Oahu's Best Shave Ice

[trip style = beach + foodie]

This post is written by Trip Styler fashion and lifestyle blogger Heather.

Shave ice is to Hawaii as gelato is to Italy: completely acceptable to eat every day. While exploring Oahu last month, Trip Styler Trish and I were on the two-shave-ice-a-day diet. What better way to enjoy the island than a shave ice tour? Follow the map for our top picks of iconic Hawaiian heaven in a cup.

Did you know? Shave ice arrived in Hawaii in the early 1900s, brought over from Japan by plantation workers.

1. Shimazu Store, Honolulu This hidden gem is no more than a small storefront overlooking the freeway. What it lacks in ambiance, it makes up for in taste. Homemade flavors include red velvet, peaches and cream, milk tea and peanut butter chocolate. At this locals' favorite, portions are large and service is no nonsense. {link}

2. Matsumoto Shave Ice, Haleiwa Any trip to the North Shore calls for a stop at Matsumoto for Haleiwa's most popular sweet treat. This 60-year-old icy institution serves up a rainbow of traditional flavors like strawberry, pineapple, lime, guava, and my personal favorite, lilikoi. On a busy day, they serve 1,000 shave ices to camera-toting tourists and barefoot locals. {link}

3. Island Snow, Kailua This delicious shave ice counter is tucked into the back of a skate shop, a block from one of the most beautiful beaches on Oahu. It's also the number one choice for Trip Styler Trish and President Obama, who stops by with the First Family every winter. Trish recommends getting one with ice cream or condensed milk on top. {link}

4. Uncle Clay' House of Pure Aloha, Hawaii Kai My top pick is also the most guilt free of the four. Uncle Clay's uses all-natural, homemade syrups that have none of the artificial flavors or colorings found in most shave ice. Flavors here include mango, coconut, green tea, lychee and my favorite, kale-spinach-apple. It was the only place we didn't get a heavy-feeling sugar buzz. Extra points for the most aloha staff on the island. {link}

Trip Styler Tip: I highly recommend paying the extra $0.50 for the plastic cup holder unless you can eat your treat in less than three minutes {brain freeze!}.

[map by @heatherlovesit, photos by @tripstyler & @heatherlovesit]

Spotlight :: Miami

[trip style = sun + beach + foodie + urban]

I had high hopes for Miami. Mr. Trip Styler and I spent a handful of sun-sational days in South Beach about five years ago, and everything worked out postcard-perfectly. Plus, we're MASSIVE fans of deco-era design and hotels---areas Miami has the market cornered---so my early-October trip was poised to turn out beachy-keen. Until it got off to a slow start.

Trip Styler Tip :: I tagged all my South Beach photos with #TSMiami on Instagram if you'd like an inside look.

Without getting into the nitty-gritty---the TS glass is always half-full---we encountered polar opposite service standards, both lacking and lovely. Once we realized this was a theme, we quickly toughened up, switched our sentiments, and in doing so, rediscovered the very reason we fell in love with Florida's most famous, 15-mile stretch of sand.

Note: while it pains me, there are a few hotels and restaurants---cool design, sketchy service---I've left out of the below list of recommendations. Trip Styled spots must measure up!

MIA's Gems Stay: The James Royal Palm, renovated to the tune of 42 million in 2012, The James turned the 1939-built Royal Palm into one of the most design-forward, deco-meets-mod hotels on SoBe.

Happy Hour: Khong River House has a happening happy hour {4-7pm mon-fri} where spicy cocktails aren't just cheapie renditions of better drinks, but stay-for-a-while bevvies. Order The Killer B; it has kick!

Eat: Ice Box Cafe is one of Miami's authorities on desserts, but I visited for an organic breakfast because the all-day fare measures up, too. Plus, dessert can be ordered after any meal, including breakfast.

Eat: La Sandwicherie; a fast-paced and health-conscious outdoor sandwich and juice shop lined with bar stools---ahhhh, below misters---in a quasi-alley, off-the-beach locale.

Eat: Yardbird Southern Table and Bar. Voted one of the 50 best restaurants in America by Bon Appetit Magazine in 2012, this ode to down home cookin' is worth a meal {or two} for the cheddar waffles alone.

Sip: South Shore {rum bar} at The James Royal Palm. Rum doesn't rev my engine, but the bartender at South Shore made me a rum believer. I ordered the Hispanola {highly recommended}, which took over five minutes to craft with its three fresh-squeezed limes, egg white, tiki bitters and mint.

Java: Panther Coffee is bathed in concrete, shipping containers and really good coffee. To me, the space is one of the coolest in MIA. Also, while you're here, check out the boutiques along Purdy Avenue.

Java: Nespresso's Bar is a sleek gallery devoted to au courant coffees---think cortado with a dollop of vanilla bean gelato.

Snack: Lee & Marie's Cakery's is at the foot of South Pointe Beach in case you want to refuel your sun-parched lips with a homemade lemonade, scone or cake. Also, this cake shop has a cool little secret; it supports and employs adults with autism.

Do: Deco Bike's stations are spread all over SoBe. Rent a bike from $4 per half hour, and explore {while burning calories!} along the beach path. Alternatively, many of the roads have bike paths if you want to use the Deco bike-share system as your taxi.

Do: Beach it like you mean it on one of the USA's most famed ribbons of sand. I like the beach at the Southern end of SoBe: South Pointe.

[photos by @tripstyler, except for The James Royal Palms, via The James]

Roam+Board :: Hotel Lone

[trip style = luxury + spa + foodie + sightseeing]

{Editor's Note :: Recently, Trip Styler's Fashion Friday contributor, Heather, visited Croatia. Here, she gushes about one of her favorite Croatian hotels.}

What
Croatia's first five-star design hotel rises from its lush forest setting like a gleaming white ocean liner. The minimalist, curvy waterfront hotel was conceived and crafted by Croatian creatives. Everything from architecture to art to furniture to light fixtures to uniforms are Croatian design. I was wowed from the moment I stepped inside, greeted by a two-story living wall and a 9-metre art installation.

While Hotel Lone is only a 15-minute walk from Rovinj {pronounced roh-VEEN}, one of Croatia's most picturesque hilltop towns, you may never want to leave the property. It boasts excellent restaurants {I highly recommend "L"}, a Croatian design store where you can find unique gifts for others or yourself, a wine shop, indoor and outdoor pools, full-service spa, Finnish-style baths, saunas and steam rooms. If you're not accustomed to European spas, take note: the saunas and steam rooms are co-ed and clothing optional {emphasis on the optional}.

Rooms are large, decorated with tasteful textiles and furniture in greys, greens and blues, and all have big balconies with ocean or park views. Sixteen rooms have their own balcony infinity pool. Forget never leaving the property; you may never want to leave your room! I confess that we spent one night in our room, wearing robes, eating room service and watching Italian television. Perfecto! Trip Styler approved!

Where
The hotel is a short walk from the center of Rovinj on Croatia's Istrian peninsula. Rovinj is the country's most Italian city and only a three-hour ferry ride from Venice. If you're driving, it's 40 minutes from Pula or 3 hours from Zagreb.

When
A year-round destination popular with Italian, Slovenian and Croatian weekenders, Rovinj is hot -- both in temperature and busyness -- during the summer, but you can count on milder temperatures and smaller crowds in late spring and early fall. The hotel fills its 248 rooms with conference goers during low season. Foodies take note: October is white truffle season, with festivals and hunts celebrating the delicacy known for its aphrodisiac characteristics.

Who/Why
You consult the Design Hotels guide when selecting a place to stay. You appreciate a full-service resort that has everything you need, but doesn't feel like an all-inclusive mini city. You need a relaxing escape in the midst of your European vacation -- and you're not afraid of a nude spa.

Cost
Rates start around $150/night in low season for a premium double room {the same room will cost you up to $500/night during the summer}. Rates include full breakfast buffet, spa access, WiFi and free arrival-day minibar. Free street parking or paid valet. Note: single occupancy {vs. double occupancy} can save you up to $100/night.

Photos

More Roam+Board
Templar Hotel - Toronto
Encuentro Guadalupe - Mexico
The Ampersand Hotel - London
The Wickaninnish Inn - Tofino
Four Seasons Resort at Manele Bay - Lanai

[photos by @heatherlovesit]

Epcot's Wide World of Eats

[trip style = sun + foodie]

My first trip to Disney was in grade four. At the time, frosted malts, jawbreakers and cokes held royalty roles in my food and beverage hierarchy {my parents made sure I  ate pretty healthfully, so vacations meant I got to eat sweets every.single.day}. Thankfully, my palate has ripened with age.

Enter a more decadent Disney, one where I join celeb chefs, attend food and wine seminars, and sample canapes and cocktails from around the world at the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. And in true Disney form---they don’t do anything without Tinkerbell's magic touch---the festival isn’t just a weekend or week-long nosh-fest, rather a 46-day foray into everything food and beverage.

The cherry on top of my tasting weekend was BY FAR the only-in-Disney novelty of eating Polish kielbasa and pierogi at the foot of a gondola in Italy, or drinking Florida's own Key Lime Wine beside a pagoda in Japan. Twenty years later, I'd say my tastes have come a long way since malts and cokes.

Some of my recommended bites and sips from this year's festival include: - chocolate ganache waffles from Belgium - kimchi dog with spicy mustard sauce from South Korea {Mr Trip Styler's fave} - warm chocolate pudding topped in Bailey's custard from Ireland - spicy tuna and salmon hand roll from Japan - Xingu Black Beer from Brazil - Key Lime Wine from Florida

Trip Styler Tip :: In a few days, look for more information about the festival in my post on the Expedia Viewfinder Travel Blog.

How It Works - The Epcot International Food & Wine Festival takes place every year from late September to November; this year it runs Sept 27 - Nov 11. - Three dozen countries have booths scattered throughout Epcot's World Showcase. Each serves food and bev native to the country. Items range from $2.50 to about $10. - If you want get a taste of the food fest, simply buy an Epcot park pass and browse the stalls and festival center. If you want the full meal deal---ie: seminars, demos, evening galas and celeb chef meet and greets---specific events require a festival pass. To give you sense of cost, a culinary demo or wine seminar would be $14 + an Epcot park pass.

What To Know - Visit in the morning to sail through the stalls and avoid lines. Food kiosks open at 11am, so start with a croissant and a mimosa from 9am at the Parisian Bakery. - Weekdays see the fewer crowds, especially in the morning. - If you aren't used to Florida's heat, take frequent breaks in the shade and drink a TON of water. - Due to Walt Disney World's scale, stay close to the event for quick in-and-out access. The BoardWalk Inn is one of the closest hotels to Epcot.

Photos

[photos by @tripstyler taken as a guest of Walter E. Disney]

Feast Portland, The Sophomore Year

[trip style = foodie + urban]

Fall is packed with a ton of food festivals. Feast Portland is one of them. In case you don't get Bon Appetit on your doorstep or iPad monthly, Portland's food scene is a REALLY big deal, winning more awards than it knows what to do with. Though, in true Portland form, you'd never see said awards displayed---that would be too showy for PDX's earthy tastes.

I went to Feast last September for its inaugural year, and loved it like a just-baked chocolate chip cookie, so when I was invited back for the sophomore showing this past weekend, I grabbed my apron and hightailed it south. Truth be told, you don't actually have to bring an apron, but it does add to your street cred.

For those of you unfamiliar with food festivals, the gastrono-weekend dishes out ingredients from down the road and chefs from across the US---many of whom are PDX based. The schedule runs from Thursday to Sunday and is packed with casual galas, dinner and brunch collaborations between top chefs, tasting panels, speaker series, plus a few free events.

Talking to my fellow Feast-ers, I learned they devoured as much or as little of the weekend’s festivities as their palates could handle. Some chose to take in two or three events, while others packed the weekend tighter than a roast beef. My Feast tendencies fell somewhere in between. After all, to fully understand Feast, you have to stick your fingers into Portland's honeypot {aka the cafes and restaurants around town}.

Trip Styler Tip :: With so many foodies in town, eating out during Feast can get busy, so go to restaurants at off times---think early lunch or late dinner---to avoid waits.

My last night in Portland, I went to one of the marquee events, High Comfort at the Nines, an evening of cocktail dresses and canapés. While daintily nibbling my way through each station at the stand-up affair, I met Jason French, the chef of local restaurant Ned Ludd. Beside the terrarium and driftwood vignette he'd placed on his table, topped with plates of creamed smoked salmon over brioche soldiers, I learned he moved to Portland from the East Coast because it matched his value system. He wanted fresh, he wanted local, he wanted authentic. True to the move, his restaurant's menu changes weekly.

That's the Portland I know. Officially it Feasts in the third weekend of September, unofficially it's all the time.

Know This - Feast takes place the third weekend of September. Dates for 2014 will likely be Sept 18 - 21. - Tickets for the gourmet line-up start as low as $10, and can be purchased in singles or as a package. - Once the 2014 schedule is set, book early to get your prime picks, as many events sell out. - The weekend also has some free events, which are noted in the schedule. - Feel good about feasting; net proceeds go to two Oregon charities. - My top-pick events: the Sandwich Invitational, the Night Market, the dinner and brunch collaborations, the speaker series and the tasting panels.

A Taste of Feast The Thursday evening kick-off event: the Sandwich Invitational.

The scene at the Sandwich Invitational.

Food at the Sandwich Invitational: Portland's Roman Candle Baking Co. served up brioche sliders with peanut ice cream.

Food at the Sandwich Invitational: Duff Goldman of Baltimore's Charm City Cakes offered PB, jelly and bacon.

Food at the Sandwich Invitational: Portland's Lardo created a porchetta sandwich topped with shaved truffles.

Thursday night: Feast dinner collaboration between Aaron Barnett of St. Jack in Portland and Thomas McMaughton of Flour + Water in San Francisco. This salmon crudo is the first course in a six-course meal.

Friday morning: quick stop at Portland's See See Motor Coffee Co.

Friday late morning: early lunch at Luce, a recent Portland dining institution named as one of the 10 best new restaurants in America by Bon Appetit in 2012.

Food at Luce: crostinis with fig and goat cheese mousse.

Food at Luce: garganelli with cherry tomato and chili.

Friday's Night Market.

Night Market bites: rabbit three ways by Portland's Boke Bowl.

Night Market bites: tomato churumuri by Portland's Bollywood Theater.

Saturday: Whole Foods Market Best Butcher Competition and Fishmonger Face-Off.

Saturday Night: High Comfort at the Nines. Food: Oregon berry and sweet corn pavlova garnished in Jacobsen sea salt and honey popcorn candy by Portland's Maurice.

Late Saturday night: Dinner at Ava Gene's, named one of the 2013 top 10 new restaurants in America by Bon Appetit.

Sunday morning: Feast brunch collaboration between Portland's Bar Avignon and Seattle's The Whale Wins.

Sunday brunch: oyster shucking station.

[Photos by @TripStyler, except ava gene's]