On the eve of what the weatherpeople are calling the storm of the century, I can't help but long to be back in Hawaii. Tomorrow we'll get to relive the Ironman race on the NBC broadcast, but what they won't show you are the the little bits of paradise just steps off the race course. I found this one through a recommendation from my hair stylist Lindsey. She's a regular visitor to Kona, not for triathlon but for surfing. When I first stepped into Fekkai Soho (Christmas prezzie!) I saw a girl with long beachy waves and secretly thought to myself, I hope she's the one who does my hair. Turns out that's who I was assigned to. She not only knew about Kona, but she has triathlete friends and had a ton of Athlete Food recommendations - both in NY and in Hawaii. (This is rare in NYC as most hairstylists I have gone to know more the coolest rock'n'roll bars than organic juice bars!). One of the places Lindsey said I could not miss was Basik Bowl. It's about a mile into the run course on Ali'i Drive in the upstairs of what might be described as a shack treehouse. They have a proprietary formula for their Acai smoothie creation. No photos allowed! I did see some industrial strength blenders though. The menu consists of 8 different "bowls". This is the blended acai mixture topped with various healthy locally sourced things like fruit and nuts. I tried to go visit Basik a few times but it was either too crowded or closed. Finally on my trip to the airport, I made my taxi driver stop and I finally got my bowl. It almost made me miss my plane but it was one of the best things I have ever eaten. Perfect for a hot, humid Hawaii day. Here's a pic of my choice, The Waterman, "An energizing blend of Açai, cashew milk & maca root. Topped with granola, Maui pineapple, fresh blueberries, organic cashews, a dusting of coconut shavings & a drizzle of local honey." It's going to be nearly impossible to replicate at home, so for now I'll keep dreaming...and watch the Ironman on tv tomorrow.