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FeedSweet Treats in Honolulu
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Everyone knows about Leonard’s malassadas, Liliha Bakery’s coco puffs, Bubbies’ mochi ice cream, Ted’s Bakery’s chocolate haupia pies; they’re all household names and potluck favorites. But an entire world of sweets exists outside of these mainstays, sweets that may not make cameos on Hawaii Five-0, but still elicit joy when presented at a party, even if it’s a party of one on the couch. Here are a few of our favorite confections.
"I consider myself the Doughnut King,” says Jessie Salvador, general manager and creator of Regal Bakery’s cheerful cake doughnut concoctions, which include li hing pineapple, green tea, vanilla crunch (a vanilla doughnut topped with cornflakes), lemon crumb (a lemon cake doughnut with lemon icing and lemon streusel) and “Da Kreyz,” a glorious melding of doughnut and crème brûlée.
Donuts channeling cupcake creative energy have been a trend on the Mainland for a few years now, but Salvador is the first to bring nouveau cake donuts to Hawaii. “Everybody loves doughnuts, that’s what I know,” he says. Not that everyone agreed with him at first, particularly his wife, who protested that no one eats doughnuts in Hawaii. Still, Salvador made plans to leave his employer, Regal Foods, which also owns Regal Diner, to pursue his own doughnut business. But rather than lose him, Regal Foods gave Salvador free license in its new retail bakeshop, Regal Bakery. Two months later, the bakery had transformed into an all-doughnut showcase, with cake doughnuts front and center, though the maple bacon yeast doughnut occasionally steals the show. These days, fans are proving Salvador’s wife wrong, crowding this industrial corner by the airport to sample his creations. Doughnuts range from 90 cents to $2. 3040 Ualena St., 834-4423.
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Sweetsfrom Downtown CoffeeDowntown Coffee understands that great coffee needs great sweets. Its yuzu orange bar ($3.54) plays bright citrus flavors against a chocolate crust, while the matcha and bamboo charcoal torte ($3.54) is subtly sweet (and purportedly healthy). 900 Fort Street Mall, Suite 100, 599-5353. |
Spanish Breadfrom Nanding’s BakeryAt first glance, they look like Olive Garden bread rolls, down to the cornmeal dusting on top, but a bite into fresh Spanish bread (three for $1) from Nanding’s Bakery yields a sweet, buttery filling. Two locations: 918 Gulick Ave., 841-4731, and 94-216 Farrington Highway, Waipahu, 678-0828. |
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Sweets
from Short n Sweet Bakery
While all our previous sweets can be found on Oahu, an unexpected find in Hilo reveals a high-quality bakery that we wish would move to Honolulu. Short n Sweet makes an assortment of breads, croissants, pies, cupcakes, cookies, and candies (savory goods as well). Forced to pick, we’d go with the Kohala crunch bar, with layers of crushed macadamia nut brittle, feuilletine (thin sugar flakes), and milk chocolate topped with a bittersweet chocolate ganache and cocoa powder. The banana cream pie is also a winner, featuring a real butter crust, vanilla custard and bananas, topped with pillows of fresh whipped cream. 374 Kinoole St., Hilo, 935-4446, shortnsweet.biz.
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