Popcorn toppings ◄ Back Next ► Picture 1 of 12 By Mari TaketaNonstopPopcorn rut got you down? Tired of opening your microwaved pouch for the same synthetically flavored drudgery you've been popping for years?Not to worry — serendipity sends Nonstop…
Shinn ◄ Back Next ► Picture 1 of 38 By Mari TaketaNonstopI'll get to the point: Shinn is really good, already one of the best izakaya in town. The vibe is uber chic and sexy without trending too garish. Restraint:…
Whew! Ever had one of those Sundays when you just want to sit around and do absolutely nothing useful? Yeah, that’s just about every Sunday for me, although I did get to see “Black Swan,” which was as good as…
Foodie gift guide ◄ Back Next ► Picture 1 of 12 By Mari TaketaNonstopTwelve days left 'til Christmas, people — have you taken care of the foodies on your gift list?Not to worry, Nonstop is here for you. And we're…
Naru ◄ Back Next ► Picture 1 of 21 By Mari TaketaNonstopThree things I know about Naru before I set foot in the door:— Zero buzz, at least in English.— It's straight out of Tokyo, where this company already has…
By Mari TaketaNonstopHow to tell if you’re an anti-shopper: Crowds drive you insane. Crawling around looking for parking drives you insane. You think all those people crowding shopping malls and crawling around looking for parking are insane.If you’re like me,…
I guess you could say that the weekend started early for me, with Groupon’s launch party at Ka, co-hosted by Nonstop. Seriously though, look at these guys… how can you not love ’em? Nonstop + Groupon Launch Party ◄ Back…
Mari Taketa and Tracy Chan both attended Saturday’s Spread the Word, a first-time event at the Hawaii Convention Center that showcased local arts and food. While Mari focused on the cuisine, Tracy captured scenes of the overall event. Here’s a…
Our favorite soul-soothers ◄ Back Next ► Picture 1 of 11 By Mari TaketaNonstopWarm childhood memories, long day pick-me-ups, solace for tummy aches and fevers. Comfort food means something different to everyone. We polled Nonstop's team of 10 for this…
New eats: Sushi ii ◄ Back Next ► Picture 1 of 21 By Melissa ChangNonstopWe recently got a tip from our friends at the Sake Shop: A new sushi bar has opened up in the Keeaumoku neighborhood. It's in Samsung…
I was having dinner at Mr. Ojisan on Kapahulu Avenue — one of my favorite Japanese restaurants, by the way — and faced a dilemma:Should I order the chicken katsu or the tonkatsu?It was a legitimate discussion in my head. On…
Ming Tsai ◄ Back Next ► Picture 1 of 12 By Mari TaketaNonstopYesterday morning I get a call from Ming Tsai's office in Boston. They seem to think I've asked for an interview. They're looking for a way to squeeze…
Off-Premise ◄ Back Next ► Picture 1 of 14 By Mari TaketaNonstopGritty backstreet Waipahu, sun's gone down, acres of warehouses loom. Here suddenly, a beacon: the familiar Soul Patrol lunch truck, dishing up grinds on white tablecloths. I've found my…
Dessert fantasy ◄ Back Next ► Picture 1 of 25 By Mari TaketaNonstopHappy, heady holiday season! Dreams of sugar plum fairies, scrumptious tarts, gooey-chewy cookies and candies and fudge...All came true yesterday, an 85-degree day, smack in the heart of…
I got a little nostalgic Sunday afternoon after attending Dessert Fantasy, a dessert competition at the Pacific Beach Hotel. Mari Taketa and I were at the cerebral palsy benefit for about 20 minutes, when she said that Melissa Chang had…
Fave izakaya dishes ◄ Back Next ► Picture 1 of 17 By Mari TaketaNonstopTop 5 reasons why I love izakaya:No. 5. Sake rules — but your beer-, wine- and liquor-loving buds won't be left in the cold.No. 4. Cozy, dimly…
If you’re a regular reader of Nonstop, I’m sure you’ve noticed that several of our writers/photographers/bloggers have ventured far beyond Honolulu this month.Tracy Chan was the first to go, flying to California to visit family. Catherine Toth then took off…
Kokoro-Tei ◄ Back Next ► Picture 1 of 19 By Mari TaketaNonstopDriving down Beretania one day, I spy a new sign. Kokoro-Tei, it says. Fresh bento, coming soon.Hello! Since the demise of Iga Bento on Keeaumoku, and before that Imari…
Deep down, do you really, truly love it?
New eats: Makittii ◄ Back Next ► Picture 1 of 25 By Mari TaketaNonstop5:30 last night, corner of Kuhio Ave. and Kanekapolei. The site of the former Perry's Smorgy is packed. Crowds throng the entrance on day one of the…
Foodie films @ HIFF ◄ Back Next ► Picture 1 of 7 By Mari TaketaNonstopWe're scarred, we are, by this recurring vision of funk: It's October, it's HIFF season, and we're in a theater enthralled by scenes that have just…
Matsutake feast @ Zenshu ◄ Back Next ► Picture 1 of 15 By Mari TaketaNonstopDays grow short, winds blow chill, and under special pine trees in climes cooler than ours, matsutake mushrooms begin to appear.So what, you say? Why all…
People who don’t know me very well are always surprised to see me in the drive-through line at Taco Bell.They expect me to only dine at five-star restaurants or those hole-in-the-wall eateries that just knowing where to find them puts…
I got a message from Mari Taketa that she had a friend blowing through town for a very short time but wanted to make time to have coffee with us to talk about South Africa, since she’d be traveling there…
