Weekly List: Pottery Festival | 本週清單：陶藝節

Lately the weather here in Okinawa has been a bit bipolar, one minute it will be sunny, then the next minute would be rain and wind. But overall it’s cooling down here, the perfect temperature if you ask me. Great for evening walk after dinner. What about you guys? Does it feel like Fall weather where you are?

沖繩最近天氣陰晴不定，上一秒晴天下一秒颳風下雨。但必須說天氣變涼的沖繩真的太舒服，吃完晚餐後一定會在外面走路散步。你們呢？有秋天的氣息嗎？

Tripcafeokinawa

沖縄県国頭郡恩納村字前兼久466-1CastelloHNB号室

Don’t ask me about the food. My friend and I were too overjoyed catching up that we forgot what we even ordered. It gets busy here during the weekend, at 2-3 pm it’s still about an hour wait. The interior design is instagram friendly. They take credit card and has outdoor seating. 

別問我好不好吃？我們和朋友因為聊天聊得過份開心，笑到完全忘了我們吃什麼。週末人潮有點多，下午兩三點還是等了快一小時，裝潢設計是網美派餐廳。能收信用卡，也有戶外用餐區。

Pottery Festival

Came with the intention to shop, but went home with nothing. But reignited in UN a desire to make pottery again. Does anyone have any recommendation for ceramic studio in Okinawa?

原本以為會大採購卻一樣也沒買，但讓UN很想重拾學陶藝的心。有人知道沖繩哪裡能學陶藝嗎？

Rachel Cafe

144- 4 - 5 Toya, Yomitan, Nakagami District, Okinawa 904-0305

This B&B is owned by a Hong Kong couple, and they are quite popular among American troops. Reviews all rave about the good food. It was good to revisit them again. 

一對香港夫妻開的B&B和早餐店，在美軍界非常有名，而且提到絕對以好吃為第一反應。一陣子沒來的我，還是很愛他們的食物。

Kino Store

443 Ginoza, Kunigami District, Okinawa 904-1302

Sourced locally, and a newly opened store front. With my sweet tooth, I need to pay them a visit. Last week their 8 year old oven broke down, was forced to close down for the day. The day we went they had their new cake pop, so I felt obligated to try. The owner is very friendly, speaks perfect English. When they get a new oven, I will drive an hour to come back for desserts again! According to my friends, people in Tokyo would order desserts from them. 

使用沖繩當地食材，最近剛開實體店，我這麼愛吃甜食一定要來拜訪一下。上週他們烤了8年的烤箱壞了，關店休息，但去的那天他們推出”cake pop”，我當然要上去一趟。老闆非常親切，還和我們用英文聊天。等到他們新烤箱到時，我一定要在開一小時車程來買甜點！聽朋友說住東京的人都會特別訂購這家甜點！

Lequio Terrace Kanna

1703-4 Kanna, Ginoza, Kunigami District, Okinawa 904-1304

How delightful the food here is! Has to be my new favorite seafood restaurant. I can’t get the taste of fresh seafood out of my mind. The day we went the owner served oysters, fish and prawns. We ordered them all. Sweet and fresh seafood. Highly recommend oysters and prawns, very delicious. They are closed on Tuesday. 

太好吃了！近期最好吃的海鮮店，回家後還是心念著這裡的海產。當天老闆有牡蠣、魚、和蝦子，我們通通點了。海鮮非常鮮甜，如果老闆有牡蠣和蝦子，一定要點！真的好好吃啊！每週二老闆休息。

Blue Seal Ice Cream Flavor Guide | 沖繩 Blue Seal 口味清單攻略版

We finished all Blue Seal flavors! I could’ve crossed this off my list earlier if it wasn’t for COVID, but I can finally share this with you now! Blue Seal is the most iconic ice cream chain in Okinawa. You can’t miss the big neon signs when you are driving along the 58 main road. “Born in America, raised in Okinawa”, Blue Seal opened its first on-base store in 1948 in Okinawa to sell American ice cream to American troops. In 1963, Blue Seal opened its first off-base store and became a local and tourist favorite. On the 10th and 20th of every month is Big Scoop Day, you get three scoops for the price of one! Just ¥350! If you forget it’s Big Scoop Day, you’ll be reminded by the long lines of people outside of Blue Seal. This flavor guide took over a year to compile, hopefully you find it useful the next time you visit Blue Seal! Use #BrandysBlueSealList to let me know your favorites!

我們吃完全部口味啦！要不是疫情關係，我們原訂年初就能達成這項計畫，但延遲了幾個月，現在終於能分享給你們了！Blue Seal是整個沖繩最有名的冰淇淋連鎖店，從機場小攤到沖繩路上Blue Seal超大霓虹燈招牌在路上閃爍，你絕不可能錯過這家冰淇淋店。”Born in America, raised in Okinawa”，原先是美國公司在1948年來沖繩美軍基地開店，當時只賣給美軍相關人士。到了1963年，Blue Seal開始在基地外開店，也變成沖繩必去景點之一。每個月10、20號 Big Dip Day 都有買一球送兩球的活動，只要350元日幣。在美軍基地附近的Blue Seal也能看到許多美國人排隊買冰淇淋。花了將近一整年的時間，我們終於能把Blue Seal口味清單送給你們！下次去Blue Seal吃冰時，可以參考一下！吃完記得在IG用#BrandysBlueSealList，讓我知道你們的想法！以下是我和UN的個人意見，希望你們會喜歡，Enjoy!

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BEST

• Ryukyu Royal Milk Tea: if blue seal offers boba, this will be the best combination.

• Okinawa Ta-Imo Cheesecake: ta-imo flavor overpowers the cheesecake flavor, but it has cheesecake chunks.

• Coffee Affogato: right amount of Kahlua and coffee flavor. Exceeded our expectation! Perfecto!

• Okinawa Salt Cookies: you have to try this Okinawa exclusive flavor!

• Almond Pistachio: has almond chunks. The color looks artificial, but the flavor reminds me of Filipino Pandan.

• Swiss Chocolate: tastes like Kit Kat! What do you think?

• Mocha Almond Fudge: limited time offering. Has rich mocha flavor. Definitely worth the hype, and hopefully they can bring it back again!

• Sugar cane: surprisingly good!

• Chocolate Cookies Swirl: this is a yes, especially if you are a chocoholic, and my friends agree with me!

• Beni-imo: if you never had taro in your life before, this is what taro tastes like. Perfect balance, and dose not taste artificial!

• Ube: on the sweeter side, but this satisfies my palate.

• Chocolate Chip: this one can be a bit controversial. A definite “best” for me, a “better” for UN.

• Mango Tango: when it’s hot and humid, this one will be your best friend.

• Chura Ichigo Milk: limited time offering! It tastes like my breakfast smoothie.

• San Francisco Mint Chocolate: all right Blue Seal, I’ll give you the permission to claim it “San Francisco.”

• Foremost Chocolate: less milk chocolate, more dark chocolate.

• Foremost Strawberry: one of their original flavors. Didn’t disappoint us.

• Foremost Vanilla: can'never go wrong with vanilla, right?

BETTER

• Matcha: that dependable AYCE matcha ice cream.

• Creme Brûlée: limited time offering. This is more like egg pudding than creme brûlée.

• Vanilla and Cookies: where should I start? It’s a bit ringard.

• Baked Sweet Potato: limited time offering. Tastes exactly like baked sweet potato with marshmallow bites. The reason we categorized this as “better” was because it tasted like cold sweet potato fries.

• Strawberry Cheesecake: is it too cliche if I say “I try to like it, but…”

• Sakura Annin: limited time offering. A bit too much almond extract. Creamy, and has pink flakes.

• Ganache: limited time offering. So close to a ‘“best”! Chunky texture and good ol’ chocolate flavor, reminds us of Rocky Road.

• Tiramisu: it’s good, but doesn’t have that wow effect. More like chocolate fudge with coffee ice cream instead of tiramisu.

• Chocolate: can’t go wrong. good ol’ chocolate.

• Shiquassa Sorbet: Okinawa lime. I’m curious about your opinion on this one!

• Pineapple Sorbet: cane of frozen dole pineapple blended into icy.

• Coconut: between “best” and “better”. Very creamy!

• Tropical Marble: this is what guava juice should taste like. I guess blood orange, kiwi, and banana mixed together would taste like guava.

• Vanilla: similar to foremost vanilla.

• Strawberry: typical strawberry flavor.

GOOD

• Blue Wave: kids’ favorite! Taste like marble soda.

• Mango: sorbet texture. Not creamy, and has artificial taste.

• Banana Susannah: taste like overripe banana.

• Neapolitan: 3 flavors in one, I’m not so sure about this!

• Passion Fruit Sorbet: is this hi-chew or ice cream? I’m confused!

• Soy Cafe Au Lait: limited time offering. I’d say, you can skip this one!

Birthday Adventure 2020

This year felt like a really long vacation, now it’s finally time to get back to a not so normal normal. My calendar is filling up with events again, lots of activities back in action, even military spouse clubs are getting busier. I’m glad that restrictions are gradually getting lifted before my birthday! 

今年好像放了一個大長假，現在開始收心恢復（不太一般的）正常生活。看著日曆上從空白到漸漸塞滿行程，每個地方開始辦起活動，連軍眷團也開始忙起來，很開心生日前限制放鬆了！

Warumi Bise | 備瀬のワルミ

2278 Bise, Motobu, Kunigami District, Okinawa 905-0207

To get to this place, I must first tell you what happened that day. Originally we had planned to hike Tataki Falls for my birthday, and it would be the second time that I attempt to hike there. The weather was very nice on the entire ride there, blue sky and beautiful white clouds. But as soon as we started entering the parking lot of Tataki Falls, it started pouring. We were denied access. So we changed our plan to go to Warumi Bise instead. It was high tide when we got here. The beach that you can normally walk disappeared, and we had to swim to Warumi Bise.

能來到這個點，我必須解釋一下當天發生情形。其實我們原本打算在我生日當天到Tadaki Falls爬山，這是第二次試著要來這瀑布。一路天氣無敵好，整個西海岸一片藍，但抵達瀑布停車場時開始下雨，管理員也禁止我們進入。我們改來Warumi Bise（千萬別跟著Google Maps走），但遇到漲潮，原本能走到的點改成游泳。

長老ラーメン

1 Chome-12-4 Chatan, Nakagami District, Okinawa 904-0116

Must know that the ramen here comes with an egg already. This street ramen place may not look like much with its simple setup of wooden tables underneath some tents, but its food is quite the opposite. High recommend their gyoza! 

切記這裡的拉麵已放蛋，除非你是蛋的愛好者。這屋台式的拉麵店，用幾根木頭搭建和帆布遮風，賣的食物一目瞭然。雖然簡陋，但食物非常優秀。很推薦餃子！可以追蹤我的Instagram，看看我們吃些什麼喔！

Shiro Kuma

304 Toya, Yomitan, Nakagami District, Okinawa 904-0305

Before loosening of restrictions, my friends and I have already made a list of restaurants that we want to go to when we can dine out. Our first choice is by reservation only, our second choice doesn’t offer outdoor dining. But third time is the charm I guess, we came to this Thai restaurant that offers outdoor seating. Okinawa summer outdoor dining has its challenges. It can get hot and humid, then there is lightning, and lastly, swarms of mosquitos. This establishment is cash only, offers lunch sets, and is quite easy to find.

解放前晚已經和朋友約好，等不及出門吃飯！這餐吃得不容易，原本選定的餐廳竟然是預約制（Little Greek Kitchen），第二家餐廳沒開放戶外用餐，但為了享受這好久好久沒得到的自由，我們不能放棄！英文裡說的”third time is the charm”，我們找到這家泰國料理，提供戶外用餐。但沖繩夏天在外吃飯狀況特別多，一開始超悶熱，然後開始打雷，最後我們狂被蚊子狂盯。這家餐廳只收現金，中午有套餐，位置也非常好找。

Double Tree by Chatan

43 Mihama, Chatan, Nakagami District, Okinawa 904-0115

Military base signed an exclusive deal with the Double Tree in American Village, it costs just $58 per night to stay here. You can get a room that faces the ocean, great for watching the sunset with UN! Going on the waterslide at the pool is probably my favorite activity to do here! 

基地和在美國村的Double Tree合作，推出一晚只要$58的超低價住宿。而且房間朝海，和UN欣賞夕陽適合不過！這裡還有泳池溜滑梯，大概是我最愛的一項活動了！玩瘋了我們！

Osteria La Pesciolina

https://lapesciolina.com/menu

This Italian restaurant opened in American Village in June. Very much appeals to the palates of me and UN. We ordered oysters on the half shell and a fish for late dinner. We were very satisfied and will definitely return to try their pasta.

在美國村六月時開的的義大利餐廳非常符合我和UN的胃口，我們點了生蠔和一條魚當宵夜。非常滿意當晚的食物，期待下次的義大利麵。

Thank you to all of the birthday wishes I received! Hope everyone stays healthy, and cheers to a better rest of 2020!

謝謝朋友們的生日祝福，希望大家健康快樂，也希望2020能越來越好！