CHEW ON THIS
Restaurant Report

STAR-BULLETIN Chef Hiroshi Fukui of L'Uraku is planning a kaiseki dinner, "Something Local," on Sept. 20.

Sample plateful
of aloha at Sam’s

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Sam Choy's Diamond Head celebrates its seventh anniversary with a party benefitting Ronald McDonald House Charities of Hawaii.

"A Big Taste of Aloha, A Plateful of Love," 6:30 to 9 p.m. Sept. 18, will feature a selection of dishes from house favorites to new creations, a poke station, wines and Choy's Big Aloha Beer.

Entertainment will be by Sean Na'auao, Sistah Robi Kahakalau and Three Plus.

Tickets are $80 ($45 tax-deductible).

An additional "Wine Tasting Extravaganza" will precede the party at 5:30 p.m. with premium wines and food stations. Tickets are $100 ($60 tax-deductible) and limited to 50. The price includes the party.

Call 973-5683, Ext. 240.

Pineapple Room's 3

Also celebrating an anniversary is the Pineapple Room, which turns 3 this month.

A three-course anniversary lunch for $19.50 will be offered Sept. 16 to 21 in celebration. The menu includes appetizer choice of tomato, mozzarella cheese and salami salad, ahi carpaccio or chopped salad; entrée choice of Confit of Duck Leg, Pan-Steamed Mahimahi or Sautéed Shrimp on Spaghetti Arabiatta; and dessert of a sorbet sampler, Brioche French Toast Sandwich or Mocha Cheesecake.

A five-course anniversary dinner will be offered Sept. 20. Chef Steven Ariel's menu: Cucumber and Ahi Carpaccio (served with Silvaner "Vielles Vignes" Domaine Ostertag 1999); Chilled Kauai Shrimp Salad (with Bandol Rosé Domaine Tempier 2000); Sautéed Hudson Valley Foie Gras with Charred Pineapple (with Scheube Spatlese "Ungsteiner Herrenberg" Pfeffingen 2001); Kiawe Grilled Beef Tenderloin (with Linne Calodo Red 2000); and Coffee Panacotta. The cost is $55; $80 with wine pairings.

Call 945-6573.

Kaiseki, local-style

The Contemporary Kaiseki dinners featured occasionally at L'Uraku merge a Japanese culinary tradition with European cooking techniques and local ingredients.

The menu that chef Hiroshi Fukui has created for "Something Local," the 10-course kaiseki planned for Sept. 20, is sprinkled with references out of two cultures: lomi lomi tomatoes are stuffed with ikura (salmon roe); poke is served with caviar somen; ogo and hearts of palm make a salad served beneath ahi sashimi.

The cost is $68; $81 with wines paired to each dish. Call 955-0552.

Special events

Tequila Festival 2002: Compadres Bar & Grill is counting down to Mexican Independence Day, Sept. 15, with menu specials including tequila-spiked gazpacho, the Compadres version of shrimp cocktai, Huajolote Especial (turkey breast marinated in tequila) and Margarita Shrimp. Fresh fruit margaritas made with mango, pineapple and banana are also being served. Call 591-8307.

Bar-b-Que Fest: Dixie Grill's annual celebration begins tomorrow and runs through Sept. 29. Menu specials include barbeque chicken pizza, beer-battered blue crab cakes, Texas-rubbed tri-tip steak, smoked and grilled pork loin chop, blackened Mississippi catfish, and the Trash Can o' Bar-b-que (baby back ribs, Cajun sausage, grilled chicken, beef brisket and accompaniments). Daily specials run through the week as well. Call 596-8359 (Ward Avenue) or 485-CRAB (Aiea).

Mariposa Cheese Culture: The monthly meeting of the wine-and-cheese club at Neiman Marcus' Mariposa restaurant will be at 6 p.m. Wednesday. Artisan cheeses and a flight of three wines is $20. Call 951-3420.

Make delicious stops in nation's 'hoods

Bon Appétite magazine pays tribute this month to neighborhood restaurants, where the food is "delicious, uncomplicated and lovingly prepared."

Recognized as among the best in the west are Huggo's Restaurant in Kailua-Kona (a recipe for the Huggo's Grilled Chicken with Tamarind-Orange Glaze is included) and the Beach House (listed as an also-ran -- "Ten More in the West" -- with a special mention of chef Linda Yamada).

Also featured is Malibu Chan's in Las Vegas, which is owned by former Hawaii residents Warren and Cathy Seta (recognized for Korean-Style Baby Back Ribs).

The issue recognizes hundreds of "places down the street" from all across the country, making it a useful guide to anyone preparing to travel. It's full of recipes, too, for those who'd rather recreate that dining-out feeling right at home.

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