258830 Mon Apr 19 20:43:07 -0700 2004 5 25 Elsewhere In America 0 1369249 My wife and I will be spending a week on The Big Island May/June. I've been to Oahu and Kauai, but never the Big Island. I have the Big Island Revealed, but will be putting together a guide to print out before I go as well. Their guides have been great for the other islands. You actually get out of the way locals-only type of places with great food. We'll be staying on both the Hilo side and the Kona side. (No reservations yet, so any recommendations for good value places to stay would be greatly appreciated as well.) So feel free to throw out recs for all over the island. We'll be travelling around a lot. I tend to pack way more than should be into a given period of time on trips. Here are my preferences: 1) Hawaii-specific foods: saimin, plate lunch, local seafood, fruit stands, shave ice, poke, etc. It can be a dive or fine dining, just as long as it's good. 2) Fine dining: I'm sure we'll want at least one or two nice, romantic dinners that impress. Preference given, of course, to places with local flair. 3) Great food of any type that is especially good. If someone does the best sushi, the best Mexican-style shrimp, the best Hawaiian style pizzas you've had, go ahead, suggest it. Specific recs for dishes are always appreciated, too, but not necessary. Thanks. I'll take lots of pics and put up the whole trip on my site and give an abbreviated report here when I'm done. Link: http://www.extramsg.com Mon Apr 19 20:43:07 -0700 2004 0 Nick 1 1369285 My husband and I went to the Big Island for our honeymoon. We stayed at the Fairmont which, while not cheap, was a phenomenally gorgeous place to stay, with superb service and really wonderful food (though, again, not cheap). We rented cars twice to go to the Hilo side and I would NOT recommend staying there... it's a weird little area, not terribly pretty, though there is an incredible Farmers Market on Wednesdays and (I think) Saturdays. If you're doing the volcano (and you SHOULD), you can find a place to stay near there, as opposed to in Hilo. We made the mistake of not doing that, and had to drive back to the Kona/Kailua side well after dark once we'd gotten back from our hike. We were exhausted and had trouble staying awake. Good luck, and have a blast. The Big Island is gorgeous and so relaxing. Mon May 10 14:10:58 -0700 2004 1369249 0 Fatemeh 1 1369288 NEW IN HILO- KAIKODO - Boy was I surprised to see Mike Fennelly (former Exec Chef of Mecca in San Francisco, Food and Wine chef of the year back in the 90's )is in HILO of all places in a very cool spot. This restaurant just opened last year. Doing some Hawaiian Regional stuff with Southwest influences - so the flavors tend to be a bit intense. He shops the Hilo Farmers market for the freshest stuff. Kaikodo also has a sushi bar. The interior was a former bank building and now its redone into a Asian Museum VERY NICE. Food is good for Hilo. 60 Keawe Street/corner of Waianuenue and Keawe. When in Hilo- must go on a Wednesday or Saturday, they have an amazing Farmer's Market with amazing fruits and vegetables and prepared foods and flowers, lei makers etc. it small but packed. go to see the STAR Filipino bakers for some suman-sweet rice baked in banana leaves with coconut and brown sugar. This is the best Farmer's market in all of Hawaii... funny to see Emeril doing a spot there- buying all of his products so that he could take it to Kona and Maui to cook with it. On the way to Waipio Valley, Hilo or back from Hilo, TEX'S DRIVE-IN off of the main highway. They are known for their Malasadas - portugese sweet dough fried and sugared - like a hawaiian beignet. They also have plate lunches - relatively inexpensive. Their malasadas were featured in a GOURMET magazine article back in 2000? Also they have assorted Plate Lunches ABOUT THE OTHER RESTAURANTS RECOMMENDED BY OTHER POSTERS OODLES OF NOODLES, in Kona - in a shopping center next to Walmart? Saimin, Pho etc. former chef of the Ritz Carlton. MANAGO HOTEL in KONA-locals will drive from Hilo to eat their Pork Chops. Pass on Sam Choy's CAFE PESTO (Known for their PIZZA) in Kawaihae is better than the one in Hilo unfortunately. FINE DINING: MERRIMAN'S in Kamuela still very good. EDELWEISS is in Kamuela proper is very good as well Have Fun and Eat Well! Mon May 10 21:09:38 -0700 2004 1369249 0 EAO 2 1369290 Thanks everyone. What are the prices at Kaikodo like? Link: http://www.extramsg.com Mon May 10 22:09:10 -0700 2004 1369288 0 Nick 3 1369292 here is the menu link to their website. some folks from the mainland may think that the service may be a tad slow - but hey - the island attitude is take your time - no stress. So let the servers know if you are on a time schedule and they will try to meet your needs. Link: http://www.restaurantkaikodo.com/menus.htm Tue May 11 00:08:08 -0700 2004 1369290 0 EAO 4 1369293 Thanks. That's one heck of an eclectic menu. I'll add it to my list. Link: http://www.extramsg.com Tue May 11 06:02:31 -0700 2004 1369292 0 Nick