C4 Table by Colin Hazama

When one door closes, another one opens. It's one of the most well-known clichés, but it's what comes to mind when I think of Colin Hazama and his new concept - C4 Table. I first learned about C4 when I saw pictures of entrees from C4 Table at the Kaiser Farmers Market. Before I got the chance to make it down there, the market was forced to shut down. I thought I would never get to try his offerings, until I saw an announcement on social media that he would be popping up at M by Mavro on Tuesday afternoons (4-6 pm) for pre-order grab n go. 

His menu changes weekly, and so far I've been able to try three items:

Pono Provisions Lamb & Pork Bolognese Spaghetti 

Garlic Shrimp Truck Scampi

Hukilau Chowder

All three were AMAZING and better than I had expected! I actually ate them all as leftovers (since my friend generously picked them up for me at M by Mavro since I am not in town in the evenings), and after popping them in the microwave for a few minutes, it all still tasted fresh and was full of flavor.

He posts his menu for the following Tuesday the week before, and sells out of most if not all items every week. Follow C4 Table on Instagram @c4_table or send an email to chefcolinhazama@gmail.com and request to be added to the email list to get the menu delivered to your inbox.

Chef Colin, who has thrived in the hotel industry for much of his career, recently announced that he is moving on to a new chapter of starting his own business (C4 Table).  I wish him all the best and I have no doubt great things are on the horizon for him. 

 

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Lunch at MW Restaurant

Celebrated a good friend's birthday at MW Restaurant, one of my favorite places to celebrate a special occasion. 

Two of us ordered the prix fix menu, which came with an appetizer trio ...

and for the second course, one ordered the hamburger steak (which was highly recommended by our server) ...

and the other ordered the mochi-crusted monchong ...

I usually order the prix fixe menu too, but I today I wanted to try something different, so I ordered the grass fed hamburger - so juicy and delicious!

And for dessert ....

Tropical Fruit Creamsicle Brulee ...

Banana cream pie which came with the prix fixe menu...

and MW's famous chocolate chip cookies!  

MW RESTAURANT

1538 Kapiolani Blvd.

(808) 955-6505

mwrestaurant.com

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Roy's Waikiki

Roy's Waikiki might be my new favorite of all the Roy's locations on Oahu. We had an awesome dining experience here last weekend.

Upon getting seated at our table, they provided us with complimentary seasoned edamame as we got settled and perused the menu. 

They also provided our boys with an appetizer plate which is part of the keiki menu without us even asking. 

Since the boys were hungry, we put in their orders first - tempura chicken with french fries. My picky eaters loved it.

The keiki meal included an ice cream sundae which of course was their favorite part of the meal.

I opted for the Sunset Hour prix fixe menu which consisted of a trio of poke appetizer ...

Filet Mignon with Garlic Buttered Jumbo Shrimp (which was cooked to perfection!) ...

and Roy's Signature Chocolate Souffle with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream. 

The hubby ordered the Slow Braised Honey Mustard Grilled Beef Short Ribs which was super tender. 

Service was top notch. Our server was very friendly and professional, and he was very attuned to the needs of a party with small children.  While there's not much of a view at this location, as compared to other locations, the food and service definitely make up for it.  

Roy's Waikiki

226 Lewers Street (next to Embassy Suites)

(808) 923-7697 

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Lēʻahi Concept Kitchen

Kapiolani Community College's Culinary Institute of the Pacific is running an innovative restaurant at the Waikiki Parc Hotel in Waikiki called Lēʻahi Concept Kitchen.  The restaurant is staffed by KCC culinary school staff, alumni and current students. It serves as a training ground for students, and a one-of-a-kind dining experience for patrons, many of whom are visitors to Hawaii.

My friends and I spent our most recent girls night out at the restaurant.

The restaurant used to be Nobu restaurant - much of the decor from Nobu's still remains.

The complimentary bread was delicious - it was served warm and had a nice rosemary taste to it.

Here's what we ordered:

miso glazed hamachi kama

farm fresh seasonal vegetable tempura

aloun farms vegetabe chalakiles

fresh island catch - ono

pan seared sea scallops

japanese style cheesecake

hot chocolate molten cake

The restaurant was not too crowded on this particular evening, so we were able to take our time enjoying our food and talking story while a pianist was playing popular tunes on a grand piano in the restaurant. Best part of all, it's BYOB ($10)!

Leahi Concept Kitchen is open for dinner service only, 5-10 p.m. with the last seating at 9:30 p.m. For reservations, call (808) 971-6300 or book your reservation through Yelp.

Lēʻahi Concept Kitchen

2233 Helumoa Road

Waikiki Park Hotel

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Lunch at Roy's Ko Olina

Earlier this year, I won a $100 gift card to Roy's Restaurants in a contest sponsored by Localicious, a campaign launched by the Hawaii Agricultural Foundation to raise public awareness of restaurants that are committed to sustaining Hawaii's Ag industry. I was really excited to win a gift card to Roy's since it's one of my favorite restaurants in Oahu.  It's a great place to celebrate special occasions, and as soon as I received it, I earmarked it for our 7th wedding anniversary celebration.

Roy's has several locations on Oahu, and I chose to make reservations for us and our BFFs at Roy's in Ko Olina because it's open for lunch, and they have a beautiful view of the prestigious Ko Olina Golf Course.  

On this particular day, the weather was gorgeous and we were seated at a table overlooking one of the holes with a pond, black swans, and ducks waddling around.

After admiring the view and watching the golfers, it was time to eat.  One of things I like about my hubby is that he doesn't mind sharing entrees - which is great at a place like Roy's because everything on the menu is delicious.  Although this sometimes backfires when one entree tastes so good that I don't want to split it with my other half.

After a few minutes of deliberating over what to share, we settled on the charred honey mustard beef short ribs...

and the BLTA ("Bacon Lettuce Tomato Ahi") sandwich.

I started out with the sandwich and did not want to give up the other half of the sandwich to my hubby.  It was really good, esp. after the waitress delivered a cup of ginger/ponzu dipping sauce that I had requested.  But I reluctantly switched entrees with the hubby half way through, and don't get me wrong, the beef short ribs were excellent (no knife needed), but not as good as the BLTA.

For dessert, we ordered their signature melting hot Chocolate Souffle.  It is not on their lunch menu, but I asked (ok, practically begged) our waitress to ask the kitchen if they could prepare it for us, and they obliged.  Now that's how you run a restaurant. :)

And since I had informed them that we were celebrating our anniversary when I made our reservation, they brought us a little complimentary dessert. :)

Roy's Ko Olina

92-1220 Ali'inui Dr

Kapolei, HI 96707

(808) 676-7697

Lunch: 11 am - 2 pm

Pupus: 2 pm - 5 pm

Dinner: 5 pm

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MW Restaurant

Tropical Fruit Creamsicle Brulee - Lilikoi Sorbet, Tapioca Pearls, Tropical Fruits, Lilikoi Custard, Guava Chiffon

I had heard mixed reviews about MW Restaurant, but that did not deter me from experiencing it for myself.  I've been there for dinner twice now and it is one of my favorite restaurants.  Dining at MW Restaurant reminds me of Alan Wongs, which makes sense as Michelle and Wade Ueoka, the husband and wife team of MW Restaurant, each spent about 20 years working with Alan Wong.  

The reviews on Yelp raved about the mochi crusted opakapaka, which I thought was just okay.  What I really loved was the garlic steamed onaga.  Simply delicious.  Everyone is spot on when it comes to how amazing the tropical fruit creamiscle brulee is, but I must say the strawberry lava flow is a close second.     

The restaurant has a great ambiance, alive with the buzz of people having a good time.  It's a perfect place to celebrate a girls' nite or date nite or any night.  Parking is limited, but valet parking is available.  

Tai-land - Meyer’s & Appleton Rum, Housemade Lemongrass Infused Orgeat Syrup, Fresh Pineapple

Aviation Garden - Aviation Gin, Local Grape Tomatoes, White Balsamic, Shiso

Greek Salad with an Asian Twist - Locally Farmed Baby Tomatoes, Olives, Kula Baby Romaine Lettuce, Feta Cheese

Ahi Nachos - Avocado Salsa, Rice Cracker Chips, Won Ton Pi 

Ahi Poke with Ikura, Uni, Crispy Rice Cracker

Garlic Steamed Onaga - Long tail Red Snapper with Stir Fry Vegetables 

Strawberry Lava Flow - Coconut Tapioca, Strawberry Sorbet, Shaved Strawberries 

Kula Strawberry Cheescake - Li-Hing Ume Filled Strawberries, Strawberry Yuzu Sorbet, Kiawe Graham Crackers

MW Restaurant

1538 Kapiolani Blvd Ste 106
Honolulu, HI 96814

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