Biting Commentary - March 2011

Would you pay $85 or $95 for a party at a grocery store? If you love crab legs, sashimi and sake, maybe you would for Taste of Marukai, Honolulu.

Two dozen Honolulu restaurants will participate in a April 9th benefit to send aid directly to a hospital in the region of Japan hardest hit by the earthquake and tsunami.

Nobu Matsuhisa, Yuji Wakiya and Vikram Garg cook up "FOR JAPAN: Culinary Artists for the Japan Relief Effort,” Halekulani, Apr. 21, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

The Grand Scotch Tour at the Willows last Friday was a bigger success than the Hawaiian Scottish Association anticipated: more people, more Scotches.

The Kahala Hotel and Resort's next Food and Wine Classic weekend features Napa Chef (and longtime locavore) Cindy Pawlcyn. Two days, three events.

Iron Chef Masuhara Morimoto flew to Japan after the earthquake. Unable to be any help there, he flew back and put together a successful Hawaii fundraiser in five days.

Pete Licata of Honolulu Coffee Co. just topped baristas from seven Western states in regional Barista competition with Hawaii grown coffees. On to the nationals.

Can't afford to get to Scotland this year to tour the distilleries? The next best thing, The Grand Scotch Tour, will be at the Willows in Honolulu next week. 20 different Scotches, food.

Not everyone thinks of St. Patrick's Day as an eating holiday, but some Honolulu restaurants are getting their corned beef on, even though it's not really Irish. 12th Avenue Grill, The Kahala, the Willows, Apartment3 and of course Murphy's Bar & Grill.

At the Halekulani's Evening of Sustainable Cuisine, Ed Kenney of Town used a whole pig, and Kahaluu pig farmer Glenn Shinsato had some tough words of wisdom.

Despite the canceled birthday gala, the Moana Surfrider has free entertainment--and a wondrously rich four-course anniversary dinner.

The Moana has canceled its Friday 3/11 birthday gala, but the entertainment's still on, now free. Plus birthday cake!

The Moana Surfrider turns 110 years old this Friday, and the hotel is celebrating with, among other events, a food and wine event celebrating 11 decades.

With the help of top chefs—Ed Kenney, Roy Yamaguchi—and some of the state's top farmers, the Halekulani throws a sustainable gala, to benefit the Culinary Institute of the Pacific.