Stuffs
[ DA KINE ]
Kona Brewing offers tastings
Kona Brewing Co. celebrates American Beer Month in July at its pubs in Koko Marina and in Kailua-Kona on the Big Island.A different style of beer will be featured each week, with beers from other breweries sold along with Kona's own. The lineup:
Hot & Steamy: Steam beer, a hybrid of ale and lager also called California Common Beer; Wednesday through July 6. A new Steam Vent Lager will be served with New Zealand clams in beer broth.
The Dark Side: Stouts, porters and brown ales; July 7 to 13. Offered as a pairing: mushrooms stuffed with sausage and gorgonzola cheese.
Luscious Lagers: Many styles offered with Longboard Tako Poke; July 14 to 20.
Why So Bitter?: Ales brewed with high amounts of hops; July 21 to 31. Sample one with the KBCilla, a quesadilla with smoked salmon and goat cheese.
Every Wednesday at Koko Marina is Brew-niversity, complementary classes on how beer is made, 5:30 p.m. Every Thursday in Kona, a Thirstday Tour and Tasting takes place at 5 p.m. Call 394-5662 on Oahu, 808-334-1133 in Kona.
Padovani's in July
If wine is more your cuppa booze, Padovani's Restaurant & Wine Bar offers these tastings on Fridays and Sundays in July. All begin at 6 p.m. Cost on Fridays is $20 for three half-glasses and an appetizer, $34 for three full glasses and two appetizers. The same wines are offered on Sundays at a cheese tasting; $23 for three half-glasses and a cheese plate.France vs. U.S.: Compare chardonnays from the two countries; Friday and next Sunday.
Marvelous Merlot: Featuring new releases from Pride and Marilyn Merlot; July 9 and 11.
Syrah from Around the World: Taste versions from California, Washington, France and Australia; July 16 and 18.
Summer Wines: Light wines to beat the heat; July 23 and 25.
Bog Bordeaux: July 30 and Aug. 1.
Also at Padovani's, celebrate Bastille Day July 14 with a buffet paired to French wines. Cost is $22.95.
Call 946-3456.
Kapalua wine dinners
Restaurants throughout the Kapalua resort on Maui are hosting Winemaker Dinners in connection with the Kapalua Wine & Food Festival next month.The dinners will showcase wineries that are guests at the festival, so in many cases the winemakers will be on hand to introduce their creations.
Dinners on July 10:
Plantation House Restaurant: Old World Grape/New World Producers showcases syrah wines. Chef Alex Stanislaw's Hawaiian yellow fin tuna, Coq au Vin of Chicken and slow-braised lamb shank will be paired with wines from Babcock, Andrew Murry, DeLille and Cayuse wineries. Cost is $125, to benefit Lahainaluna High School Foundation. Call 808-669-6299.
Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar: Guest chef Hiroshi Fukui, of Honolulu's L'Uraku, works with Sansei sushi chef Masa Hattori and executive chef Bart Balbas. Wines by Toni Jost and Nigl Gruner. Cost is $95. Call 808-669-6286.
Banyan Tree: "A Cool Summer Evening from Down Under" features chef Antony Scholtmeyer's dishes paired to wines of Kirralaa and Neighbors. Cost is $130. Call 808-669-6200.
The Bay Club: Guest chef Roberto Los Banos, of Honolulu's Bali by the Sea, hosts the "Vintage Debut Dinner" featuring Robert Mondavi wines. Cost is $150, to benefit the Hawaii Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Call 808-669-8008.
Vino: "A Taste of Italy" features visiting Italian chefs Suzette Gresham (San Francisco's Acquerello), Celestino Drago (Santa Monica's Drago's Ristorante & Bar), Nunzio Alioto (San Francisco's Alioto) and Vino's Ruth Rasmussen and Italian winemakers Chiara Boschis, of Pira Boschis, Giorgio Rivetti, of La Spinetta and Pio Boffa, of Pio Cesare. Cost is $100, to benefit Maui Community College Culinary Arts Program. Call 808-669-8466.
The Kapalua festival runs July 8 to 11 throughout the resort, hosted by master sommelier Fred Dame.
Most of the individual events are sold out, except for the grand tastings. Call 800-KAPALUA or visit the Web site at www.kapaluamaui.com.
Special events
Diamond Head Grill: The Chuck Wagner Family of Wines will be paired to dishes by chefs Todd Wells and Matt Yoshihara in a five-course dinner tomorrow. The menu: Opakapaka Escabeche (with 2002 Conundrum), Lobster & Opihi with Macaroni Gratin (2001 Mer Soleil Chardonnay), Rabbit Confit (2001 Belle Glos Pinot Noir), Roast Roulade of Colorado Lamb (2001 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon) and Peach Melba (2000 MerSoleil, Late Harvest Vigionier). Cost is $69. Call 922-3734.Indigo Winemaker Dinner: Michael Phillips, of Michael & David Vineyards, hosts a four-course dinner, 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Indigo Eurasian Cuisine. Chef Glenn Chu's menu: Rabbit Rillettes with Waialua Tomato Concasse (with 2003 Incognito Viognier), Lychees and Lava Rock Goat Cheese Salad, Lamb Shank Tagine with Fresh Kona Mango Chutney (2002 Incognito Rouge and 2002 Earthquake Syrah), Steamed Hawaiian Vanilla Bean Pudding (2002 7 Deadly Zins). Cost is $60. Call 521-2900.
Fourth of July celebration: The Ala Moana Hotel hosts an Independence Day barbecue, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Ginger Terrace. Dinner choices of New York Steak, BBQ Beef Brisket and Roast Chicken come with corn, baked beans and rice, plus a sundae bar. After dinner enjoy a view of fireworks at Magic Island. Meals run $11.50 to $15.50. Call 955-4811.
Thanksgiving in July: Turkey dinner with all the trimmings will be served Sundays in July at Dixie Grill restaurants. The meal is built around smoked turkey with andouille cornbread stuffing for $12.95. Take-home dinners are also available. On Mondays all month, turkey sandwich meals will be sold for $9. Call 596-8359 (Ward Avenue) or 485-CRAB (Aiea).
Eat like Elvis: The Hard Rock Cafe nationwide celebrates the 50th anniversary of Elvis Presley's recording "That's All Right" with menu specials that were favorites of rock's king. Offered Friday through Aug. 2 are such dishes as pork chops with gravy and apple pie with ice cream. Honolulu's Hard Rock Cafe is at 1837 Kapiolani Blvd. Call 955-7383.
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