May 2008

Handmade, all-natural Hawai‘i soaps are a smart twist to the old-standby gift— they’re decorative and useful, and come in personalities as varied as your friends.

For the Nature Lover
Malie’s newest fragrance, Koke‘e, infuses their well-known luxurious cream soap with a fresh smell that invokes the Kaua‘i rainforest and helps replenish it too. One percent of sales go to support Koke‘e... Read more »

You don’t need a Magic 8 Ball to tell you that getting to New Orleans for the Sugar Bowl is beyond your New Year’s budget. Instead, signs point to watching the UH Warriors play Georgia from a comfy sofa in your living room or a friend’s.

But after going big the night before, the thought of facing rowdy fans and standard chips and beer fare at a Sugar Bowl party sends up Outlook Not So Good to the fortune telling window.

Kicking off the first day of the year with a Bloody Mary and authentic Cajun food from chef Kevin Tate of Kevin’s Two Boots Catering?... Read more »

Even though you resolved to eat better in 2008, so far the only vegetables in your diet have been on Veggie-Lover pizza. And it’s been weeks since you roused yourself out of bed on Saturday morning to get to the farmer’s market at KCC.

Quit fighting that inner couch potato, embrace it, and have your vegetables brought to you.

Just Add Water, a community-supported agriculture program, delivers fresh, locally grown, organic produce right to your door at below retail price—helping you eat healthy and our farms stay viable, with amazingly little time out of your busy... Read more »

What happens when a native Hawaiian family meets in a house, decides to open an online market, and works together, without having their lives taped? It’s not the Real World, it’s a virtual farmer’s market.

Fresh From the Farm’s online catalog connects people like you (and local chefs like Ed Kenney of Town and Downtown restaurants) to fresh, high quality produce and products, either grown or made in Hawai‘i.

Besides fruit and veg, choose from dozens of local coffees, flowers, meats, herbs, dressings, honey, soaps and more. Order exactly Read more »

There’s no shortage of unanswered questions this season (like where you’ll end up when the clock strikes 12). So take comfort that two lingering 2007 riddles have been deciphered: The Superferry is once again charging the waves, and on January 2 the new Formaggio Grill finally opens in Kailua.

After nearly a year delay, owners Wes Zane and former Hy’s Executive Chef Almar Arcano bring a feast of inspired improvements to the new wine bar location, most obviously a full-service kitchen to better display Arcano’s flair for steak, chops and seafood entrees.

The family-style... Read more »

T minus 10 days till V-Day, and you’ve just started thinking about it.

The swish places are already booked. Ala Wong’s, La Mer, Chef Mavro – all full. Even neighborhood-y 12th Avenue Grill has stopped taking reservations for February 14.

Unless you’re planning on a candlelit dinner for two chez vous, it’s time to start talking tables – with your man or with the maitre d’ at one of the restaurants that can still fit you in.

Du Vin
There are only a handful of tables left, but call soon and you can look forward to a... Read more »

We’re wimps when it comes to cold weather. More than a few days of soggy rain, gusty trades and daytime highs below 80, and we’re bundled up in hoodies, wearing socks and trading icy drinks for mugs of hot tea in the afternoon.

Before you hoist another cup of plain old Lipton to your lips, head to Pacific Place Tea Garden at Ala Moana Center .

Owner Lynette Jee has been dealing with tea leaves for decades (she’s developed custom blends for Mariposa and Moana Surfrider, among others), and her café offers some truly unique teas infused with fruits, herbs, flowers and other... Read more »

Most people’s private dream of paradise includes palm trees, a luminous blue sea and pristine beaches. Okay, so we’re already there.

What to do now? Raid the garden and start creating your own Eden.

Master chocolatier Melanie Boudar took her piece of Volcano paradise, plus 28 years experience as a traveling gemologist, and mixed in the finest Venezuelan, Belgian, French and Hawaiian chocolate to invent the divine chocolate jewels she now makes as Sweet Paradise Chocolates.

Read more »

12 noon. Downtown lunch break.
  Your choices:
A) Katsu with Gravy (w/ rice and mac)
B) Teri Beef Moco (w/ rice and mac)
C) Mahi-Chicken Combo (w/ rice and mac)
D) All of the above (w/ rice and mac)
E) None of the above

Circle the last option and try a new spin on local-style lunch at Hank’s Haute Dogs on Coral Street in Kaka‘ako. The gourmet hot dog café is introducing a new Spam dog... Read more »

Remember just a couple months ago, when you were furiously slice-and-baking your “homemade” cookies to take to the neighbor’s holiday open house? Or those Safeway specials you arranged on a plate and said they were your own?

If you start now, your inner Martha Stewart could be ready to come out for Christmas 2008.

Kapiolani Community College’s continuing education program has a brand new series of Saturday morning baking classes to help you master baking breads; biscuits, scones, and muffins; and yes, cookies. Taught by pastry arts instructor Dan Wetter, a former hotel pastry chef, the... Read more »