Living just up the hill from Ed Kenney's restaurant Town definitely has its perks. We get down there all the time for lunch and either Ed or Dave, his partner, sticks their head out of the kitchen to say hello. I also get down there for a nightcap every now and then, as its one of the great, undiscovered bars in town (which closes far too early, I might add). Anyway, point being, Town has long bought produce from Ma'o Farms, the organic farm run by a bunch of truly energetic and enterprising kids on the rough and tumble Waianae Coast of Oahu. Ma'o greens are stellar, their apple bananas a revelation and their mango crops are coming up and looking most promising. Ma'o was won of four runners up in the 2005 Yale School of Management -- Goldman Sachs national non-profit business plan competition, garnering the farm a $25k check and some high-powered assistance from Goldman and Yale. In two weeks, Town is hosting a benefit for Ma'o Farms that's $100 per person with a $20 bottomless wineglass. The menu is still TBA, but expect some extremely tasty Italian-themed tidbits like sage-butter gnocchi or mussels in Cinzano broth. Town also has a fab wine list of very unusual bottles. Put this one on the calendar but call early as the place is small and space WILL run out.

Ma'o Uptown -- Sunday, 11/19 from 6-9 pm
For ticket info call 808-696-5569 or email maoevent@yahoo.com

Town Restaurant / 3435 Waialae Ave / (808) 735-5900 / Map

—Alex, 11/05/06