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Lahaina 2005 The recent news of devastating fires in Maui have stirred up emotions for all.  You don't need to have any connection to Hawaii, to feel the heaviness of loss. I found myself digging through old photos and recalled a family trip that included a visit to Lahaina. I remember this sweet old boat. Luau in Lahaina In 2005, Don and I visited Maui during our kids' high school spring break.  One of our best memories was of an evening filled with food and dance in Lahaina... when we attended a luau. The Banyan Tree Before going to the dinner and show, we stopped to see the giant Banyan Tree we'd heard about.  This tree is symbol of hope for the destroyed community. Evidently the charred tree is showing signs of life. Oceanside Luau I have no notes of specifics about our oceanfront, Polynesian Luau experience.  But as I look at old photos, I remember the evening felt heavenly. When I Google for Lahaina images now, I see that the multi-storied building on the right, is still standing. The lower building, behind the dining tables is gone. "Feast at LeLe" Below is a slideshow of photos I found from our dining adventure that evening. The name LeLe is the ancient name for Lahaina. The dancers performed above the beach, where the royal family of Maui once gathered for feasts and entertainment. It's nice to be reminded of the fun evening we shared. A five course meal with dance performances, reflecting the foods and culture from the Pacific Nations... all with a backdrop of the sun, setting over the ocean. I know there was a Luau performance the night before the fires. I wonder what we'll learn about the guests and performers and staff... Mama's Fish House I searched for more memorable dining spots and found a few photos from Mama's Fish House, in Paia.  I have fond memories of our dinner at this restaurant on the North Shore, about 30 miles from Lahaina. I believe it has been spared. Evening I remember the incredible view, when we arrived.  We did a little posing before heading inside. Was this Ku'au Bay? I wish I remembered more.  When the Christenson Family opened Mama's, in 1973, tourists rarely stopped by the North Shore. It seemed fairly quiet except for surfers, 30+ years later. in 2005. Interior I remember the festive decor and the tropical dress of our servers. I wish I had photos.  But back then I didn't blog. I took photos of the kids mostly. No one was in the habit of taking pictures of their food back then!  Obviously, there were some tropical drinks, at least for the parents. And a beautiful view from the table. Food & View I don't recall what we ate as we enjoyed our view that evening. I'm sure there was fish on our table!  I'm not sure that our family could afford a meal at Mama's today. I look at the menu and see "Tristan Island Lobster Tails" for $95.00. Then again, I would be happy to be there right now and support Mama's, or any Maui business that is open. I'm sure shops and restaurants that were spared will not be supported by tourists for a while. After Dinner I remember finishing our meal and walking out on the sand, lit with torches.  I told Scott to have a seat and pose on the boat. My camera flash kind of blasted the scene as he began to sit.  I don't recall if Scott was being funny in this pose. But he looks sad... kind of like we all feel, thinking about what Maui has dealt with in the past weeks. Sunrise in Maui It's been troubling to see the news and to imagine the horrors that so many experienced.  But, just like signs of hope with The Banyan Tree surviving... a sunrise in Maui is also a sign of hope and a new day. I'll end with that.
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On the Road in 2019 A few years ago, Don and I stopped for lunch at an old train station. I love a good building!  It was in October, 2019. We were on a trip from Portland to Sacramento. McMenamins Chain We usually go for Mom and Pop places when we travel.  We avoid chain restaurants, but we're always up for a McMenamins owned hotel or restaurant experience. They rescue old properties! Southern Pacific Depot This is how the town of Roseburg and its train station looked, about 100 years ago. The original was built in 1872. The current building was completed in 1912.  These photos were displayed on the wall, inside the restaurant. That's another reason I like McMenamins owned businesses. They spotlight history.  I like being reminded of the day, when train travel was popular!  I always have lots of questions, when we dine in old restaurants/buildings. It's often hard to get answers from young staff. In McMenamins owned properties, you can count on lots of shared history on the walls. Lighting You can also count on lots of curious light fixtures. We've experienced 9 of these festive properties, in Oregon and Washington.  There's always a fun mix of interesting architecture, whimsical art and refurbished antiques. Walls and Ceiling In this photo, you can sort of see the original 16-foot vaulted ceiling. The tongue-and-groove fir wainscoting, is also original.  Besides old photographs, I spotted lots of intriguing, train themed artwork on the walls. Love a Good Bathroom I love a decorated bathroom. Thumbs up to this painted designs.  I appreciated the preserved (I assume) stalls and tile. I hate it when historic features are removed. It helped me picture the traveling ladies from a century ago, stopping in to powder their noses! Food Some of those traveling ladies, kept an eye on Don while he ate his lunch.  The menu was just basic pub food, but we were both satisfied. Don was happy with the curry flavor, in his tuna sandwich. I was happy he shared his fries! My Aztec Salad had crispy greens and bright-fresh avocado and corn chips. Just the right amount!  It's been over 3.5 years since Don and I enjoyed our sandwich and salad, in the depot. Back in the October of 2019, we didn't know a pandemic was coming in 2020. We didn't know we'd have a grandchild born in Oregon, in 2021. One More Stop at the Depot! Little did we know that we would stop on another road trip in 2023.  This time we were traveling with our daughter and son-in-law and their 2 year old Charlie! She approved of the crayons!  We had a great little lunch, tucked into a cozy corner, near the old wood-burning stove. Charlie and Don toasted, like they did at pretty much every meal on our drive to Texas! Now this sweet girl and her parents live 2.5 hours from us! Not sure if we'll ever pass through Roseburg again. I'm glad we made this recent stop!
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The Dining Blog
This is a blog about Dining Adventures. Sometimes, I talk about food. Below, you can read how this started. On July 4th 2011, I set a goal to try 50 culturally diverse restaurants in one year! (I knew that was possible, living in the Houston area) I spent the year pulling in friends and family to join me, on some unusual dining adventures. I met some curious people, tried some scary foods and explored places and cultures I never would have otherwise. Even though I met my goal, I learned too much to end my adventures in dining. I have continued blogging about memorable dining adventures of all kinds, near and far... and all the discoveries and funny things I've learned along the way! Locations and types of dining adventures, are listed further down. Archives
August 2023
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