QUICK BITES
California, Maui and Kaua'i updates
By Wanda A. Adams
Advertiser Food Editor
Randy Schoch, owner of Hawai'i's Ruth Chris Steak Houses, has been named Restaurateur of the Year in Orange County, Calif., by the Orange County Business Journal. Schoch has pioneered a restaurant concept there and elsewhere in the West: Thaifoon, which offers dishes from a number of Asian cuisines (Thai, Japanese, Vietnamese, Chinese, Singaporean) in a style that appeals to American tastes and a relaxed atmosphere. His restaurants are in Newport Beach and Irvine, Calif.; Scottsdale, Ariz.; and Salt Lake City, Utah. How about Honolulu, Randy?
John Zaner, who worked his way from busboy to chef in hotels around the country, has been named executive chef of the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua. It's a return to Maui for Zaner, who served as executive chef of the Grand Wailea Resort Hotel and Spa but left in 2001 for his most recent position at the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa in Phoenix. He oversees four restaurants, seven kitchens, 24-hour room service and 100 employees. The resort's fine-dining restaurant, the once-lauded Anuenue Room, remains closed, likely through the remainder of the year.
Ba Le Sandwich and Vietnamese Food has opened in the Kaua'i Village Shopping Center in Kapa'a.
Recipes sought for local cookbook
My friend David Tasaka of the Lyte Program (a weight-loss regimen), a guy famed for being able to go to a Chinese buffet and not eat the crispy gau gee, is putting together a cookbook in partnership with the Diabetes Association Hawai'i Chapter and is seeking submissions from individuals. They're looking for healthy, good-tasting recipes with a local orientation, particularly recipes that would fit into a low-fat, low-salt or low-sugar eating pattern. Recipes have to be your own, or you've got to have the permission of the originator to submit them.
All the recipes will be nutritionally analyzed and the diabetic exchanges listed and, if your recipe is submitted, you get the glory and a free cookbook.
Proceeds from the cookbooks will be shared between the Lyte Program and the Diabetes Association here. Deadline for submissions is April 30. Send recipes to lytebites@lyteprogram.com or Lyte Bites Cookbook Submission, P.O. Box 23122, Honolulu, HI 96823. Information: 941-4800.
Food drive needs canned protein
As you do your grocery shopping, be mindful of those for whom getting enough to eat is a daily struggle. The Hawaii Foodbank's 14th annual Statewide Food Drive kicks off April 19 and the focus is on nutritious, protein-rich foods. Canned meats (corned beef and such) or fish, canned entrees (chili, spaghetti and such), canned beans or canned or dried soups all qualify.
The goal for O'ahu is 525,000 pounds of food (a meal is about 1.23 pounds) and $400,000 in financial contributions.
On O'ahu, donations will be accepted from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 19 at Restaurant Row, Koko Marina Center, Town Center of Mililani, McCully Shopping Center, Pearl City Shopping Center, Wai'anae Mall Shopping Center, Windward City Shopping Center, Waiokeola Congregational Church in Kahala and various military locations.
Collecting now through April 18 are Papa John's, Waikele Premium Outlets, King Windward Nissan, First Hawaiian Bank, O'ahu fire stations and Kahala Shell Rapid Lube. Foodland and Sack 'n Save stores will offer pre-packaged gift boxes for donating April 12-19.
Events are planned on all islands. Check www.hawaiifoodbank.org/food_drive.htm. Or call 836-3600, ext. 226 on O'ahu.
Chefs featured at Iolani school fair
The Iolani Family Fair is set for noon to 10 p.m. April 25 and 26 on the school's baseball field.
The popular Le Gourmet food booth will host cooking demonstrations by local chefs and sell special dishes from Roy's Restaurants, Sam Choy's, the Kahala Mandarin Oriental Hotel's restaurants, 3660 on the Rise and Nalo Farms.
Here's the schedule:
- April 25: 5 p.m., chef-owner D.K. Kodama of Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar; 7 p.m., chef Elmer Guzman of Sam Choy's Diamond Head.
- April 26: 2 p.m., chefs Don Murayama of Parc Café, Ronnie Nasuli of Roy's Restaurants and Hiroshi Fukui of L'Uraku.
Admission is free and there will be entertainment, rides and food and craft sales.
Information: 943-2339.
Quick Bites runs every Wednesday in The Advertiser's food section. Food editor Wanda A. Adams welcomes tidbits of food news. Write to her c/o The Honolulu Advertiser, P.O. Box 3110, Honolulu, HI 96802. Call: 525-8069. E-mail: taste@honoluluadvertiser.com.
