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News for Restaurants in Hawaii
May 2012 Archive

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HAWAII RESTAURANT NEWS



Openings

Chef Alan Wong Chef Alan Wong, of Alan Wong's Honolulu and The Pineapple Room, has opened ALAN WONG'S AMASIA at the Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort. The restaurant features a sushi bar and robata grill, as well as a bar serving up private-label liquor and signature cocktails. The menu focuses on flavors from around the world, including Peru, Singapore, Spain and Japan. ALAN WONG'S AMASIA, Grand Wailea Resort Hotel & Spa, 3850 Wailea Alanui, Wailea, HI 96753, 808-891-3954.
 
Cafe Julia, located in the YWCA of Oahu on Richards Street, recently opened for business. The new eatery is managed and operated by the Shinyou Group, LLC, which is also going to handle catering operations as Laniakea Catering. Cafe Julia is open Monday through Friday for breakfast and lunch, with takeout service available. Lance Kosaka --- previously the executive chef at Alan Wong's The Pineapple Room --- runs Cafe Julia with partners Bruce Watanabe of Catering Connections; Watanabe's brother Derek, a former chef de cuisine for Alan Wong at Watabe Weddings at Koolina; and Emerson Ribao, formerly general manager for Kobe Steakhouse. Cafe Julia, YWCA of Oahu, 1040 Richards St., Honolulu, HI 96813, 808-533-3334.
 
Dona & Toni's Pizza is serving up salads and pizzas at the Hilton Waikoloa Village on the Big Island. The family-friendly restaurant features a lanai with views overlooking the boat canal and Waiulua Bay. For more information, visit www.hiltonwaikoloavillage.com. Dona & Toni's Pizza, 69-425 Waikoloa Beach Dr., Waikoloa, HI 96738, 808-886-1234, 800-445-8667.
 
Hawaii restaurateur Peter Kim plans to open Signature Prime Steak & Seafood, a fine-dining restaurant, in the former home of Aaron's Atop the Ala Moana, which closed in 2009. Kim, whose holdings include Liliha Bakery, Yummy Korean BBQ and Lahaina Chicken Co., said the new restaurant will open in the spring of 2013. Signature Prime Steak & Seafood, Ala Moana Hotel, 410 Atkinson Dr., Honolulu, HI 96814, phone not available.
 
The Aloha Bowls food truck can often be found at at Oahu's Kakaako Park on Tuesdays. The menu features options like the Classic Bowl with bananas, strawberries, blueberries and bee pollen as well as the Aloha Bowl featuring coconut sorbet and the superfruit acai.
 

 

News Bytes

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Chef Shuffles

Oliver Plust has joined The Pineapple Room as chef de cuisine, replacing Lance Kosaka, who recently left to open Café Julia in the YWCA. Plust comes to The Pineapple Room from Bradley Ogden's Parcel 104 restaurant in Santa Clara, and has close to 20 years experience in the kitchen. Michael Lopata has also joined The Pineapple Room as sous chef. Lopata was most recently with Tom Douglas Restaurants in Seattle, Wash., assigned to its Brave Horse Tavern. The Pineapple Room, Ala Moana Center, 1450 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu, HI 96814, 808-941-2345.
 
In Fall 2012, chef Peter Merriman (Merriman's in Kamuela, Merriman's Kapalua, Merriman's Fish House) will open a branch of Monkeypod Kitchen by Merriman on Oahu at the Ko Olina Resort. The first outpost is located in Wailea, Maui, and serves burgers and wood-fired pizzas with toppings like Hamakua wild mushrooms.
 


Closings

CLOSED FOR GOOD
Take your taste buds on a walk down memory lane! Check out our exclusive closed restaurant database for Hawaii to virtually visit your favorite dining spots from the past. Kincha, R.I.P.

Hosojin Japanese Lamb BBQ has closed after just a few months in business. The restaurant specialized in jingisukan, a Japanese version of Mongolian barbecue. Hosojin Japanese Lamb BBQ, 661 Keeaumoku St., Honolulu, HI 96814, no phone.
 

CULINARY EVENTS
Want to learn to cook? Try new dishes? Meet a foodie friend for fun? Check out our compilation of culinary events in your area.


View our calendar of Wine Dinners & Tastings in Hawaii

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