Hawaii
Bravo for the new
Bistro and its old charmWHILE I don't want to steal the thunder of our restaurant critic, I can hardly wait to see what her reaction is to the Bistro at Century Center, which has its grand opening April 2. Attending a pre-opening dinner there was like old home week. Greeting folks at the door was Don Buechner, late of John Dominis and for the past several years, a resident of Kona. G.M. Ben Wong, formerly at Hy's and the host of a fishing show on TV, has assembled an all-star cast. Old friend Tim Kallen is playing the rare Steinway piano, one of only 300 the company made to celebrate its 300 years in business. He's been at the Beverly Wilshire and the Beverly Hills hotels of late. Tom Foster was behind the bar, just as he was at the original Bistro on Kapiolani and at numerous other spots since it closed. Our waiter was Kastin, a Third Floor veteran, very smooth and efficient as you might assume. And the food? To die over. The onion soup was the best since the old Bistro's, and the entrecote with peppercorns was flawlessly cooked and garnished with a perfect combination of sliced potatoes, carrots and slim green beans. The dream child of Cliff Laughton, the restaurant is in the old Alfred's location in Century City, handsomely redone and fitted out with some great artwork. You might want to make advance reservations now, because this place is going to be hot! ...
Chefs on a role
WHILE we're on the subject of food, "Hawaii Cooks With Roy Yamaguchi" will be premiered next Friday at 2495 Makiki Heights Drive. The new season for the show kicks off in April ... And Chef Mavro is still flying high after being singled out as the only chef from Hawaii to be a finalist in the James Beard Foundation's award for "Best Chef Northwest/Hawaii." The Beard awards will be announced May 5 in New York ...Dr. Tom Foster, associate dean of the Division of Learning Resources at Grossmont College in El Cajon, Calif., writes, "I read with interest your column and your description of re-meeting Professor Harold McCarthy. I share your enthusiasm for him as a teacher. I have told many people that it was impossible not to think in his class. I don't believe anything has been more academically exciting to me than Dr. McCarthy's lectures ... Although he didn't introduce me to Beckett, thanks for reminding me, and I'm sure others, of the outstanding Harold McCarthy." Is there any professor at UH these days meriting this kind of praise? ...
Kahuna at Ko'olau
THE Friends of Nate Jackson golf tournament at Ko'olau Golf Course raised over $5,000 to help with medical bills accrued by the former UH football standout. Jamie Luke won the grand-prize drawing, a trip for two to Las Vegas and tickets to the UH vs. UNLV football game on Sept. 20. The Big Kahuna 105.9 FM participated in the event with morning man Beau Hodge quipping, "I lost nine balls, found five balls, so I ended up four under." An interesting method of scorekeeping. Jackson appears to be recovering from his heart damage and was on hand to thank those participating in the fund-raiser ...
Dave Donnelly has been writing on happenings
in Hawaii for the Star-Bulletin since 1968.
The Week That Was recalls items from Dave's 30 years of columns.Contact Dave by e-mail: ddonnelly@starbulletin.com