QUICK BITES
Something is new at Taste of Honolulu
By Wanda A. Adams
Advertiser Food Editor
New at this year's Taste of Honolulu festival, June 20-23, will be the Chefs du Jour tent, open Saturday and Sunday only, where you can enjoy the signature dishes of some of Hawai'i's best-known chefs for a separate fee of $35 — including tastes of the day's featured dishes, plus a glass of wine. Only 500 people a day can be accommodated. Chefs participating include Alan Wong, Jean-Pierre Maharibacha of John Dominis, Eugenio Martignago of Nick's Fishmarket, Shan and Travis Sutton of Le Guignol, Colin Nishida of Side Street Inn, Steven Ariel of Alan Wong's Pineapple Room, James Ebreo of Hualalai Resorts, Glenn Chu of Indigo, Randall Ishizu of Ko Olina and pastry chef Mark Okamura of Alan Wong's Restaurant. The tent will be open 6-9 p.m. June 21, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 22.
Among participants in this year's event will be the Kau Kau Cafe, the eatery on the grounds of the State Hospital, which is staffed by hospital patients as well as others from various community programs. The restaurant, which offers vocational training for participants, is a partnership of the hospital, Steadfast Housing Developing Corp. and the Honolulu Ko'olau and Waiphau Clubhouses. The cafe's vocational trainer and manager is Sean Priester, a caterer whose business card describes him as a "culinary savant" and whose Wild Mushroom/Sunday Jazz Brunch at the Richards Street YWCA was a popular feature. They're serving Greek salads, fried catfish with remoulade, barbecue pork sandwiches with black-eyed pea chili and marinated 'ahi with furikake fried coconut rice. (The cafe will be closed June 16-23 to get ready for the event.)
Information on Taste of Honolulu: www.Taste808.com.
Taste wines, foods at Ala Moana Hotel
The Ala Moana Hotel and chef Ryan Day plans a special five-course wine-matched dinner in the Mahina Lounge at 6 p.m. tonight with Hahn Vineyards; cost is $55 The hotel plans to make this a weekly event later in the year. Information: 955-4811.
Kapi'olani Community College's culinary program, Better Brands wine distributorship and Meritage at Restaurant Row continue their Tuesday-evening wine classes featuring Mark Gmur, an area manager of Better Brands, 5:30 to 7 p.m. through June 10. Fee: $28. Registration: 734-9211.
A festival devoted to savory barbecue
Sam Choy's Breakfast, Lunch and Crab is in the midst of a Bar Be Que Festival featuring barbecue made on the premises by Molly's Smokehouse of Wahiawa. The festival, with special menu items, continues through Monday. Among the offerings: barbecue brisket, pulled-pork barbecue sandwiches, baby back ribs, barbecue chicken, combo plates. Lunch costs $8.50 to $14.50, with dinner from $17.50 to $22.50. Traditional barbecue sides such as cole slaw, baked beans and corn on the cob are being featured. Country-western singer Dita Holifield will perform at 6:30 p.m. tomorrow. Reservations: 545-7979.
Fine food, golfing and dolphins, too
More than 30 chefs will be part of the Great Waikoloa Food, Wine and Music Festival June 28 at the Hilton Waikoloa Village, the wrap-up event of the Dolphin Days event June 26-28, a fund-raiser for the Hawaii Shriners Hospital for Children and the Pacific Marine Life Foundation.
In addition to the food fest, Dolphin Day events include a silent auction, a charity golf tournament, dolphin-watching and a Friday lu'au.
Among chefs who have confirmed their participation according to host Willie Pirngruber, executive chef o the Hilton Waikoloa Village: Russell Siu of 3660 on the Rise, DK Kodama of Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar, Fred D'Angelo of Tiki Grill at the Waikiki Aston Beach Resort, Goran Streng of the Hawaii Prince Hotel Waikiki, Bill Bruhl of Ryan's Grill, Eric Faivre of the Grand Wailea Resort on Maui, Greg Gaspar of the Maui Prince Hotel and Adam Condon of Spago at the Four Seasons Resort Maui. From the Big Island come Daniel Thiebaut of Daniel Thiebaut Restaurant, David Palmer of Cafe Pesto, James Babian of the Fairmount Orchid at Mauna Lani, James Cassidy of the Four Seasons Resort Hulalalai, Peter Abarcar of Hokuli'a, Cliften Berry of Huggo's, Cathy Smoot-Barrett of Kailua Candy Co., Steven Schoembs of the Martini Yacht Club, Edwin Goto of the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel and Bungalows, Amy Ferguson-Ota of Oodles of Noodles, Jacqueline Lau of Roy's Waikoloa and Miles Tokigawa of Waikoloa Beach Marriott.
Tickets to the festival are $95 in advance; $110 at the door; $45 for children 5 to 12. Tickets include unlimited food and drink. Reservations: (808) 886-1234. Information: www.DolphinDays.com.
Quick Bites is published on Wednesdays. Send tidbits of food news to food editor Wanda A. Adams, The Advertiser, P.O. Box 3110, Honolulu, HI 96802; 525-8069 or wadams@honoluluadvertiser.com.
