Entries tagged 'chefs'
Mango Season Begins and Alan Wong's Goes Mad
Local super chef Alan Wong has long been known as a serious mango maniac. But like all good locals, he's also a mango snob. That means mangoes must be in season, must be from Hawaii, and must be insanely luscious...
Hawaii Top Restaurants: New Menu at Orchids
Image by Alan Light via FlickrA new menu at Orchids in the Halekulani Hotel is always a good thing for Hawaii eating. The hotel restaurant in Waikiki has long been among my favorite settings on Oahu, if not all of...
Hawaii Restaurant: Former Union Square Cafe Chef
My old friend Lesa Griffith went to Maui and uncorked a nifty find. Turns out a crackerjack resto team with a chef who formerly was a sous at the famed Union Square Tavern is doing locally sourced cuisine in...
New Hawaii Food Blogger: Eatizen Jane
Wish she would post more often. Monthly is not enough as the reviews are better than most and often off-beat. Check out this piece on the nouveau Indian cuisine of the Halekulani Hotel's Vikram Garg....
Hawaii Foodie Alert: Side Street Inn Opening New Spot
Fans of the Side Street Inn near Ala Moana Shopping Center have long bemoaned the lack of parking and cruddy location. Thankfully, chef-owner Colin Nishida is opening a second location with better parking (and probably better decor) in the bustling...
Hawaii Restaurants: Alan Wong's Gets Even More Tasty on Feb. 4
Here's a look at the latest special menu from the reigning master of Hawaii Regional Cuisine, Alan Wong. The theme is learning the difference between locally grown foods and local food styles and...non-local things. Am sure the grinds will be...
Best of Maui Results in from Maui News
Roughly 10,000 Maui readers voted for the annual Best of Maui Dining issue put out by the Maui News (which, sadly, forces you to download a PDF if you want to read the lists online). Some of the big winners?...
Hawaii's Top Chef Loves His Mama: Alan Wong's Special Dinner
Alan Wong loves his Mama. No better way to show it than a special Next Generation Dinner at his King Street restaurant. Each NGD menu is unique and specially crafted for the occasion. In this case, the dishes echo the...
Hawaii Food Review Roundup:
The roundup and the pitch. Star-Bulletin likes fancy eating in Kailua, Oahu at Formaggio. New Mexican in Lahaina in Maui Time Weekly. Sybarite in Paradise reviews Macky's Kahuku Shrimp Truck. Tasty Island takes a bite of Maui Manju Shortbread Cookies,...
Hawaii Restaurant News: Banyan Tree at Ritz Kapalua Loses Star Chef
Chef Jojo Vasquez who kicked the kitchen of the Banyan Tree on Maui in Kapalua Resort up several notches left over a month ago to open a new resto on Oahu with a famous Iron Chef competition winner. Sayonara, Jojo....
New Hawaii Foodie Website: Share Your Table, Looking Good
"Share Your Table is a splashy Web 2.0-ish site with slide shows, videos, recipes, and columns from Joan Namkoong and Wanda Adams, two of the big names in Hawaii food writing. It's clear they spent a good amount of money...
Mala Lounge at Wailea Marriott: New Place, Good Vides, Good Grinds
This is one of the last Microsoft Mobile Posts. You see this logo and it means I'm posting on the go. Again, thanks to Microsoft for underwriting this Maui trip (indirectly, of course). So here we have a picture...
Aloha Air Cargo Shuts Down: One Big Loser -- Farmers and High-End Restaurants
Shocking news out today. Aloha Air, which had recently shuttered its passenger operations, on April 29 closed down its profitable air cargo operations after no buyer would bite (no surprise -- the Airline Pilots Association had threatened to strike). Aloha...
Alan Wong's Honolulu: Hawaii's Only James Beard Semi-Finalist in 2008
Word in the blogosphere is that Alan Wong is in the running for Outstanding Chef (we had already reported as Best Chef in the Northwest -- We were wrong).. He won it in 1996. Would be nice to get a...
Ono Kine Goes to Downtown at HiSAM - Euro-Island Cuisine
Ono Kine visits Downtown @ HiSAM, Ed Kenney's latest venture. Great pics. Gives you a real flavor of the place....
Cassis Closed Last Saturday: Big Bummer
Holy cow, that was fast. Cassis, the (slightly) more casual restaurant in Downtown Honolulu owned and masterminded by Chef Mavro (the James Beard Award Winner) has shuttered after less than a year. And I didn't even get to eat there!...
Winez and Grindz Returns to Pineapple Room: Hawaii Foodies Rejoice
After some chef turnover and menu instability, Alan Wong's slightly more casual offshoot The Pineapple Room is returning to its signature monthly tasting events. This one looks extremely intriguing, with a chef I do not know, Robert Urquidi. Here's the...
Beachhouse at the Westin Moana Surfrider: Waikiki Steak House, New Hawaii Classic
Last week I finally got to eat at the Beachhouse. My friend John Heckathorn had told me I had to eat there. He is a picky eater, and he was right. First, let's talk about the hotel. I had...
Bone Collagen Ramen in Hawaii; Other Food Update News
Another edition of our rarely updated food update. Sorry, folks. Here we go. The Star-Bulletin chews over a chewy, gravy-like version of ramen with chicken broth sauce thickened by chicken bone and cartilage. Um, yum? Not sure I could stomach...
Real Italian Food in Waikiki from a Japanese Chef:
Two of my good foodie friends, Lesa Griffith (who blogs here for the Honolulu Academy of Arts) and Dave Choo, have recommended Taormina as solid. Dave said it was good and I trust his judgement. Lesa used to work as...
D.K. Steakhouse in Waikiki: I Wll Never Eat There Again
Ate there last night with two friends. Not going to tell you why -- will leave it up to an upcoming review in a local publication, in which I was a participant. But leave it at this. Do not eat...
The Bay Club on Maui: Peter Merriman Will Revive It
One of my favorite Maui memories involved a supreme chocolate desert and a snifter of port at the old Bay Club in Kapalua, Maui. The restaurant is perhaps the most romantic setting in all of the islands, with an open-air...
Anthony Bourdain in the House: Does Honolulu Taping
Bad boy chef Anthony Bourdain airdropped into Honolulu to tape a segment of "No Reservations." The Honolulu Star-Bulletin's Betty Shimabukuro gots the goods and chatted with Big Tony as he chowed down on Colin Nishida's choice grinds at Side Street...
Kauai Gets More Good Grinds: Merriman's to Open in Poipu
The Garden Isle has some good restaurants but generally lacks fine dining. Might come with the lack of development. Whatever the case, Hawaii farm-fresh-to-table savant Peter Merriman will be opening a new joint near Poipu as part of a massive...
Latest Review from John Heckathorn -- Some Promising New Japanese Joints, Some Real Duds
John reviewed five places for this issue (whew!), all Japanese. The buffets (no, John, no!) he kinda sorta liked. Thankfully, he was into Kaiwa, a restaurant I'd been hearing very good things about. The other place he likes, Shigezo, is...
Best Dining on Maui: Maui No Ka Oi Mag's Aipono Awards
This pub serves as the hip city mag for the whole Valley Island (for the over 40s crowd, that is -- who else can afford Maui?). But I found its annual reader restaurant awards to be kinda off key. Not...
Edible Hawaiian Island Illegible Online -- Major Bummer
I was really looking forward to the first edition of Hawaii's new food magazine, Edible Hawaiian Islands. The line-up looked intriguing. I love food and Hawaii (as you know) so I was really amped to get some mega-coverage of a...
Hawaiirama Food News:
Back for more tidbits. Gail over at Hawaii Diner gives us a solid roundup of where she took out-of-town guests to eat including unexpected (Bobo's BBQ in Kaawa), the worse than expected (Elua) and the so-bad-but-still-gotta-do-it (Buzz's Steakhouse in Kailua)....
Jean Marie Josselin Returns to Hawaii: Oahu Restaurant Scene Heating Up
In my first year living in Hawaii, I was working as a staff writer for Hawaii Business Magazine (making something like $20,000 per year) in 1994. Part of that gig was trips to the Neighbor Islands to cover business out...
Hawaii Restaurants: Little Kitchens, Big Flavors
This is a really killer event that features some of small restaurant chefs from around Oahu (Downtown, 12 Ave. Grill, India Cafe, Mi Casa) but turns out dynamite food and for a good cause, Slow Food Oahu. The local alt...
Deniro at Nobu in Waikiki
I blogged it two days ago. Here's the pic. Image via Halekulani Corp....
Hawaii Restaurants: Tony Soprano Dines at "Epic"
Apparently James Gandolfini was in Hawaii last week, in Honolulu, to be precise. Accompanying him was his lovely girlfriend Lin. Gandolfini, natch, dined on pork chops at Epic, a newish restaurant in Chinatown in Honolulu on the island of Oahu....
Hawaii Food News: Uncle's Fish, Alan Wong's, Epic, Sea Asaparagus
Alan Wong's Restaurant announced what super sous Wade Ueoka would be slinging at the next "Next Generation Dinner" on August 8. These events are killer one-of-a-kind tasting menus with wine pairings that the folks working with Alan whip up to...
Hawaii Restaurants: Stage, Another Choo Review
My pal Dave Choo takes a look at lunch at Stage Restaurant, the latest "IT" eatery in Honolulu (alongside Mavro's Cassis). His verdict? Mixed. This contrasts with a glowing review from the Honolulu Advertiser. "All the fixtures are beautiful, but...
Hawaii Restaurant / Food News: Downtown, Kailua, All Around
Now, the food news. Honolulu Weekly writer Kawehi Haug gives a thumbs up to the new second location of the Kalapawai Cafe in downtown Kailua. She raves about Chef Jason Iwane's evening menu. This is an offshoot of the beachy...
Hawaii Food News Roundup: Stage Review,
Here's the latest. The Star-Bulletin gives the Alan Wong's alumni at Stage Restaurant three stars but its hardly a convincing review. At blog Tasty Island, reviews of locally made Portuguese sausages. Yum, Pomai. Grand Cafe Bakery in Chinatown (Honolulu) has...
Hawaii Restaurants: Next Gen Dinner at Alan Wong's King Street on May 17
Better grab those tables fast. Wade Uekoa, who has helmed a number of these prix fixe tasting extravaganzas, is back at the toque. Menu highlights include Seared Furikake Crusted Ahi with Ma’o Farms Ruby Streak Greens, Fresh Myoga, Soy Mustard...
Hawaiirama Foodie Roundup
Here's the weekly crop of food reviews and news items. Honolulu Weekly says "Molto bene!" to Donato Loperfido's latest, Pasta et Basta located in the Restaurant Row foodie death zone. The Star-Bulletin also loves Pasta Basta (inevitably shortened) as well...
Hawaii Restaurants: A Food Miser Fellow Blogger Weighs in On Ballyhooed Cassis
Chef Mavro caters to the foodie crowd, the crazy folks who throw down serious coin for upscale chow. Ian Lind prefers dirt cheap Thai food. Which makes his review particularly interesting, as he's enticed to eat at Cassis, Mavro's new...
Hawaii Restaurants: First Look at Roy's Waikiki: Hawaii Diner has the Goods
I often don't agree with what Gail Jennings at Hawaii Diner has to say but I love reading her stuff anyway. Here she gives us a sneak peak at the new Roy's at Waikiki Beach Walk. This is a "Mock"...
Hawaii Restaurants: Nobu Hype Building
Nobu Matsuhisa is in Honolulu, whipping his crew into shape for a May 28 opening of his latest outpost at the Waikiki Parc Hotel. Local media is all lathered up about the event -- which kind of cements my suspicion...
Four Seasons Maui Clones BLT NYC: Can Noel Baudillio Stand the Heat?
The Wailea restaurant scene on Maui has, despite the uber poshness of the hotels on this peachy stretch of beach, remained utterly disappointing. Most of the hotel restaurants have failed to inspire widespread recognition or accolades, with patrons merrily decamping...
Another Revolving Restaurant Post: Top of Waikiki
On the heels of the last post, I'd thought I'd bring in another post on the topic. While La Ronde is long gone, the Top of Waikiki is still spinning, quite literally. Atop the Waikiki Business Plaza, the Top of...
Hawaiirama Foodie Roundup
More edibles for the masses, courtesy of the roving food monkeys at Hawaiirama. Honolulu Weekly happily sails into the Holokai Grill, the new Tiki's Bar & Grill clone in the also new Waikiki Beachwalk. The word? Order mixed drinks. Lots...
Bottom Fishing Ban in Hawaii Puts Squeeze on Restaurateurs
I was having lunch today with one of the state's top chefs, George Mavrothalassitis at his restaurant, Chef Mavro, in Honolulu. It was a wine tasting lunch with is staff, something Mavro does each quarter to allow a democratic vote...
Where to Eat Tonite: Alan Wong's Next Gen Dinner
Sorry for the late notice but there are tables available at 9:00 pm at Alan Wong's for the latest in their monthly series of Next Generation dinners. This series allows the Wong's proteges to show off their best stuff with...
Tip #5: How to Save Big Bucks on a Hawaiian Vacation -- Do Lunch
Like the rest of my saving money tips for Hawaii visits, this one is fairly obvious yet astonishingly overlooked. The quickest way to max out your meal expenditures is hit a high-end restaurant for dinner. Of course, it's a lovely...
Hawaii Restaurant News Flash: Chef Mavro Kicks It Up A Notch
Well, I guess it had to happen. After successfully running his posh, pint-sized eatery in Moiliili for a number of years, James Beard Award Winner Chef George Mavrothalassitis finally took the big step up and announced today that he'll soon...
Next Gen Dinner -- Alan Wong's King Street
Alan Wong has a reputation as a stern taskmaster. The James Beard Award winner works his people hard and in his kitchen there are only two ways to do things -- the wrong way or the Wong Way. I guess...
New Menu Time at Mavro: Yum Yum!
Chef Mavro does not like to sit on his laurels. The maestro, who toques up amazingly subtle and exquisite grub at his posh eatery in a blue collar district of Honolulu, revamps his menu four times a year. That's pretty...
Main Street Bistro in Wailuku
We've been hearing good things about the Main Street Bistro in Wailuku, the sleepy county seat of the Valley Isle. Wailuku has been threatening a revival and it has enjoyed an influx of refugees from overpriced resort towns and Honolulu....
New Years Eve Eats on Maui
The Maui News has a far too comprehensive rundown of New Year's Eve dinner extravaganzas on the Valley Isle. They all sound pretty good but we know that a few of them are more than pretty good. The Hawaiirama reccomendations?...
Hawaii Restaurants: Don't Ask A Local
Sifting through the most recent Honolulu Advertiser Ilima Awards for best restaurants around Hawaii, I was struck by the bizarre choices made by readers for top honors. True, Hawaii is actually a fairly blue-collar state with one of the highest...
Hawaii Restaurants: Roy's Hawaii Kai, Still Ono After All These Years
In 1989, Roy Yamaguchi opened his flagship eatery in Hawaii Kai, then a solidly middle-class newish neighborhood in East Honolulu. Roy was from California and so was his restaurant. It had a big display kitchen with flashy flames and pots...
Hawaii Restaurants: Hiroshi Eurasian Tapas
Hiroshi Fukui started out washing dishes in a Japanese restaurant in Waikiki. His only formal training was on the job as he climbed the ranks from line to sous to the guy running the kitchen. Fukui spread his wings at...
Hawaii Restaurants: La Mer + Louis XIII = Decadent Dinner
Caveat reader. What you are about to read was the result of a comped dinner experience, Translation? I couldn't afford it but when the Halekulani offered to feed me its " Louis XIII de Remy Martin Ultimate Dinner," I simply...
Turkey Day Panic -- Slow Poached Freerange Thank You Very Much
I tend to wait until the last minute to do just about everything. Which is bad for things like booking reservations for holiday meals. However, I am certain there are many folks like me out there and booking a...
The Next Generation Part 3: Whither HRC or Wither HRC?
This is a piece that was killed by the new online food publication, Chow. Bummer for me but hey, it happens. And more fodder for Hawaiirama! This is part 3. Here is part 1. and part 2. That hasn't...
The Next Generation Part 2: Whither HRC or Wither HRC?
This is a piece that was killed by the new online food publication, Chow. Bummer for me but hey, it happens. And more fodder for Hawaiirama! This is part 2. If you want to read part 1, click here....
Chefs In Motion
*Note. This will be a regular feature to alert readers when chefs at restaurants they love have moved on, a key part of any serious dining decision. * Dan York moved from Haleiwa Joe's on the North Shore to the...
