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 

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

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

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

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.  Eating in Okinawa can be overwhelming, especially with the language barrier and all the amazing choices on this little island.  Have you been to Okinawa? What is your favorite foodie spot?

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.

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:

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.

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!

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.

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. Have you been to Boulder on Business?