Hale Aina Happenings

PLUMERIA BEACH HOUSE.  A three-course set menu featuring Maui potato chip crusted crab cakes, a crab bouillabaisse, and a strawberry Paris-Brest with raspberry sorbet was created to celebrate the Kahala Hotel & Resort’s May crab promotion. The special menu is available from Sunday, May 4 through Thursday, May 8 from 5:30 – 10 p.m. at the restaurant for $50 per person.  Plumeria Beach House will also have a crab-themed seafood buffet on May 9 and asian buffet on May 10 from 5:30 to 9 p.m.  Call 808-739-8760 for details and reservations.


HOKU’S.  May at Hoku’s brings a sweet and delicate five-course crustacean favorite—crab.  The set menu starts May 20 through May 26 and is filled with elegant ingredients that are paired to perfection.  The crab menu highlights include a peach consommé garnished with a crab claw, deconstructed California roll,  a rice crusted soft shell crab, crab pot pie, and for dessert a s’mores undone.  This special dinner is available for $80 per person (plus tax and gratuity) from 5:30 to 10 p.m.  For reservations, call 808-739-8780.



GYOTAKU.  The 2008 Hale Aina Award winner for Best Japanese Restaurant has just opened their newest location at the Niu Valley Center, 5730 Kalanianaole Hwy.  The restaurant will feature the same Japanese menu as the King St. and Pearl City locations, and will also feature a new wine and sake menu.  Open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., 10 p.m. on Friday & Saturday.  For reservations, call 373-2731.



ALAN WONG’S RESTAURANT.  Treat mom to a special Mother’s Day Dinner at Alan Wong’s Restaurant.  Available for $75 per person, this five course dinner features a smoked salmon appetizer, a Kona Kampachi and ahi crudo or Hamakua Springs baby vegetable salad, seafood coconut tomato stew or confit Kona abalone, a choice of 5 different entrée options, and a frozen Kula strawberry cream pie or chocolate sampler for dessert.  To see the full menu, click here.  The dinner is available on Sunday, May 11 from 4:30 to 10 p.m. For reservations, please call 808-949-2526.
 

RYAN’S GRILL AT WARD CENTRE.  Ryan’s had introduced a new option for lunch.  The “Park View Lunch”, available now for a limited time, offers a complete lunch for just $12.  First, choose between a house salad with mandarin oranges or daily soup.  Then, select one of the following entrees: sausage & roasted mushroom pizza, Cajun chicken fettuccine, roasted chicken breast Dijon, or Panko crusted fish sliders.  Coffee, tea or soda is included. To make reservations or for more information, please call 808-591-9132.


MERRIMAN’S KAPALUA.  Hawaii celebrity chef and restaurateur Peter Merriman will be opening his third restaurant, this one on the island of Maui, on June 11, 2008.  Located in the Kapalua Resort, Merriman’s will feature the same “farm to table” concept true to Hawaii Regional Cuisine by using 90% local products in all dishes.  Chef George Gomes Jr, formerly of the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, A Pacific Café Maui and Tri Star Restaurants, will serve as executive chef for the Kapalua location.  Dinner service will begin on June 12 from 5:30 – 9:30 p.m. daily, with Sunset Coctails from 4:30 -8:30 p.m.  The grand opening on June 11 will also be a benefit for the Maui Arts & Cultural Center.  Merriman’s Kapalua will also host the Welcome Reception, a Winemaker’s Dinner at the 27th annual Kapalua Wine & Food Festival starting June 26, 2008.  For reservations or more information, call 808-669-6400.

LA MER.  In honor of mom, La Mer will open its doors for its annual Mother’s Day Lunch.  A four-course prix fixe menu with a glass of champagne is available for $75 with two seating’s at 11:30 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 11, 2008.  Reservations are required at 808-923-2311.


TIKI’S GRILL & BAR.  Tiki’s is searching for the “Tutu of the Year!”  Interested participants should email events@tikisgrill.com with 25 words or less on why you think your Tutu should be “Tutu of the Year.”  The winner will receive a complimentary Mother’s Day Brunch for four on Sunday, May 11 at Tiki’s Grill & Bar or Holokai Grill.  All entries must be received by May 8, 2008.  Tiki’s Grill & Bar will celebrate Mother’s Day with a special brunch buffet from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. featuring a number of delicious offerings sure to please Tutu, mom, and the entire ‘ohana.  The Mother’s Day menu can be downloaded here, or call 808-923-TIKI (8454) for reservation or details.
 

E&O TRADING CO.  Together with Pacific Gateway Center, (a local non-profit organization), E&O Trading Company has put together its quarterly "Street Cart Buffet Brunch" on Sunday May 18.  This event features the E&O team working with participants of the PGC Culinary Incubation program to create eight street cart stations offering flavors of Southeast Asia.  This month, the focus is on Vietnam, Thailand, India, Indonesia and Burma. The brunch features 7 items and a dessert and is available for $25, of which 50% is tax deductible.  To purchase tickets or for more information, contact the Pacific Gateway Center at 808-845-3918 or E&O Trading Co. at 808-591-9555.

Also in May, all bottles of wine are available at half price and when you order a bottle of wine, chef Nicholas Salvi will present you with his featured pupu of the month: a ginger baked brie with lemongrass essence, naan bread and tropical fruits.  View the E&O wine list on their website at www.eotrading.com.

LAHAINA GRILL.  Local residents are receiving a special treat from Lahaina Grill.  Every Tuesday in May, Lahaina Grill is offering KAMAAINA TUESDAYS, offering 50% off any entrée on the dining room menu when you show a valid form of Hawaii State Identification.  Sample of entrée selections offered for 50% off include a Kona coffee roasted rack of lamb, center cut 12 oz. prime certified angus beef New York steak, sautéed mahi-mahi, Maui onion and sesame seed crusted seared ahi, and much more.  To see the full menu, visit www.lahainagrill.com.  Dinner is served nightly from 6 p.m.  Reservations are recommended, call 808-667-5117.



NOBU WAIKIKI. Chef Nobu Matsuhisa will be making a special stop back to the Islands and will be in the kitchen at his Hawaii restaurant at the Waikiki Parc Hotel later this month, from May 28, 2008 – June 1, 2008.  Reservations are strongly recommended and available at 808-237-6999.



SERGIO’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT. Each month, Sergio’s hosts a “Festa Regionale” featuring the flavors of one of 12 distinct culinary regions of Italy.  From May 1 to 15, the region and tastes of Molise will be on the menu.  Sample menu items include: porchetta, calzone con salsiccie e pepperoni, gnocchi con salsiccia piccante, and a maiale alla molinese.  For reservations, call 808-951-6900.