[ MAUKA MAKAI ]
A Taste of Honolulu is coming up next weekend, and this year marks its 10th anniversary. Easter Seals celebrates
10 years of good tastesCHEW ON THIS
Restaurant Report
By Gary C.W. Chun
gchun@starbulletin.comHawaii's largest outdoor food, wine and entertainment festival, the event last year pushed the cumulative total of funds raised for Easter Seals Hawaii to more than $1 million.
The Honolulu Civic Grounds will once again fill up with people eager to sample the culinary wares of the city's more popular restaurants. Along with the usual musical entertainment (last year, a Beatles tribute band was featured; this year, the Beach Boys get their props with Orange Colored Sky), the popular "Ready Set Cook!" returns.
The cook-off competition this year will feature a heated contest between Linda Yamada, executive chef of Kauai's Beach House, partnered with City Council Chairman Jon Yoshimura, against Russell Siu of 3660 on the Rise and actress Ali Landry of Doritos TV commercial fame (along with her beau, "Pacific Blue's" Mario Lopez, who's making a guest appearance at Taste as well).
Billie Gabriel, event producer and vice president of development at Easter Seals Hawaii, said the predecessor of our local Taste "was A Taste of Chicago, the grandfather of them all," and the nonprofit organization wanted a similar signature type of event to raise funds for its programs.
"The money raised goes into all of our programs, ranging from infant, youth to adult," Gabriel said. "With the monies we've already received through the Taste, we've been able to start a youth-service enrichment program; one that uses art, music, home economics and computer technology; and expand our camp activities at Mokuleia, going from just one day out of the year to three times a year. ...
"And camping should be a staple of everybody's lives, including children with disabilities."
Gabriel said all participating restaurants donate half their sales to Easter Seals Hawaii.
New restaurants at the Taste this year include Garden of Saigon, the Hilton Hawaiian Village's Bali by the Sea and Golden Dragon, Niumalu Cafe & Spa, the Willows, Blue Tropix Restaurant and Night Club, and Diane's Boston's Best Seafood.
Returning favorites include 3660 on the Rise, Brew Moon, Chai's Island Bistro, the Colony, Canoe's at the Ilikai, Dixie Grill, Eastern Garden, Gordon Biersch, Iva's Place, Kakaako Kitchen, Kevin's Two Boots, Marian's Island Wide Catering, Musashi, Planet Hollywood, Sam Choy's Diamond Head Restaurant, Tony Roma's, and Uncle Lani's Poi Pub and Eatery.
Two restaurants in particular, Ciao Mein and Prince Court, will also mark their 10th anniversary with Taste.
The R. Field wine tent will feature Chardonnays and Merlots this year.
Easter Seals Hawaii has produced a cookbook celebrating favorite recipes of past and present participating restaurants, including Best of the Taste winners. It will be sold at this year's Taste and will be available throughout the year.
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