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5/26/2015 14 Comments Happy Birthday Chef Morimoto How does an Iron Chef/TV Star/avid golfer/cooking pioneer celebrate his birthday in Hawaii? With a lovely, exciting, entertaining birthday celebration at his Waikiki restaurant with his closest friends, VIPs, special diners, celebrities, media and of course lots of music and dancing!  Since coming to Hawaii to open his first restaurant in the pacific in 2010, Chef Masaharu Morimoto has really elevated the food scene in the islands. His dishes are thoroughly developed, presentation is outstanding, the service is extremely attentive, yet approachable, and staff are all very well educated on the dishes, ingredients and delivery. Each eagerly serve with a smile and enthusiasm from a fine dining perspective, but with local charm and sincere aloha!. With that said, what does the man known by millions for his cuisine which reigns supreme do to celebrate his 60th? He throws a hell of a party!  Guests were greeted with a nice tasty Mai Tai beverage and then hand passed bites from the menu. Pork Gyoza with Hamakua tomato sauce and bacon foam.  Hamachi tacos - this was my favorite. I loved the crisp won ton shell, the fresh Hamachi, jalapeño and slight citrus. Yum!  Roast Chinese Duck on boa bun, this was great. The buns were extremely soft & fresh and the duck moist & superb!  Known for his fresh fish and impressive array of seafood, sashimi and sushi this platter of sashimi was both beautiful and a hit with guests.  And of course no dinner would be complete without dessert: Morimoto had a jaw-dropping birthday cake and buffet of homemade delicacies and sweet treats!  Entertainment included live polynesian dancers, whom Chef obviously loves, and also Aiden James who rocked the mic and played for a while. Some of the stars from Hawaii 50 also stopped in for dinner, as Chef's appearance on the show played on a small flatscreen TV near the kitchen. The Modern Honolulu, 1775 Ala Moana Blvd, Honolulu, HI 96815
Phone:(808) 943-5900 www.morimotowaikiki.com
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 Located in the heart of Waikiki, I heard about this fun place that serves up fresh, fruity items with lots of color and pizzaz last summer. Located on Kaiolu Street in Waikiki street parking can be a pain, but they have stalls nearby that don't have meters so at least you don't have to pay for it. Known for their acai bowls and waffles topped with gorgeous fruits, nuts and fresh whipped cream, I am glad I finally got to try this place. Also, known as Tilia Aloha Cafe, this place is a cute cafe within a retail store that clearly caters to the Japanese clientele. Specialty items include taro, or mochi waffles, salads, bagels, fruit bowls with acai, kona red or pitaya and papaya served with ice cream. I went with two other friends so I could try a variety of items and it was tasty, full of freshness and skillfully plated. The service was a bit slow and the waiter didn't know too much about the place, like how it got its name and etc. But it was efficient enough. Here's a look at what we had to try:  The Original Taro Waffle: with seasonal fruits and whipped cream was delightful. It comes in 3 sizes (s, m and l). I ordered the small which was $5, it was good but only a quarter of the waffle, so it was pretty small. Nice flavor, great fresh fruits and a good ratio of chocolate sauce, whipped cream and I added a touch of maple syrup.  Bagel Sandwich: cured ham, tomato, Maui onion, capers, dill cream cheese, side salad and fruit. At $14.50 this was a pretty dish and full of freshness, on the website it says it comes with taro chips, but we didn't receive any. It was good though, maybe a bit over priced, but it is Waikiki.  Waffle Sandwich: egg salad served with shrimp, apples, lettuce, tomato and side salad. Pretty yummy and the combo of flavors and textures was fun. But it was sure hard to eat with your hands. Be prepared to have some napkins handy. $14.00.  Pitaya Bowl: this was refreshing and very much like a sorbet topped with fruit. The generous heaping amount of honey on top was nice and sweet to counter the sourness of the pitaya. $10.50 For more information visit http://tilia-aloha.com
Overall, this was a nice spot for a light brunch. The freshness was refreshing and perfect if you want something healthy with good flavors. I would go back for a nice peaceful lunch or a brunch date.  The saying... "Going to Hana Maui..." makes everyone smile! If you haven't taken the journey to one of the most remote spots in the world, you HAVE to one day! I have been to this charming, tropical piece of paradise before, but never had the chance to stay at the Travaasa Hana. I honestly didn't think I could afford it and hadn't considered it an option when staying overnight until recently. If you do a quick search, rooms typically start at $350-400 a night, add to that the fact that there are no additional resort charges, free WiFi, bottled water and coffee. In fact, as kama'aina, I would recommend checking to see what kind of rates they offer for the Hawaii resident who wants a sweet stay cation in a breathtakingly beautiful oasis from the rest of the world. Thankfully, for me, I stumbled upon this spot while on a short girl's trip. A close friend called her cousin and we managed to score the last Sea Ranch Cottage available on a sold-out weekend. I had no idea what to expect. I thought we would be in a cozy room with a nice garden view, but to our amazement we had a stunning, spacious cottage with two beds, bathtub, shower, lanai with jacuzzi and dining room with bar, refrigerator and ocean views. Most of all, the privacy is unparalleled as this part of the resort is for adults only and the accommodations luxurious and refined. *Currently, some of these cottages are under a rejuvenation and all are expected to all open at the end of July 2015. Here's an inside look at the Travaasa Hana Experiential Resort - http://www.travaasa.com/hana/  Upon entry, you are greeted by the fresh Hawaiian air, there is no air-conditioning here, and the bedding is made from organic linens and blankets.  The spacious lanai is perfect to watch the sunrise and relax and enjoy the view.  The literal cherry on top is this private jacuzzi. What an amazing feature! You will see what we did next...  Uh huh - we came prepared for a perfect evening.  Here's a look at the bathroom, which also features locally made in Maui bath products along with ultra soft towels and bathrobes.  The inviting tub, has a nice view of a little retreat lanai outside if you need some alone time or a place to meditate.  Stepping outside and walking about 2 minutes mauka is the yoga room. I took part in a complimentary 7:30am yoga class which was an invigorating way to wake up.  At 9:30am that same morning a special aquarobics class was being offered in the adult-only infinity pool. I decided to watch for a bit, as it looked really fun and entertaining too. It's great how this resort offers so many awesome activities and experiences for guests.  This property is really Hana's shangri-la, the colorful gardens, serene ambience, breathtaking views and service create a 5-star experience. From the moment you step on property you are greeted with a warm smile, moist refreshing toilette, chilled juice, golf-cart shuttle service, complimentary valet and free parking. Travaasa Hana also offers all-inclusive packages which include daily resort credit for spa services and meals as part of the nightly charge, or you can go ala carte which means you pay for the accommodations/room without the added spa services/private classes and meals. Take a look at the different packages, rates and availability of suites, cottages and glorious family suites too.
TRAVAASA HANA 5031 Hana Hwy Hana, Hi 96713 Tel: (888) 820-1043 Fax: 808-248-7202 |
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