Posted on: Wednesday, May 21, 2003

QUICK BITES
Chefs' Lu'au set for June 7

By Wanda A. Adams
Advertiser Columnist

Hawaiian Island Chefs, the second-generation organization of Hawai'i regional cuisine chefs, is presenting its second annual Chefs' Lu'au at 6:30 p.m. June 7 at the Hawaii Prince Hotel Waikiki in the Mauna Kea Ballroom. Amy Hanaiaili'i Gilliom will sing and courses will be prepared by Steven Ariel of Alan Wong's Pineapple Room, DK Kodama of Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar, Lance Kosaka of Alan Wong's Restaurant, Douglas Lum of Mariposa at Neiman Marcus, Russell Siu of 3660 on the Rise, James McDonald of Pacific'O and I'o on Maui, Gšran Streng, Hawaii Prince Hotel Waikiki, Corey Waite of the Hapuna Prince Beach Hotel on the Big Island, pastry chef Teresa Gannon of Hali'imaile General Store and Joe's Bar & Grill on Maui, and pastry chef Mark Okamura of Alan Wong's Restaurant.

This is a lu'au only in the broadest sense of the word: The menu ranges from slowly braised beef shoulder to Chinese-inspired risotto, lobster katsu to pastrami-smoked duck breast in a contemporary grazing-style format.

Tickets, at $75 per person or $1,500 for a table, are available through 532-0667, or send checks, payable to Hawaiian Island Chefs, to Sansei Restaurant, Restaurant Row, 500 Ala Moana, Honolulu, HI 96813.

Chez Michel now at Royal Garden

Chez Michel, the longtime French restaurant popular with Japanese visitors, has left its Hobron Lane location for a spot at the Royal Garden Hotel, a boutique inn at 440 Olohana St., in Waikiki. The classic French menu created by former owner Michel Martin is long gone; it's a bit more East-West now, with dishes such as roasted Atlantic salmon with miso tobiko aioli, grilled rib-eye steak with whiskey black pepper sauce, 'ahi and roasted vegetable tower with balsamic vinegar. They're offering a three-course special this month with choice of first course, entree and dessert, with prices ranging from $21.95 to $38.95 depending on the entree chosen. Reservations: 955-7866.

Restaurants plan special offerings

Among restaurant specials this month: Martini Nights, featuring $3 martini specials and free tenderloin steak sandwiches from 5 to 7 p.m., have expanded to five nights a week at Morton's The Steakhouse at Ala Moana Center. Compadres Bar & Grill is saluting Hawai'i's military with a 50 percent discount on its entire menu for anyone in uniform Friday through May 30.

And next month: Dixie Grill's popular Crabfest returns for the fifth time June 2 to 29 at both locations, Ward Avenue and 'Aiea. The Crabfest includes special menu items, a Monday all-you-care-to-eat snow-crab special (one-hour limit), memorabilia sales and live entertainment. Owner Ed Wary came back recently from the "artichoke capital, " Castroville, Calif., with a recipe for fire-roasted and crab-stuffed artichoke with pesto aioli.

Neighbor Island food festivals near

Three Neighbor Island food festivals are in the planning stages:

• Coming up real soon, July 10 to 13, is the Kapalua Food & Wine Symposium on Maui featuring more than 20 world-class vintners from the United States and France, guest chef Ming Tsai, master sommelier and writer Andrea Immer, master mixologist Dale DeGroff, a sushi-making seminar with DK Kodama and artisanal cheese tasting with cheese guru Steve Jenkins. Four-day pass, $750 includes all events; tickets for special events including classes, tastings and dinners, may be purchased separately. Information: toll free at (800) 527-2582 or www.kapaluamaui.com.

• "Maui Chefs Present ... , " the annual gathering of Valley Island chefs at the Ka'anapali Resort, is set for 6:30 p.m. Sept. 5; the theme this year is "You Are What You Eat. " Coordinating chef James McDonald says his focus is on food as art: "Food is an art medium. This event is a good opportunity for all the chefs to display foods in a creative and artistic manner, where the sweet potato takes the place of clay. " Maui-based artists will display their works that weekend. The event precedes the Taste of Lahaina food festival Sept. 12 and 13. Information: (808) 661-3271, www.kaanapaliresort.com or www.visitlahaina.com.

• The Kona Coffee Cultural Festival, Hawai'i's oldest food fete, is Nov. 7 to 16 this year and includes a wide lineup of events, among them a lantern parade, the Miss Kona Coffee Scholarship Pageant, picking and cupping and cooking competitions, tours of coffee farms, displays and contests relating to various crafts, concerts, a race and a parade. Information: www.konacoffeefest.com. Or write P.O. Box 1112, Kailua-Kona, HI 96745.