Food-Travel-Life... Enjoy!

Ben and Jenny Goldberg Working Nantucket: House manager to the rich and famous

2010-07-25T18:59:00.008-04:00

He’s house manager to lifestyles of rich and famous

By Joshua Balling

I&M Assistant Editor

Ben Goldberg got his big break by chance. He was working for a family with a

large waterfront summer home when their caterer turned down a party. Not just any party, but a 110-person sit-down dinner in honor of former president Jimmy Carter.

Goldberg, then just 21 and a UMass-Amherst graduate who had studied hospitality and catering, offered to do the job.

He pulled it off, flawlessly coordinating the dinner as well as other meals and logistics during Carter’s stay. Three weeks later, he did the same thing when George Bush (41) visited.

That was a decade ago, and today, Goldberg and his wife Jenny

run Enjoy Nantucket, providing “house management” services for a number of wealthy, prominent families with homes on the island, and offering concierge services to those renting for the summer.

They still work year-round for the family (who Goldberg asked not be named to protect their privacy) who gave him his chance, and he said the relationship is more than just a financial one.

He hopes all his clients see him – and the services he offers – in the same light. It’s the only way it will work, he said.

“It feels really comfortable to me. We’re in the kitchen with them, we’re getting to know them on a friend level. It doesn’t seem like we’re working for them. We’re

having meals with them,” he said. “We add normalcy into these people’s lives,” he said.

What Goldberg offers his clients – some of the most powerful figures in finance, government and industry, as well as others well- heeled enough to buy or rent a Nantucket vacation home – is peace of mind, discretion and the ability to enjoy their island respite without worrying about the details.

“I know when they are coming and have their cars ready at the airport. I know which rooms all the guests are staying in. I plan all the meals during their stay, which usually ends with a big dinner with friends. Then they leave, they drop the car at the airport, we bring it back, the house is perfect

Working: Organization and privacy key

(Continued from page 1A)

“I like to keep everything I do private. No one needs to know who is staying here, or what they are doing. If they did, the trust would be broken. In essence, it’s kind of like running a

private hotel . . .”

— Ben Goldberg House manager

again, they return, and it’s like nothing ever happened,” he said.

“They don’t even have to think or worry one second when they are not here. They know it will be perfect. That is huge. Their time is short here. I work for the family, and everyone who works at the house works for me: the land- scaper, the housekeeper, the pool guy. One call from the family, and I take care of it” Goldberg said.

“Every situation is different. I have to adapt to what their needs are. Before they get here, I make sure the flowers are done, the food and drinks are in the fridge, all the guests are taken care of and the house is clean. The homeowner doesn’t have to worry about it.”

In a nutshell, it all boils down to trust.

“I like to keep everything I do private. No one needs to know who is staying here, or what they are doing. If they did, the trust would be broken. In essence, it’s kind of like running a private hotel, or a private resort,” Goldberg said. “I get to that point through being with them, figuring out what they like and dislike. I’m here, I make sure no one’s taking advantage of these people when they are not. They need eyes around. It’s good for the people working to know that, too. I’m always looking out for a client’s best interest.”

Goldberg is most happy in the kitchen, however, and said what differentiates his job from that of a caretaker is his coordination of a client’s entertainment and dining needs while they are on the island.

“The kitchen is my office,” he said. “I started in entertaining, and it’s still what I enjoy the most.”

Goldberg grew up in Longmeadow, Mass. and began working summers on the island while in college. He got a job caddying at the Nantucket Golf Club, and was in the right place at the right time, during the height of the nation’s – and Nantucket’s – most recent economic boom. He started making connections.

He was staying with friends in a house next door to his first clients, and started working for them while they were building their current home.

“This industry built around me, while I was working at the golf club. These people wanted to show up, and have everything perfect. I saw that, and recognized the opportunity. I knew I could blend in to their families. When we’re here, with this family especially, we’re like part of the family. I’m with these people more than I am with my own family. It has to be comfortable,” he said.

Outside of the occasional presidential dinner party, Goldberg said his clients, despite their wealth and power, very rarely stand on formality, and he wouldn’t have it any other way.

“Our clients have certain standards, of course, but they are comfortable with us. These people are used to the best. But the best doesn’t mean fancy. It’s casual, laidback Nantucket. We have barbecues on the beach. Most of the food at parties is buffet-style. It’s fun, casual Nantucket. We’re not fancy. No one I work for is fancy,” he said. “It has to be a good match. It never really feels like what I do, is working. I love it be- cause I love the vacation atmos- phere, I love helping people with all the tedious, day-to-day stuff so they can enjoy their family and friends.”

Nor is he fazed by the stature of his clients.

“I haven’t changed anything I do. There are just slightly more im- portant people in the room. You can’t be star-struck,” he said.

Today, Goldberg has expanded his business to cater to vacation renters as well, offering to coordinate the services they’ll need during their island stay. That includes providing quality baby equipment required by young families who can’t bring it all with them.

“We have relationships with many, many families who rent for a month, or the whole summer,

who we know like family. We know what they want every summer,” he said.

For his clients who own homes, he often works year-round, over- seeing construction, renovation and maintenance projects in the off-season and when the property- owners are off-island. He charges clients a mutually-agreed-upon yearly or seasonal fee negotiated in advance, and handles all the negotiations with landscapers and island contractors on their behalf, passing along any trade discounts he may be able to secure.

“My team consists of people who are of great quality but also of good value. I make sure that the people I work for don’t get taken advantage of. My eyes are everywhere. I’m constantly vigilant. In the long run, I think I’m probably saving them money,” he said.

Staying sane, and keeping his clients satisfied, boils down to organization. At any given time, he’s got several teams of chefs, landscapers and housekeepers working around the island, and keeping on top of it all is a job in and of itself. Just as his clients trust him, he trusts his teams, he said.

“We have two full-time people and Jenny. She is kind of like the front of the house. There is one girl who basically organizes everything, all the concierge work for families who rent. I have to show my face, so it’s nice to know I don’t have to worry about that. I need to coordinate with the subcontractors. At any time, I may have five dinner parties going on. But in those homes, we have full-time chefs, and landscapers at the houses where I know on certain days the lawns will be cut. I have teams of people I can trust. I don’t really need to micromanage. The less I hear from them, the better. The key for me is to get the right people in there from the beginning,” he said.

He also strives to make his clients feel like they have his undivided attention.

“Each one is special. Each one is the most important. My goal or motto is ‘one client at a time.’ I try to make them happy and build from there. It has to be like that. I’ve been doing this for 10 years. I know when to grow.”

As for the future, Goldberg said it often has a way of taking care of itself.

“These things just seem to work out,” he said. “Right now we’re really enjoying ourselves.”

Nantucket Summer 2010

2010-07-18T14:53:00.003-04:00

Just a few pics from a night off in ACK after a looooong July 4th Weekend. A little bit of fishing at Great Point with Jenny and Andrew.

Some early Summer pics of the gardens starting to bloom. Everything was looking perfect

Nantucket Independent Article June 23rd, 2010

2010-07-18T14:16:00.006-04:00

THE NANTUCKET INDEPENDENT • JUNE 23, 2010

BY ALICIA HULL

INDEPENDENT SPECIAL WRITER

Are you being served?

Whether you stay overnight in a friend’s house or rent a $10,000 a week

waterfront home, the luxury and con-

venience of a hotel room is now avail-

able in just about any place on the is-

land.

Vacationing has always been a time

to relax and unwind, but with new con-

cierge services sprouting up on the is-

land, taking a vacation on Nantucket is

becoming a worry-free experience.

The last decade has seen a loss of

1,500 lodging rooms on island, as

many guest houses and inns have gone

out of business or have become private

homes. With the loss of rooms for the

day-tripper, there has been an increase

in the number of vacation homes avail-

able for rent. It was just a matter of

time for concierge services to attract

the attention of island entrepreneurs.

“The idea is that they show up and

it’s done,” said Ben Goldberg, who cre-

ated Enjoy Nantucket, a concierge and

rental service. “The house is perfectly

clean, the dining room is set and there

are ﬂ owers and groceries as well as

drinks in the fridge.”

Since 1997, Goldberg and his wife

Jenny have perfected life for landlords

and their tenants. They take care of ev-

erything behind the scenes, including

unpacking suitcases, planning parties

and providing rental equipment for

babies and the beach. Essentially, the

Goldbergs manage the household.

“The goal is for them to shop, enjoy

their families and friends and not have

to deal with all of that stuff,” said Gold-

berg.

Even for newer companies, like Ack

Fast Services started by island native

Amanda Ciarmataro in 2008, business

is booming.

“I would say we are doubled right

now in business since last year,” she

said. “It’s really stressful. We have

grown really fast, really quickly. I’m

excited and grateful for the people

who are supporting me.”

Goldberg offered similar sentiments

about Enjoy Nantucket.

“This has been my busiest season

all around,” said Goldberg. “There is

deﬁ nitely a need for it [concierge ser-

vices] on island. There is tons of room

for people like me to be doing this,

and I also think everyone should work

together.”

As business grows, so have the ser-

vices offered by concierge companies.

Although they vary from business

to business, many island companies

now include baby equipment rentals

among the services they provide. Par-

ents are given the opportunity to rent

baby goods such as high chairs, stroll-

ers and cribs and have them delivered

right to their home.

“As a parent, if you’re traveling

with your kids, whether it’s on a boat

or in a plane, it’s quite a process,” said

Ciarmataro. “The last thing you want

to do when you get here is go out to

the store. For families, it’s a nice luxury

for them - an expense they are willing

to pay instead of feeling overwhelmed

once they are on vacation.”

In addition, the concierge is available

to ﬁ nd and schedule babysitters.

Nannytucket, a concierge compa-

ny that specializes in babysitting, was

founded by Heather North-McGraw.

Nannytucket allows vacationers access

to quality, worry-free childcare. Par-

ents can book a sitter online, over the

phone, or through a secondary compa-

ny such as AckFast or Enjoy Nantucket.

Each babysitter undergoes an applica-

tion/interview process as well as back-

ground checks before being listed as an

acceptable childcare provider.

As July and August approach, Gold-

berg offers advice for individuals just

starting out in a business he has per-

fected.

“Keep everything you do private,” he

said. “I’ve noticed that a lot of people

don’t want their names out there. We

are there to assist. To my clients, I am a

personal assistant, a chef and a friend.”

Anguilla - The last few days

2010-03-21T12:20:00.005-04:00

Hydroponic Garden and Viceroy Hotel - Anguilla

2010-02-10T07:08:00.013-05:00

BEST DAY EVER! - Anguilla

2010-02-10T05:58:00.008-05:00

Day 2,3 4,5 Bliss Villa - Anguilla

2010-02-08T08:12:00.008-05:00

Anguilla - Paradise

2010-02-05T08:10:00.006-05:00

Day 1

MY LAST 3 WEEKS (JANUARY 2010)

2010-02-02T09:20:00.006-05:00

Palm Beach to Houston to Vail to Seattle to Vail to Santa Monica/LA to NYC to Baltimore to NYC to Palm Beach to Boston to NYC to Boston to Palm Beach

Kappa Weekend in Nantucket

2009-10-13T19:38:00.011-04:00

38 girls, lobsters, fudge, no booze and no boys!!!

Kappa weekend in ACK

July 4th on Heather Lane (1st Annual)

2009-10-07T20:52:00.016-04:00

After the rainiest June of all time on Nantucket, the skies cleared for the first annual Heather Lane 4th of July bash.

Family and friends from all over the country came to celebrate Independence Day with a beach BBQ and a beautiful lobster dinner on the lawn.

The highlights of the menu included my marinated beef tips, crispy sausages, lobster, corn, fried clams, apple pie a la mode, and an American flag cake.

Topping the night off, an amazing fireworks display appeared, and we watched it from the best view on the island!!

Dave Matthews Band Fenway Park... AMAZING!!!!

2009-06-17T08:16:00.007-04:00

Nantucket and the beginning of Summer

2009-06-17T07:41:00.007-04:00

Hi,

So the Summer season on Nantucket has begun. Yesterday was the first day I really noticed it starting to get busy. Enjoy Nantucket is looking good for the Summer. We will be super busy. I have come to realize that being a good person, with a good product and taking it one client at a time is how to grow a business.

What's new with Enjoy Nantucket and Ben and Jenny...

While at Canyon Ranch in Miami, Jenny realized she needs to do what she loves and what she is good at. So she renewed her personal training certificate, got the proper insurance and she will begin training some of our clients. Who wouldn't want Jenny yelling at them while running down the beach (me)?!?! But really she is passionate about fitness and knows what she is doing... Look at her, she is most in shape person I know. Actually, she is in the gym right now while I am sitting on my ass as usual. Oh, if you want to buy a house out here she can help you with that as well.. she is getting good at that.

Other things going on: The baby equipment business is booooming. We have so many orders and I feel super comfortable about every client and their happiness in our products and our service. We are priced fairly and have chosen the best quality and safest products available. Again, in business quality and service are super important. Especially, on Nantucket with clients who are used to haveing only the "the best."

As far as catering.. I would say I have about 1000 people I have planned to cook for this summer adding all the parties together. With a few huge events that I am producing. That number will easily double as the last minute parties come in. I am excited for the events to begin. We have done a bunch of smaller events and our first big party is next weekend. I will let you know how it goes and keep updating this (hopefully) as the summer goes on..

St. Thomas with the Biltz Family

2009-04-17T06:59:00.013-04:00

Drive on the left side of the road up the steepest hills and the curviest streets with no guardrail and finally, you get to the house. Oh, and then pull over and enter the code to get in the gate, where you have to drive up the steepest driveway I have ever seen.

But the view from this beautiful house was INCREDIBLE…St Thomas with the Biltz family.

How do you like your sweet tea. SWEET. And not sugar coated. But, damn sweet HEAD!!!!

Accompanying Tim and Kelly blitz was their daughter Lisa and her Husband Will and their friend John with his wife Meredith. Oh… and Jenny and I. It was the 8 of us in St Thomas at the house that took 30 minutes to get to, but it sure was beautiful…and most importantly the grill worked perfect.

The first night was Will and Lisa’s first wedding anniversary. Not knowing that until our arrival, Jenny and I were excited to make it special, but we were a little unprepared. We made a baked brie in puff pastry and cut out the number one and baked it on top. To keep with the theme, we made cupcakes with a number one on them as well. The menu included Caesar Salad and crab mashed potatoes with grilled beef tenderloin and sautéed corn.

Other food highlights of the week:
Panko crusted grouper
Homemade onion dip
Fajita night
Sushi at the Rtiz
Prosciutto wrapped asparagus
Burger night
Key lime soup
Hangover crab cakes

Great people, delicious food, a beautiful view and huge iguanas…St Thomas with the Biltz family.

The night before St. Thomas (Pizza at Picco)

2009-04-07T12:34:00.004-04:00

I love pizza, but Jenny usually advises me to avoid it. The night before we left for St. Thomas I was lucky enough to eat at a place called Picco on the South End of Boston with good friends Marc, Lisa, Jason, and my beautiful wife. It was a celebration for Jenny who had just passed her Florida Real Estate exam.

Pico is a new age rustic pizza/ice cream restaurant with this slogan: “If you don’t like your pizza crispy go somewhere else.” They create pizzas with bold ingredients and distinguishable flavors while the same goes for their home made ice cream. The beer is hand selected from small breweries around the country. They have a friendly staff that includes our waitress who immediately felt more like an old friend. The 5 of us foodies split 3 pizzas and came close to finishing them.

ALSATIAN our version of France’s tarte flambé sautéed onions, shallots, garlic, sour cream, bacon & gruyere

RED PEPPER, ARUGULA & GOAT CHEESE PIZZA  chopped tomatoes, salsa verde & arugula salad tossed with aged balsamic vinaigrette

MUSHROOM SPECIAL

They came out crispy, hot, and had tons of flavor. I could tell they use the best possible ingredients and know how to utilize flavor combinations. The same goes for their ice cream.

The sampler cost $6, contained 3 delicious flavors, and was well worth it. We ordered 3 samplers that consisted of chocolate peanut butter swirl, coffee, raspberry chip, malted chip, caramel swirl, dark chocolate sorbet. When they were gone our nice waitress brought out some mini oatmeal cookies and chocolate chip marienge as a gift.

I left Picco very, very happy, which is not always the case because I tend to be picky in restaurants. The pizza and ice cream were amazing, the service was amazing, and it was nice to catch up with old friends. I feel like it is a good value at Picco and that remains very important to me. A $5 salad is worth $5, and $6 for a variety of three whole scoops of ice cream is worth $6.

http://www.piccorestaurant.com/about.htm

At this moment Jenny and I are in mid air half way to St Thomas for work. We are about to take the Biltz family on a culinary adventure in paradise. I will keep you posted throughout their trip.

Alaska and The Iditarod

2009-03-12T18:46:00.020-04:00

The Iditarod Trail's Finger Lake Checkpoint

and

The Winter Lake Lodge

Videos Below

It was day 4 of the Iditarod and all the mushers had made their way through Rainy pass and were heading toward McGrath. For Alice’s airplane to get though Rainy Pass the weather needs to cooperate and on this day it did not. So our travels took us to the last Iditarod checkpoint before the pass called Finger Lake.

On the shores of Finger Lake sits the Winter Lake Lodge. www.withinthewild.com

The Winter Lake Lodge is only accessible by an airplane with skis or floats. It is a culinary destination for people who love the outdoors and love food. We did not get to eat anything except for a chocolate chip cookie (which was amazing), but chef Kristin has won the best chef in America award, while her daughter, the sous chef at the lodge, has worked at the French Laundry in Napa. The aroma from the kitchen made me wish we could stay for dinner but the snow was starting to fall so we had get going or sleep there overnight.

Alaska

2009-03-08T21:16:00.012-04:00

As I sit on Alice's basement couch, I can hear a plane landing in her back yard on the frozen Campbell Lake. That is Alaska and that is what I experienced today.

After pushing the plane out of the hanger, Alice (pilot) gracefully took off with Burkes' (pilot instructor) calm and minimal instruction... very impressive. We took a quick right turn and headed for the Chugach mountain Range. Burke took the controls and flew us into places you would think a helicopter, not a plane, could get that close to. Amazing!! The most untouched beauty I have ever laid eyes on.

We made a quick stop at the village of Willow but the race hadn't started yet. So we headed home.

Tomorrow's itinerary consists of checking out various Iditarod checkpoints, where hopefully we will see some dog teams in action. Maybe Andrew will even fly us home.

Captiva with the Beni Family

2009-02-22T15:50:00.031-05:00

The Beni Family Culinary Adventure with Chef Ben and Pastry Chef Jenny

Feb 14-21

Captiva Island

The Beni Family, what a great family, all 15 of them. It was a pleasure cooking for them on their vacation. They love to eat, they love bold flavors, and they eat a lot! (which is good) Jenny and I had a lot of fun working for them. Between sessions of washing dishes and cleaning up, Jenny was baking everything she could think of. From caramel short bread squares to cookie pie, cookie bars, cupcakes, brownies, lemon squares, etc!
There was no question; the Beni’s knew what they wanted to eat and how they wanted it prepared. For example: Their lamb had to be crispy on the outside and just a little pink on the inside. Their Meat had to be medium rare to medium, but not too pink but not too well done. Their decaffeinated Tetly iced tea had to made with bottled water and don’t forget the lemon slices on the side! And the bacon, it haaaad to be crispy.

Day 1

Hor’ Devoures

Mini Lamb burgers

Antipasto Platter (my hummus, peppered salami, cheddar cheese, carrots, Mary’s gone crackers)

Buffet

Arugala with roasted mushrooms, pine nuts and lemon vinaigrette

Orzo with grilled asparagus, peas, scallions, feta, olives, roasted yellow and orange peppers

Grapefruit marinated hanger steak with my chimichurri

Grilled Gulf shrimp and pineapple skewers slathered with my pesto

Faccacio bread

Dessert

Jenny’s white chocolate, macadamia, dried cran cookies and semi and milk chocolate cookies

Day 2

Hor’ Devoures

Clams casino

Oysters with my minionette

Rosemary cashews

Buffet

Loin lamb chops with truffled caramelized onions

Caesar salad

Roasted cherry tomatoes

Crab mashed potatoes

Dessert

Ice cream pie

Jenny’s chocolate truffles

Day 3

Lunch

BLTA (Bacon, lettuce, tomato, and avocado) make your own sandwiches

Hor’ Devoures

Rainbow trout caviar dip

My home made Guac/salsa

Sauteed shrimp wih my pesto

Buffet

Mixed greens with lemon vinegrette

Truffled tater tots

Veggie towers (zuch, port, spinach, goat cheese, orange pepper, olive)

Rib eye steaks

Dessert

Key lime pie

Jenny’s mocha brownies

Day 4

Hor’ Devoures

Asparagus wrapped with procuito

Crispy sausages

Buffet

BBQ Ribs (margo’s recipe)

BBQ Chicken

Baked beans

Potato salad

Cole slaw

Corn bread with cheddar

Dessert

Jenny’s homemade apple tart with vanilla ice cream

Day 5

Hor' Devoures

Huge cheese platter

Buffet

Mixed green salad with tons of veggies

Lobster ravioli with a vodka cream sauce

Panko crusted grouper with sauteed spinach and a pineapple salsa

Dessert

White chocolate coconut cake

Day 6

Hor' devoures

White Stergeon and American Stergeon Caviar

Ben's Crab cakes

Eggplant dip

Caesar salad

Sauteed corn and asparagus with truffle salt from France

Pork tenderloin with a whole grain mustard horseradish sauce

Tortellini with my pesto and toasted pine nuts

Dessert

Jennys's cookies, brownies and caramel squares

Day 7

Hor’ Devoures

Baked salami

Baked Brie in puff pastry with apricot preserves

Antipasto platter

7 layer dip

Buffet

Fajita night

Dessert

Ice cream sundae bar

The Best Beach Sandwich

2009-02-09T16:41:00.002-05:00

The Best Beach Sandwich
Serves 3-4

Jenny, Marc and I made this sandwich on our last day in St. Maarten. What made it so memorable was the freshness of all the ingredients. All the vegetables were locally grown and purchased from the farmers market. Most importantly, the baguette was taken right out of the oven! My advice to you is to try and get the freshest baguette available to you (if possible). Ours came from a French bakery in Marigot.

Ingredients
1 Fresh Baguette (sliced in half lengthwise)
3 oz good crumbled goat cheese
1 avocado (peeled, halved, and sliced in half moons)
1 Cucumber (sliced)
2 Tomatoes sliced thin
1 small red onion
10 thin cut slices procsuiito or a good ham
2 oz baby arugela
½ cup sprouts (optional)
¼ cup good Mayonnaise
¼ cup Dijon Mustard
Truffle salt
Tin Foil

Directions
1. Place 3 sheets of tin foil on the counter wide enough and long enough to wrap the whole baguette
2. Place both sided of sliced baguette on tin foil and spread a thin layer of mustard on one side of the bread and the mayonnaise on the other side. A good hummus can be added as well.
3. Layer goat cheese, avocado, cucumber, tomato, ham, arugela, and spouts along the whole baguette making sure each bite will include all ingredients
4. Sprinkle truffle salt along whole sandwich if you feel fancy and a tiny bit of a good balsamic vinegar wont hurt this.
5. Place top on sandwich making sure nothing falls out
6. Wrap tightly with tin foil (smooshing it down a little is actually a good thing)
7. Cut in thirds or fourths depending on the number of people you are feeding
8. Bring it with you to wherever you are hungry for something simple, fulfilling, and amazing! The beach works best!!!!!!!

First Party of 2009 (John's 60th Bday)

2009-02-09T16:24:00.001-05:00

We had our first party of 2009, which went off without a hitch. The food was actually amazing despite me being a little rusty. Jenny was her old self, dressed in a beautiful purple dress and looking beautiful. Many times while she was passing hors D’oeuvres I could hear her laugh from the kitchen and I had to go interrupt her conversations, make her stop talking to the guests and continue passing the food. It’s annoying but cute..

Thirty-one people attended the party and we knew many of them from previous parties in Nantucket and Longmeadow. Although, it was nice to see so many familiar faces, it was hard for me to concentrate on the cooking! I wanted to catch up with everyone but knew I had some serious cooking to do. The tables were set beautifully in a nautical theme with seashell place cards.

The menu:

Passed Hors D’oeuvres
Passed Seared Tuna on a round tortilla chip with avocado and sweet chili sauce
Mushroom Tarts
Tortilla tucks
Pigs in blankets

Buffet
My Caesar salad
Orzo salad-laurel’s recipe
Potato salad-Ginnys Recipe
Marinated and grilled flank steak with truffled caramelized onions
Grilled shrimp and pineapple skewers with my homemade pesto
Faccacio bread

Dessert
Cupcakes
Ginnys famous cookies

Honeymoon: Day 1

2009-01-28T21:47:00.002-05:00

Hello everyone! This is my very FIRST blog and I am happy you have decided to read it. Ben and I thought it would be beneficial for us to keep track of our travels and adventures so that we can help others who may be going to the same places we have been to. Our purpose is to offer tips, advice and our opinion on everything from the hotel accommodations, transportation to and from the destination, great restaurants to check out (and not so great ones to avoid), best beaches to visit, reveal local hidden "gems" that the average tourist would not know about etc...

When Ben and I go to a new place we waste no time sitting around the pool...except for the very necessary sunset cocktail ;0) We get some local maps, hop in our rental car and hit the road.

Our first blog will be about our recent trip to Hawaii. We visited Maui and Kauai. This trip will probably go down as one of the most memorable trips of our lives.

Day ONE: Getting to Hawaii

FLIGHTS: If you live on the East Coast, getting to Hawaii is no easy task! Ben and I spent a few days in San Francisco (where his brothers family lives...we will have more info on SanFran in a later blog) before flying Hawaiian Airlines (www.hawaiianair.com) into Honolulu. The flight was very comfortable with lots of room to move around. Unfortunately, I was sick with the flu the whole way there so I didn't really get to enjoy myself! The flight was a little under 5 hours and flew by. We landed in Honolulu and had to catch a smaller plane to Maui. We took Go! Airlines (www.iflygo.com), which was fine except for the 2-hour delay we had to endure in the airport. The flight to Maui only took 30 minutes.

Once in Maui we picked up our rental car from Alamo Car Rental (www.alamo.com). A CONVERTIBLE!!! At first we were only going to rent a tiny car but Ben decided to go for it and get the convertible for only $77 more dollars! What a deal. We do NOT recommend going all the way to Hawaii and renting a normal car.... you MUST get a convertible. There is no better way to experience Hawaii. There really is something about having the wind go through your hair and you drive by the ocean. Once in the car we headed out to find the Ritz-Carlton at Kapalua (www.ritzcarlton.com). The drive from the airport is approximately 1 hour. On our way we went past the most incredible panoramic view of the ocean....breathtaking! It is truly something that cannot be described, the absolute beauty of the water. It was about 25 minutes into our drive that we had our first whale sighting! Now, we live on Nantucket for half the year and not once have we ever seen a whale. They seemed to be a dime a dozen out in the ocean. You knew they were there because of the stream of mist shooting into the air from their blowholes.... it was amazing to watch. Stream after stream shooting up into the sunset, it was almost as if they were welcoming us into their world...that was the exact moment when Ben and I knew we were about to have the trip of a lifetime.

Getting to The Ritz-Carlton:

One word: WOW. This is how Ben and I could describe the feeling of seeing the hotel for the first time. What I first noticed was the underlying scent of pineapple and something else sweet. It was a tropical dream you could say. You walked into the lobby and could immediately see the ocean through the other of the hotel. There was a warm breeze flowing through the lobby. The decorating was outstanding...Hawaiian chic. It had a minimalist style but with bursts of color everywhere you looked. Very tasteful. We were greeted at the front desk with 2 beaded necklaces and a warm ALOHA! A really welcoming young girl led Ben and I to our garden view/ocean view suite. We had no idea what to expect. Then she opened the door and our mouths dropped at the same time...WOW...this was the most gorgeous room we had ever stayed in. It was 900 square feet with a kitchen, living room, 2 flat screen TVS, a huge king size bed, Jacuzzi tub, separate shower, big closet and about 100 square feet of deck overlooking the 10,000 square foot pool. We also had a fantastic view of the ocean. The decorating gave us the same feeling as the lobby...not overdone but totally Hawaiian and relaxed. A little later Ben decided to order room service, I was still not feeling that great, so he went with the turkey club with bacon and avocado and fries. Ben still talks about that meal, he said it was "the best meal turkey club I have ever eaten" and trust me, he has had a lot of turkey clubs.

Then there was a knock at the door...we were greeted by a nice young man who was carrying a bottle of champagne with 2 glasses and a plate of fresh cheeses, dried fruit and crackers! We couldn't believe it, we felt so special. There was a note from the Ritz Carlton accountant welcoming us to the hotel and wishing us a happy honeymoon. There was also the mention of Justine (who works for Ritz-Carlton as well), who really helped us out with getting such an incredible rate for the room. We worked for Justine and her family on Nantucket last fall. Ben cooked a few dinners for them and she told us that Hawaii was the BEST place to go on a honeymoon…so far, she was right! We decided to put the champagne and food away for later and go to bed...we were too tired to stay up and we wanted to wait for the perfect moment to pop the champagne.

Day 2: Waking up in paradise

2009-01-28T21:36:00.001-05:00

After the most relaxing, comfortable sleep ever, Ben and I wake up at 6am. Keep in mind we went to bed at 7pm. Both of us were exhausted from the trip and I still wasn't feeling 100% but the long sleep sure helped. We were up and excited to start our day! First things first, COFFEE. We both really enjoy a great cup of coffee in the morning and our room came with a Cuisinart coffee maker and great coffee. I decided I was feeling well enough to workout and I really wanted to check out the gym facility. Nothing gets me more excited in the morning than knowing a great workout lies ahead in a beautiful gym-I'm a little nuts over working out, I know-so I head down to the lobby and find the INCREDIBLE water stand with ice cold water that has pineapple in it. What a great idea! Everyone should try it sometime; it really adds a refreshing aspect to the water. After guzzling down 3 cups of it I head to the gym. Once inside I see all my fitness dreams coming true...it’s a brand new gym with one side facing the ocean. The treadmills and other cardio equipment have front row seats to the gorgeous ocean and enormous pool. Now this is the type of gym where running on the treadmill doesn't get boring. They also have great weight machines and all the little extras you could expect in a top of the line gym.

While I was working out, Ben decided to venture out and find a grocery store so we could stock up on some food to put in our fridge. We love to be able to make our own lunches in the room and have healthy snacks on hand. He found this great little coffee shop and thought that maybe he should buy some coffee for the room and then he saw the price...$32/lb!!! He couldn't believe it and asked the cashier why it was so expensive. She told him that most coffee you buy in supermarkets/coffee shops has been sitting on the shelf for about 6 months to a year BUT their coffee was picked LAST week! It is probably the freshest coffee you can buy. Needless to say, he did not buy the bag but opted to try a cup when he and I came back together...Ben is pretty thoughtful like that :)

Later that day we decided that a couple’s massage was in order! We were both a little achy and LOVE to try different spa treatments when we go to new places. The massage was a gift from Ben's brothers and their wives (thank you Kim, Emilee, Steve and Dave!!!) We went into the spa an hour early to try out the steam rooms; whirlpool tubs and just plain relax. We walk in and are immediately greeted but a calm woman who makes us feel completely welcome. The Ritz just completed a renovation of the spa and it is perfect! Very earthy and smells terrific. We are led down the bamboo hallway to the co-ed lounge area, which has refreshments, yummy treats and plenty of comfy chairs. Ben and I go are separate ways into the locker rooms. Once inside, I am again greeted by a fabulous employee and shown to my locker where I receive my robe and sandals. *Ben loved the robes so much that he brought one home* I change into my lounging attire and head to the steam room area. As I am about to go in the employee comes back and congratulates me on my wedding and asks if I would like some champagne...of course I would! I am not a girl who turns down a drink. I have a few sips-delicious-and step into the wet sauna that has eucalyptus essence flowing through the mist. I feel completely relaxed and emerge 30 min later feeling like a million bucks!

I get my robe back on and head to the co-ed lounge to meet up with Ben. We sit and relax for a little while and then we are taken to an outdoors room to have our first couples massage. It was such a peaceful setting. We could hear the birds, the ocean and the breeze. How could you NOT relax in a place like this?!?! When it was over we realized that the week had only begun and the feeling of euphoria was going to stay with us until we left. If only we could feel like this everyday.

That night we only wanted something light. Our appetites still were not normal and we didn’t want to waste a good meal on our sickly selves. We drove to a little town called Lahaina that was only 15min from the Ritz. It was right on the water and had tons of cool shops and restaurants. It was slightly touristy but had many options. We decided on a beach restaurant called the “Mixed Plate” (www.alohamixedplate.com). It was a casual place with a very relaxed vibe. They served the dishes on paper plates that also gave it a BBQ style. I had the mixed plate that came with BBQ chicken, teriyaki steak and grilled Mahi Mahi. It was great! Ben had a chicken and Mahi Mahi stir-fry with rice. His had a little too much sauce but a good flavor.
We headed home for another early nights rest. We knew by the next day we would be rejuvenated and ready to go!

Day 3: Road to Hana

2009-01-28T21:30:00.002-05:00

On the 3rd day we decided to drive the “road to Hana.” This is a famous 54-mile trek with switchback and hairpin turns to the central east coast of Maui. We heard many great things about the drive and also of the “best banana bread in the world” that is sold alongside the road on the way. I had to find out if this was true! Up until that point my Nanny (my dad’s mother) made the BEST banana bread in my mind and it was time to challenge that notion. The weather was perfect and we set out, with the top down of course. Ben had told me about the coffee shop with the $30 coffee and we wanted to taste it to see if we could tell the difference in freshness. So we bought 2 cups, one regular and one hazelnut. It was pretty good coffee I must say! Normally I don’t finish a cup but I drank the whole thing. It did taste a lot more fresh. On our way we stopped at a market to pick up some fruit for the road. The local strawberries were so sweet and the apples very crisp. You can’t forget about the pineapple from Maui. It is sooo incredibly tasty and sweet. I ate it every single day! They are grown on the island, so freshness is always guaranteed.

We came upon a town that caught both our eyes. It was called Apia (www.paiamaui.com) Ben and I have both been to Australia before and it reminded us some of the hippy towns we saw there. We loved it. It had very unique restaurants and people. We wanted to stop but decided to wait until the way home. We wanted to get to Hana. As we enter to what I call “the beginning of the really windy roads” it becomes very dense with greenery. We had the sense that this was the land that time forgot. The road kissed the sides mountains and hugged every curve. It was hard for Ben to take his eyes off the road because they were SO narrow. About half way to Hana we came to a roadside stand that had banana bread and my mouth started to water in anticipation. Ben came back to the car with a freshly baked, still warm loaf of banana bread and we ripped it open and ate the whole thing! I don’ we think we have ever tasted anything so out of this world delicious. It was buttery, smooth and perfectly baked. We were in heaven. Sorry Nanny but this one may just beat you out. We continued on with full bellies but didn’t quite make it all the way to the end. I tend to get motion sickness a lot quicker these days. The roads were just too curvy for me and I was beginning to feel nauseas. So we headed back towards our hotel. We stopped in Paia on our way back to check it out. We really enjoyed the vibe and hung out for about an hour. We looked in the stores and read the menus at different restaurants.

When we got back to the Ritz Ben and I made our own cocktails in the room and headed down to the pool to relax a little. The pool is such a great people watching spot. We sat back on lounge chairs and enjoyed the afternoon with beverages in hand. That night we wanted to check out the hotel restaurant “Kai” which is the Ritz-Carlton signature sushi restaurant. Before we sat at a table we sat up at the bar in the lounge for a drink. It had a very soothing vibe. Ben ordered a Bikini Blonde beer (made in Maui) and I had a glass of red wine. The bar snacks were to die for! Sesame seed coated pecans, sweet and salty almonds and marinated olives. I could have just eaten that as my dinner. As we were about to pay for the drinks and move into Kai a VERY generous man sitting at the bar offered to pay for our drinks! Out of the blue! We hadn’t even been talking with him. I didn’t even notice he was there. It was such a nice gesture, something that Ben and I will never forget. He said it looked as if we were on our honeymoon and then he said something we will never forget “it is so rare to see two people so much in love.” And he is right; we are so much in love!

Our sushi dinner at Kai was fabulous. We had edamame, spicy tuna roll, caterpillar roll and a vegetable roll. They were superbly rolled and the presentation was crisp and elegant. We really enjoyed it! But the best part was dessert. It was simple homemade vanilla and chocolate ice cream in an edible caramel bowl. It was so simple and tasty!!! The bowl was pretty much made from brown sugar and butter and you would take a bite of it with each ice cream bite. We almost licked the plate. We were both tired and decided to go to bed early so we could wake up feeling ready for the next day.

**This was the night that our blog idea came to life** I feel bad that we did not start something like this earlier. We now vow to record and keep track of all the travels we go on. Good night!

Day 4: Hiking Day

2009-01-28T21:24:00.000-05:00

On this day Ben and I woke up at 7am, which was considered sleeping in to us because we had been getting up around 6am the previous days. It felt good to get a little more shuteye and we were anxious to get out and start exploring the grounds around the Ritz. We headed up to the “Adventure Lodge” on the property, which helps guests plan different adventures around the island. A very helpful employee told us of the old golf course that had now been turned into a walking trail. It sounded perfect. It was only 3 miles and Ben could check out the old course. We took a map and headed out. First we walked towards the water to see the lava rocks along the coast. Beautiful. It was a good way to see the ruggedness of coastline. Then we headed up towards to old golf course for our hike. It was neat to walk around an abandoned course. It felt like a ghost town! It had a LOT of hills that were good for me but for the average walker it was pretty steep but the views from the top were so unexpected! You could see sooo far. Ben and I stopped just to take it all in. The walk took us about 1.5 hours and by the time we had finished we were ready for lunch. We stopped into the Ritz general store and picked up a few things to make lunch in our room. The rest of the day was going to be spent doing absolutely nothing but relaxing by the pool and ocean. Because we had such a good food experience at Kai we decided to try another meal at the hotel. We really loved the bar/lounge atmosphere so we kept it casual with dinner that night. The dinner was anything but ordinary though! We shared a chicken Caesar salad and a burger trio plate with fries. There were 3 mini burgers with cheese and bacon…YUMMY! We pretty much devoured that dinner. For dessert we had ice cream again with cookies instead of the bowl. Good stuff. Once again, we called it a night and went to bed for a good night sleep.

Day 5: Meeting new friends

2009-01-28T21:20:00.001-05:00

Today we woke up at 5am! I don’t know what it was but we couldn’t sleep. So I decided to get up and go to the gym for an early morning workout. There was only one other person in the gym with me and she was the employee! I welcomed the silence and got to work. It was probably one of the best workouts of my life. I had so much energy and before I knew it an hour and a half had flown by. I headed back to the room to plan the day with Ben. Since we really liked the town of Paia we got in the car and went back for lunch. We weren’t sure which restaurant we wanted to eat at and figured we would just decide when we got there. We actually ended up buying sandwiches from the local grocery store! From the outside it looked like nothing but when you went in it is like a hippy Whole Foods. It was my dream store! All organic and with products and foods you don’t normally see at regular stores. They had a fabulous sandwich/salad bar section so Ben and I picked up some vegan sandwiches. Who says you need meat on a sandwich?!?!? These had so many flavors that we didn’t miss the usual chicken or turkey. They were so good we went back and bought another.

That afternoon was devoted to relaxing (again). Before we knew it was time for cocktails. But this wasn’t just any night. This was the night we were going out with our new friend Mike (who was an employee at the Ritz who worked at the pool) and his girlfriend Amber. We met Mike a few days earlier and he was the coolest guy. He was so helpful and easygoing. The conversation just seemed to flow freely and before we knew it we were talking with him every time we went to the pool. Ben and I told him about our plan to go over to Kauai Island from Sunday until Tuesday and the strangest coincidence happened…he told us that he was going to Kauai on the EXACT same dates with Amber!!! Can you believe that?!? If that isn’t fate, I don’t know what is. We arranged to have drinks later on that night to get to know them better and just hang out. Mike and Amber the first “young” people we had met on our trip. So we were pretty excited to go out with them.

We met up Amber and Mike at a sushi restaurant called “Sansei” (www.sanseihawaii.com) around 8pm. Sansei was located right on Ritz-Carlton property. It was an immediate connection between all of us. It was as if we were meeting up with old friends. There was no awkwardness, we just all immersed ourselves in great conversation and before we knew it 10:30pm rolled around. During our talk we planned to meet up in Kauai and explore the island together because they had never been either. Ben and I didn’t think twice about meeting up with them, we couldn’t wait to!!! Honestly, I am still in shock that we all planned to be in Kauai on the exact same dates. Some signs are just too obvious to ignore.

Day 6: Our final day on Maui

2009-01-28T21:07:00.000-05:00

I couldn’t believe how much we were dreading leaving Maui. We were up at 6am again and pretty anxious to start our day. We knew we couldn’t afford to waste ANY time lazing around the hotel room. We put on our hiking outfits and headed off to a 7-mile hike. The trail we went on was called the Mahana Ridge Trail. Our first stop was at the general store to get some coffee, fruit and water. We were told it can take 3 hours to complete the 7-mile trail and we wanted to make sure that we had some refreshments in case we got lost! They assured us that not one person has ever gotten lost on the trail. Phew! Next, we walked to the Adventure Lodge to wait for a shuttle. They have a shuttle that comes 5 times a day and takes guests to the top of the mountain. It’s about 3000ft above sea level. The drive takes approximately 15min. It was 8am and Ben and I were the only ones at the shuttle stop. I don’t know if this is a good sign or a bad sign!?! We hopped in and rode to the top. Along the way you pass this ultra exclusive neighborhood with house that seem to have a 360-degree view of the island. Incredible.

The driver dropped us at the entrance to the path and we both just looked at each other, both not really sure what to think. It looked the opening to Jurassic Park. Not kidding. I was thinking we were about to go into a dinosaur feeding ground. It looked wild, lush, green and utterly intriguing. I did feel a little nervousness but I was assured that there are no snakes, no dangerous spiders, and no real “pests.” Not only is Hawaii amazing but also you can also go hiking in the jungle and not get eaten alive by anything! It reinforces my love for this place.

Here are some cool pictures of the views we had. The little flowers were so dainty and pretty. Ben even managed to spot coffee bean trees! The hike took us about 2 ½ hours. We had a fabulous time and were famished when we came back. Time for lunch! Mike had told us about some cool shops and restaurants in Kaanapali, which was just down the road from the Ritz. So we thought we would go take a walk around there and see if there were any good food places for lunch. We walked the boardwalk in front of many hotels for a little while looking at the different menus. Ben has taught me to never a make a food choice hastily and that every meal should be the best meal you have ever had. I take my time now when choosing what to eat. We picked a beach bar called “Leilani's” (www.leilanis.com). As we walked in the waitress greeted us and told us to pick any seat. As we were walking Ben whispered in my ear that he thought he knew the waitress. No way! I thought. How could we be on the other side of the world and see someone we know? It turns out she is a girl who works in Nantucket every summer, just like us!!! It was crazy…I couldn’t believe it. Her name is Holly and she is a bar tender on Nantucket in the summertime. She served us our incredible lunch and we had a chance to catch up and talk. Every winter she find s cool new place to work for the season. I love that! She didn’t have any idea where she was going to work next winter and I thought that was pretty awesome. She had a contagious lust for life that was hard to miss. Our meal was perfect! I had a tuna salad with strawberries, walnuts, feta, oranges and a strawberry dressing. Great flavor! Ben had a fish sandwich made with grilled swordfish and fries. One of us will ALWAYS order fries to share. We like to have fry taste tests when we eat out. We are always looking for the perfect French fry. We asked for the check and she had a surprise for us. She brought us the BIGGEST piece of ice cream cake I had ever seen. The signature dessert called the HULA PIE is worth every single calorie. It is vanilla macadamias nut ice cream with an Oreo butter crust with a layer of chocolate fudge and then it is topped with hot fudge and crushed macadamia nuts….OMG. We were in HEAVEN. I have never witnessed 2 people eat a dessert so fast. Ben and I waste no time on great food. We exchanged numbers with Holly and agreed to meet up with her and her boyfriend Scott who was from New Zealand around 9pm at Sansei, the place we went the night before.

In the afternoon we drove to Lahaina to look at a few art stores. We wanted to buy something the remind us of Maui but most paintings where way out of our price range and we knew we would find something on Kauai.

We had a few hours until sunset and a full bottle of champagne from the first night! Ben was so adorable; he came into the room all excited and told me to get ready. I didn’t know where we were going but I saw the champagne and strawberries and followed closely. He led me down to the beach for a romantic picnic on the beach. It was perfect. We drank the whole bottle and talked about how much we would miss Maui and how much fun we had had in the past 5 days. These are the moments I will never forget.

As for dinner, we wanted to make it best meal yet! We really LOVED the food at the bar in the Ritz and opted to stay there and have a casual meal but go all out and forget about healthy. We were having turkey clubs and fries and pizza! As for dessert, we knew we had to trying somewhere else. I wanted chocolate so we headed the Banyan Tree restaurant down by the pool. This is the restaurant to go to at the Ritz. We didn’t have enough time in our week to eat dinner there so I thought we should at least try the dessert. We ordered the chocolate tasting menu, which was unreal! It had chocolate cheesecake, chocolate mousse and chocolate ice cream. I ate pretty the whole thing.

At 9pm we met Holly and Scott. Let me just say I haven’t laughed that much in a long time. Holly was so funny! We really loved talking and getting to know both of them more. Scott was a real sweetheart and had many cool ideas and opinions of New Zealand. It was interesting to listen. He moved to Maui with Holly for a year from New Zealand. They met while Holly was touring around NZ. How cute!

Well this was our last night and we had mixed feelings. On one hand we were sad to leave and on the other we were about to venture into unchartered territory. We had no clue what lay ahead of us but we were eager to find out.

Kauai-the most incredible place we have ever seen...

2009-01-24T14:06:00.000-05:00

During our last 2 1/2 days on our Honeymoon we decided to head over to another island called Kauai. We had heard how beautiful it was but we were really excited to see it for ourselves. Our new friends, Mike and Amber, were also there at the same time. We still couldn't get over the fact that our trips landed on the EXACT same days. I have always believed in fate and all that "stuff" but this coincidence was truly surprising and shocking at the same time. I guess everything really does happen for a reason.

The airplane ride over was quick and easy. It took a little less than an hour from Maui. We flew on GO! Airlines again. Once we landed it was a seamless transition to our rental car, which was another convertible by the way. This time it only took about 10 minutes to get to our beach hotel. The moment we started driving we could feel the difference in this island compared to Maui. There was something more rustic about the place…it felt more primal. It was a LOT less developed and had a cool, hippy vibe to it. The mountains were more pronounced with really sharp and jagged looking ridges and edges. It was very cool to see. We stayed at "Resort Quest: The Beach Islander"
(www.resortquesthawaii.com) Which was right on the beach. It was much different than the Ritz, that's for sure! But there was something inside me that liked this place much better...it felt like the way an island should feel like. We walked into the entrance and it was open all the way through. You could see the ocean as you walked in. Gorgeous. We felt instantly relaxed and knew we had a few exciting days ahead. Our room was on the top floor with views of the pool and ocean. The room was perfect for us! Clean, all the basic amenities and a great deck...perfect for cocktails. We didn't waste much time in the room and headed out to explore the new roads. Our first little town we came to was Kapaa. It was a funky, eclectic place with tons of unique stores and many different styles of restaurants to choose from. We decided not to stop yet and keep driving. As we drove along the highway towards Hanalei we were in complete awe of the lushness that seemed to hug the highways. The trees were covered with huge green vines and leaves and winding branches. It felt as if we had stepped into another place in time. We half expected to see dinosaurs roaming the sides of the road. That's how primitive it felt! There was a waterfall along the side of the highway that appeared from nowhere and if you blinked you missed it...here's the picture that I caught, thankfully. It really was something to see looking up from a convertible.

Then without knowing what to expect when we headed into Hanalei Bay something magical seemed to come over us. The place was just out of this world. We had never seen anything like it. As you come down the hill in preparation to turn onto the road leading into Hanalei you feel different somehow. All you see is endless fields of green that seem to collide with the bases of these extraordinary mountains. The mountains appear to be "standing guard" over the town. It is as if this place is sheltered and protected from everything else. Ben and I just look at each other and without having to speak; we clairvoyantly know that we have found THE PLACE where we want to be.

It is a small town with a lot going on. There seems to be a vastly diverse population. A mix-match of people from all over the world who just couldn't leave. Despite appear "simple" on the surface, the town had many things to do and offer. It had all things you would expect to find in a functional town. The focus was on fresh, local food...we LOVED that. Most of everything you ate was grown there or in the area. We talked to many locals and they all say the same thing. They claim that there is something in the air that just grabs a hold of you and won't let you go. And they are right. There IS something magical going on there. The underlying current of mystery is everywhere.

FUN TIMES WITH AMBER AND MIKE:

I don't think we could have found better people to explore Kauai with. Truly and honestly. Amber and Mike are such cool people and they really enhanced our trip. We met up with them on Sunday night (our first night there) for dinner and fun. They were staying at the Marriott Hotel (www.marriott.com), which was phenomenal! It was such a huge resort with a great pool and an astonishing beach area. It was on a little bay that protected the beach from wind, so it was nice and calm. So that night we went to their hotel for sunset cocktails. We had such a blast. Who knew Mai Tai's could be so perfect! We had a few of those and decided to go find a good restaurant for dinner. We ended up at Pizzetta (www.pizzettarestaurant.com) that was a cozy and comfortable place to eat. They had fantastic pizza! I would recommend it. After pizza, Amber and I knew it was time for ice cream. I love this girl! She can eat like man, just like me. Two peas in a pod! We giddily run like schools girl up to the counter...there is something about ice cream that makes you feel like you are 5 years old again. We head to the local ice cream place called Lappets Ice Cream (www.lappertshawaii.com) where they are dedicated to making all their own ice cream and it sure does show! It was heavenly. I had the macadamia nut vanilla and peanut butter cup. I have never tasted anything so good.... but then again, I usually say that about every meal I eat. We say our goodbyes and goodnights to Amber and Mike and head back to our hotel where I have the BEST sleep of my life.

The next day all of us (Ben and I, Mike and Amber) head out on the open road for our first ever double date road trip. We were all SO excited. We kept joking that it felt like we had all known each other forever when it had only been 4 days! Our plan was to drive as far as we could around the island. Part of the island does not allow for cars. So we set out to find adventure and good food! For the next 6 hours we explore just about every part of Kauai. Our first goal was to head to the area known as “The Grand Canyon of the West” it was this HUGE canyon in the middle of the island. I have never seen anything so vast and utterly breathtaking! It made me feel very small. It was as if all my “problems” that I thought I had in my life disappeared. I came to realize that we are such a small part of the Universe and it is up to ourselves to appreciate the true beauty that lies all around us. Our next stop was at a local outdoor market in Poipu. There were local vendors from all over selling their freshest produce and products. We all dug in to the BEST grapefruits and oranges we had all ever eaten. I have never tasted anything so real and delicious! We continued on to the town of Kapaa for lunch. We had been driving almost 4 hours and we were all ready to taste come local food. We found this cool restaurant call “Mermaid” (www.mermaidcafe.com) they had really awesome savory dishes with local flair. I had chicken satay wrap with peanut sauce…SOO GOOD. Ben had fish tacos made with Mahi-Mahi that had a nice light, refreshing flavor.

After lunch we all got back in the car and headed to Hanalei Bay. Amber and Mike hadn’t been there yet; this was their first time to Kauai too. So Ben and I took them to our magical land and they felt the same way about it. We drove through the little town and decided to drive all the way until the end of the road. Ben and I had not gone that far yet and we were really interested to see more. The road only went about 20 more miles until the end. You come to this lush, fragrant opening leading to the beach. On one side is this giant mountain that towers over you and on the other is gorgeous beach. It was truly outstanding. There was a hiking path but we got there too late and it was starting to get dark. Anyways, we all agreed cocktail time was in order and headed back to the Marriott for some Mai Tai’s and munchies.

This was our last night with Amber and Mike and we wanted to enjoy it. We had a couple drinks on the beach and then headed over to our hotel for another drink by our pool. I couldn’t help but notice how easily the conversation flowed. Ben and I think of us as very lucky to have met such incredible people. It was close to 9pm and we hurried to find a restaurant that was still open. Many of the restaurants on Kauai don’t stay open past 9pm. We had some trouble finding one but eventually settled on the same pizza place as the night before. The pizza, as usual, was fantastic.

The next day was officially our last day on our Hawaiian adventure and we were totally bummed. I just knew I was going to miss it so much. We wanted to make sure we enjoy every single second of that day. It stared off with a helicopter tour of the island. Now, normally I would never choose to do something so extreme (in my mind, that’s extreme) but this tour was a wedding gift from Ben’s brothers and their wives. Thank you again Steve, Kim, Emilee and Dave!!! I was a little nervous but I knew that it would be well worth the anxiety. Ben and I ended up getting the best seats in the helicopter, right up front with the pilot. I was sitting between Ben and the pilot and four others sat in the back. I don’t think they had the same view as we did. The floor right in front of us was clear so we could see below us too. I don’t think the back had that. As we lifted off any feeling of nervousness I had vanished. I knew this was about to be the ride of a lifetime. I have never been in a helicopter before and I would recommend it to anyone! I normally getting some sort of motion sickness but I had none. He took us to the parts of the island you would NEVER see or experience on foot or by car. I was so taken back to the sight of this place. I was in complete awe of the raw beauty and colossal mountains and valleys. We saw the exact waterfall that was in the opening scenes of Jurassic Park. These pockets of waterfall would just appear, as if out of nowhere from the walls of the cliffs. It was nothing short of astonishing.

After our ride, which was about an hour, we headed over to the Marriott for our last lunch with Amber and Mike before we head home. I was sad we had to leave our new friends. Amber and I, being ladies and all, decided on burgers and fries. Ben and Mike had chicken and pork sandwiched and we all shared hummus and veggies and a BIG basket of fries. Heavenly! We said our goodbyes, exchanged information and vowed to plan a trip sometime in the future where the four of us meet up somewhere. I already know it will happen and Ben and I look at each other and know we have met friends that we will have for life.

For the rest of the day Ben and I decided to head back to Hanalei Bay. We wanted to spend the last few hours we had there. On the way we stopped at the coolest farmers market. Everything was so vibrant! The location of the market was on of the best parts. It was close to the base of some mountains and they were all you could see. The food was all made, baked or grown by the vendors. I ate the most luscious chocolate covered banana. It was an organic banana covered with local, organic dark chocolate. Ben bought some island spices and a cookbook to bring home. This really cool girl who was selling homemade cookies gave us a free bag to take on the plane. Out of nowhere! Just offered me the bag and said, “enjoy”. Now that was a nice gesture because those were the best cookies Ben and I have ever had. They were oatmeal, coconut, white chocolate, dark chocolate, and macadamia nut. Needless to say, the bag almost didn’t make it to the plane. We actually plan on ordering cookies from her and having them shipped to Nantucket for the parties we cater. Yes, they are THAT good.

For our last supper on Kauai we opted for an authentic Brazilian and Mexican restaurant called “Neide’s Salas and Samba” It was to die for! I had the best chicken burrito I have ever had and Ben had some delicious fish tacos made with local Mahi Mahi. Mmmmmmm :)

Then came the moment we were trying avoid all week. It was time to go. I don’t think anything or anyone could have possibility prepared me for the experience I had on our Hawaiian adventure. I feel as if I have come back a changed person, with a new sense of appreciation and wonder for the world and all it has to offer and there is no doubt in my mind that we will be back. Aloha.