QUICK BITES
Huggo's gets national nod

By Wanda A. Adams
Advertiser Food Editor

Hugo and Eric von Platen Luder are very excited that their restaurant, Huggo's, the popular bayside eatery in Kailua town on the Big Island has been named one of "the nation's top neighborhood restaurants" in Bon Appetit's September issue. The accent here is on the word "neighborhood," indicating a "Cheers"-type spot that's as comfortable as your own living room, where you're known and welcomed, where you'd go on a weeknight as often as a weekend and where you wear whatever you wish. I always seem to stop into Huggo's when I'm in Kona for longer than a day or so — I like the view, the nearby shopping (it's a great place to park the non-shoppers while you're spending their money) and the pupu. The other Hawai'i restaurant to receive such notice was the Beach House on Kaua'i.

Celebrations

"Monstera Monsoon" is the alliterative moniker for a fund-raiser for the King Kamehameha V Judiciary History Center presented by the Friends of the Judiciary History Center, which assists in the preservation of Hawai'i's legal history at Ali'iolani Hale (the old courthouse behind the Kamehameha Statue in Honolulu). The event, 5 to 7:30 p.m. Sept. 25 at Ali'iolani Hale (the Supreme Court building behind the Kamehameha Statue), honors Nancy Ellis and Esther "Kiki" Mookini for their contributions to the Friends' efforts. A pupu and goodies spread by The Wild Mushroom and Café Laufer will be served. Tickets: $50. Call 539-4999.

• Slow Food Hawai'i, the group that seeks to preserve traditional and artisan foods and foodways, is planning a Sept. 21 Big Island potluck at the home of Nan Pi'ianaia in Waimea, a member's luncheon Dec. 7 on O'ahu and a "Roman Banquet" sometime in the future. To find out more, contact Pi'ianaia at nap2@flex.com or call (808) 885-6085.

Something special to try

I'o in Lahaina is offering a kama'aina special of 50 percent off dinner entrees Sundays from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. through September. I'o Pacific'o and Feast at Lele chef James McDonald is the featured chef on the season premier of "Island Chefs" 6:30 p.m. Sept. 28 on KGMB Channel 9.

• The Waikiki Marriott Moana Terrace is offering a continental breakfast buffet 6:30 to 10 a.m. Sundays for $9.95 per adult, $5.95 per child — a great value for a beach-view restaurant. The restaurant is on the third floor of the Kealohilani Tower at the Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort, which recently completed a $60 million modernization project.
• Manana Garage on Maui has added to its already generous drinks menu with a new menu of martinis, starting with the Ma–anatini (it was inevitable), featuring Fris vodka, ginger beer, mango puree and sour mix. Ma–ana Garage is at 33 Lono Ave. in Kahului.
• Lee Hefter, executive chef and partner of Spago restaurants will join Jim Clendenen of Au Bon Climat winery for two signature prix-fixe dinners with executive chef Andrew Manion-Copley of the Lodge at Koele on Lana'i Sept. 14 and 15 as part of the Lana'i Visiting Artist program. A free wine tasting is set for 4 p.m. Sept. 14 and a cooking demonstration at 3:30 p.m. Sept. 15. Reservations: (800) 321-4666.

Send items of culinary interest to: Taste, The Honolulu Advertiser, P.O. Box 3110, Honolulu, HI 96802. Fax: 525-8055. E-mail: taste@honoluluadvertiser.com.