Melissa Chang

Frolic Contributor

Melissa Chang graduated from the University of Hawai‘i with a degree in journalism and has been blogging since 2007, mostly on food and travel. She works primarily in social media, so you can find her on Twitter and Instagram.

 

 

Articles

Hawaii: In Real Life ~ mixologist Joey Gottesman

As you saw in last week’s Hawaii IRL, the Hawaii Foodbank is holding its annual foodie fundraiser on March 23, Great Chefs Fight Hunger. (Click here to see last year’s photos.) About 20 local chefs are participating, so the food…

Did this: Chef Chai’s grand opening

After 15 years at Aloha Tower, chef Chai Chaowasaree has reinvented himself with a new restaurant, a new(ish) menu, and a new look, adding to the upscale healthy choices along Kapiolani Boulevard. Chef Chai, now open in the Pacifica, is…

Did this: Ho’okipa 2013

Kapiolani Community College’s (KCC) Culinary Institute of the Pacific held their 16th annual Ho’okipa at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel last night, showcasing the talents of more than 300 students in their program. The sold-out fundraising gala featured stations with food from…

Hawaii: In Real Life ~ Whole Ox

Today’s IRL blog is actually twofold: One, to talk about Whole Ox Deli (@WholeOxDeli), and two, to talk about the upcoming Great Chefs Fight Hunger event put on by the Hawaii Foodbank (@HawaiiFoodbank) on March 23. Click here to see…

Did this: Honolulu Festival Friendship Gala

The Honolulu Festival (@honfestival) kicked off its 19th year with its annual Friendship Gala, an event showcasing entertainment from Hawaii and Japan, and food from a dozen renowned Oahu restaurants. This weekend, there will be cultural activities and entertainment at…

New eats: Chez Kenzo

As you know, I love Genius Lounge in Waikiki, but it’s hard to get there. You have to fight Waikiki traffic and find parking, which can be problematic when you spontaneously want to go somewhere different for a drink. I…

Hawaii: In Real Life ~ Kevin Aoki

As you saw from Ed Morita’s blog, Doraku Sushi recently opened their second Hawaii location on Kapiolani Blvd. I knew that owner Kevin Aoki was the son of Benihana chain founder Rocky Aoki, but if you met him, you’d never…

Ginza Bairin’s secret menu

I’d been dying to go on another eating adventure with my friends who like to seek out off-menu items in restaurants. The secret menu, or “ura menu,” tends to be a selection of several items that are known only to…

Cocktail Week: pairing dinner at town

This sold-out event Wednesday was a favorite with foodies at their favorite foodie spot: town. Ed Kenney created a unique menu reminiscent of his wine down events, and bartender Jordan Edwards came up with some wild (okay, and a couple…

Cocktail Week: Eastern Eden

Last week, when I interviewed Colin Field, he said he asks bartenders to consider the message they are trying to convey with the drinks they make, as one would with a traditional work of art. His creations were beautiful and…

Hawaii: In Real Life ~ Harlem Shake (for a cause)

Have you heard of the Harlem Shake? Now that Gangnam Style has played itself out (and PSY is galloping all the way to the bank), a new video meme craze has taken over the YouTube channels. It’s kind of a…

Hawaii: In Real Life ~ Colin Field

It’s not every day you get to taste a cocktail made by a man labeled “the best bartender in the world” by Forbes Magazine. The Halekulani has brought Colin Field, that bartender of distinction, to work with their bartenders on…

A Valentine to remember

It’s Valentine’s Eve, and you don’t have anything planned. Maybe you’re last minute, or just waiting to find something different. Whatever the case, we have a couple of ideas for you to help keep you out of trouble but still…

Dinner at Vintage Cave

About a year ago, chef Chris Kajioka (@CKCuisine) tweeted to me, “What was the best meal you ever had?” It was probably the omakase at Morimoto’s in Philadelphia, which took me through a range of emotions with each course, or…

Buying back the beach: Meeting the ‘aina IRL

For the last three years, I’ve gone to the Hawaiian Islands Land Trust’s (HILT) big fundraiser on Maui called Buy Back The Beach. You’ve seen the blog posts about it; it’s a great event that generates awareness for protected lands…

Hawaii: In Real Life ~ Whatchafillin’

A new food truck hit the streets two weeks ago with a cute name and interesting offerings: Whatchafillin.’ No, there shouldn’t be a question mark there; it’s their statement of a name. If you’ve ever had the Japanese obanyaki/dorayaki, or…

Did this: Night in Chinatown

You’ve seen the usual party, food, and parade pics from the annual Night in Chinatown on Maunakea St., so we didn’t want to post more of the same. Instead, Tracy Chan and Melissa Chang wandered the streets to show you…

Party (and food) Pics: Monkeypod Kitchen grand opening

As you know, Mari Taketa and I recently did a video review of the newly-opened Monkeypod Kitchen in Ko  Olina. Last night was their official grand opening, with about 250 people filling their second floor. Chef/owner Peter Merriman was on…

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Chinee like me: Dim sum at Yee Hong Pavilion

Chinese New Year is on February 10, but Honolulu starts celebrating this weekend with lion dances, the big Choy Cheng event, Night in Chinatown, and the big Cultural Plaza festival. It is the one time of year that I eat…

Hawaii: In Real Life ~ Isaac Bancaco

I first met Isaac Bancaco in 2010, after he had just returned home to Maui to become the chef de cuisine at the Grand Wailea’s Humuhumunukunukuapua’a. He was on Oahu for the day to met as many media as possible,…