Food

Oahu Travel Tips from Courtney Chun, Hawaiian Blogger of Fork to Belly

Conversations with Locals

Hawaiian by birth, Courtney Chun blogs about cakes and Japanese recipes on her blog, Fork to Belly. While she calls LA home now, the Hawaiian spirit has never left her. Courtney discusses Hawaiian poke bowls, the snorkelling spot to watch in Oahu, and removing your shoes when going into a friend’s house. 

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Photo: Fork to Belly


What’s Hawaiian culture? 

A mixing pot!

What do you feel defines Hawaiian cuisine?

Local dishes in Hawaii reflect the mixing-pot culture of the island. Hawaii’s most popular dishes are unique combinations of all kinds of food cultures. For example, spam musubi comes from the popularity of canned meats in the islands after World War II and also combines Japanese cuisine to become classic Hawaiian food.

Name one Hawaiian dining etiquette most travellers miss

If you’re going over to someone’s home for a dinner party, you’ll probably notice a bunch of shoes and slippers at the front door. Please remember to remove your shoes, people in Hawaii do not wear shoes in the house!

What is the one local dish you feel travellers can’t leave Oahu without trying?

Poke. Hands down. It’s different on the mainland, where you see trendy shops that let you make your own poke bowl. Poke isn’t like that in Hawaii. It’s much simpler and truthfully, I think it’s way better.

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Shoyu ahi poke bowls. Photo: Fork to Belly

Where are your favourite restaurants or cafés in Oahu?

Imanas Tei, Shirokiya, The Pig and the Lady, Yama’s Fish Market. I could go on and on.

What would you recommend travellers do to experience Oahu as a local?

Just getting out and exploring, leaving the tourist hub of Waikiki and checking out hikes and beaches. Let the adventure happen!

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Photo: Fork to Belly

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Photo: Fork to Belly

Where can we go to see your favourite view in Hawaii?

My favorite view is actually from my home on Tantalus, one of the mountains close to the city. It’s a beautiful and windy drive to get to the top of the mountain, but the views at the look-outs along the way are wonderful. You can see from the mountain, down into the valley, and all the way out to the ocean.

Name your favourite snorkelling spot 

Though a popular place for tourists, if you’re looking to see lots of fish up close, and ones that aren’t afraid of you, check out Hanauma Bay.

When it comes to food, where in the world is your favourite destination?

Japan! I’ve been eating all kinds of Japanese foods growing up in Hawaii, and Japan is such a mecca for amazing meals. Sushi, bentos, yakiniku, adorable baked goods. They have it all!

 

WHERE TO EAT IN OAHU


Imanas Tei
Where: 2626 S King St, Honolulu, HI 96826, United States
For: Sushi

Shirokiya Japan Village Walk
Where: Ala Moana Center, 1450 Ala Moana Blvd #1360, Honolulu, HI 96814, United States
For: Variety

The Pig and the Lady
Where: 83 N King St, Honolulu, HI 96817, United States
For: Vietnamese food

Yama’s Fish Market
Where: 2332 Young St, Honolulu, HI 96826, United States
For: Hawaiian food and poke
 

WHERE TO GO IN OAHU


Hanauma Bay
Where: Hanauma Bay, Honolulu, HI 96825, USA
For: Snorkelling

The Eating Guide to Milos, Greece

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Life’s a beach in Milos. When the temperatures are up, it’s time to hit the waters on this island paradise, where the beaches are of another world, and enjoying ‘ouzo time’ on a sailboat is the best way to wile your time away. In Summer, the island is packed with sun-kissed travellers lounging on the volcanic coastline, and explorers sneaking into the numerous caves found all around. 

Look forward to: Rooster cooked with wine 

O Hamos 

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Where: Paralia Papikinou-Adamas, Adamas 84801, Greece
What: Lamb baked with dill and cheese
For: Traditional Milos Cuisine

Locals love it for the authentic Greek flavours. Tourists talk about it incessantly amongst one another. Its waiters are fiercely proud of the restaurant they’re serving at, and it’s because O Hamos is famous on Milos island, and they know it. The restaurant’s recipes are boldly shared in little flyers on a rack, but the owners are confident that this wouldn’t prevent a full house during dinner time. Timeless Milos dishes are lovingly handwritten on every piece of menu, of which meats and cheeses are grown and cultivated on the family farm. Opt for the classic O Hamos dishes such as rooster cooked with wine and tomatoes, lamb baked with dill and cheese, and eggplant with pork. 

Palaios

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Where: Plaka 848 00, Greece
What: Ice-cream
For: Greek sweets

The dark wooded interiors of Palaios are far from modern, but is its trays of cakes and honeyed Greek sweets that lures people in for a quick dessert. The large array of ice-cream is great for cooling off in the Mediterranean Summer heat. Go for the traditional Greek desserts like baklava and kataifi for something traditional.

Methismeni Politeia

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Where: Trypiti, Greece
What: Souvlaki
For: Grilled meats

Carnivores rejoice – grilled meats are the thing for this Greek taverna. The family-run Methismeni Politeia is where you’ll get Greek homecooking with a view of Milos bay. In the busy Summers, the wood-fired oven is used to roast meats such as lamb and pork. For the not quite meat lover, other dishes such as grilled octopus, stuffed grape leaves and zucchini balls would still tickle your fancy. 

The Eating Guide to Folegandros, Greece

Greece

There’s a new kid on the block in the Cyclades. Folegandros has just over 700 inhabitants, a handful of quaint restaurants, and countless trekking routes that will bring you to some of the most glorious views of the Aegean Sea. The best part? You won’t have to fight for a spot on the beach, or wait for your turn to take a picture. Tourists escape the overcrowded islands of Santorini and Mykonos to this little island for some much-needed peace and tranquility. 

Look forward to: Grilled octopus and fava beans

Rakentia

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Where: Folegandros Kyklades, Chora Folegandros Kyklades
What: Baked eggs
For: Breakfast

The owner of Rakentia is right in proclaiming that everything on its breakfast menu is good. One bite of the café’s baked eggs and you’ll wonder why eggs are never done this way anywhere else. Sandwiches are in the form of Italian-styled panini, stuffed with fresh prosciutto, Greek cheese and rockets. This all day dining bar has an extensive drinks list, paired with a view of Folegandro’s hilly landscapes. What better way to enjoy a cocktail on the island. 

Eva’s Garden

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Where: Near plateia Kontarini, Greece
What: Crayfish orzo
For: Greek fusion cuisine

Chef Eva cooks Greek fusion cuisine in her restaurant, with ingredients picked from her farm in Livadi. Eva’s Garden is a far cry from Folegandro’s typical casual restaurants. The ambience is nothing short of romantic, with bougainvillea-clad walls and its location in a quiet street of Chora. You’ll find orzo, a type of rice-shaped pasta that resembles risotto, to be particularly tasty. Here, the orzo is soaked in crayfish stock and saffron. 

Pounta 

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Where: Pounta, Chora, Folegandros 84011, Greece
What: Fava beans puree and deep fried eggplant
For: Traditional Greek cuisine

A restaurant in a garden – Pounta serves up Mediterranean cuisine flavoured with herbs characteristic to this island. The small signboard is easily missed even if you walk around the main square more than once, but this unassuming restaurant is where traditional Greek cooking reigns the kitchen. Dishes include souroto cheese, fava bean puree, grilled octopus, deep-fried eggplant and freshly squeezed juices. 

Anemomilos Apartments 

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Where: Chora, Folegandros Island Cyclades, Folegandros 840 11, Greece
What: Steamed mussels
For: Views of Folegandro’s cliffs 

While Anemomilos Apartments is known for its astounding views of Folegandro’s rugged cliffs, its restaurant does not disappoint. En route to the hilltop Church of Panagia, the entrance to Anemomilos is a gateway to a small luxurious abode. Take a breather in the alfresco setting of the dining area, while digging into bread paired with olives and pesto, steamed mussels, and pastas. 

Folegandros deserves to be paid a visit – even if you only have a few days. Visit our 72 hour guide to this beautiful island here.