The Halekulani is one of the world’s finest and most acclaimed luxury resorts, and has just announced “The Art of The Cocktail” weekend. Since its inception in 1984, Halekulani has received more than five hundred accolades, awards and honoraria.

This wonderful event will take place starting on Friday, Sept. 17th through Sunday, Sept. 19th 2010.

Throughout the weekend, the “The Art of The Cocktail” summit will provide guests the opportunity to interact with some of the world’s most celebrated mixologists including – Dale DeGroff, Julie Reiner and Tony Abou-Ganim.

The Halekulani Living luxury and lifestyle series is designed to provide guests with immersive, authentic and memorable experiences by celebrating three distinct elements, Halekulani Connoisseur, Halekulani Wellness and Halekulani Masterworks. These programs aim to enrich lifestyles with everyday luxury, health and wellness, culinary escapes and masterful works of art.

Advance reservations are required for all “The Art of the Cocktail” events. A 5-seminar package is available for $160. Alternatively, guests can select their activities on an a-la-carte basis with rates ranging from $40 to $125 per person.

There is a full schedule of events planned at the Halekulani,  and include intimate gatherings, hands-on seminars, as well as numerous informative discussions. Below is a sample of what guests can enjoy:

Friday, September 17
Kick Off Cocktail Party Rub elbows with many of the world’s finest mixologists while sampling their spirited creations and enjoying delicious appetizers, accompanied by live jazz music.

Saturday, September 18
Spend the day in lively seminars, discussions and classes hosted by our who’s who of mixology.

* The Evolution of the Cocktail

Mixologists Julie Reiner, Dale DeGroff, Tony Abou-Ganim and Simon Ford engage in a panel discussion on where the industry was, where it is today and what we can look forward to in the future.

* Gin: The Noblest Spirit of All?

Simon Ford presents a historical overview of gin while Julie Reiner creates Classical and Contemporary cocktail creations.

* Tequila: The Treasured Agave Distillate

Dale DeGroff and Tony Abou-Ganim walk through a brief history and tasting of tequila while creating awe-inspiring cocktails, sharing insight on how to make the perfect margarita.

* Island to Island

Julie Reiner and Simon Ford prepare the most innovative cocktails while utilizing island influences from England to Hawaii.

* Stocking and Tending Your Home Bar

Tony Abou-Ganim, the “Modern Mixologist,” highlights the secrets of creating cocktails at home, explaining what should be stocked in a bar, tools of the trade, and how to use them.

Experience an evening of scintillating conversation at the Cocktail Palooza while guest mixologists shake and stir their signature specialties.

Sunday, September 19:
Wrap up the weekend at the Bloody Mary Brunch featuring the opportunity to create a signature bloody mary while enjoying a delectable 3-course brunch.

Ocean View room accommodations are available during the event at a special rate of $460 per night including daily breakfast for two (plus applicable taxes).

For information and reservations, please call (808) 931-5040.

Do yourselves a favor, — the next time you want a restaurant meal served to perfection, make a reservation at BLT Steak – (Bistro Laurent Tourondel), located at the Trump Waikiki, 223 Saratoga Rd., Honolulu, HI, 96815

OK, I never thought I’d say this, but move over, Ruth’s Chris, Hy’s, and Wolfgang’s, –there’s a new kid in town, and he has a knack for doing things right.

My friend and I had heard some good things about BLT, so we thought we would try it out ourselves and see what all the positive commotion was all about.

BLT is a medium sized restaurant and very tastefully decorated. We were seated at a corner booth located at the rear of the restaurant, which was unusually comfortable.

Starting things off, we chose a dozen fresh oysters on the half-shell ($34.00/doz.), but we first had to make a choice of which of 4 different species of oyster we desired. Now, that’s a first for me!

We made our selection after a brief course in “oysterology” from our server, and our selection was superb, –very mild tasting and very fresh, and served with lemon wedges and a horseradish seafood sauce.

An ice-cold Heineken went well with the little critters as we waited for our entree.

We chose a main course consisting of a Porterhouse for two ($72.00), cooked on the rare side of medium-rare, which was prepared with a red wine reduction and served with horseradish on the side.

I’m not a big Porterhouse aficionado, but this steak was to die for — most excellent!

A baked potato accompanied the steak for me, and my partner had roasted tomatoes. Both were prepared excellently and were quite enjoyable.

Both were priced ala carte at $8.00 each. We skipped the pre-entree salad, which I’m sure my dearly departed mother would be so upset about.

We chose an Arrowood Chardonnay, ($72.00), which was very enjoyable, but probably more suitable for the oysters than for the Porterhouse.

Dinner was capped off with a shared dessert consisting of a peanut butter chocolate mousse ($10.00), and a cappuccino. — This dessert was absolutely superb!

Our server, a young lady named Peris, was like a server from heaven. She was always attentive, very knowledgeable about everything on the menu, (including the oysters – now that was impressive!), and very professional.

I recommend BLT Steak wholeheartedly and trust that your experience will be as marvelous as ours. Please enjoy!

BLT Steak
Trump International Hotel Waikiki Beach Walk
223 Saratoga Road
Honolulu, HI 96815
Telephone: 808-683-7440

Author: Val Patacchi is a freelance writer and avid traveler.

I recently had a wonderful dinner at the Beachhouse at the Moana restaurant (formerly Banyan Veranda), at the Westin Moana Surfrider on Waikiki Beach.

The Beachhouse at the Moan restaurant’s back veranda surrounding the big banyan tree is truly one of the last vestiges of a bygone era. Too bad it is affected by too loud a pop music coming from the bar area by the pool / banyan tree.

Granted, the music was very good and was performed by a top notch one-man band, but it was not the kind of music that was conducive to carrying on a nice conversation over dinner, especially at its decibel level.

I ordered a 10 oz rare fillet mignon ($47.00), that was cooked to perfection. Preceding that, I had a Maui onion soup gratinee ($8.00), which also was one of the best soups I have ever tasted.

A baked potato (ala carte) ($7.00), accompanied the fillet and was served at room temperature with an almost lukewarm center – disappointing.

My partner ordered the raw seafood plate appetizer for two. It was served as an entree ($42.00), and was quite good. It included Lobster, king crab, ahi, oysters, and shrimp.

One annoying aspect that presented itself, was that we were seated at a table by the white railing closer to the ocean side.

Now I know it’s hard to ever think that would be annoying, but the truly annoying aspect was that every 5 minutes or so, the railing would vibrate for several minutes due to some piece of equipment in the laundry room below us that intermittently turned on.

The food at the Beachhouse at the Moana restaurant was generally quite good, however I may not come back because of the noise and “bad vibes”.

The dinner plus 3 glasses of wine came to about $175.00 with tip. — That was a bit high, everything considered.  Aloha.

Author: Val Patacchi is a freelance writer and avid traveler.

Beachhouse at the Moana
2365 Kalakaua Avenue
Honolulu, HI 96815
(808) 922-3111

Fred Dame is the Master Sommelier and president of the Court of Masters Sommeliers. Mr Dame will host the 29th annual Kapalua Wine & Food Festival.

Kapalua Wine & Food Festival is Hawaii’s longest-running and most prestigious food and wine event. It will be held at the luxury Kapalua Resort on Maui.

The upscale festival brings together a combination of world-famous winemakers, celebrated chefs, top master sommeliers, as well as industry insiders for a series of wine tastings, festive gatherings and gourmet meals.

This nationally acclaimed food and wine extravaganza includes The Grand Tasting, which is an alfresco sampling of reserve varietals and the popular “Kapalua Seafood Festival” that features cuisine prepared by top Hawaii chefs.

Attendees will also be able to experience wine-tasting seminars like “Cab Franc Retrospective” and “Heal the World with Pinot Noir.” Enjoy celebrity chef cooking demonstrations, a charity winemaker dinner, plus a seafood festival and of course, the annual Grand Tasting.

This year’s Kapalua Wine & Food Festival runs from June 24th through 27th. The admission price is $700 per person. Tickets for selected events are also available to purchase à la carte.

For additional information, please visit – www.kapalua.com

Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant is a small national micobrewery chain that is well known for their terrific food and beer.

Located in Waikiki, Oahu – Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant is Hawaii’s first micro brewery restaurant.

The restaurant is also very busy and people love to have a great time there. Gordon Biersch’s is one of Oahu’s top destinations for its flavorful beers.

Patrons can enjoy spectacular views of the harbor.

Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant features fine handcrafted beer that’s brewed fresh on location. They use only the highest quality ingredients.

There are two bars so there’s plenty of room to mingle and have a good time.  Not sure what beer you want, try a free taste.  Just ask the friendly bartenders for a sample.

So if you’re on Oahu and looking for a great place to taste great food, drink fresh beer and enjoy live nightly entertainment in fabulous waterfront atmosphere, then try Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant.

Gordon Biersch Brewery is located in Aloha Towers, on the Harbor side on Pier 9.

Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant
1 Aloha Tower Dr
Aloha Tower Marketplace
Honolulu, HI  96813
808-599-4877
www.gordonbiersch.com/restaurants/

The Colony Restaurant is located at the Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa, near the Diamond Head Tower on the second floor.

Now the you can enjoy a culinary masterpiece at the Colony Restaurant, for half the price.

The new three-course signature menu includes a trio of starters, kiawe grilled entrée, a choice of dessert, accompaniments and a beverage.

Foodies will love the elegant yet casual atmosphere of Colony where Chef Wind and his team prepare the ultimate in epicurean delights near the Kiwae wood fire. The feast begins with the trio of starters – California Roll Sushi, Casserole of Prawns, and Tomato and Maui Onion Salad.

The Kiawe grilled entrée follows with a selection of New York Strip Steak; Filet Mignon; Rib Eye or Catch of the Day. Accompaniments include a fully loaded baked potato and steamed asparagus.

The meal is complete with a selection of Mango and Banana Tango – a refreshing mango sorbet, banana gelato, and assortment of berries – or, Cinnamon Citrus Infused Crème Caramel with seasonal fruits.

The dinner may also be paired with a bottle of Cakebread Cellars Chardonnay or Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon for an additional $49 per bottle – a $70 savings.

“Our hotel guests and the local community seeking great value caught on quick to the $49 menus at Colony and Ciao Mein. It’s our classic cuisine cleverly disguised as a special offer and it has been a true success that will continue into the New Year,” says Vincent Brunnetti, food and beverage director at Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa.

The Colony Restaurant is open daily from 6 to 10 pm; a special $7 martini menu features in The Colony Lounge from 5:30 to 10:00 p.m.

Parking is complimentary with a restaurant validation.

For more information, please visit www.waikiki.hyatt.com or call (808) 237-6140 for Colony Restaurant reservations.

You take a vacation to a tropical paradise like Hawaii but so many people spend all their time researching where to stay and finding the best resorts.

If you are planning to visit the beautiful Hawaiian island of Maui, and need to learn about the best restaurants Maui has to offer, then this new book is for you.

The 2010 Top Maui Restaurants book is the latest version, written by Molly and James Jacobson.

Anybody who has traveled knows how difficult it is to find a nice restaurant. We all have our own budgets and preferences. The 2010 Top Maui Restaurants restaurant guide has them all covered.

Don’t be fooled by other inferior tour books that write short reviews. They’re too generic and often way off the mark.

The 2010 Top Maui Restaurants restaurant guide is a must have for any visitor to Maui.

Whether you prefer romantic waterfront dining, a quiet lunch over looking a tropical garden, or a memorable sunset dinner, you’ll find it all in this “must-have” Maui restaurant guide.

The book is in paperback form and covers 248 pages. Married couple James and Molly Jacobson are respected food journalists and dine out approximately eleven time a week.

The Jacobson’s primary goal is to present a fair and well balanced review of Maui’s restaurants.

Previous versions of this highly acclaimed book have been read by tens of thousands of satisfied readers.

In the new 2010 edition, you will discover:
* The best romantic restaurants that worth your money.
* Discover the hot spots where the locals eat.
* Inexpensive restaurants offering the best value.
* A handy reference to help you find the dining nationality you desire.

There are detailed reviews for almost 200 Maui restaurants, which represents about half of all restaurants on Maui.

Each restaurant review contains a table with the restaurant’s address, location, types of meals served, hours, parking, phone number, and website.

The authors use a graphical “Star” rating system (from 1 to 5 stars) that makes it very simple to quickly identify how a particular restaurants ranks. There are five major categories (Food, Ambiance, Service, Love and value) along with an Overall Star rating.

Another nice feature is an iconic representation of the restaurant’s Cost, Amenities and type of payment accepted.

I like the variety of restaurants reviewed, in addition to the balance of the writers’ opinions. Another important fact is each restaurant in the guide, has been personally reviewed at least twice, and most either three or more times.

In summary, the 2010 Top Maui Restaurants book offers readers excellent overviews and detailed reviews of the various cuisines of the Hawaiian island of Maui.

So don’t take a chance with a bad meal at some over-hyped restaurant. Trust the personal expertise of Molly and James Jacobson. It could very well be the best money you ever spend.

Purchase your copy now:

Chef Nobu Matsuhisa will be returning to his Hawaii flagship restaurant, Nobu Waikiki at Waikiki Parc Hotel (Oahu, HI – www.waikikiparc.com) next week for a series of exclusive events that will provide individuals with rare insight on how he became a master chef.

The incredibly talented Chef Nobuyuki Matsuhisa, is known to the world simply as “Nobu”. Chef Nobu is the acclaimed and highly influential chef proprietor of Nobu, Matsuhisa and Ubon restaurants all over the globe.

During his visit he will be conducting an exclusive Art of Sushi & Sake Tasting Class on Thusday, February 11th. The class will provide participants a rare and unique glimpse into how Nobu creates his famed dishes. Students will be able to directly interact with Nobu in the kitchen for a truly memorable hands-on experience followed by lunch with the famous chef.

In addition, Nobu will also be hosting guests at the Lounge at Nobu Waikiki for Aperitivo!, his signature happy hour. Aperitivo! will feature a tasting trio of Nobu’s selections served with a signature cocktail.

Chef Nobuyuki Matsuhisa has received numerous prestigious honors from the culinary community, including:
- America’s 10 Best New Chefs by Food and Wine Magazine
- Southern California’s Rising Stars by Los Angeles Times Magazine
- induction into Who’s Who of Food and Beverage in America by the James Beard Foundation
- as well as many nominations for Outstanding Chef by the James Beard Foundation.

The luxury Fairmont Orchid, Hawaii – a AAA Four Diamond resort located on the Kohala Coast of the Island of Hawaii is delighted to announce the opening of Hale Kai Restaurant.

The Hale Kai Restaurant offers a family friendly, toes-in-the sand dining experience located just steps from the shoreline.

With a menu featuring ‘Ohana’ (Family) Plates of Grilled Shoyu Flank Steak, Kona Brew Battered Fresh Fish, and Jumbo Crab Cake served with Family Style Edamame and Green Papaya Slaw; this new beachside dining experience is perfect for value-seeking families.

“Our goal is to enhance our guests’ oceanfront dining experience, which is one of the main reasons for the installation of dining palapas,” explains Sean Hubbard, Director of Food and Beverage. “Hale Kai Restaurant embodies the warmth of aloha featuring dishes from all parts of the island.”

Located poolside, Hale Kai Restaurant offers lunch and dinner options ranging from pupus (appetizers) to sandwiches, salads pizzas and burgers. A full service bar featuring an inspired tropical drink menu includes a Hale Kai ‘Tini-a refreshing blend of Malibu rum, fresh pineapple, lime juice, Coco Lopez and a splash of Chambord .

Hale Kai is open daily from 10:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.

For information on the Hale Kai Restaurant, please contact The Fairmont Orchid, Hawaii at 808-885-2000 or visit www.fairmont.com/orchid

The Fairmont Orchid, Hawaii is a AAA Four Diamond destination resort on 32 oceanfront acres offering 540 guestrooms on the island’s northwestern coast.

Facilities and services include the Hawaiian-inspired Spa Without Walls with 8 waterfall hale (hut) and 6 oceanside cabanas, authentically local daily beach and cultural activities, golf, tennis and water sports, year-round children’s program, six delectable restaurants and expansive indoor and outdoor meeting facilities all surrounded by service with Aloha.

Ciao Mein and The Colony restaurants in Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa, located at 2424 Kalkaua Avenue, are offering a new signature series of wines available from Friday, January 15 through Thursday, April 15, 2010.

The classic varietals from the acclaimed Kenwood Vineyards in Sonoma County, California include the Jack London Vineyard 2005 Merlot ($56 per bottle, $14 per glass), the Jack London Vineyard 30th Anniversary 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon ($72 per bottle, $18 per glass), and the Yulupa Vineyard 2008 Chardonnay ($40 per bottle, $10 per glass).

Founded in 1970, Kenwood Vineyards is recognized for its classic varietals. The wines selected for the yearlong series offered by Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa are rich in flavor and complimentary to the award winning cuisine at Hyatt restaurants.

The current signature selections include: a robust 2005 Merlot with an abundance of full-bodied flavor, a zesty yet sweet Cabernet Sauvignon, and a refreshing 2008 Chardonnay that offers hints of sage and mint.

For more information, please visit Kenwood Vineyards

Ciao Mein and The Colony restaurants are open from 6 to 10 p.m., daily. For more information, please call (808) 923-CIAO (2426) or (808) 237-6140.