Vacation 5: Sushi and oxtail

We slept in a little later on Tuesday morning but still had plenty of time to grab the shuttle to the other side of the resort so we could have breakfast at the French restaurant we have loved at other Sandals resorts we've been to.

I slipped on the gray dress I had worn for an hour or so the morning before, hoping that no one would notice the repeat wear, and we headed out.

Nate ordered the official Jamaican breakfast of ackee and saltfish, and I went with salmon eggs benedict. We also both tried the "Local Juice of the Day."

A glass filled with a vibrant pink liquid showed up on the table, and we sipped it trying to place what fruit would create such a color. Watermelon? Some kind of a passion fruit? Something mixed with mango?

We kept sipping trying to figure it out until I finally asked the waitress.

"What is this?"

She looked nervous. "Do you like it?"

"I do. I just can't figure out what it is!"

"I'll go ask."

Nate and I looked at each other and laughed that she didn't even know what she had served. She came back momentarily.

"It's a mixture of all our fresh fruits."

Well no wonder we couldn't place what type of fruit it was. It was a menagerie.

I stared out the window to the large pool outside, and a group of middle-aged adults were starting a fitness class. I smiled and laughed softly to myself as they bobbed and squated and flailed their arms during the water aerobics course, figuring they probably didn't think people were getting breakfast entertainment while they worked.

I took another sip of the juice.

Papaya.

That's what I was tasting.

---

We just enjoyed that day outside. While walking along, I once again spotted a black and white lawn chess set and challenged Nate to a game.

I knew his strategy at this point. He will leave his pawns protecting his king and queen and he will bring out the big guns, immediately on the offensive.

So I played just as offensive.

Turns out, Nate is a little smarter than I realized and knew that I would know his strategy and completely changed up his game plan.

At one point, the smoke was starting to come out of my ears.

"That's moves you into check," he said when I was moving a piece.

"I know."

He smiled his coy little smile that he gets when he knows I'm mad.

"Don't talk."

I calmed down by the time the game ended because I at least caught up and made him work for it a little more. I gave him a high five. That was the best sportsmanship I could muster.

---

We enjoyed a glass of wine on the balcony before getting ready for dinner and played some cribbage, which Nate also slaughtered me at. I guess I should just admit defeat before we even play.

On our way to dinner, we stopped on the patio where they just happened to be serving sushi since the sushi restaurant had closed for repairs.

Yes!

I love sushi. I went up with the tiny plate they gave us and asked for one of everything. While talking to a couple from Ohio, I demolished the first plateful and went to get a second. Which I also demolished. I highly considered skipping dinner and just eating plate after plate of sushi, but I thought that would be frowned upon by the people serving.

So we did go to dinner.

I ordered braised oxtail, because I had seen it on various shows on the Food Network, and Guy Fieri always seemed to like it. Nate got the red snapper.

When our orders came out, I separated some of the beef from the star-like bone and tried it. Interesting. It was kind of like roast.

"Do you like it?" Nate asked.

"It's fine. It's beef."

"Here, try this," he said, giving me some of his fish.

"Yeah, that's way better."

"Want to trade?"

"Really?"

"Yes. I ordered this as a back-up for you."

"What were you going to order?" I asked.

"The oxtail, but I thought I should have a back-up."

We traded plates, and I just laughed.

"You're sweet."