Top 7 Food and Drink Events to Check Out in Honolulu This Month

A Franciscan Winery dinner, a whiskey flight and more.

March 16, 2015

Natalie Schack,

The Great Chefs Fight Hunger fundraiser is scheduled for March 21 at the Hawai‘i Foodbank.

Photo: Odeelo Dayondon

Thieves in the Night Dinner

Creators of pop-up dinner Thieves in the Night looked east for inspiration when planning the April event. Titled “Night Marchers,” it draws influences from the rich tastes, exotic flavors and vibrant nightlife of Bangkok’s street-food scene. You’ll find bold and unexpected flavors at this eight-course affair: stewed pork rib dumpling with holy basil and bittermelon broth, fish sauce caramels, black-sesame ice cream with coconut jam and ginger milk curd with soursop and yogurt meringue.

April 4, 7:30 p.m., $55 at eventbrite.com, location revealed with ticket purchase

Franciscan Winery Dinner at Tango Contemporary Café

Tango Contemporary Café welcomes back Franciscan Winery for its March wine dinner, a four-course journey that treats diners to a transnational experience. Enjoy French dishes (bourguignon) and Italian-inspired (ravioli) fare, with a fun, local treat to finish it off (malassada fondue for dessert, anyone?). Each dish, of course, comes with a special wine pairing, including a fresh Chardonnay to start it off and a dessert-appropriate Port at the end.

Tango Contemporary Café, Ward Village Shops, March 17, 5:30 p.m., $69 per person (not including tax and tip), call 593-7288 for reservations

St. Patrick’s Day Specials and Whiskey Flight at 12th Ave Grill

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in style at 12th Ave Grill in Kaimukī, where chef and owner Kevin Hanney has prepared a collection of appropriately Irish-inspired appetizers for festive revelers. Think shepherd’s pie made with Ni‘ihau elk and Thai basil-Irish cheddar mash, Bailey’s cheesecake with Guinness chocolate sauce, and grass-fed corned beef. There will also be Irish whiskey flights available for $20 and, of course, you’ll be able to order black-and-tans at the bar.

12th Ave Grill, 1120 12th Ave., 732-9469, bar specials from 5:30–6:30 p.m.

Something New

The team at Frolic is kicking off its first signature event with nine big names (Andrew Le and Ed Morita included) in the local Honolulu food scene, and one cool twist: Each chef is given an ingredient from a local farm in order to craft something totally new. The team is trying to mix it up (think savory ingredients for pastry chefs) with ingredients including ‘awa and a whole cow. The event will feature a ramen stall, beef bar, rice bar and dessert bar, with drinks from Ocean Vodka and Lanikai Brewing Company.

M Nightclub, Restaurant Row, March 25, 6–8:30 p.m., $75 at eventbrite.com

Localicious

This month, the Hawai‘i Agricultural Foundation (HAF) is launching its second annual Localicious Hawai‘i promotion, which raises funds for agricutural education in Hawai‘i public schools. More than 126 restaurants will participate in the campaign by asking their patrons to order a Localicious dish, which will be made with a locally grown, caught or raised product. Last year, 58 restaurants took part and raised $31,000. Each time one of these special dishes is ordered, restaurants will donate $1 to HAF’s Veggie U educational program. To get the promo going, Localicious and HONOLULU Magazine are giving away gift certificates to Tiki’s Grill & Bar and Three Fat Pigs. Enter now for your chance to win, and dine out for a good cause!

Enter by March 31 here

Great Chefs Fight Hunger Fundraiser

The Hawai‘i Foodbank welcomes great local chefs, including D.K. Kodama, for the annual Great Chefs Fight Hunger event. Guests will sample food from some of Hawai‘i favorite eateries, from Hokulani Bake Shop to HASR Bistro, alongside tastings of fine wines, signature cocktails and craft beers. Between munching, guests can bid on prizes at the silent auction, enter to win a collection of wines and enjoy the musical stylings of local entertainers JazzyJay, Maryann Ito, Streetlight Cadence and Kamuela Kahoano.

Hawai‘i Foodbank, 2611 Kilihau St., March 21, 6–8:30 p.m., $150 general admission, $200 VIP early bird entry at hawaiifoodbank.org or 836-3600, ext. 244.

Honolulu Brewer's Festival

REAL a Gastropub, where you could spend weeks trying all the beers on the massive menu, is bringing back its beer festival with a new name and a new location. Now titled Honolulu Brewer’s Festival, the event will benefit the Hawai‘i Agricultural Foundation and be held at the Kaka‘ako Makai Gateway Park. It will still feature food, live entertainment and top-quality beers, and guests will be able to sample 10 of the 80 craft beers from Hawai‘i, Mainland and international breweries.

Kaka‘ako Makai Gateway Park, 741 Ilalo St., Saturday, April 18, 2–6:30 p.m., $70 at honolulubrewersfestival.com