No...this is not about trekking all around our live volcano, but it is about a visit one recent day to the village just outside the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and the gift shop/art gallery inside the park.
There must be something about the volcano that attracts so many talented artists to live in Volcano Village. They seem to sprout all over the place!
I had heard about a show "The Artful Taste of Volcano" - Fine Accouterments of Dining, a Tableware & Related Treasures show by local artists and artisanas which was going on at the Volcano Arts Center Gallery and we decided to make an afternoon of it.
We first stopped at Ira Ono's Volcano Garden Arts Gallery & Cafe for lunch and a little eye candy in the beautiful gallery & gift shop.
Just walking around the grounds is a treat.
Little vignettes dot the beautifully landscaped property, which is also home to Ernest, the pigmy goat....
and a huge and gorgeous Chinese blue and white porcelain tea pot in the traditional style with rattan wrapped handle. If this tea pot disappears, I hope Ira does not come looking for it at my place (I collect blue and white Oriental porcelain tableware)
The Cafe is pure charm. Open, light and airy and just a little step from the gift shop and gallery.
You can walk around and shop while your food is being prepared. On the day we visited, our server was Dena, a charming and friendly young woman who also prepared our delicious food!
I chose the 4 Cheese Spinach Quiche Combo which included my choice of soup and a bright looking garden salad. Anthony chose the Sandwich, Soup & Salad Combo which gave him a choice of either Egg Salad or Artichoke Hummus Pesto Sandwich...he chose the latter.
My soup was the 'Moon soup', a delicious and tasty clear broth with mushrooms and sea weed. The sea weed did not taste 'fishy' at all. It was lovely! Anthony chose the Curried Mixed Vegetables. The veggies were pureed in the broth. Also delicious!
Be sure to ask for their blend of iced tea. On the day we visited the blend consisted of mint, pineapple, Island Breeze and Hilo Sunrise, which Ira gets at the Hilo Coffee Mill Store. Delightfully refreshing!
After our delicious lunch, we drove into the Volcano National Park and headed for theArt Center Gallery located inside the park grounds.
Pottery, handblown glass, wood, textiles and paintings were on display in the gallery room with a bit of spillover in the next room. One of my weaknesses is anything to do with tableware and the serving of food and I found the show irresistible.
Below is just a sampling of the beautiful items on display.
The drive down the mountain was pleasant in the late afternoon sun and a perfect ending to a fun day!
