QUICK BITES
Act fast and be a restaurant critic
By Wanda A. Adams
Advertiser Food Critic
Wanna be a restaurant critic?
ZagatSurvey, publisher of those respected books of mini-reviews from around the country, has a job for you. The publishing company is conducting an online survey of the Honolulu restaurant scene, but you have to move fast. The survey period closes Sunday. If you fill out a questionnaire before then, you'll receive a free copy of the new Honolulu guide when it comes out in November.
A little work is involved, however, and if you have a creaky old modem, you may find it slow going: First you register (a one-time thing), then you select the survey you want to participate in (pick Hawai'i, then it will give you the Honolulu survey, the one they are currently working on), then — here's where it gets tricky — you have to fill out a short survey one restaurant at a time. They don't give you a list to select from, rather you have to plug in the name.
If you, like me, dine out a lot and have thoughts on lots of places, this is a lot of keystrokes. It's the same old story everywhere: Technology doesn't disappear the work, it just moves it on to someone else's desk. The Web site is www.zagat.com/surveys.
Got a poke recipe? Sam Choy wants it
Sam Choy's organization and the Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel are gearing up for the 11th annual Sam Choy Poke Festival, Sept. 13-15 at the hotel on the Big Island. They're soliciting poke recipes right now in a wide variety of categories from traditional to very Out There.
(I judged the contest one year, and it took me a long time to crave poke again — although the memory of Maui radio personality Boy Kana'e's Moloka'i hihiwai poke has lingered all these years. I'm still not sure it was a true poke, but it was onoluscious!)
If you'd like an entry form or more information, call the hotel at (808) 880-3023 or go to www.pokecontest.com or www.HapunaBeachPrinceHotel.com. If you sign up by July 20, the entry fee is $75 for professionals, $20 for nonprofessionals. Eighty finalists will be selected, 35 professionals and 45 nonprofessionals. More than $15,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded. In addition to the poke contest, the event includes a private invitational golf tournament that's a benefit for charity, and a Hawaiian concerts featuring Darlene Ahuna and other entertainers Sept. 14.
Bubbies moves into cinema lobby
We learned to associate Bubbies ice cream with movies at Bubbies original location across the street from the Varsity Twins theater. Now Bubbies has gone one step farther: right into the theater at the Ward Entertainment Center. Well, in the ticket lobby, anyway. How nice to be able to tote your ice cream right into the theater without having to hide it in your purse or something. (Of course, I never did any such thing.)
Bubbies (the name comes from a childish version of the Yiddish word for "Grandma," kind of like Bachan or Popo or Vôvo) has four locations now and a factory in 'Aiea. ... In other restaurant news, the Dixie Grill has extended its Crabfest through Sunday with special crab items on the menu at both restaurants, Ward and 'Aiea. ... Bizen Restaurant, a new eatery featuring organically grown foods, is open at 2334 S. King St., across the street from Old Stadium Park; 942-7003.
Take a class in doggie delights
Woof! If you've got time to cook for your doggie as well as your family, Hawaii Doggie Bakery is offering two summer canine cooking classes at Ward Warehouse: Banana and Poi Biscuits/Pretzels, 5:30 p.m. Sunday and Veggie Biscuits, 5:30 p.m. July 28. Cost is $38 per person and seating is limited. Call the bakery for information: 949-3647 or 521-7297.
Send items of culinary interest to Wanda Adams, Food Editor, The Honolulu Advertiser, P.O. Box 3110, Honolulu, HI 96802. Fax: 525-8055. Or you can e-mail taste@honoluluadvertiser.com.
Correction: Bubbies ice cream shop is across the street from the Varsity Twins theater. An previous version of this story was incorrect.
