New breakfast items at Arancino di Mare
It’s kind of rare to find breakfast in Waikiki that’s affordable, filling and more than just eggs and bacon on a paper plate. I was surprised when I previewed the new morning menu at Arancino Di Mare in the Marriott Waikiki to find that they offer nicely plated, hot meals for about $12 — and the menu was developed by chef Daisuke Hamamoto, so it’s all good.
When they first started offering breakfast, it was just crepes, but they tweaked the presentation to include some breakfast potatoes and roasted onions. Their theme is still Italian, but they offer items that appeal to Asian visitors and people looking for something a little different. And for those on the go, there are smaller items, like the açai cup, which is just $5.
The new breakfast menu starts today and is served daily from 7 to 11 a.m. Here’s a look at what we tried; some of the items may look different since they were still previewing them.
One of the new “petite starters” is the coppa açai ($5) with fresh fruit and granola. For some of us, this is a full breakfast!
Picolo zuppa: classic tomato and basil bisque ($4), which is good with the focaccia that every table gets.
Picolo mista: a petite garden salad ($4) with bits of seasonal fruit to balance out your meal.
The salsiccia Italian breakfast crepe ($13.95) isn’t new, but they’ve tweaked the presentation a bit to make it heartier. This is a classic favorite, with Italian sausage, poached egg, red potatoes, mozzarella and emmentaler cheeses, and Alfredo sauce.
The prosciutto rucola ($13.95) also has a new look, with unexpected flavors that I liked. The crepe is filled with egg salad and topped with emmentaler cheese, arugula, tomatoes and prosciutto, making it a play on a ham-and-egg salad sandwich.
Lighter appetites will like the new frutti di bosco ($12.95) with assorted berries, banana and freshly whipped cream. Or, you can be like us and split it for dessert.
“Breakfast in Bread” is a new part of the revamped menu, and one of my favorites is the tramezzino con uova ($10.95), a fluffy rolled omelet sandwich served with Alfredo and senape (a strong mustard) sauce. That’s the Japanese bread we all love!
Another new “breakfast in bread” item: panino con affetato misto ($12.95), a sandwich with mortadella ham, prosciutto, salami, arugula, fresh mozzarella and Genovese pesto. This is thin but very filling!
The panino con salmone ($11.95) is another tasty sandwich with smoked Atlantic salmon, dill, red onions, capers, and cream cheese. This one packs a lot of flavor — great for waking up your palate in the morning.
One of the unique new offerings at Arancino di Mare is the focaccia alla carbonara ($11.95), a thick slab of toasted focaccia bread topped with a poached egg, pancetta and alfredo sauce. This is really filling, though, so be prepared to go back to sleep!
Arancino di Mare
Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort (ground level)
2552 Kalakaua Ave.
808-931-6273
