Restaurants

I was in Long Beach over the weekend with my kids and my mom. The weather was beautiful and we had a marvelous time, thanks for asking.

The first night of our visit we decided to go to Rock Bottom Brewery, because you know, they have good food, plus they have the make your own pizza that my kids love.

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People familiar with Sedona know that the main (and fun, touristy) part of town on Rt 89A has just about every type of store – from cheapo knickknack shops to high end art galleries – a traveler needs. One of my favorite restaurants in Sedona AZ is right here: The Cowboy Club is a terrific grub joint, with Southwestern specialties like cactus, bison and rattlesnake (in a tamale, tastes like chicken) along with entrees less threatening to the tender American palate. The owner of the Cowboy Club recently opened up a new restaurant down the road a stretch: The Barking Frog Grille is is beautiful restaurant, with some of the same menu items as the Cowboy Club along with standard all-American fare.

The Barking Frog is in a large, gorgeous series of dining areas, making for a much less crowded lunch or dinner that the smaller Cowboy Club. Plenty of drinks here, including Fat Tire Amber Ale (on tap) and the Prickly Pear and Horny Toad margaritas, add to the Southwestern ambience. It’s always a bit jarring to see seafood listed on a landlocked state’s restaurant menu, but the shrimp tamales (with green chilis and poblano sauce), grilled BBQ salmon, and even the grilled fish sandwich are great and still remarkably fitting. Just like the Cowboy Club, visitors to Sedona can order those cactus fries, buffalo burger (I love this) and even filet mignon. However, most of the menu items are unique to the Barking Frog here and in Park City.

Tom Gilomen, the owner of the two Barking Frogs and Cowboy Club, has a talent for running

Barking Frog's Filet Mignon

restaurants that impart a sense of place as well as great, I’ll-come-again food and drinks. Even though the Barking Frog in Sedona is down the road from the busiest part of 89A, it’s easily worth the 5-minute drive. But watch out – those mouth-watering churros for desert are over the top! Dieters, consider yourselves warned…It’ll take a big hike to work off those delicious treats. The next time I’m lucky enough to vacation in Sedona AZ, I’ll make a point of returning to The Barking Frog.

Barking Frog Grille
2620 W Highway 89A
Sedona AZ
(928) 204-2000

It’s a sad thing when you run out of actual restaurants in your own area to review and you have to venture out and check out new places. Not that I mind, but I sometimes have to work at my other job and run short on time. Hawaii is where I want to be right now, so Hawaii is what you get.

That said, if you are on the island of Maui and are getting ready to head out on the road to Hana, I know the perfect place to stop for breakfast. Colleen’s at the Cannery has a great selection of breakfasty items, but they are famous for their breakfast burritos. How do I know? It says so in the brochure that we received at the hotel.

A couple of things to remember about the road to Hana, 1. there are all kinds of great places to stop and play in waterfalls and hike back to. 2. All that activity will make you hungry. Well, that and the nail biting journey, especially so if you come across the locals. 3. There is little to no food once you get to Hana. Yes it’s beautiful, but why not stock up a hearty breakfast on the way.

We stopped and  partook of the famous breakfast breakfast burritos and a bagel with smoked salmon, tomato, onion, capers, cream cheese. Yes, it was divine.

The breakfast burritos were very good as well. It was chock full of scrambled eggs, potatoes, cheddar, green chile, salsa and sour cream wrapped in a toasted tortilla. How could that not be good?

In looking at the website I see that they’ve given themselves a little makeover. I hope they didn’t lose their charm and the locals with their new look.

Colleen’s was the first place I put brown sugar in my coffee and  then fell in love with the idea of brown sugar in my coffee. Next time I’ll try lunch or dinner, the menu looks delish.

Colleen’s At The Cannery
Cannery Marketplace
810 Haiku Rd.
Haiku, HI 96708

Tel (808) 575-9211
Email info@colleensinhaiku.com

Hours of Operation:
Everyday 6am to around 10:00pm      Photos-Courtesy of Colleen’s

A Casual Restaurant with Light Meals on The Big Island (Jennifer Miner)

A great aspect of the Waikoloa Beach resort area on the Big Island is the resort hotels’ proximity to two small but popular shopping areas. These are the Queen’s Marketplace and King’s Shops. The Queens Marketplace has several restaurants, two worthy of note: Charley’s Thai Cuisine and Sansei Seafood Restaurant and Sushi Bar. The King’s Shops is a more upscale block of stores, but closer to the resorts; in fact, it’s right across the street from the popular Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa, making it the resort guests’ de facto shopping and dining area (in so desired). My favorite restaurant in the King’s Shops is Merriman’s Market Cafe.

Merriman’s Market Cafe is very casual and relaxed. This is great, as there are other restaurants with similar menus (and prices) that veer towards the stuffy side, and less expensive restaurants that are in the food court – these are somewhat pedestrian and lack flair. The casual, unpretentious atmosphere of Merriman’s is fitting for a Hawaiian lunch out. There are both indoor and outdoor dining, and I recommend sitting outside. The tables are protected by umbrellas: This is a fun way to enjoy lunch or dinner. During dinner, there may be live (but unobtrusive) music as well.

The cuisine is Mediterranean, albeit with a Hawaiian twist; the fresh seafood is locally caught South Pacific fare. The hummus appetizer was on the small side for sharing, but the entrees were great. The Italian food is not heavy here – even the small tasty pizzas and pastas at lunch won’t weigh you down. It’s reliably fresh fare, for a lunch that passes smoothly so that you can get on with your Hawaiian vacation on the Big Island.

Outdoor Dining is Recommended at Merriman's Market Cafe (Jennifer Miner)

Dinners at Merriman’s Cafe are also quite tasty, and not so large that you won’t be able to finish them. There is a deli counter inside; buying some prepared food here is a smart alternative to only dining at those overpriced resort restaurants. However, dining al fresco here really is a pleasure. I especially recommend the shrimp pizza, and seared ahi tuna as main courses. My children chose entrees from the kids’ menu, and enjoyed their meals. Now, there is another Merriman’s Cafe on the Big Island, in Waimea. I haven’t been to that one, but can safely assume that this one, in the Waikoloa Beach resort area, is far more tourist-heavy.

There are quite a few desserts to choose from, but my dining party (we went twice for lunch and once for dinner) liked the gelato the most. In short, Merriman’s Cafe and Market provides reliably good, fresh lunches and dinners, at a cost that is affordable relative to other nearby restaurants and resort dining spots. It’s recommended for a casual, light meal, but is not particularly memorable.

250 Waikoloa Beach Drive
Waikoloa, Hawaii (808) 886-1700