 Openings
Taking over the spot long occupied by Sam Choy's fine-dining restaurant on Kapahulu Avenue, The Ranch House is a reincarnation of a longtime local favorite orginally located in Aina Haina. The menu is described as filled with local comfort foods such as prime rib, seafood, meatloaf and chopped salads. We are most interested in this restaurant because the executive chef, Clayton Babas, spent years in the Marianas Islands and is highly regarded for his fine sense of seasonings and ingredient combinations. We hope this menu allows him to demonstrate his culinary chops. Dinner nightly. The Ranch House, Hee Hing Plaza, 449 Kapahulu Ave., Honolulu, HI 96815, 808-737-4461.
Moco Kubota is the culinary talent behind Hale Modern Macrobiotic Cuisine, what is arguably Honolulu's first upscale macrobiotic restaurant. Kubota eschews the use of refined sugar completely and brings organic and local products to the menu as much as possible while seeking the balance which is the essence of macrobiotic food. The space is elegantly spare and calm, as is the Japanese-influenced menu. The appetizer menu is most appealing with a Maui onion soup which uses mochi rather than cheese, grilled lotus root with wasabi mayo and a selection of pleasing salads. For an entrée consider the kuruma-fu (a gluten cake), which is crisp-fried and topped with an apple-miso sauce. While the menu is largely vegetarian, there are salmon and fresh fish offerings as well. Hale Modern Macrobiotic Cuisine, 1427 Makaloa St., Honolulu, HI 96814, 808-944-1555.
The ubiquitous Hello Kitty and related Sanrio characters have long enjoyed retail success in Hello Kitty shops around Oahu. Franchise-holder Ben Chow has recruited noted pastry chef and Cafe Laufer owner Cyrus Goo to provide the sweets for the only Hello Kitty Cafe in the U.S., which is slated to open in March 2010, in Aiea's Pearlridge Center. Look for Hello Kitty-imprinted breads and pastries along with smoothies for take-out. Chow says that he expects to expand to a full service cafe in 2011. Hello Kitty Cafe, Pearlridge Center, 98-1005 Moanalua Rd., Aiea, HI 96701, No phone available yet.
News
Bytes
Libations of Love
From February 12-14, the Lewers Lounge at the Halekulani Hotel will feature special Valentine's Day cocktails. They will be priced at $12 each and include the Moulin Rouge (Champagne, Chambord and Canton Liqueur), Lewer's Tryst (Pinky Vodka, Tuaca, Grand Marnier and strawberries) and Forbidden Fruit (Pama, 10 Cane Rum, Cointreau and cranberry juice). Halekulani Hotel, 2199 Kalia Rd., Honolulu, HI 96815, 808-923-2311, 800-367-2343.
Chef Shuffles
Check back soon for more news.
Closings
After 12 years, Buffet 100 opted to not renew its lease at Ward Warehouse. Buffet 100 joins a long list of restaurant closures throughout the Ward complex over the past 18 months. Also gone are E&O Trading Co., Brew Moon, Chowder House and Compadres. Buffet 100, Ward Warehouse, 1050 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu, HI 96814, no phone.
‘Elua, the Honolulu restaurant that featured the cuisines of chefs Philippe Padovani and Donato Loperfido, has closed. 'Elua, Uraku Building, 1341 Kapiolani Blvd., Honolulu, HI 96814, no phone.
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