another item that I would recommend is the "Nilasing na Hipon" which translates to Drunken Shrimp. The shrimp was crunchy, crispy and extra delicious dipped in the vinegar sauce. I would definitely go back to Sentro but hopefully it won't take another 5 years to go back to the homeland.

Thank you Philippines for inspiring me to start blogging again!
#itsmorefuninthephilippines