Quick Bites
Cookie maker moves into retailing

By Wanda A. Adams
Advertiser Food Editor

Honolulu Cookie Co. offers distinctively packaged, pineapple-shaped shortbread cookies in seven flavors. The decline in tourist arrivals has prompted the Kalihi company to refocus its marketing efforts. Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser

Keith and Janet Sung, who have operated various business in the Islands since 1980 decided to found Honolulu Cookie Co. when they realized that most of the gourmet cookie market was located on other islands. Sung has worked hard to differentiate his product from the market-dominating Big Island Candies, he said. Recently, with tourism business dropping, the Sungs decided to begin doing retail and they've also developed a partnership with Creations By You to do heart-shaped wedding-favor cookies. The store hours this week are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. today through Friday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. In the future, the store will be open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays, and closed Sundays.

Kahala Mall plans fall cuisine fest

"The Flavours of Fall at Kahala Mall," a full day of cooking demonstrations, food sampling, entertainment and a "Hawai'i's Finest Challenge" cooking contest involving police, firefighters and emergency medical technicians, is set for 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. Each team will receive a $100 gift certificate to Star Market in order to buy ingredients for a seafood dish that they will then prepare; celebrity judges will decide the winner. The winner receives $1,000 for the charity of their choice; two $500 prizes also will be given.

Kaka'ako Kitchen offers evening pupu

Russell Siu will introduce an evening pupu menu at Kaka'ako Kitchen Friday night, a new feature that goes hand in hand with the relaxed, open-air restaurant's new bar (beer and wine) and live music on Friday and Saturday nights. Served from 5 p.m.-9 p.m., the menu will include walnut-crusted zucchini sticks, furikake popcorn shrimp, calamari katsu and crispy garlic melba. They'll be pouring Coors, Samuel Adams, Kona Ale and Heineken along with a variety of chardonnays, merlots and cabernets by the glass. Wednesday nights, "Wild Wednesdays," drink prices will be discounted. Music is from 9-11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, kicking off this weekend with Pipeline.

Thanksgiving feed planned at Ko Olina

The Ko Olina Community Association is again organizing a Thanksgiving Outreach Project for homeless, low-income and single-parent families who live along the Leeward Coast, involving a Nov. 17 Thanksgiving luncheon for 3,500 people at 18 different locations from Pearl City to Makaha. Chefs from the JW Marriott Ihilani Resort, Niblick Restaurant and Kapolei High School will prepare the food with help from students enrolled in food service classes at Waipahu High School. The 2,000 pounds of turkey, 450 pounds of ham, 600 pounds of rice, 100 gallons of gravy and other edibles will be delivered by volunteers from United Parcel Service, which is donating use of its trucks.

Donations to help with food purchases and other costs are being accepted now: Make checks to Thanksgiving Outreach Ko Olina and mail to Ko Olina Community Association, Kim Wood, 92-1480 Ali'inui Drive, Ko Olina, HI 96707. Volunteers are needed, as well; call Natasha Clarin, 671-2512.

Baking competition accepting entries

Entries are being accepted now in the Bake It Better with Kids recipe contest sponsored by Quaker Oats and the Honey Board. All recipes must contain these two products. Categories include Cookies, Bars and Other Treats and Easy Breads and Muffins. Enter online at www.quakeroatmeal.com; by e-mail to OatContest@aol.com or sent to Bake It Better With Kids, PO Box 4595, Naperville, IL 60567-4495. Deadline: Nov. 15.

Taste of Waipahu begins with parade

The Taste of Waipahu is set for Sunday at Hawai'i's Plantation Village, Hans L'Orange Park and Waipahu Depot Road. The event begins with a 9 a.m. parade; food booths open and other activities start at 10 a.m. Emme Tomimbang's Lumpia Challenge is set for noon with four categories of competition, including a celebrity cook-off with chefs Alan Wong, Chai Chaowasaree, Hiroshi Fukui and Roy Yamaguchi. There will be live entertainment all day, a celebrity dunking booth, health booths and a 10 a.m. parol-making workshop ($15 fee; pre-register at 677-0110) and ready-made parols — star-shaped Christmas lanterns — will be available for $30 each. Shuttles will run along Waipahu Street from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from August Ahrens Elementary School and the parking lot next to Hans L'Orange Park. Information: Darrlyn Bunda, 677-6939; Maliza Rabang, 847-6401; and Eva Laird Smith, 677-0110.