✈ Planning a trip soon? I personally believe that food is a universal language and it’s a large part of any trip planning that I do. If you need some help with adding some spice to your next trip, there are lots of ways that we can work together. (Plus many free resources, if you…
A selection of my favorite recipes from Hawaii that use mochiko flour, inspired by Koda Farms Blue Star Mochiko flour and the news that the farm business was closing, reported in August 2024.
Because I had a bit of a reputation as a foodie back home in Hawaii and now having spent more than nine years exploring the various regional dishes in Turkey, I’m often asked for my favorite restaurant in Istanbul. The question makes me nostalgic! I can remember the exact moment I fell in love with…
Ways to be a better tourist that go beyond bringing your own water bottle and refusing single-use plastics. Considering ways to give back to the community you visit, or at the very least to do less harm when spending your vacation dollars.
What is the current situation on Maui after the August 2023 fires? How can we help? Should you visit? My reflections growing up on Maui.
My first visit to Athens was in 2008 on our way to a cruise of the Greek islands – which also included my first ever stop in Turkey. That trip, we visited the Acropolis ruins in the middle of a sweltering summer day and I was too hot and weary of the crowds to truly…
When it comes to trying wines in another country, it can be intimidating to know where to start. Although I love wine and have gotten into native grapes in Turkey, I had very limited experience with Greek wines. The grape names are long and unfamiliar – I didn’t even know which were white grapes and…
Many people have asked for trusted charities that are getting aid to those on the ground here in the regions of Turkey and Syria affected by the devastating earthquakes on February 6, 2023. I’ve started to add links to just a few of the organizations that I’ve either donated to personally or know to be…
Find the answers to all your questions about visiting Istanbul. Where to stay, what do do and most importantly – what to eat! Travel tips and inspiration from ShoyuSugar.com.
When I first moved into my apartment it was unfurnished. In Turkey that means a complete blank slate: no appliances, curtains, not even light fixtures. I felt excitement at being able to fill up my space thoughtfully, surrounding myself only with carefully-selected things I loved. But at the same time, furnishing a whole 2-bedroom apartment…
