Hawaii days 1&2

This is a super fast post while QG is downstairs waiting in line for breakfast. I have 15 minutes, but wanted to post a few quick pics and details. 

The flights out were smooth, though we barely made our connection in LA. The highlight of day one was dinner and meeting my new chef friend who is about to become a celebrity. Here's what happened. Day one, we checked into the hotel, and by the time we got settled it was time for dinner. 

We headed to Star Noodle in Lahina, based on a Dallas Morning News review from back in July in the travel section. The restaurant was modern, spare and cheery. 

We started with the Pohole salad with local Fiddle Head Fern, Maui  onion, Ebi and Kombu. Fresh and crisp with delicate flavor.

Next, came Hot n Sour Noodles. I cannot say enough good things about this dish. Firm noodles, spicy-smoky clear broth, shrimp fresh Thai basil, fried garlic, bean sprouts. An explosion of flavor. 

Lastly came the Vietnamese crepe: heaven on a plate. The crepe was rice flour, egg and turmeric based; the filling pork, shrimp, spices; and the sauce a sweet spicy mix to perfectly accent. This we rolled into Bibb lettuce leaves with carrot. 

We are definitely going back to Star Noodle before we leave the island as we need to try the Pad Thai. Our  server was super nice. She told us that the chef, Sheldon Simeon, will be appearing on the next season of America's Top Chef, airing in November. It is still top secret as to how he did, but if our dinner was any indication, he'll win! We asked to meet him, and he was gracious enough to come out and chat with us. 

This is my good buddy Sheldon and me. He said that he'd just celebrated ten years with his company, and that her started out as a dishwasher. What a nice guy and gifted food artist! If you get to Maui, you need to go to Star Noodle. Tell Sheldon I sent you!

Yesterday we went to yoga in the morning. We headed down to the gym at six am, as we're still on Dallas time. Then we went snorkeling at Black Rock for a long while, then hung by the pool the rest of the day. Exhausting, I tell ya. Today we're off to hike and explore a botanical garden, museum and surfing beach. Bye, good buddy.