The Dining Traveler Blog: Travel and Food Inspiration

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Eleven years ago, I departed Okinawa, Japan wondering if I ever would return to this misunderstood tropical paradise. Two weeks ago, I found myself back to this island for work. Some things looked new and some looked exactly the same as I left them. As most business travelers know, it's hard to squeeze in sightseeing when you're busy with meetings and work. As I have mentioned previously on my posts about Boulder and Cancun, I get the most out of a culture and destination through its food. This has been the case with Okinawa as well. I'm here for an extended work trip and here's a summary of the notable places I've eaten at since my arrival:

Sushi at Jiro-Cho

Jiro-cho: When I returned to the United States after living in Japan for a year I was ruined when it came to sushi. Whether is was the supermarket variety or the $200 dinner, I could not find my happy sushi place. Last Saturday, I re-encountered my sushi happy place at Jiro-cho, a small sushi and tempura restaurant in Okinawa. As you enter, you see the chef at work preparing the fresh cuts of fish. They prepare the sushi with the fish received that day so if you're too late, you may miss out on the good stuff. Tip: reservation is recommended. The fish melted in my mouth, the egg sushi had the perfect salty flavor, and the roe were tiny bursts of happiness. The tempura is made with vegetables local to Okinawa: bitter melon (I still can't get into it, but anything deep fried is delicious), Okinawan purple sweet potato, and daikon.

JiroCho: 次郎長寿司北谷ハンビー店, 1 Chome-12-8 Chatan, Nakagami District, Okinawa Prefecture

Ramen at Tenka Ippin

Tenka Ippin: I used to avoid the "American Village" like the plague when I used to live here, I found it generic and with bad food catered to Americans (hence the name). Since the unfortunate Tsunami in mainland Japan, many people have moved to Okinawa for a new start. This can be seen through the new construction, gentrification, and new food spots popping up all over the island. Tenka Ippin is a Kyoto chain that made its way to Okinawa perhaps cater to those from the mainland diaspora and I'm in love. I indulged in a set of thick ramen (Kotteri) with a side of rice and gyoza for less than $10 (hurray for a weak yen). The broth was thick and flavorful with hints of spice and the perfect noodle to broth ratio. I'm still thinking about it.

Tenka Ippin: 3 Chome Mihama, Chatan, Nakagami District, Okinawa Prefecture 904-0115

Decor at Ukishima Garden

Ukishima Garden: As I was getting stir-crazy from being in the middle of the island with no car, I got an email from Lena from JetsetTimes who was also in Okinawa. Two travel writers on a little known Japanese island?!? We had to meet! I paid a very expensive and adventurous cab ride to Okinawa to Ukishima Garden, a quaint cafe on a small side street on Naha. The place was recommended by Rie, whom I met from the Okinawa Tourism board. The menu is international with a hint of Okinawan. We had a local tofu variation of the caprese salad that was unforgettable. We were hesitant about it but we were both happy we gave in. The savory tofu was the perfect alternative to the buffala mozarella (never thought I would say that, being the cheese fan that I am). We also tried a squid ink paella that was not quite paella but it was very tasty nonetheless. Aside from the Euro-Japanese themed menu, the atmosphere made it a place to be: a mix of Europeans, Japanese and Americans coming together in a quaint space with small eccentric details on the walls and friendly waitstaff.

Ukishima Garden: 浮島ガーデン, 〒900ー0014 Okinawa Prefecture, Naha 松尾２丁目１２−３

Coffee at Soupcon

Soupcon Beachside Cafe: I had set up a meeting with the Okinawan tourism board and when looking for a place to meet in Ishikawa, I found Cafe Soupcon on Google maps and decided to take a chance and meet there. Completely unassuming on the outside, it's a hidden treasure on the island. It reminded me of North Shore in Hawaii with surfboards lining the concrete walls, vintage mementos, and mismatched retro furniture. There, I had a beautiful cappuccino and a delicious sliver of cheesecake as Rie shared with me unique spots throughout the island and tourism trends in Okinawa. She also shared beautiful books and magazines about the island. Although I can't read kanji, I still browse through them to get photography and design inspiration!

Soupcon Beach Cafe: 1 Chome-6-38 Ishikawaakebono, Uruma, Okinawa Prefecture

Shabu (Hotpot) at Kaigyuu Izakaya

Kaigyuu: Izakaya: Really, I couldn't figure out the name of this place nor the address even after I ate there. I ended up taking a photo of the place and sending it to my nephew who speaks Japanese to dig up this place. My friend and I were looking for somewhere to eat when we saw a sign outside the elevator with pictures of meat and all sorts of other goodies. Tip: when looking for somewhere to eat in Asia, make sure to look up, some of the best places are on the 3rd floor and up! Needless to say, we were able to conclude the place was a shabu place based on the pictures on the sign. Thank goodness for hand signs, pictures, and google translate because nobody on the staff spoke any English. We ordered gyoza, the most succulent pork belly I've ever had, and shabu shabu meat of abu pork and beef. When the four trays of meat were delivered to us with a plate overflowing with veggies and tofu, we got scurred! We didn't think we were able to throw it down but we did. We spent almost three hours drinking Orion, being carnivores, and catching up after not seeing each other for over a year.

Kaigyuu Izakaya: 海牛, 〒900-0015 Okinawa Prefecture, Naha, Kumoji, 3 Chome−12−4, ラフテビル 5F

As I move into a 12 hour day schedule at work , I will probably will not be able to explore as much until a few weeks from now but my belly is happy... for now. Have you been to Okinawa? What is your favorite foodie spot?

A few weeks ago, I headed to Boulder, Colorado for a leadership conference for MAES (Mexican American Engineering Society). Forty years ago, the association started as a small group of Mexican American engineers. Now, it has thousands of Latinos throughout the United States in different fields of STEM (Science Technology Engineering Mathematics) as members. The Marine Corps sponsored part of the MAES Academy event, a series of leadership courses for college students in STEM programs. I felt humbled to work with such talented young students and talk to them about my experience as a Latina Marine Corps Officer in the technology field.

The View from my Room at Millennium Harvest House Boulder

Traveling on business can be limiting as your schedule is packed with events, especially when the conference is held in the hotel you’re staying in. I always try my best to eat at a local restaurant, talk to locals (even if it means the hotel staff), and see some of the city. Here are my highlights of my short but lovely trip.

As a Speaker at MAES Academy

Where I stayed: I stayed at the Millennium Harvest House Boulder. The hotel has a very cozy mountain feel with its dark colors and wooden accents. Some of the areas are outdated such as the lobby, breakfast room, and bar but the hotel is currently undergoing a series of renovations to improve these areas. My room was in the north tower, which had the most gorgeous view of the Rockies. Every morning, I made it a point to wake up early and take in the view for a few minutes. The location was walking distance to shopping and restaurants and a short drive to Pearl Street. Interestingly enough, the hotel has Salsa night on Saturdays and it’s free for guests ($6 for visitors). I had fun dancing Salsa on my final night at the conference. A highlight of my stay was the service, from the conference staff to the front desk searching for a car ice scraper for us, everybody went above and beyond.

Waffles at Modmarket

Where I ate: I kept on hearing about Boulder as a foodie town and was not disappointed. I was able to have a few meals outside the hotel and it left me hungry for more. Not only was the food great, but the service was superb. My Dining Traveler Highlights:

Modmarket: Walking distance from the Millennium Harvest House Boulder, it’s a great spot for breakfast and coffee. I had whole grain Belgian waffles topped with a delicious apple pear compote. The compote was not too sweet, which paired perfectly with the maple syrup. I was having breakfast alone and checking my emails when the manager showed up at my table with a bowl of fresh fruit. The friendliness at Modmarket during my first breakfast in Boulder set my trip to a great start. I was thrilled to see that there was also a Modmarket at the Denver Airport. I would love to have one in DC!

Coconut Panna Cotta at Oak at Fourteenth

Oak at Fourteenth: I was fortunate to be able to link up with a dear friend Dan who came from Denver to visit. We headed to Pearl Street to Oak at Fourteenth. As you walk into the restaurant, you can smell the oak fired oven, admire the pretty picked veggies on mason jars lining up the bar, and see the attractive wait staff in crisp white shirts and jeans. I had the pulled BBQ pork sandwich, which was served on a crisp baguette with fries. I paired it with a deliciously dark espresso flavored stout. We concluded our lunch with a piece of the tropics in the mountains: coconut panna cotta, mango sorbet and guava sauce. The dessert was as delicious as it was beautiful. The panna cotta was not overly sweet, it paired perfectly with the mango sorbet and the light guava sauce. You can see the tiny specs of the vanilla bean in the panna cotta, which shows me that the pastry chef did not cut corners.

Pizza at Pizzeria Locale

Pizzeria Locale: My colleague and I sat at the chef’s table facing the cooks making pizza by hand and delicately entering it in the wood oven. Lunch was simple: amatriciana pizza with an extra topping of anchovies. There’s something about the saltines of the anchovies I can't resist. It also paired very well with the spiciness of the pizza. I talked my colleague into sharing a saltimbocca con nutella: a soft dough warmed and filled with the glorious hazelnut spread. I spotted one of the cooks having a coffee so I could not help but to order one as well to go with my dessert. I can't resist a well made cappuccino.

Cappuccino at Pizzeria Locale

Although I did not have much time to discover Boulder (and a snowstorm did not help my sightseeing aspirations either) I was convinced that this is a place that I need to return to. I must say I was taken with the energy of Colorado: the crisp air, the warm people, and the majestic backdrop of the mountains. Grateful that I get to return in the spring to this gorgeous state.

Recently, we headed to Cancun for the TBEX Travel Blogger Conference. As exotic as it sounds, we spent most of the time working in this tropical paradise as we participated in the conference. My passion for traveling internationally began when traveling for work. Sometimes it's sad to go to a lovely destination and not have the time to explore. Although the conference was at the Moon Palace Resort, we chose to stay at the Westin Cancun Hotel & Spa. We're not crazy about the all-inclusive concept and the Westin Cancun worked better with our budget.

Pool at the Westin Cancun Resort and Spa

I called the Westin before my arrival and asked about driving in Cancún and they informed me it was safe to do so. I also looked at forums on Trip Advisor which reassured me as well. It was one of best decisions made on the trip. I rented via Hertz and got an economical rate of $75 weekly rental. Cheapest car rental ever! (Note: my USAA credit card covers the insurance when I book with the card) Also, we were impressed that both the Westin and Moon Palace did not charge for parking. Furthermore, the conditions of the main roads in Cancún are superb, much better than Washington, DC.

Breakfast at the Westin Cancun Resort and Spa

At first, we were concerned about not being able to connect with other conference members by staying at a different hotel. However, it just so happened there were a few other attendees staying at the Westin Cancun. We also enjoyed that staying at a different hotel allowed us to experiment a different side of Cancun. The hotel is located at the end of the Zona Hotelera of Cancun, secluded from the rows of mega resorts yet in reach of the main attractions. I love that the hotel, although a Westin, had a boutique hotel feel to it. We enjoyed chatting with our waiters during breakfast and the happy hour by the pool. (Tip: ask to stay in the South Tower, it has a more intimate feel). Business travel tip: when possible take an extra day to explore. We had a lovely cultural experience at Xcaret Park as the welcome party of the conference. The day after the conference, we took a day trip to Isla Mujeres, where we swam with dolphins at Dolphin Discovery followed by the afternoon at Garrafon park where our experiences ranged from zip lining over the Caribbean to a traditional Mayan temazcal (sweat lodge) with a shaman.

Indulging at Tacos Rigo

We enjoyed having a day trip that involved fun and culture at the same time. Business travel tip: If a day of leave is not possible, have a traditional food experience. Thanks to a recommendation from TW Anderson from the travel blog Marginal Boundaries (and speaker at TBEX), we took a 25 minute drive to Cancun city center to explore Tacos Rigo, a local institution. We sampled a variety of tacos of pork, chicken, and beef washing them down with Micheladas and local beer. The menu also offered a more exotic menu of beef eyes and tongue, but we stuck to the basics. The food was delicious and there were no tourists in sight. Although we had little time to see Cancún, we are happy that we had the chance to explore cultural details and enjoy the local food and a enjoy the beautiful beaches if even for a day. One of the things I took back with me was the warmth of the people in Cancún. From the manager to Xcaret to the parking attendant at Moon Palace, we got superb service. Hoping to return soon, but for pleasure!

Morning view from Cancun

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Sushi, Ramen, and Izakaya: Eating in Okinawa: Part I

Boulder: Business & Food

Cancun on Business Travel