Latest news with #MaiTais
Business Insider
18 hours ago
- Business Insider
I've traveled to all 50 states. These 10 have the best food.
The food in Texas is in a category of its own. Between Texas' massive size and strong state identity, it can sometimes feel like its own nation. So, it should come as no surprise that there's nothing quite like the Lone Star State's culinary landscape. When I dine in Texas, I don't try to reinvent the wheel. Tex-Mex is a must-have, especially when I'm in San Antonio, and Texas barbecue is, of course, a mandatory order. I also like to stop by neighborhood food trucks, as I've found that locals usually have the best grub. Hawaiian cuisine is a fusion of Asian, American, and Polynesian flavors. Foodies everywhere should bump America's 50th state to the top of their travel wish list, because there's so much more to Hawaii's food-and-drink scene than Mai Tais and Blue Hawaiians. The state's cuisine fuses Asian, American, and Polynesian influences, reflecting its position as the most geographically remote island chain in the Pacific — and the result is delicious. The fresh food in Hawaii is the best of the best, and the rest of the country is catching on. Even though chefs around the US are making their own variations of island staples like shave ice and poke, I have yet to find anything that compares to the local Hawaiian cuisine. Maine lobster is one of my all-time favorite meals. Having Maine lobster on a brisk July night is my ideal summer evening. I traveled with Outward Bound, an outdoor educational program, off the coast of Penobscot Bay in early high school, and after two weeks of living off packed granola, I rewarded myself with a lobster lunch. I've been hooked ever since. In my early 20s, I developed an allergy to seafood, but I loved Maine lobster so much that I was in denial and continued eating it for about five years. Even though I spent many clambakes sick in the hydrangea bushes after helping myself to a seafood platter, it was worth every bit of queasiness. Louisiana has crawfish boils, king cakes, and beignets galore. I love the flavor-packed food in Louisiana, from Cajun-inspired bites to local delicacies. Whenever I'm in New Orleans, I come prepared for a crawfish boil by bringing a paper bag, seasoning, and an appetite. I also go out of my way to grab some of the Big Easy's famed beignets and sweet king cakes, an oval-shaped pastry served during the city's Carnival season. Nevada is home to one of the most underrated culinary scenes in the country. Las Vegas gets the bulk of culinary attention in Nevada because of its resorts and fine-dining restaurants. Of course, it's worth visiting, but Reno deserves some of the spotlight, too. I first visited Reno on my way to Lake Tahoe in 2018 and was blown away by the vibrant Southwestern city. After spending time there, I felt like I'd stumbled upon a diamond in the desert. I went on the Reno Food Tour to taste all the city has to offer and had a Francophile brunch at Chez Louie in the Nevada Museum of Art. It was incredible. Tennessee's Southern food was at the forefront of my mind throughout my trip. The food in Music City is divine, and it's best washed down with a splash of sweet tea or Tennessee whiskey. When I visited Nashville in 2019, I had some of the most memorable meals of my life at Merchants on Broadway and Lockeland Table in East Nashville. New York has foodies covered — no matter what they're craving. If you name a cuisine, odds are you can find it in New York City, the ultimate cultural melting pot. Even though I'm a New Yorker, I'm still impressed by how easily I can find incredible food at all hours of the day and night. As someone who's grabbed escargot at 2 a.m. at L'Express in Gramercy Park and had post-club dim sum at Wo Hop in Chinatown, I can assure you that New York City is a paradise for foodies. Maryland has the best crab in the country. If it's fresh seafood you're after, Maryland is your best place to find crab in the lower 48 states. The state gets its blue crabs from the Chesapeake Bay — and though they're mouthwatering, they're very messy to eat. Maryland crabs have tomalley, a special "mustard" sauce, inside. My go-to place to bite into the delicacy is Cantler's Riverside Inn in Annapolis. Alaskan fish are some of the freshest I've ever had. Alaska is the final seafood-centric state I added to my list. If I wanted fresh fish in Alaska, I had to work for it. I learned just how difficult it is to reel in a king salmon during my trip along the Inside Passage. Luckily, I was more successful catching halibut and lingcod, which later became some of the most delicious dinner entrées I've ever had. Plus, feasting on the king crab at Cape Fox Lodge in Ketchikan rivaled my beloved blue crab from the aforementioned Chesapeake Bay. South Carolina has one of the best dining scenes in the country. I'll never stop coming back to South Carolina for Southern cooking. Charleston is routinely ranked as a top culinary destination in the US, and after spending a mere 24 hours strolling through the cobblestone streets, it's not hard to understand why. The state is especially known for its fresh, delicious oysters. If you get a chance, I recommend ordering wood-fired Sewansecott Oysters when you're there. This story was originally published on July 18, 2022, and most recently updated on July 15, 2025.
The Onion
10-02-2025
- Politics
- The Onion
Colombia President Claims Cocaine No Worse Than Whiskey
Colombian President Gustavo Petro said during a government meeting that cocaine is 'not worse than whiskey' and that it's only illegal because it comes from Latin America. What do you think? 'Been telling my parole officer this for years.' Debbie Omstead, Sandal Cobbler 'All I know is that they're both less dangerous than half-off Mai Tais at hibachi happy hour.' Alan Sayles, Clue Compiler 'While we're ranking things, I've always thought Sprite was better than meth.' Dennis Pardo, Tax Evader
Associated Press
07-02-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Following $30 Million Transformation, Iconic Kona Hotel to Reopen as Hampton Inn Kailua-Kona Bay Hotel in 2025
12th & A Hotel Partners Acquires Uncle Billy's Kona Bay Hotel to Recreate Sought-After Old Hawaiian Experience KONA, Hawaii, Feb. 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Kailua-Kona tourist district will soon be home to the Hampton Inn Kailua-Kona Bay, opening Summer 2025. Rooted in a strong commitment to service and quality, Hampton by Hilton is a global powerhouse brand known for innovation, best-in-class service, and unparalleled guest loyalty. Sandy Shapery, through his entity 12th & A Hotel Partners, will invest approximately $30 million into the hotel's renovation, with financing arranged by 12th & A's partner, Summit Capital. Located in the center of the eight-block oceanfront tourist area in Kailua-Kona, the renovated hotel is anticipated to open its doors under the management of PEG Hospitality Group. Shapery, a historic preservationist, wanted to keep the iconic property authentic, accessible, and affordable while also retaining the 1960s Hawai'i vibe, which led him to partner with Hampton by Hilton to bring the vision to life and Trader Vic's to operate the bar/restaurant. 'We are honored to bring Hampton Inn Kailua-Kona Bay to Kailua-Kona, a destination known for its rich culture and natural beauty,' said Shapery. 'The restoration of the property reflects our commitment to providing high-quality accommodations while honoring the traditions and spirit of the Hawaiian community. It's important to me to keep as much of the original structure from a design standpoint.' Although the floor plan remains the same for the four-story semi-circle structure, the walls, furniture, and fixtures are being replaced. The wooden boardwalk will be replaced with a simulated composite wood material to extend the life of the walkway while maintaining the original character, and a second elevator will be constructed to comply with Hilton's standards. In addition, 340 environmentally friendly tiki torches will span across the property walkways, with the standard kerosene wicks replaced with LED flicker lights. With 123 rooms, the property appeals to both business and leisure guests looking for warm surroundings, a friendly service culture, high quality, thoughtfully designed accommodations and amenities, such as modern, spacious rooms, a fitness center, and free hot breakfast. Guests will enjoy additional amenities like a sparkling pool, a large outdoor common area complete with a firepit and bar, as well as a pavilion area with local entertainment and cultural activities. The Island Bar and Grill by Trader Vic's - the creator of the Mai Tai back in 1944 - will serve local Island/Polynesian fare and of course, Mai Tais. 'Through our longstanding relationships in hospitality development and structured finance, we were able to bring together the key partnerships and funding solutions that made this unique Hampton Inn possible in downtown Kailua-Kona,' said John Stueber of Summit Capital. 'Working alongside Sandy on this project since 2020, we've helped create something that both honors this historic location and elevates the guest experience. We're grateful to Hilton and all of our stakeholders for their trust in bringing this vision to life.' To honor the land and seek blessings for the property, Shapery hosted a traditional Hawaiian blessing ceremony on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024. Kahu Danny and Anna Akaka led the construction workers in a sacred gathering that honors tradition in the spirit of aloha. 'With humble regards, we are so blessed to have people who are friends of Hawaii like this,' said Mayor Kimo Alameda who was just sworn into office the preceding week. 'The investment in the local community enhances the visitor experience by providing more accessible, quality accommodations. We are grateful to Sandy and his team for their dedication to preserving the essence of our community while fostering economic growth. This sentiment was echoed by other community leaders who attended the ceremony and have been strong supporters of the project.' Honolulu Builders serves as the General Contractor, while Level 3 lends its expertise as the interior designer. Architectural design is a joint effort between AM Turner Architects and Koa Design Group, combining innovation and creativity to bring the vision to life. Hampton Inn Kailua-Kona Bay is located at 75-5747 Ali'i Drive in Kona. To learn more about Shapery Enterprises visit for Summit Capital visit and for PEG Companies visit About Shapery Enterprises Shapery Enterprises is an operating company for the various corporations, partnerships and limited liability companies operated thereunder. Shapery Enterprises is, or has been, involved in the ownership, design, and development of high-rise office buildings, high-rise hotels, commercial centers and raw land. Shapery Enterprises is also designing, developing, and implementing technological advances in transportation including vertical take-off aircraft, electric zero emissions conversion and upgrade of existing freight and passenger rail systems, non-rail zero emissions roadway passenger and freight systems and port zero emissions container moving systems with LSM/LIM technology and high-speed magnetic levitation train systems. To learn more about Shapery Enterprises visit About Summit Capital Summit Capital is a finance, investment and development firm with a primary focus on hotel assets nationwide. Over the years, their experience has generated unique opportunities and significant returns through site identification, equity investments and joint ventures. The firm is able to provide their partners with a complete set of project solutions from inception, structuring and debt/equity options to stabilization of operations and disposition. Through mutual success, Summit Capital has forged long-lasting partnerships with many of the hospitality industry's most notable stakeholders. To learn more about Summit Capital visit About Hampton by Hilton: As the No. 1 ranked lodging franchise for the last 15 years by Entrepreneur®, Hampton by Hilton — including Hampton Inn by Hilton and Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton — serves quality-driven and value-conscious travelers at more than 3,000 properties in 41 countries and territories around the globe. The brand continues to lead its segment by providing guests with high quality, thoughtfully designed accommodations and amenities, such as modern, spacious rooms and free hot breakfast featuring the signature Hampton Waffle. Hampton by Hilton is committed to delivering an exceptionally friendly and authentic service all backed by the 100% Hampton Guarantee™. Experience a positive stay at Hampton by Hilton by booking at or through the or through the industry-leading Hilton Honors app. Hilton Honors members who book directly through preferred Hilton channels have access to instant benefits. Learn more about Hampton by Hilton at and follow the brand on Facebook, Instagram and X. Hilton Honors members who book directly through preferred Hilton channels have access to instant benefits. Learn more about Hampton by Hilton at and follow the brand on Facebook, Instagram and X. About PEG Hospitality Group: We believe that enduring success begins with a best-in-class experience delivered to the guest, fostered by the relationships built through top-quality associates and development partners. In the five-plus decades since the Pearson family founded what eventually became PEG Hospitality, our hospitality management group has grown an impressive portfolio in excess of 3,000 keys under some of the most recognized hotel brands including those from Hilton Hotels Group, Marriott International, Hyatt Hotels, and IHG. To learn more about PEG Companies visit
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Elon Musk says he's sleeping in his DOGE office in DC, report says
Elon Musk has reportedly told people he's been sleeping in his Washington, D.C., government office, where he's working to build Donald Trump's Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. The DOGE office is housed inside the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, roughly four minutes from the West Wing on foot. According to Wired, Musk told friends at a black tie event last week that he'd been invited to sleep in the Lincoln Bedroom inside the White House itself. The Tesla and SpaceX founder has become especially close to President Trump since spending more than $250 million to help get the Republican leader get reelected. Musk's net worth jumped 77% after Trump won the presidency for a second time, according to Bloomberg. He's believed to be worth $400 billion, making Musk by far the world's richest person. Prior to Trump's inauguration last week, Musk had reportedly been taking up residency in a $2,000-a-day cottage at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate before following his 'First Buddy' to the nation's capital. It's unclear who picked up that tab. While Musk could surely afford his own apartment in Washington, the 53-year-old entrepreneur has a history of sleeping where he works. He said in a 2002 interview that he spent three years sleeping either on a rooftop sofa or under his desk so his Tesla factory employees could be sure to see him every time they came to work. 'They knew I was there and that made a huge difference, and then they gave it their all,' he said, saying it was important to him that his employees didn't think he was 'off somewhere having a good time, drinking Mai Tais on a tropical island.' According to Musk his workplace was his 'primary residence' during that period. Musk and tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy were tapped in November to co-lead DOGE as an unofficial agency designed to slash government spending. However, Ramaswamy left DOGE earlier this month and now hopes to run for governor of Ohio. The idea of DOGE was mocked from the start by critics including Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who joked on X that forming a new agency headed by 'two people to do the work of one person' seemed 'REALLY' efficient. Musk countered by claiming neither he nor Ramaswamy would be paid for their work. _____
WIRED
29-01-2025
- Business
- WIRED
Elon Musk Tells Friends He's Sleeping at the DOGE Offices in DC
Jan 29, 2025 2:51 PM In a move straight out of the Twitter and Tesla playbook, Elon Musk is apparently camping out just steps away from the White House. Photo-Illustration:Elon Musk has told multiple people that he has been sleeping at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) headquarters in Washington, DC, WIRED has learned, as he works to exercise control over the federal government. DOGE is based out of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, just steps from the White House. At an exclusive black-tie dinner hosted by the Alfalfa Club last week, Musk told associates that he'd even been invited to spend the night in the White House itself in the Lincoln Bedroom. The news shows how deeply Musk has embedded himself in President Donald Trump's orbit—and how closely he's following his tried and true playbook from Tesla and Twitter (now X). During busy periods at Tesla, Musk was known for sleeping on the factory floor. 'It was my primary residence,' he claimed during an interview with Ron Baron in 2022. He said the move was strategic, as he wanted employees to see him. 'This is important because if the team thinks their leader is off somewhere having a good time, drinking Mai Tais on a tropical island, which I definitely could have been doing…since the team could see me sleeping on the floor during shift change, they knew I was there, and that made a huge difference, they gave it their all.' The vision of a leader drinking cocktails on a tropical island resurfaced after Musk became Twitter's biggest shareholder in the spring of 2022. In text messages to his friend, the podcaster and angel investor Jason Calacanis, Musk said Twitter's newly appointed CEO Parag Agrawal was on a 10-day vacation in Hawaii. At the time, Musk had been toying with the idea of joining Twitter's board of directors, but was growing increasingly frustrated with Agrawal. He doubted the two could work together. 'Btw, Parag is still on a ten day vacation in Hawaii,' Musk told Calacanis. 'No reason to cut it short… in your first tour as ceo (!!!),' Calcanis responded, presumably with a hint of sarcasm. 'Shouldn't he be in a war room right now?!?' Musk then said: 'Does doing occasional zoom calls while drinking fruity cocktails at the Four Seasons count?' (The messages were later revealed as part of the discovery process in a lawsuit between Musk and Twitter). Ultimately, Musk decided he could not save Twitter with Agrawal at the helm, and he bought the company instead. After the acquisition was complete, Musk began sleeping at the Twitter offices in San Francisco. Employees saw him pacing the floor late at night and being escorted to the bathroom by his security guards. He even tried to get a bathroom installed next to his office so he wouldn't have to trek across the floor during his stays. Musk's lieutenant Steve Davis, CEO of the Boring Company, who has reportedly been recruiting staff to work at DOGE, also temporarily moved into Twitter HQ with his wife and newborn baby. Earlier this week, the US Office of Personnel Management, which is already stacked with Musk lackeys, sent an email to federal workers titled 'a fork in the road.' 'The federal workforce should be comprised of employees who are reliable, loyal, trustworthy, and who strive for excellence in their daily work,' the email read. It directed employees to return to the office five days a week, and commit to a culture of excellence, or effectively resign and continue receiving benefits and pay through September. The memo closely echoed a note Musk sent to Twitter staff shortly after buying the company. In that note, sent November 16, 2022, Musk told staffers they'd need to commit to working long, intense hours to realize his new vision for the company—otherwise they should resign. 'Going forward, to build a breakthrough Twitter 2.0 and succeed in an increasingly competitive world, we will need to be extremely hardcore,' he wrote. 'This will mean working long hours at high intensity. Only exceptional performance will constitute a passing grade.'
