On December 12, 2015, The National WWII Museum opened a new permanent exhibit. The Road to Tokyo is a multi-media installation focusing on the Second World War as it was fought in the Pacific Islands. The exhibit showcases such major events as the battle of Pearl Harbor, the nuclear bombs of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and some of the difficulties and suffering facing both soldiers and civilians alike during WWII in Asia and the Pacific. In honor of this new exhibit, the museum sponsored a cocktail lunch at their American Sector Restaurant on Thursday December 17, to preview the new museum display. They served up some delicious Asian and Pacific-inspired cocktails, such as the “Sunrise in Waikiki,” a tropical blend of Absolut Hibiskus, triple sec and orange juice, and the “Pacific Tour,” with dark rum, crème de noyaux and OJ.
Executive chef Eric Cook is no stranger to the military, as a former marine. He and his executive sous-chef Brook Foster have created a menu that fits in perfectly in a WWII-themed museum, but can rival the cuisine of dining establishments anywhere. To coincide with the Road to Tokyo, they added new items to the menu, such as the Poke Salad with Ahi tuna, avocado, won tons and mixed greens, and the Seared Tuna with whipped avocado and sweet chili glaze. The tasty Sweet Potato Gnocchi combined “island-hopping” flavors and ingredients, like braised goat and coconut milk, inspired by the various islands throughout the Pacific including the Philippines and Hong Kong. Some of their regular menu classics include the crab boil fritters and lamb ribs with “awesome sauce,” and Chef Cook prides himself on sourcing his ingredients locally.
The exhibit was as impressive as the cuisine, and both are definitely worth a visit.
For more info, go to http://www.nationalww2museum.org/index.html
