|
Wood Craft Ben Wood |
Iron Chef Sakai
impresses crowd
during filming at Chai’sIron CHEF SAKAI put on a dazzling cooking display at Chai's Island Bistro Sunday night. His artistry will be shown on KGMB's "Two Skinny Chefs," with Chai and Beth-An Nishijima, July 24 at 6:30 p.m. and rerun July 25 at 4 p.m. Sakai is well-tanned from golfing and jet skiing, and, as Kanoe Cazimero said, "looks like a local boy." He looks something like my pal Eddie Suzuki, who was active in the isle music industry years ago. Sakai displayed impressive knife work in cutting and peeling ingredients for a lobster salad during the filming. He also prepared "French lace" deep fried mahi and scallops. His finished products look like works of art. Women fans mobbed him for autographs and photos and tore down his posters for souvenirs. I asked Kanoe, Didi Chang and Audrey Fu, his devoted fans, why he has so many wahine admirers, and all three replied, "Because he can cook!" The Brothers Cazimero and the Royal Dance Company were excellent, performing outside the restaurant as the large crowd hit food and wine stations ...
Jimmy MacArthur may direct a play here
Jimmy MacArthur, hanging out at the Outrigger Canoe Club with fixtures such as "Tuff" Don Fowler Saturday, said he may direct a play here early next year ... "They Call Her Lady Fingers: The Betty Loo Taylor Story" will be shown Saturday at 7 p.m. on KHET. Pianist Betty Loo, 75, has starred on the isle jazz scene for decades ...The Kick Start karate fund-raiser was a treat for guests at the beautiful Aina Haina beachfront home of Richard and Sooz Mirikitani Saturday. Kick Start is the baby of retired police chief Lee Donohue, who cofounded the program with Amy Abe. It's designed to keep teens on the right path. Board members include Acting police chief Glen Kajiyama, Chief Justice Ron Moon and Matt Levi. The teens served food prepared by Barbara Strange, Alan Wong's chef de cuisine, Jose Dydasco and others. Greg Gomes' Webco donated the food. Greg and wife Fran attended. Webco's Lorie Chang was at a food station. The music was superb. Elizabeth "Aunty E" Papaia, on uke and guitarist Evangaline "Tita" Keith strolled barefoot on the grass singing Hawaiian favorites. HPD's Blue Lights, a vocal-instrumental quartet that could make it big in Waikiki, performed. The group is made up of Roland Naauao, Ben Pabillano, Darren Niipali and Jeffrey Williams. Randy Luna emceed. Lee and Luci Donohues' daughter, Leanne Williams, worked hard on the event ...
See the Columnists section for some past articles.
Ben Wood, who sold the Star-Bulletin in the streets of downtown Honolulu during World War II, writes of people, places and things every Wednesday and Saturday. E-mail him at bwood@starbulletin.com