THE SEA CHEST RESTAURANT AND OYSTER BAR

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THE SEA CHEST RESTAURANT AND OYSTER BAR
CAMBRIA, CALIFORNIA

THE SEA CHEST RESTAURANT AND OYSTER BAR6216 MOONSTONE BEACH DRIVECAMBRIA, CA  93428805-927-4514www.seachestrestaurant.comDINNER ONLY CASH OR CHECKS ONLY
I love the Sea Chest Restaurant and Oyster Bar in Cambria, California.  For personal reasons, I will not elaborate about this meal because it was enjoyed with close family members.  What I can tell you is that the food is great.  The Cioppino is one of the best I have ever tasted.  Loved just about everything here except for the fact that they do not accept credit cards.  Dinner for eight means you need a few "c notes" in your wallet.  Be prepared to get here early and wait in the line that starts around 4:30.  Reservations are not accepted and once those doors open the place fills up quickly.

THE SEA CHEST DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM MOONSTONE BEACH IN CAMBRIA, CA

LIKE AN OLD INN ON THE EAST COAST

PEOPLE LINE UP BEFORE 5:00 TO GET A SEAT AT THE SEA CHEST

NO CREDIT CARDS AND I WAS HOSTING A FAMILY DINNER FOR EIGHT PEOPLE.
MAKE SURE YOU HIT THE ATM MACHINE BEFORE COMING IN HERE

THOUSANDS OF BUSINESS CARDS ON CEILING AROUND THE OYSTER BAR

FRESH SOURDOUGH ROLLS

DEVILS ON HORSEBACK - PACIFIC OYSTERS WITH GARLIC AND WHITE WINE.
COVERED WITH BACON AND SERVED ON TOAST

ESCARGOT

SAUTEED MUSHROOMS IN WHITE WINE AND BUTTER

CLAMS CASINO WITH BACON

FRESH OYSTERS FROM MORROW BAY IN CALIFORNIA

HOUSE SALAD

CLAM CHOWDER

STEVE'S CIOPPINO - ONE OF THE BEST EVER!

ALASKAN HALIBUT

STEAMERS

JUMBO SHRIMP

SCAMPI ALA SEA CHEST SERVED WITH PASTA

HAPPY AND FRIENDLY OYSTER BAR CHEF

PLACE IS NOT CHEAP BUT THE FOOD IS GOOD!

D.K STEAK HOUSE

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D.K STEAK HOUSEWAIKIKI MARRIOTT HOTELHONOLULU, HAWAII
D.K STEAK HOUSEWAIKIKI MARRIOTT2552 KALAKAUA AVENUEHONOLULU, HAWAII  96815808-931-6280www.dksteakhouse.comHOURS: Nightly 5:30 PM to 10:00 PM
I am a big fan of D.K. Kodama the owner of D.K Steak House.  Memories of his mom picking up my daughter when she was just a baby and then walking around the restaurant taking care of a child she did not even know.  Will never forget when she took our daughter into the kitchen to meet the chefs.  Boy was I jealous.  She did not invite me.  Mama Kodama is gone now but our love for her spirit and D.K's Sansei and D.K Steak House restaurants goes on.  I love Ruth Chris and Morton's for a steak, but when I have guests in town or want to enjoy the best steak in Hawaii I go to D.K's and order the Paniolo Rib Eye.  Most of my friends agree that the "Paniolo" is the best tasting steak in the Aloha State.  What makes the Paniolo Rib Eye so good is the slightly crusted seasoning blend they put on the top.  It has a touch of brown sugar that adds a bit of sweetness but not too much.  When married with the grilled Maui Onions on each bite the flavors are fantastic.  The Maui Onion is sweet and not overpowering.  They add texture and flavor to the meat that is already full of flavor.  On a good night I can finish off the Paniolo, but most times I end up bringing some home.  This is the only steak house where my wife expects me to bring home a doggy bag if she is not with me.  If I don't have some Paniolo Rib Eye with Maui Onions for her she gets very upset.  The staff at D.K's is always courteous, professional and efficient.  Have never had a bad meal or service here and highly recommend it.

ENTRANCE TO D.K STEAK HOUSE IS ON THE THIRD FLOOR OF THE WAIKIKI
MARRIOTT HOTEL NEXT TO THE SWIMMING POOL AND BAR 

MAIN DINING ROOM AND BAR.  THERE ARE A FEW TABLES OUTSIDE WITH OCEAN VIEW

D.K STAKS ARE TOP QUALITY AND HORMONE AND ANTIBIOTICS FREE

PANIOLO STYLE RIB EYE STEAK IS MY FAVORITE STEAK IN HAWAII

FRESH BREAD

CREAMY BUTTER WITH A LITTLE BIT OF SPICE

APPETIZER SAMPLER PLATTER WITH BLACK AND BLUE AHI, CRAB CAKE, SHRIMP
COCKTAIL AND BEEF CARPACCIO

BLACK AND BLUE AHI

CRAB CAKE

SHRIMP COCKTAIL

BEEF CARPACCIO

CRAB CAKE IS CRAB AND NOT FILLERS

FIESTA - VINE RIPENED TOMATO AND MAUI ONION SALAD

COLD WATER "DOUBLE" LOBSTER TAIL

MARY'S ORGANIC CHICKEN

THE PANIOLO RIB EYE COMES SMOTHERED IN GRILLED MAUI ONIONS

THE PANIOLO RIB EYE

TRUFFLE MAC N' CHEESE

USO HAWAII SIX STAR SERVICE SALUTE

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USO HAWAII SIX STAR SERVICE SALUTESTAR OF HONOLULUALOHA TOWER
There are some dinners and evenings that really stand out in life.  Those moments when you get home and say "wow" that was an incredible and fun night with great food and people.  Me and my lovely bride came home from such a night after being invited to the USO Hawaii Six Star Salute to Hawaii's finest Military Personnel.  This was one of the few formal events that we ever attend.  Throwing on a pair of pants, wearing a tie and jacket is foreign to me.  I almost cancelled on the great people at Matson Navigation who invited us as their guests because I did not want to dress up.  So glad I put on the monkey suit and went out on the high seas with the heroes that protect our country.  We arrived at Aloha Tower ready to see what "formal" attire really means in Hawaii.  As we crossed the street a total stranger in shorts and a tee shirt grabbed my coat collar and turned it down.  "Cannot go looking like that he said".  Seems that the back of my jacket collar was sticking up.  We gazed out at the crowd of people waiting to register.  There were tuxedos, nice suits and formal dresses.  The Military men and woman dressed in their formal dress uniforms and they were beautiful.  Polished shoes, medals and ribbons were all around.  I ponied up to the bar for a glass of wine and as I returned to our table I saw a gentlemen with tons of colorful things on his chest.  He looked at me and I looked at him.  With a huge smile and slight southern draw, he put out his hand and said "hi - my name is Charlie".  I introduced myself and asked him what all the colorful things were called.  "Ribbons" he said.  I asked Charlie how he got all those Ribbons because I was genuinely interested in finding out how they were earned and what they meant.  Charlie looked at me with that big smile and said "after 32 years of doing anything they give you a little something".  We had some small talk after that and then he was whisked away to others that were waiting to make his acquaintance.  After a presentation of flags and our National Anthem we were taken through a canopy of swords that led to the Star of Honolulu.  We boarded the ship and were lead upstairs to a beautifully decorated room that could be any nice hotel in Honolulu.  We were however on a boat.  What a great job decorating.  The tables and place settings were colorful and decorated with care and detail.  There was a program for the evening on my plate.  I opened it up and what do I see.  A picture of Charlie who I met earlier and asked about the ribbons.  Turned out the humble southern gentlemen was a Rear Admiral and Commander of the U.S. Coast Guard 14th District.  I laughed and showed the photograph and biography to my wife.  "That guy I met is a freakin Admiral" I said.  He did not say a word about his rank when we met.  Did not mention that he was the "boss" of the U.S. Coast Guard Pacific.  After a few minutes the room started to fill.  Here comes Charlie walking to our table.  "You son of a gun" I said.  "You are a freaking Admiral".  Charlie just smiled and offered his hand shake as he put his arm on my shoulder.  We talked about his life, travels and career serving his country.  He was down to earth, humble and a gentlemen.  I can see why he has risen to such a high position and served in Washington D.C.  as a Military Advisor to the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.  While Charlie and I talked my wife was introduced to his wife Donna.  Donna is a beautiful woman with a intoxicating southern accent.  Her and my wife talked and talked and they both just smiled.  By the end of the evening, my wife said that Donna was one of the nicest, most beautiful and classy woman she has ever met.  I had some time talking to Donna too, and I can tell you that she is remarkable in style, spirit and heart.  Charlie and Donna helped make this a wonderful evening as did our hosts from Matson Navigation.  Would talk more about the Matson folks but they were seated on the other side of the table and at a table next to ours.  Mahalo Dorothy for inviting us to this great event.

GUESTS ENTERED THROUGH A CANOPY OF SWORDS

EVENT WAS HELD ON THE STAR OF HONOLULU

THEY TURNED THE SHIP INTO A SIX STAR RESTAURANT AT SEA

TABLES WERE BEAUTIFUL

PERSONALIZED NAME CARDS, CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT (THAT I THOUGHT WAS CHOCOLATE)
AND A COUPLE OF DRINK COUPONS

PURPLE ENDIVE, BABY ROMAINE AND GRAPE TOMATOES WITH
PASSION FRUIT TARRAGON VINAIGRETTE

STEAMED ONE POUND WHOLE MAIN LOBSTER WITH FRESH LEMON, CLARIFIED BUTTER
AND CITRUS PONZU

FIRE ROASTED TENDERLOIN STEAK WITH SWEET MADEIRA WINE SAUCE, HOMEMADE
YUKON AND PURPLE OKINAWAN MASHED POTATOES AND SAUTEED FRESH SEASONAL VEGETABLES

REAR ADMIRAL CHARLES RAY
COMMANDER, U.S. COAST GUARD 14TH DISTRICT
"CHARLEY" WAS HAPPY TO BE ON THE BLOG

ADMIRAL FERNANDEZ L. "FRANK" PONDS
COMMANDER, NAVY REGION HAWAII
COMMANDER, NAVAL SURFACE GROUP MIDDLE PACIFIC

ADMIRALS RAY AND PONDS GREET HAWAII'S FINEST SERVICE PERSONNEL

IT WAS TRULY AN HONOR AND TREAT TO SIT WITH ADMIRAL RAY AND HIS LOVELY WIFE DONNA

Instagram for Video -- Why It's So Hard

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Instagram -- THE picture sharing, picture enhancement social network -- was recently acquired by Facebook, of course, for a price between $600Million and $1Billion (depending on where Facebook's share price is at any given moment in time).  So, with video permeating the web and our lives now on every device, an "Instagram for Video" is the next best thing.  Right?

Not so fast.  Video is a very different beast entirely -- contextually, technically, and experiencially.

I recently wrote about these fundamental differences in TechCrunch in a post titled "Instagram for Video -- Massive Opportunity, Yes!  Done Right, No!"  In it, I discuss the significant hurdles facing those VC-backed companies trying to crack the nut (both private and publicly-held companies).  I also offer a recipe to succeed.

Following my TechCrunch piece, two others offered their own "takes" in TechCrunch about this topic (both of whom cited my original piece).  Just yesterday, filmmaker Armando Kirmin posted a piece in TechCrunch titled "The Sad State of Video Apps" in which he focuses on the filmmaking process and how it is radically different than still photo capture (apart from the technical issues I cited in my piece).  And, previously, Sandeep Casi focused on the fundamental differences between video and still images from purely a content perspective (and how translatable personal video content is to others) in a TechCrunch piece titled "Cloning Instagram for Video Will Not Revolutionize Mobile Video."

Together, these three pieces tie together the supreme challenges facing the "Instagram for Video" quest by tens of start-ups, as well as the massive market opportunity if they were able to succeed.  My ultimate conclusion is that it will be one of the tech industry behemoths that ultimately will be the one that comes closest.

And, that won't be Instagram owner Facebook.  For the reasons discussed in my piece, it most likely will be one of the consumer electronic behemoths.

Sorenson Media Wins 3 Coveted "Readers' Choice" Awards

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Literally Just announced at the Streaming Media West conference -- Sorenson Media just won a record 3 coveted "Readers' Choice Awards" (tying our "take" from last year):
(1) Best Encoding Software (Enterprise Class) -- Squeeze Server(2) Best Cloud Encoding/Transcoding Service -- Squeeze Cloud(3) Best Encoding Software (Desktop) -- Sorenson Squeeze
The win in the first category above -- "Best Encoding Software (Enterprise Class)" -- is particularly gratifying because we announced our new major Squeeze Server 2.0 release just yesterday and this new version blows away our v1.0 in all respects.  We consider it to be an entirely different product.
Thank you video professionals and enterprise video specialists -- we won these awards due to your confidence in our products.  It is very gratifying to all of us here at Sorenson Media.
And -- to this great innovative team here at Sorenson Media -- congratulations!

(Accepting the awards in the picture are VP Business Development & Strategy, Kirk Punches, and Sales Executive, Jen Swartz.)