Creative juices flow in Waikiki
AFTER TAKING a break in 2005 to see
Mötley Crüe perform at the Blaisdell Arena, I was happy to participate as a judge once again in Outrigger Hotels and Resorts' "Signature Drink Contest" at the Outrigger Waikiki last Wednesday.
Now in its third year, the contest is open to bartenders at all of Outrigger's properties in Waikiki. Entrants pick an album by one of this year's Grammy Award nominees in the Hawaiian category, then develop a cocktail that embodies one of its songs.
Previous winners (and Duke's Waikiki co-workers) Jesse Greenleaf and Amie Fujiwara both entered for a third time, and I was impressed by the entries of a few newcomers. Fellow Duke's bartender Duncan Locke used Southern Comfort to make a tasty "Purple Urchin," while Hula Grill Waikiki's Tracy McAuley constructed a handmade flyer to go with her entry.
McAuley's "Island Dreaming" seemed to go over well with my fellow judges, which included Hawaiian Airlines' Kirk Smith, Hawaii Magazine's Sherie Char and Outrigger's Jim Heather and Elliot Mills. Chuck's Steakhouse's Bob Melton also impressed with his "Slack Key Star," with a mix of Stolichnaya Razberi, Alize Red, Sour Apple Pucker, passion fruit syrup and fruit juice.
The winning cocktail will be announced Jan. 4 ...
A QUICK trip to Maui last weekend gave me a chance to see what the Valley Isle is like on a Saturday after dark.
I spent the evening at Paradice Bluz, a nightclub in Lahaina that is home to the "Geisha Ultra Lounge" every third Saturday of the month. Promoter Elements Entertainment brings a classy vibe, with live instruments to accompany DJs Boomshot and Daniel J as they spin in separate rooms.
Also in attendance was actress Jessica Biel, best known for her role as Mary Camden in "7th Heaven" and an appearance in 2003's "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre." After first settling into a VIP booth, she quickly migrated to the bar and later hit the dance floor to shake her moneymaker ...
CAN'T WAIT until New Year's Eve to celebrate the end of 2006? Kurious and B-Tyte Productions presents "X-Mas Break" tomorrow at the Living Room ... The 808 Scene Zine hosts its "Battle of the Bands" finals at Detox on Thursday with the Supersonic Space Monkeys, Hometown Heroes, All Is Vanity and Stoic ... And Tempo Valley will give fans a taste of their upcoming album at Jazz Minds on Saturday ...