Hawaii eats section
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WE'RE CRAVING: SOMETHING FRENCH
CREAM POT
Cream Pot specializes in breakfast fare that flows across ethnic lines from France (crepes, omelets, baked eggs en cocotte) to Japan ('ahi eggs Benedict with rice). Even the decor is re-imagined French: white stucco walls, blond furniture, dried flowers and colorful knickknacks, wire-backed cafe chairs, lace curtains, tiny fresh posies on the tables, and odd little beehive-shaped doors. It may all seem like a clash of cultures, but in the end it's just plain good.
Cream Pot, 444 Niu St., 429-0945
LA MER
There is no more gracious or serene room in the Islands than this open-air, wood-toned space with its picture-postcard view of Diamond Head. The "cuisine du soleil" is the essence of France with a touch of Hawaiian sunlight, and more than a touch of Island-grown ingredients and local seafood.
La Mer, Halekulani Hotel, 2199 Kalia Road, 923-2311
LE CREPE CAFE
Le Crepe Cafe cooks up perfect Parisian-style crepes that are, without doubt, the best crepes in the city. Though the creperie offers a variety of fillings, from cheese to tuna to fruit to chocolate and any combination of those, go for the simple ones: the Oh My Sugar! (sweet butter and brown sugar) crepe and the Moulin Rouge (cheese, chicken, tomato, basil).
Le Crepe Cafe, Manoa Marketplace, 2855 E. Manoa Road, 372-3989
LE GUIGNOL
Travis "Ala" Sutton, who started off as a dishwasher at this homey neighborhood French restaurant, took the reins from his brother and offers creations like pan-roasted 'opakapaka atop a bed of lentils and tender pork chops. Le Guignol just started serving lunch Wednesdays through Fridays. Don't forget the wine it's BYOB.
Le Guignol, Medical Arts Building, 1010 S. King St., 591-1809
FOOD NEWS
Hank's Haute Dogs (532-4265) made Bon App้tit magazine's list of top 10 places in the nation to get a hot dog. Hank's was chosen for its original hot dog creation, the Portuguese dog, and was the only Hawai'i-based eatery to make the list. Hank's Haute Dogs will be featured in the magazine's August issue. In other Hank's Haute Dog news: Hank's will be giving away a free hot dog with the purchase of any hot dog on July 19 in honor of National Hot Dog Day.
Chef Merle Mariano, formerly of the Wynn Las Vegas and the Four Seasons Hualalai, will be preparing a five-course dinner at Waikiki's Cafe Hula Girl on Saturday. There will be two seatings, one at 6 p.m. and one at 9 p.m. The dinner is $35 per person. Seating is limited. Call 979-2299 to reserve.
The Plumeria Beach House's (739-8760) popular curry lunch is back. The Kahala Hotel and Resort's casual restaurant offers diners a choice of two curries from three offerings roganjosh, Thai and Japanese beef curries served in a traditional tiffin for $24 per person. The curry lunch special is available from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Wednesdays.
Popeye's Hawai'i is giving away free fried- chicken meals for a year as a thank you to its loyal local customers. Become a Popeye's "insider" by visiting www.qmania.com/popeyes hawaii and sign up to get free food for a year.
SMALL BITES
LIKE BEEF JERKY, ONLY BETTER
For all its award-winning 'ono comfort food, Side Street Inn's biggest accomplishment might just be having the foresight to add to its menu Chyler's Hawaiian Beef Chips. Like the name implies, this peppered beef snack is beef jerky that's been sliced ultra paper thin, then dehydrated until it's light as air. Chyler's beef chips are to beef what potato chips are to potatoes.
GET OTTO'S CAKES
Musician, actor, Honolulu indie- scene flame bearer and cheesecake baker Otto celebrated the grand opening of his own cheesecake shop during this month's First Friday festivities, and dare we say it? it's about time. The mono-monikered Otto has made his signature cakes available for years at coffee shops and other small outlets around town, but now we know exactly where to go to get them, anytime we want. Otto Cake occupies a small space on Smith Street in Chinatown where Otto mans the counter. His signature DIY punk-rock aesthetic is evident in the shop's edgy decor. His cakes light and creamy with a delicious nutty caramelized crumb crust come in more than 86 flavors.
