It’s been a long time since our last visit to Lana’i…
…I was at The Lodge and Manele Bay in 2012 and 2013, but this was the first (and eagerly anticipated) post-renovation visit.
It’s just a 30-minute flight from Honolulu but feels like another world. Rainy from arrival to departure, but I love that sort of dark weather…perfect for reading. Bathrobe, hot tea. Lots of pillows. Room service. All you need…
A peek at the lobby…
…and off to the golf course (five-minute drive away) for lunch at VIEWS. Ahi poke with Maui onions (the sweetest), scallion, shoyu, sesame, and wasabi tobiko. Mom and I shared a few dishes…
..and to drink, fruit and herb refreshers. There were three on the menu, all wonderful:
- Strawberry – thyme, mango, and seltzer
- Grapefruit – ginger beer, lime, and cinnamon
- Peach – lemon, honey, rosemary, ginger, and nutmeg
Afternoon on property…
…and a surprise delivery of pineapple in coconut juice (did you know the whole island of Lanai used to be a pineapple plantation?)
A little nap…
…before a sunset stroll and dinner at The Grill.
Champagne and a dozen oysters. Cioppino and hot fries…
…and for dessert, a sundae of coconut-pineapple ice cream layered with chocolate pudding, lilikoi whipped cream, mango shave ice, and banana bread crumble. A very delicious mouthful.
Up early the next morning, ready to eat.
Apple-banana waffles topped with more caramelized bananas and coconut streusel. Whipped butter and maple syrup on the side.
Brioche french toast and a side of bacon, extra-crisp.
Breakfast is a mix of a la carte and buffet. Don’t miss the mini malasadas in the buffet section. Tiny, one bite wonders. Dusted with cinnamon sugar.
There’s also a great juice/smoothie bar. Pick your fruits and proportions are customized to order. This was a juice of guava, grapefruit, carrot, and ginger.
You know I can never resist an avocado smoothie. Had it blended with coconut juice and ice. Heaven.
Late morning in bed, reading and writing and napping. (I bring a new book for every hotel visit, this time it was Chang-Rae Lee’s’s Native Speaker.)
Then off to meet mom for lunch at Malibu Farm. A big, happy ball of burrata for myself. Ahi and rice for mom.
Dessert to share. Saffron ice cream and local papayas. Whipped cream in the middle.
Is there anything better than an afternoon with no agenda?
Then off to dinner at ONE Forty. Can’t remember the last time I had kilawin. They upped it a few notches with Lana’i venison. And the calamansi! So good. It’s an off-menu treat but always available if you ask. I’d be happy with this and a big bowl of rice for dinner.
Kobe carpaccio to start and then more local Lana’i venison (seared, with polenta and parmesan).
For dessert, a hot chocolate soufflé! And this heady concoction of cognac, prepped tableside with rooibos, cinnamon, cloves, and orange.
Morning!
Another day, another lovely breakfast.
Blueberries and blackberries with coconut meat and juice. A few more malasadas on the side.
Lemon ricotta pancakes! Tiny and delicate. Crisp edges. Finished with lemon zest.
And then back to Honolulu ^-^
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