Oasis on the Beach

Pineapple Martini with Blackberry Flower

Apple slices

Oasis on the Beach is located at the ocean side of the Waipouli Beach Resort in Kapaa on the island of Kauai. Enjoy beautifully displayed farm-fresh food in an open-air setting with an ocean view. I recommend making an advance reservation on Open Table to ensure a table at sunset. The chef delivered a complementary fruit dish of apple slices as a thank you for booking with Open Table. We were pleasantly surprised and extremely appreciative.

When experiencing a restaurant, there are several things I look for. First, I scan the menu to get a feel for the chef and if the produce is local. Second, I always ask the wait staff for recommendations and popular dishes. How well do they know the menu items? I am interested to hear what items may be a special of the day or new to the menu. For local residents, it is important to know if the menu items change. I look around to observe entrees and guest reaction. Overall, do people look as if they are enjoying themselves and the food? Lastly, I look at table settings and get a feel for the ambiance. It is rare that everything checks out to satisfaction. Oasis on the Beach has it all! From the moment we walked in, they were expecting our party from the Open Table reservation and we were seated with a fabulous ocean view table.

Thai Martini

When dining for dinner, be sure to experience Happy Hour which is offered from 4-6 p.m. daily for $3 draft beers, $4 well drinks, $5 wine and half off of signature cocktails!! Our 5 p.m. dinner reservation was perfect, allowing one whole hour for discounted drinks. The Pineapple Martini, pictured above, was almost to impressive to drink. The time it must have taken to create the gorgeous flower – well, I took a picture first, than sipped away. It was light and not too sweet, perfect! We also ordered the Thai Martini made with Kiffir lime vodka, lemongrass, coconut rum and ginger liquor. The Thai Martini was such a hit, that we ordered it for round 2!

 

 

 

 

Fresh catch tartare bruschetta

Love, love starters~

Grilled Kale Salad

 

Soup of the day

One of my favorite things to do is sit down, order a drink and share starters with friends! It’s a great way to sample various foods without filling up before the main dish arrives.  My favorite starter at Oasis on the Beach is the Grilled Kale Salad. Every time I dine there, it is a must have! The salad is made with grilled kale, whipped brie, brioche (rich bread with high egg & butter content) croutons, pickled shallots, and a roasted shallot vinaigrette. It is the whipped brie that makes this salad.

Okinawan sweet potato chips

It is rich, creamy and fabulous with the grilled kale. The brioche croutons are over the top!! One of my biggest pet peeves when it comes to salad is rock-hard croutons that you feel like your teeth are breaking when you bite down.

The Crispy Okinawan sweet potato chips with truffle hollandaise are the perfect starter to share with friends over a drink. They are light, crisp and not greasy, as sweet potato fries can be. The truffle hollandaise  sauce adds a tangy twist to sweet potato chips.

Approximately 90% of the ingredients at Oasis on the Beach are local. The chefs work closely with Kauai’s farmers and fishermen. It is refreshing to experience a restaurant offering local, farm-fresh foods in Hawaii with unique options. An alternative to the typical coconut shrimp, mahi mahi fish sandwiches and fish and chips. The wait staff has extensive knowledge of the menu and local ingredients.

 

Farmer’s Market Curry

Main Dish~

We ordered a couple of main dishes to share, as it was too difficult to choose just one. Oasis on the Beach offers all of their main dishes in full or half order size with the exception of the Grilled 14 oz. Hawai’ian Rancher’s strip. Perfect for sharing!! The Farmer’s Market Curry was to die for. Creamy and thick curry but not heavy. A very interesting combination of farm-fresh vegetables, rice and local catch of the day in a mild creamy, curry sauce.  This was my second favorite dish of the night. For our second main dish of the evening, we ordered the Soy Braised Short Rib with truffle fried rice and bacon. The short rib was flavorful and moist. Other main dish entrees include ~Pan-seared catch, Grilled catch, Shepherd’s pie made with ground lamb, Grilled pork chop and the A’a’kukui grass-fed burger.

Apple Banana Spring Roll

Don’t forget dessert!!!

 

 

Choose from Apple Banana Spring Roll with cinnamon sugar & seasonal gelato, Dark chocolate & Kaua’i coffee pot de creme, or daily seasonal selections of gelato & sorbetto. We chose the Apple Banana Spring Roll & French press coffee. Bliss…………….

Stop in for Sunday brunch offered from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and choose from grass-fed beef burger, roasted pineapple crepes, arugula beet salad, short ribs, or an ahi-poke eggs benedict. The food is unique, original, brilliantly paired and amazingly delicious!!

On Wednesdays Oasis has live entertainment, a special Chef Menu and drink specials from 4-6 p.m.

Whether planning a date night, girls night or just family time, Oasis on the Beach is a great choice! So many fun, fresh, tasty foods to try that you will want to order one of everything. Sit outside with the ocean breezes as you dine and talk the night away. Amazing service in a relaxed, true vacation-feel environment!

Evening at Oasis

Accolades~

Open Table’s Top 100 Outdoor Dining 2013

Open Table’s Diner’s Choice Award 2010-2013

2010 Taste of Hawaii. People’s Choice & New Discovery

5wheelsto5star.com is featured monthly in Destinations Travel Magazine

 

Warrior Dash – Hawaii

My Warrior

Warrior Dash made its debut in Hawaii on March 24, 2012

 “Are you a warrior?”

The Warrior Dash is not just a race or competition. It is a way to have fun, stay healthy, a reason to get fit, and challenge yourself by participating in an 3.25 mile obstacle course which takes place on the most rugged terrain around.  Red Frog Events created the Warrior Dash in 2009 and has been presenting this obstacle course “battleground” all over the world ever since. The first race took place in Joliet, IL with 150 more races to follow across 6 countries.  To date, over 1 million participants have tested their inner warrior and raised $7.5 million for St. Jude Children’s Hospital. Warrior Dash Hawaii takes place at Dillingham Ranch on the North Shore of Oahu, located at 68-540 Farrington Highway. Compete in the race while skydivers parachute from above at Dillingham Ranch. Sign up, compete, get muddy,  put on that viking helmet and earn that medal! Mud, sweat & beer…..

The Obstacles~

Muddy Mayhem

“Each Warrior wants to leave the mark of his will, his signature, on important acts he touches. This is not the voice of ego but of the human spirit, rising up and declaring that it has something to contribute to the solution of the hardest problems, no matter how vexing!” ~ Pat Riley

On March 24, 2012, more than 10,000 people participated in the Warrior Dash Hawaii  to test their limits of strength, speed and stamina. Some of the participants described their experience from the event as  sore, swollen and tired, bloody, muddy and wired. The course itself has been described as “hellish conditions”. It is a very physical race and some people slip due to the rain and mud. Imagine climbing on and over obstacles in mud or sopping wet. Some participants lose their clothes in the mud or from people climbing behind them and pulling on them. It can be challenging if you wear contacts, because you have to open your eyes to see but the mud can really irritate the contacts.

Thank g goodness for that crazy yellow and black Pittsburgh Steeler wig that my husband wore, so I could identify him throughout the race. You can see the wig as he crawls through the mud, pictured above. I also was able to spot him running through the fire. The wig was spotted through the clouds of smoke. There were really only two obstacles which can be viewed from the finish line lawn area. The race featured 13 treacherous obstacles! 10- 15-foot walls that each warrior had to climb, a pond with obstacles to climb over or swim under, an obstructive fire pit that had to be jumped and a pit of sweaty mud covered with barbed wire. As a spectator, I saw the mud pit refilled with water and dirt and then stirred throughout the day. It was soupy and sweaty after the thousands of people crawled through, some even bloody! For this reason, I would sign up for an early wave. Each person who registers is given a time in thirty minute intervals. Although, I saw people go through more than once.

Warrior Dash Hawaii was so popular in 2012 that is has returned each year since! Many of those who enter the Dash never actually complete the course.

 

The Food~ 

Turkey Leg

Everyone was talking about the food. I would imagine that after the race, participants work up a healthy appetite! We had plans to take off to Cholo’s Homestyle Mexican & Margarita Bar in Haleiwa later that day. Apparently,  that was everyone’s idea, as we saw Warriors everywhere there. The race itself didn’t have a ton of food options. The ever popular turkey leg was available as well as vegetarian food options. I would recommend bringing your own food in an ice chest and leaving it in your car.  Gluten free food and beverages are available for purchase but not guaranteed at all events.

The Beer~

Beer Time!!!! On a hot, dusty day on the North Shore of Oahu there isn’t anything that sounds more refreshing than a cold beer. Finishers are walking around everywhere, completely covered in mud holding a cold beer mug. You can purchase the large mug for $10.00 to take home as a souvenir (pictured on the right). If you don’t drink beer, be advised that it is the ONLY beverage for purchase. I would advise bringing an ice chest with your beverage of choice and leaving in your car for after the race. We also brought umbrellas, beach chairs, pastries and bottled water. I must say that we were more than prepared. We had planned to stay at the event most of the day to watch friends cross the finish line who had later start times. The most important item to bring – a plastic trash bag! We dumped all of the muddy clothes, shoes and socks into the plastic bag to wash later. This also helps keeps the rental car clean. Everything gets muddy.

The After Party~

About 30 minutes after the first wave begins, the party begins!! Sit back and enjoy music, food, and beer while watching the finishers crawl from the muddy pit as they try to hang on to their clothes. The music was really loud and everyone just hung out and had fun. It is so much fun to watch people dragging through the mud at the finish line. I noticed many people had tight, spandex, clothing under their clothes in anticipation of losing their outter clothing. There were a lot of muddy butts at the finish!

Watch people eat and drink at the “after party” before showering off. The whole field became one big muddy pit as the finishers drag their muddy shoes all over the lawn. Wear old shoes!! I would highly recommend bringing a change of clothes, shoes or flip flops, and a gallon of water in your car to shower off. The first year, the Warrior Dash mentioned a water buffalo at the finish.  No such luck! There was a shower if you wanted to pay $250 which would go to St. Jude Children’s Hospital. A great cause indeed, a little pricey for a shower, especially when you are paying for a hotel, rental car and flights just to get to the race! That left finishers one option – bathe in a nearby stream, which had cow dung piles all around. Gross! I would not encourage that, especially with open sores from the race. But everyone was doing it because that was all that was available. Did I say gross? Additional beer, clothing, merchandise and food are available for purchase at the race.

The Attire~

The Warrior Dash website sells Warrior Gear. Choose from logo wear t-shirts, tank tops for women, shorts, sweatpants, zip up jackets and the infamous kilts! Kids sizes are available for t-shirts. You can also find accessories on their website which include bandannas, key chains, beer mugs, rubber wristbands, flip flops and more! Many participants just come in their own costumes or crazy clothing. I saw women in muumuu’s (Hawaiian traditional, long  dress), Hooter’s T-Shirts, wigs, NFL jerseys, tutus, pajamas, Flintstones costumes, leg warmers and much more. Basically, anything goes!

The Before Pic

The After Pic

5wheelsto5star was featured in the March & April 2014 issue of Destinations Travel Magazine

Marketplace Cafe at Nordstrom Ala Moana

Marketplace Cafe

“I like looking nice, but I always put comfort over fashion. I don’t find thin girls attractive; be happy and healthy.  I’ve never had a problem with the way I look. I’d rather have lunch with my friends than go to a gym.” ~ Adele

Escape the madness of Ala Moana Shopping Center at the Marketplace Cafe, tucked away on the 1st floor of Nordstrom.

Blue Cheese & Pear Salad

Surprisingly, it is fairly quiet, dim lighting and a relaxing setting even though it is located in a major department store within the mall. As you walk in, you’re greeted by a display of wines, cookbooks and gifts boxes. While the feeling is quite bistro-ish, it is actually a cafeteria-style order process.

Grab a tray and make your way down the counter. Choose from soups, salads, sandwiches, pizzas or pasta. All of the food is local, sustainable, natural and organic. The fountain area is all self serve.

Soup options are Roma Tomato Basil or Soup Du Jour. The salad menu was most impressive with choices of Chinese Chicken Salad, Cilantro Lime Chicken Salad, Chicken Apple & Goat Cheese Salad, Nicoise Salad with Salmon, Blue Cheese & Pear Salad, Caesar Salad with Chicken or Mixed Berry & Chicken Salad. I love a light salad for lunch, so this was the perfect place for me! A great place to rest your feet from shopping or to meet up with a friend, as we did. Choose a table or a booth. Sit, relax and talk your lunch away while sipping a refreshing Plantation Tea (made with organic tea)!!!

Cheese Pizza

Pizza is always a great option for kids! I could smell the pizzas as soon as we walked in to the cafe. Choose from specialty pizzas including Prosciutto & Arugula Salad Pizza, Margherita Pizza, Pepperoni & Mushroom Pizza or simply order a classic cheese pizza.

Arugula shrimp salad with polenta croutons

If a sandwich is your preference choose from 7 wonderful options which include the California Grill, Chicken Club Sandwich with Maple Glazed Bacon, Grilled Santa Fe Chicken Sandwich, Sliced Peppered Steak Sandwich, Cranberry Turkey, Prosciutto Mozzarella Caprese Sandwich, or Grilled Pesto Chicken Sandwich.

The Marketplace Cafe also has Specialty Selections which include Tuscan Roasted Chicken & Tuscan Roasted Salmon. Many of the dishes are displayed at the counter for customers to see. However, the make each dish made-to-order. Grab your number, pay at the end of the counter and choose your seat. The wait staff will deliver the hot items to your table.

Don’t let the cafeteria- style setting fool you. The Marketplace Cafe is not your typical cafeteria-style food such as mac n cheese and patty melts. If you are looking for a fast, but healthy option – The Marketplace Cafe is a great choice while shopping at Ala Moana!! We weren’t looking for anything heavy, just a quick bite to rejuvenate before hitting the mall for more shopping fun. Let’s not forget to mention, they have pasta too! The Mushroom Ravioli looked amazing and I almost chose that! Other pastas include Chicken Tomato Alfredo & Spicy Shrimp & Angel Hair Pasta.

 

Lunch Time

“I think people in Italy live their lives better than we do. It’s an older country, and they’ve learned to celebrate dinner and lunch, whereas we sort of eat as quickly as we can to get through it.” ~ George Clooney

Carrot Cake

Let’s not forget to mention dessert! The best part of a lunch date. The Marketplace Cafe has desserts displayed in a case as you walk by the counter. The humongous slice of carrot cake caught my eye immediately. Although we really didn’t have room to eat dessert- we broke down and had to have a slice. The desserts are perfect for sharing. The cake itself was very, moist and full of walnuts and shredded carrots. The cream cheese frosting was way to sweet for me, so we just scraped it off and enjoyed the cake.

 

The Marketplace Cafe at Nordstrom

 

The Marketplace Cafe also caters to children through a unique Kids’ Cafe program.

$$ Saving Tips:  The salads and pizzas are large, great for sharing! Prices range from $3.95 for a cup of soup to $13.25 for specialty dishes. The prices are extremely reasonable in comparison to the portion sizes. I had expected the prices to be high since it is located in Nordstrom- but not true. Be sure to order the Plantation Iced Tea and the wait staff will come around throughout your meal and fill it up.

5wheelsto5star was featured in the March & April 2014 issue of Destinations Travel Magazine

Kauai Eco Sporting Clays

Kauai Eco Sporting Clays

“I have a love interest in every one of my films – a gun.”
~ Arnold Schwarzenegger

The phrase “comfort zone” is defined as a behavioral state within which a person operates in an anxiety-neutral condition, using a limited set of behaviors to deliver a steady level of performance, usually without a sense of risk. With that said, get ready to step out of your comfort zone for 1.5 hours, pray that you have a steady level of performance at best, test your anxiety levels, and experience something new!!! This page is dedicated to a great friend who decided to celebrate her birthday, by dragging her friends down to Kauai Eco Sporting Clays.

The morning started off with a rush of emotions which included anxiety, nervousness, upset stomach from nerves, anticipation, curiosity and absolute excitement. I can best relate the feelings to those when you are standing in line for a ride such as the Tower of Terror. You are so excited to experience what everyone is talking about but so nervous at the same time. I wasn’t scared though, just nervous. Probably didn’t help that I had never shot a gun of any kind in my life and when I left the house my husband was laughing saying, “The kick from the gun may knock you on your a–!” My ride came to pick me up and off we went! At this point I was wishing it were a long car ride so that I could talk to my friend and get my mind off of the upcoming – learn how to shoot a gun! Unfortunately, I live less than five minutes away from the facility. Off to face my fears!! New ventures.

When we arrived, everyone was SO NICE! The sound of the guns firing was instantly intimidating, guess I have never really stood that close to someone firing a gun. It is LOUD! I was raised around guns sitting in a gun cabinet in our living room (remember those), but it was more of a boys/hunting thing. The staff are extremely welcoming and kind that it calmed my nerves. If they would have started in with gun/shooting lingo immediately, I probably would have gotten back in the car. We signed the waivers, put in our ear plugs (that was another first for me and I think I was yelling the whole time), safety glasses, shooter belt, and we were off to our safety briefing provided by Ben. I must add that I am grateful that my son used to run around with “Legends of the Wild West” toys because I was actually familiar with some of the gear. Fortunately, there were no handcuffs involved.

Let the fun begin~

“Well behaved women rarely make history.”  ~ Laurel Thatcher Ulrich

Guns & Tiaras

I have heard of people shooting clay pigeons, but really had no idea what this meant. So what exactly is a sporting clay? Sporting clays are similar to clay pigeon shooting, and sometimes referred to as “golf with a shotgun” due to having 10 to 15 different shooting stations. Trap and skeet shooting differ as they are games of repeatable target presentations. Sporting clays are described as “unpredictability of live-quarry shooting”.

Kauai Eco Sporting Clays is Kauai’s newest sport where 12 and 20 gauge shot guns are used to shoot flying clay targets. They offer a beautiful 5 stand sporting clays facility (see picture below).  Enjoy the beautiful, lush setting of Kauai while you concentrate on perfecting your shot.

I wasn’t expecting to break any clays to be honest. I was hoping I could just figure out how to shoot the gun! Ben is a great instructor. He is very patient and didn’t make me feel like a beginner. I really have to give Ben huge props because he dealt with four women, who were all beginners, laughing most of the time and one wearing an eye patch and tiara. We did really well! I broke a few clays and mainly got a feel for shooting the gun. The gun was much heavier than I had anticipated. During the shooting lesson, we learned how to hold the gun, how to stand, where to position our face, where to look, when to shoot, how to load, etc. Surprisingly, there is a lot to memorize! I was nervous to put my face on the gun, since my husband warned me of the kick, but it actually wasn’t scary at all and, more importantly, it didn’t hurt. I was surprised at how sore my arms were the next day from holding the gun. For some reason, turning the steering wheel in my car was painful!

Kauai Eco Sporting Clays are environmentally friendly. Steel shot ammo and biodegradable clays are used exclusively at the range.

Sporting Clays are not just for adults~

Our son could not wait for his 12th birthday to come around so he could invite some friends and head out to Kauai Eco Sporting Clays to try it out for himself!!! Sure enough, on the day of his 12th b-day, he was off first thing in the morning. It was really simple, as the staff at Kauai Eco Clays emailed me the waiver in advance. Each of the parents could review the guidelines prior to the b-day clay shooting. My son was not afraid at all! Of course he has shot an air soft and BB gun in the past. The best part is that he came back bragging about the fact that he beat out my husband, who was an expert shot in the military. Apparently, it runs in the family. That’s the fun thing about Kauai Eco Sporting Clays- you can be competitive in a fun, safe environment. You’re left wanting to go back and try again, to better your shot. According to our 12 year old son, “It is a great experience. There is a lot of practice time with Ben and tons of fun! I loved it.”

 

“I have a very strict gun control policy: if there’s a gun around, I want to be in control of it.” ~ Clint Eastwood

I highly recommend going in a group. It was really, really fun! I wouldn’t ever have gone, if not invited by a friend who was going in a group. I felt so safe in the controlled environment, that I suggested our 12 year old do this for his b-day. For those of you who already know how to shoot a gun, skip the 1.5 hour lesson and shoot a round in 30-45 minutes. You are welcome to bring your own gun (12 or 20 gauge only) and be sure to leave your ammo at home. Ammo will be provided by Kauai Eco Sporting Clay. Don’t forget to inquire about the membership!

 

We survived!!! Thanks Ben!!

We survived!! If this gang can do it, so can you. Check out Kauai Eco Sporting Clays. It is tons of fun and you have to try it at least once.

What to bring:
Prescription glasses/sunglasses if necessary
Hat, sunscreen, bug spray  (optional)
Adventurous attitude!

Available Times:
Monday through Saturday
9:00am
11:00am
1:00pm
3:00pm

$89+ tax per person.  Ages 12 and over welcome to participate.

Check them out on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/KauaiEcoSportingClays

5wheelsto5star was featured in the March & April 2014 issue of Destinations Travel Magazine

Kauai Beer Company

Kauai Beer Company

“Beer, it’s the best damn drink in the world.” Jack Nicholson

Date Night!

Rice Street is finally turning into a happening “downtown” for our little island of Kauai. With the recent openings of Ha Coffee, Masa Sushi and now Kauai Beer Company (KBC), you can walk along Rice Street for an urban experience. KBC opened their doors with a soft opening last Fall (2013), brewing and serving up fresh beer at their location on Rice Street. Some of their brews are available locally at The Feral Pig and Nawiliwili Tavern.

So what exactly is a microbrewery? A microbrewery, also know as a craft brewery, is a location where a limited amount of beer is brewed. Local breweries are typically smaller in size and independently owned. Independently owned breweries are often times distinguished by flavor and technique.

If you are looking for a great place to hang out, meet friends, catch up with old friends or just stop by the tasting room for a quick drink after work, KBC is the place to be! Bet you didn’t know how lucky we were to have a brewery on Kauai with a population size of only 69,000. Rumor has it that Oahu doesn’t have a single brewery!!!!! Well, there you go.

KBC is a family friendly environment with additional seating available outside. It is also the perfect spot for a date night. Be prepared for a packed house on Thursday evenings. I would recommend showing up just before 5 p.m. to reserve a table or it may be standing room only. I would also recommend ordering food from the food trucks shortly after they arrive to avoid long lines later in the evening. If you prefer sushi, walk next door and grab sushi to go from Masa Sushi to have with your beer.

The Sample line up

 “I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The great point is to bring them the real facts, and beer.” ~ Abraham Lincoln

Let’s Talk Brews~ When you arrive, try out the 6 samplers, pictured above, for only $12 or $2 each. It’s a fun way to sit with friends and compare pallets. My two favs were the Lihue Lager and the Black Limo. Beers are available in sample (4 oz.), glass (12 oz.), pint (16 oz.) and as refills (32 or 64 oz.) for the growler.

Lihue Lager

Malty German-style pale lager, a blend of traditional and tropical flavored hops

Black Limo

A surprisingly refreshing dark lager, with caramel, toffee, coffee notes

IP Aloha

Brewed with 32 pounds of local Kauai honey, and an array of Pacific NW hops

Red Dirty

Malty red ale, with a hoppy kick

Tropical Armadillo Pale Ale

Tropical fruit, light pale ale, with a bitter, dry-hopped finish

KoKoBoPo

Our special occasion beer, chocolate malt infused with 4lbs of toasted American oak chips.

Regular brewery Hours:

Wednesday through Saturday

3pm  to 8pm

The gorgeous tables at KBC, which will catch your eye the minute you walk in, were carved from local Norfolk trees. The tables are beautifully carved, smooth and gorgeous to look at, making quite the conversation piece while tasting beers. There are tables for four people and larger tables which are perfect for groups.

Julio’s Beach Burritos

“An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools.” ~ Earnest Hemingway, For Whom the Bell Tolls

Food Truck Thursday Line up!!

Come and try the craft beers and food truck fun every Thursday evening. Grab your table with friends and wait for the trucks to roll up at 5 p.m. The best part is, the trucks vary each week. If you find a “must have” food, just ask for their schedule for the week. Many of these foods trucks participate in the Kauai Farmer’s Market on Saturday morning at KCC. Read my post on the Kauai Community Market at http://5wheelsto5star.com/2014/01/26/kauai-farmers-market-at-kauai-community-fair/

Kauai Food Truck

Fresh Island Fish with Lilikoi Pineapple Salsa

Kauai Food Truck– Kauai Food Truck serves up quality local seafood, shrimp, fish tacos and shave ice along with many local favorites . Striving to promote local business, they use locally caught fish and shrimp and as much local produce and products as possible. The Fresh Island Fish plate was amazing!

The Green Pig- Hawaii food truck serving Southern Fresh Fare with Daily Local Grinds! Open for Breakfast, Lunch and afternoon Surf Snacks! Mantra=”Feed Your ‘Sassy’ Soul”

Gopal’s Creperie- One of Kauai’s few gluten free food options! The crêpes are also VEGAN!! Filled with raw, vegan, and vegetarian options, they are made fresh and hot using locally grown ingredients. Loved by local repeat customers and tourists alike, you won’t even know they are gluten free!

Rafael’s Aloha Tacos-  This food truck can be found most days on the beach at Salt Pond in Hanapepe. We feature Al Pastor, Island Fish, Shrimp, Chicken, and Carne Asada Tacos and Burritos, as well as Chicken Mole and fresh Chili Rellano Plates.

Little Greek Town– Authentic Greek food for vegetarians, vegans and meat eaters.

 

Banana, Caramel, Chocolate, MacNut Bread Pudding

Haole Girl Island Sweets- Haole Girl Island Sweets is best known for their stuffed all-butter croissants with sweet and savory local island products. If you really need convincing, check out the picture above of the bread pudding. No words needed. It is the perfect dessert to share! We asked for four forks and dug in to this amazingly unique bread pudding served warm. I must add that it goes well with Black Limo beer. Forget wine pairing, let’s beer pair.

Food Truck Thursday”s

Food Service

5pm to 8pm

Souvenirs~ If you are on Kauai just for a visit, be sure to take home a souvenir from Kauai Beer Company!!! They have shirts, hats and growlers including their logo available for purchase. These items would also make great gifts to send to the Mainland. For those of you who are thinking, what on Earth is a growler – you’re not the only one! A growler is a jug which holds a half-gallon of beer which is filled straight from the tap and sealed.  Think of it as beer to-go. Just $15.oo to fill a half-gallon or $20 for the 64 oz! A growler is the perfect way to take home freshly brewed beer, lasting 2-3 days after opening and must be refrigerated. Just ring the door bell out front to get your growler filled. Now go get your growler!! Check out Kauai Beer on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/KauaiBeer

Kauai Beer Company

For more about what’s happening off the beaten path on Kauai, click on the link “Kauai” under topics on the right hand side of the page

“I work until beer o’clock.” ~ Stephen King

5wheelsto5star was featured in the March & April 2014 issue of Destinations Travel Magazine