Food-A-Go-Go Week Specials at Kapolei Commons!

Pizzas at Mad Bene

Last night Hawaii Mom Blog attended the dine around media event for Kapolei Commons featuring Food-A-Go-Go Week participating restaurants Mad Bene, DB Grill, La Tour Cafe, and Paniolos!  Check out their Food-A-Go-Go specials below!

MAD BENE Lasagna Al Forno -  a mushroom ragu, truffle bechamel, ricotta salata, and 6 yr old balsamic vinegar.

DB GRILL Kona Kampachi - Featuring 2K Farms ginger and scallion. 

LA TOUR CAFE Falafel Banh Mi - Falafel, harissa hummus, firecracker sauce, pickled carrot & daikon, avocado, cucumber, cilantro.

PANIOLOS Paniolo Steak Bowl - Grass-fed local beef slow cooked in chipotle peppers and adobo sauce, topped with lettuce, homemade beans, tomatillo salsa, corn salsa, and salsa fresca.

Food-A-Go-Go Week started March 23 and will run through April 6.  Local businesses and restaurants participating will have a special menu or local products avaialble for customers to purchase/order for fine-in or take out.  Food-A-Go-Go Week will join a year-long public awareness campaigned called Localicious® Hawaii that highlights restaurants and businesses that use locally sourced ingredients or products in their offerings. Proceeds of this campaign will benefit Hawaii Agricultural Foundation (HAF) K-12 ag education programs, which have served over 18,000 students since 2014. 

Find participating restaurants and businesses here.

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Pounders Restaurant Welcomes New Executive Chef Graham Elliot

World-renowned Chef Graham Elliot is the new Executive Chef at Pounders Restaurant at Hukilau Marketplace at Polynesian Cultural Center.

Chef Graham, who grew up in Ewa Beach, returns to his roots to put his spin on local favorites at this very family-friendly eatery.

Housemade Taro Roll

The Taro Roll with Lilikoi Butter is such a treat to start with, and the Roasted Beet Poke was light and refreshing. I remember Chef Graham had made a Beet Poke at a Hawai`i Food & Wine Festival event a few years ago, and I'm happy that it made the Pounders menu.  The whipped avocado and mac nuts added nice textural contrast, and the acidity of the pineapples rounded out the dish.

Roasted Beet Poke

Woodfire Grilled He`e

The He`e was a fave of the table. The octopus was grilled perfectly and was so tender and flavorful.  People raved about the red pepper puree, and the fennel salad was delightful.

"Char Siu" Double-Cut Porkchop

The Porkchop was enormous! I never saw one that huge before. I enjoyed the subtle char siu flavor, and the mango salsa was a nice complement.

Vanilla Bean Creme Brulee

The Vanilla Bean Creme Brulee was very good. It was a nice way to end a meal, especially if you're not into rich, heavy desserts.

If you're in the area, check out Pounders and see what they have to offer, as the menu will change often.

Welcome, Chef Graham!

Pounders
Hukilau Marketplace
55-370 Kamehameha Hwy
Laie, HI 96762
(808) 293-3287

 

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WorkPlay Soft Opening December 20

A brand new space in Kaka`ako, WorkPlay, soft opens tomorrow!

I had a chance to get a sneak peek of this classy, yet chill coffee shop / bar / lounge.

Mural by Jasper Wong

The Absinthe Room

Offering premium coffee and craft cocktails, WorkPlay will also offer light bites, such as crepes, cheeses, and charcuterie.  

With plenty of space, including four private rooms, as well as a stage for live entertainment, WorkPlay is perfect for cofficing, pau hana, or a GNO.

The Whiskey Room

The Soft Opening is December 20, and the Grand Opening will take place on Friday, January 18, from 6p - midnight.  

As part of the Grand Opening Celebration, proceeds from this ticket-only event benefit American Heart Association Hawaii. Event features 2 complimentary cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, live entertainment by Award-Wining alt, folk, pop sensation Streetlight Cadence.

For more information about this event - Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/workplay-grand-opening-tickets-53712441358 

Cocktails by Gabrielle Maser

All Nighter

Unexpected Day Off

The Monday Blues

Night on the Town

Boys Night Out

WorkPlay
814 Ilaniwai Street (Ground Floor)
Honolulu, HI 96813

17 marked Parking Stalls available along Ilaniwai Street, Public Parking at Kauhale Kakaako parking structure (until 8:30pm). 

Hours from 12/20: Monday - Wednesday 7am-10pm, Thursday - Saturday 7am - 12am. CLOSED for the holidays: 12/24-01/01.

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Restaurant XO Revisited

Nearly seven months after its grand opening, Restaurant XO has a sleek new look, as well as some new menu items (don't worry, faves like the Adobo Fried Chicken, Buttermilk Fried Oysters, Loaded Potato Au Gratin, Ginger Fried Rice, and Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie a la Mode are still on the menu!).

I was fortunate to attend a media tasting where we tried every single item on the current menu!

Chicken Skin, Smoked Trout Caviar, Creme Fraiche

Banh Mi Salad, Pickles, Mint, Croutons

Breadshop Foccacia, Furikake SPAM Butter

Buttermilk Fried Oysters, Curry Aioli

Lemongrass Sausages, Pickles

"Stacked Umami" - Brown Butter Confit Cauliflower, Asiago, Bonito, Seasonal Truffle, Shiitake Kombu Sauce, Sour Coconut

Tomato Risotto, Szechuan Rayu, Capers

Crispy Rice, Lap Cheong, Tare

Ginger Fried Rice, 63-degree Egg

Wok Seared Ribeye, Thai Chili Roasted Garlic Butter, Crispy Onions

Fried Stripe Bass, Finadene, Herbs

Sous Vide Duck Breast, Plum Almondine, Sesame Snow

Loaded Potato Au Gratin

Adobo Fried Chicken, Braised Peppercorns

Buttermilk Fried Chicken with Shisho Ranch

Pork Belly, Soy Ginger Scallion, Red Vinegar

XO Scallops, Spinach Puree, Bean Sprout, Lemon Gel

Kim Chi Fried Rice, Cured Egg Yolk

Buratta, Proscuitto, Tomato Jam, Breadshop Rye

Crispy Rice, Unagi, Tare

Pumpkin Crunch, Cream Cheese Spread

Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie a la Mode

In addition to the favorites mentioned earlier, I really enjoyed the Buttermilk Fried Chicken (it was a special of the night; Restaurant XO makes some of the best fried chicken ever!) with Shisho Ranch, both Crispy Rice versions, the Chicken Skin, and the Stacked Umami (I love cauliflower!).

Guests at the tasting also raved about the Risotto, Sausages, and Chicken Skin.

I love how Chefs Kenneth and Aleina put their own spins on familiar dishes.  Their influences are evident in their versions of the comfort food offered at Restaurant XO, and I've already made plans with friends to return so they can experience the inspired cuisine.


Restaurant XO
3434 Waialae Ave.
Honolulu, HI

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