If you've been wondering, as I was when driving diamondhead on King Street the other day, where the It's Chili in Hawaii shop went, we've got the answer. Bev Matsuura e-mailed to say the shop has moved — not gone out of business, thank goodness for those who love hard-to-find hot sauces. They're now located at 3133 Wai'alae Ave., inside The Shipping Shack. Phone: 945-7070. They carry both hot sauces and New Mexico green chile. Good to know.

— Wanda A. Adams

NEW RESTAURANT

TROPICS BAR & GRILL OPENS AT HILTON

It's official opening week for Tropics Bar & Grill, which opened quietly at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort & Spa some weeks ago. The ocean-view restaurant within steps of the swimming pool is in the former Tropics Showroom space, but the transformation is total: colorful retro Hawai'i decor, banquettes and outdoor seating tiered to take advantage of ocean views, a full bar, and flat-screen TVs.

Chef Jeffrey Vigilla says the best-selling item at this family-friendly but still hip restaurant is the furikake and beer-battered fish and chips, made with mahi mahi and served in a petite fryer basket lined with paper that reproduces old Hawai'i newsprint. Also selling well: Hamakua mushroom and goat cheese flatbread with cilantro-cumin pesto. The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Information: 949-4321.

— Wanda A. Adams

TASTY TIDBITS ONLINE

Visit our Taste and Dining Out mini-site on www.honoluluadvertiser.com for Wanda Adams’ blog, a searchable recipe database, videos and picture galleries and an archive of Simplicio Paragas’ “The Inside Scoop” and other dining-out features:

www.honoluluadvertiser.com/taste

www.honoluluadvertiser.com/diningout