The Weekly Eater

By Nadine Kam
Star-Bulletin

Thursday, November 12, 1998

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Let someone else
cook the turkey

REASONS to stay home for Thanksgiving: It's a tradition; there's no need to sit up straight; no need to dress up for family; it's fairly inexpensive if you potluck it.

Reasons to go out for Thanksgiving: You can spend the day on more purposeful endeavors than fretting over a big dead bird; there's no need to clean out the refrigerator to make room for that same big bird for several days; no need to wait on the uncles just lounging around; no need to worry about pumpkin pie slipping from a nephew's plate onto your carpet; no need to clean up -- before and after.

Be thankful you have the option to do either, though every year, more people discover new reasons to dine out. The following establishments do their part to tempt the traditionalists. Make your reservations now, however, for they'll go quicker than wrapping paper the day after Christmas.

David Paul's Diamond Head Grill: Chef David Paul Johnson prepares Zinfandel cherry essence-glazed turkey with sweetbread foie gras stuffing as the main course for a $35-per-person prix-fixe dinner with seatings from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m.. The meal includes a ratatouille souffle, dessert of bourbon pecan pie and other side dishes. Children under 10 eat for $12.50. Call 922-3734. A more traditional 12- to 15-pound turkey to go is also available for $75. Place your order by Nov. 23.

Halekulani: La Mer's $75-per-person dinner from 6 to 10 p.m. will begin with amuse bouche, appetizers to "entertain the palate"; followed by a salad of sauteed prawns with a Maui onion and red pepper compote; cream of pumpkin soup with ginger; then roast wild turkey with sauteed mushrooms and foie gras. Dessert will be a cinnamon-poached pear in puff pastry.

Meanwhile, Orchids will host a 5:30 to 10 p.m. buffet featuring an assortment of sushi, several versions of poke, salads, turkey, roast prime rib, roast suckling pig with hoisin and apple sauce, baked ham and several desserts. The cost is $45 for adults and $24 for children 12 and under.

A similar Thanksgiving Day brunch runs $39 for adults and $24 for children 12 and under.

Reserve by calling 923-2311.

Hilton Hawaiian Village: Rainbow Lanai will host a 3-to-9:30 p.m. buffet featuring a full salad bar plus entrees of roast turkey with pecan and sage stuffing, pepper beef tenderloin on parsnips, braised long island duckling on Savoy cabbage, seafood "treasures" and carving station featuring poha berry-glazed ham. Usual desserts are augmented with an ice cream sundae bar. Cost per adult is $34; a child under 12 eats for $16. Call 949-4321, Ext. 39. Inquire also about Rainbow Lanai lunch and Village Steak & Seafood menus.

Kahala Moon: A three-course dinner special featuring buttered roast turkey with wild mushroom brioche stuffing and all the trimmings will be available from 4 p.m. for $24 per person; $10 for children's menu. Take-out dinners will be available beginning at noon, at $15 per person. Call 732-7777.

Nick's Fishmarket: Main course options beginning at 4:30 p.m. are turkey with Italian sausage stuffing or German-style roast goose with a raisin, pinenut and herb stuffing, topped with a gooseberry-port wine sauce and served with sauerkraut, caramelized apples and rosemary potatoes. Complete dinners are $24.50 per person plus tax and tip. Call 955-6333.

Parc Cafe: Offers a 10:30 a.m.-to-2 p.m. brunch buffet and 5-to-9 p.m. dinner buffet highlighted by a carving station featuring roast turkey with Italian sausage and chestnut stuffing. The brunch will also feature honey-ginger glazed ham, while peppered roast strip loin will be offered at dinner. Cost is $26.60 and $29 per person, respectively. Keiki ages 5 to 12 will be charged their age in years; those under 5 will be admitted free. Call 931-6643.

See a listing of past restaurants reviewed in the


section online. Click the logo to go!

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Nadine Kam's restaurant reviews run on Thursdays. Reviews are conducted anonymously and paid for by the Star-Bulletin. Star ratings are based on comparisons of similar restaurants:

-- excellent;
-- very good, exceeds expectations;
-- average;
-- below average.

To recommend a restaurant, write: The Weekly Eater, P.O. Box 3080, Honolulu, Hawaii 96802. Or send e-mail to features@starbulletin.com