Chow Hound

Dog: Bartender, get me a frisky sour, double, and keep 'em coming.

Bartender: You seem a little spot under the collar. What's wrong?

Dog: It's my owner. Things have been a little ruff lately, especially when it comes to meals. I know she means well, but the kibble she gives me is just so dry and tasteless. We're totally stuck in a mutt.

Bartender: Tell her to call Island Dog Deli. Owner Maria Robson-Watanabe began making her own pet food when her two poodles became sick and listless. She uses fresh, organic, mostly local ingredients, and all-natural recipes she brought back from Japan. The result: a line of nutritious meals, snacks and desserts any dog would drool over.

You'll dig the pizza with chicken "crust," topped with cottage cheese, tomato, eggs and mushrooms. Then there's free-range Hawaii beef jerky, made with Big Island beef Robson-Watanabe dehydrates herself. And for a special treat, an adorable puppy-shaped carrot sponge cake with kabocha pumpkin "frosting," minus the butter, sugar and salt.

Dog: What if I'm hounded by wheat allergies?

Bartender: No problem. Just pick up a package of gluten-free pumpkin biscuits or tasty nutritional "furikake" supplements with crushed sesame seeds, dried sardines and bonito flakes.

Dog: It sounds paw-sitively delish.

And exactly what we breed.

Island Dog Deli is available online. Biscuits $5.50, Furikake $6-7, Assorted Jerky $7-$10, Pizza $20, Cakes $20-$30. Ready-made snacks are available at Ohana Doggie Day Care and Spa, 611 Cooke St.; Aloha Dog, 525B Cummins St.; and The Pet Corner, Ward Warehouse, 1050 Ala Moana Blvd. Suite 1105.