New Favorite Restaurant: Threadfin Bistro

Lobster Noodles

It was kismet that when Hawaii Mom Blogger Nat wanted to celebrate her 50th birthday at Threadfin Bistro, we were invited for a media tasting. Located in Kilohana Square in Kapahulu, Threadfin Bistro is an intimate restaurant that serves wine-friendly global-focused dishes from Chef Jason Kiyota, who formerly operated a restaurant in Kailua called The Food Company Café. 

At Threadfin Bistro, guests will have the option of an a la carte menu and an affordable three-course prix fixe for under $80 per person. The August menu is priced at $68 per person. Our party of four shared the Lobster Noodles which turned out to be my favorite dish. For my options from the prix fixe menu, I chose the Hamachi and upgraded to the Mediterranean Spiced Washgyu Steak. The hamachi with the pickled watermelon was so refreshing and generous in portion. The steak was nice as well and I enjoyed the onion jam. We finished with the chocolate torte which was perfection. We had such an amazing meal and the ambience was just my speed - lively, but in an intimate setting. Service was top- notch.   

Hamachi, Pickled Watermelon, Cotija, Green Herbs

Charred Peach, Lemon Goat Cheese, Local Greens, Spiced Honey, Roaster Pepper

Mediterranean Spiced Washugyu Steak, Cabernet Onion Jam, Ras-El-Hanout Cream 

Prawns - Off Menu Special

Fresh Day Boat Catch (Kanpachi) Basil Corn Buerre Monte, Tomato

Chocolate Torte, White Balsamic Cherries, Kampot Pepper

Nice warm vibe.

Thank you Threadfin Bistro and Chef Jason Kiyota!

Happy Birthday Nat!

The bistro is also gluten allergy friendly, so just be sure to let them know. They are currently BYOB, but offer a limited selection of wines by the glass as they are preparing the launch of their formal wine program. They are open for dinner Thursday through Saturday from 5:30pm with last seating at 8:30pm. My new favorite restaurant for sure and I would recommend to you to check it out!

Threadfin Bistro

1016 Kapahulu Ave, Ste 140

Honolulu, Hawaii

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Visit New York: Aldo Sohm Wine Bar

We had dinner reservations for Le Bernardin, and decided to stop for drinks at Aldo Sohm Wine Bar, which is right next door to the famed restaurant (Aldo Sohm is the sommelier at Le Bernardin; Chef Eric Ripert is behind the food menu at Aldo Sohm Wine Bar). 

Our wine aficianodo friend selected the wines, and we also ordered some oysters to go along with the wines. 

We did not stay very long, but it was definitely a nice place to have some wine and chat with friends.

Aldo Sohm Wine Bar

151 W 51st St

New York, NY 10019

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WineView at Cattleya

There's a fabulous event going on twice-monthly at Orchids' Cattleya at Halekulani that's perfect for those who love wine and great food - WineView!

For $59 a month (tax and gratuity included; $69 a month for December), guests can sit at the communal table between 4:30p to 7:30p for an informal wine tasting and fabulous dishes from Orchids.

Ahi Crudo

Hamachi Crudo

Truffle Risotto

Branzino

We learned about the different wines and how they were aged, and they were accompanied by wonderful dishes.

The food alone was more than worth the price, but paired with the amazing wines - it is such a fantastic deal!

The Risotto was my favorite of all the courses - topped with Foie Gras, it was just rich, creamy, and decadent. The Hamachi Crudo was delicious as well.

The next WineView is on December 19 (wines and courses subject to change). Don't miss it!

Reservations are recommended.

Orchids

Halekulani

2199 Kalia Rd

Honolulu, HI 96815
(808) 923-2311

Thank you to Halekulani for hosting our WineView.

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HASR Bistro and HASR Wine Company

The popular ciopinno

Wine lovers, clear your Tuesday and Friday nights!  Did you know HASR Wine Company offers complimentary wines tastings on those days?  Being a wine lover myself, I recently learned this exciting news when Gem and I were invited for dinner at HASR Bistro.  We arrived on a Friday night and we both immediately noticed the charming courtyard that fronts both the restaurant and the wine company.  You can choose to dine outdoors, but if you opt for inside you will be treated to live music on the weekends.

"HASR" is an acronym for Highly Allocated Spoiled Rotten because the owner, Terry Kakazu, was thought to be Spoiled Rotten because she always got the Highly Allocated wines!  We stopped inside HASR Wine Company and indeed it was like being a kid in a candy store with wall to wall wines of all varieties.  If you plan on dining at HASR Bistro, you can purchase wines at HASR Wine Company and enjoy them with your meal at no corkage fee (as long as the wine purchased is not on the HASR Bistro wine list).

We started with the popular naan bread that is covered with garlic, cheese, and caramelized onion.  For our entrees, I had the delicious ciopinno with fresh fish, shrimp, clams, and calamari in a very tasty tomato broth and served with a mini loaf of bread.  Gem had the chicken pasta which she loved as well.  For dessert, we were treated to bread pudding and chocolate crème brulee.  The dinner was delicious from start to finish.

HASR Bistro serves lunch Tuesday through Friday (can open for lunch on Mondays and Saturdays for private bookings) and dinner Tuesday through Saturday.  They can accommodate both large and small private parties.  It was a treat meeting Terry and I had a wonderful dinner experience at her lively restaurant in downtown Honolulu.     

Chicken and veggie pasta

Chocolate crème brulee and Bread pudding. 

Live entertainment on the weekends

So much wine at the HASR Wine Company!


Disclosure:  Our dinner was complimentary.  Gratuities were paid on our own.  All opinions are entirely my own.

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Hy's Steak House Celebrates 40th Anniversary with Wine Dinners and Chef's Tables!

First Course: Trio of Sashimi paired with Red Car, Rose of Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast 2015

Hy's Steak House, synonymous with tradition and fine dining, is celebrating forty years with two new monthly dinner series beginning in April culminating with their 40th Anniversary Final Event on November 11.

In the first series, Hy's will team up with Master Sommelier, Patrick Okubo, and other well known sommeliers in Hawaii and offer exciting wine dinners featuring different wineries from around the world thoughtfully paired with Hy's exquisite cuisine.

The second series, Chef's Table, was inspired by the focus on local produce with the intent of elevating Hy's signature favorites by sourcing as many ingredients from local farms and ranches. 

Find an occasion to celebrate because each dinner is limited to 20 people and you don't want to miss these two innovative series.  Wine Dinner (five course prix fixe $150 per person) dates are:  April 12, May 24, June 21, July 19, August 23, September 20, and October 18.  Chef's Table (five course prix fixe $100 per person) dates are:  May 10, June 7, July 5, August 9, September 6, and October 4.  Reservations can be made by calling the restaurant at 808-922-5555 or emailing jonah@hyshawaii.com

I was lucky enough to attend a wine dinner preview and it was amazing!  The menu, appropriately named Synergy, combined ingredients to create exceptional dishes that will astonish your taste buds.  Each course was delicious and a favorite.  I loved the wine pairings and learning a bit of the background of each wine as well as hearing from Executive Chef Justin Inagaki how the dishes were created.  Thank you to Hy's and Chefs Grant and Justin for the exceptional meal!        

Second Course:  Butter-poached Colossal Shrimp with Big Island Caviar paired with Jordan, Chardonnay, Russian River 2014. 

Intermezzo:  Big Island Dragon Eye Granita

Entrée Course:  Kiawe Grilled Prime Filet Mignon with pan seared foie gras and truffle demi-glace paired with Lutum, Gap's Crown Vineyard, Pinot Noir, Sonoma 2013 and Domaine Chanson, Pinot Noir, Marsannay 2014.

Dessert Course:  Hawaiian Islands Experience - Kona Vanilla Bean Crème Brulee, Hawaiian Crown Chocolate Brownie, Macadamia Nut Caramel Crunch, Mascerated Poha Berry.  A special treat were the prosecco-soaked dragon fruit pieces on top.   

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Visit Seattle: Chateau Ste. Michelle

If you are visiting Seattle and are a wine lover, you'll be happy to know there are many wineries located in Woodinville; just a 30 minute drive away!  For tourists, Chateau Ste. Michelle, Washington state's oldest winery, is a must stop. 

They offer complimentary tours and tastings that run about 35 minutes.  The first half of the tour consists of a very interesting history overview of the winery and the last half is the wine sampling of three of their wines.  Known for their Rieslings, it was no surprise it was my favorite of the three pours.

The grounds of the winery are beautiful and picnic worthy.  The Chateau offers event planning and also hosts summer concerts.  They have a nice gift shop and their tasting room is open daily from 10am to 5pm. 

www.ste-michelle.com

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Vino Italian Tapas and Wine Bar

Clockwise from left: Burrata Mozzarella, Brussels Sprouts, Dungeness Crab Alla Chitarra, Tiramisu, Apple Tart, and Chocolate Cake.  Pizzas we devoured not pictured because we were having too good of a time.

Located in Restaurant Row, Vino is an Italian Tapas and Wine Bar created by Master Sommelier Chuck Furuya and restaurateur D.K. Kodama.  It is the perfect setting for any occasion.  It makes a great venue for date night as well as a cozy place to enjoy wine and food with friends and family. 

I instantly loved Vino because they had two of my favorite things on their menu:  wine and pizza.  The assortment of dessert offerings didn't hurt either.  The awesome part of their extensive wine listing is that they offer 2 oz pours as well as 5 oz pours and prices reflect value. 

They are open Tuesday through Sunday from 5:30pm to 9:30pm and can accommodate private parties.  Furuya also holds wine tasting workshops that quickly sell out. 

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Visit Napa Valley: My Top Three Wineries

Kenzo Estate Winery

I was so excited for my very first trip to Napa Valley, California that I polled my friends on Facebook for their must-visit wineries.  My friends were gracious with their responses and recommended a number of wineries.  But because we only had two full days in Napa and found out (the hard way) you really should only visit 2 wineries a day, we fit 5 on our itinerary: Castello di Amorosa, Schramsberg Vineyards, Duckhorn Vineyards, Kenzo Estate Winery, and Jarvis Winery.  We really did not do ourselves a favor by booking them back to back so that was another lesson learned.

I honestly had a great time and exponentially expanded my knowledge of wine on all the tours, but here are my top three of the five.

1.  Kenzo Estate Winery - 3200 Monticello Road, Napa

We arrived early to our Flight of Four ($40 -flight of 4 one ounce tastings) and our guide was super accommodating and prepared to start right away.  He was so knowledgeable and his passion and love for wine really made our experience excellent.  

I fell in love with the asatsuyu, the only white wine from Kenzo Estate, and the Murasaki -  a merlot-influenced Bordeaux blend.  For the Murasaki, I wasn't prepared to spend $250 on a bottle of wine so I took home the half bottle to savor for a special occasion.  Currently, they don't have any retail outlets besides their online store.  The wines are served in restaurants in Hawaii so I am looking forward to ordering a glass at my next dinner.

If we weren't already late to our next tour, I would have loved to stay much longer and walk the grounds.  On our way down, we spotted two deer!  Tours are by appointment only and minors are not allowed.    

2.  Schramsberg Vineyards - 1400 Schramsberg Road, Calistoga

I love bubbly so naturally I was very excited to visit Schramsberg Vineyards known for their sparkling wines.  My friends and I took their $60 appointment-only tour through the 125 year old caves.  We learned about their classic method of producing sparkling wine and tasted four of their wines.

The Blanc de Blancs (white from white) made from Chardonnay grapes was my favorite and I enjoyed the story about how it was the first wine Schramsberg produced in 1965 and gained international recognition in 1972 when then President Nixon served the wine at the historic "Toast to Peace" in Beijing, China.  The picture of the toast is up on the wall in the reception area.  Very cool!

We left so impressed that my friend joined their wine club and I ordered a glass of the blanc de blancs at dinner the next night.

3.  Jarvis Winery - 2970 Monticello Road, Napa

The Jarvis Estate winemaking facility is entirely contained within 45,000 square feet of cave tunneled into the Vaca Mountains and includes a waterfall!  Pretty amazing!  Our tour guide Cora was awesome!  She was extremely friendly and knowledgeable.  These tour guides really can make or break your experience so cross your fingers you get a good one!  

After the tour, we headed to the Tasting Chamber where tasted six of the Jarvis Estate and Reserve Collection wines.  The Chardonnay and the Reserve were my most favorite.  The tour was a little pricey at $80, but I had a wonderful time.  The Tour and Tasting is available daily by appointment and minors are not allowed.

Quite a few people recommended a visit to Castello di Amorosa so we signed up for the $60 cheese and wine pairing guided tour.  In hindsight, the self guided tour which also includes a tasting would have been just as good. 

After two back to back wine tours and tastings, I was glad to have a seated tasting at the beautiful Duckhorn Vineyards Estate House.  By this tasting, we were pretty much wined out and just wanted to chat.  The $30 portfolio tasting featured five current release wines.  I was thankful for a place to rest and have good conversation, but a little underwhelmed by the wine selection.

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A Toast to Tuscany with Frances Mayes

Today I had the honor of attending a media lunch to preview "A Toast to Tuscany," an event taking place this Wednesday at Pulehu, an Italian Grill, at The Westin Kā‘anapali Ocean Resort Villas, with acclaimed author of Under the Tuscan Sun, Frances Mayes (as of this publishing a few tickets are still available - click here for more information).

Frances Mayes and her wine label - Tuscan Sun Wines

At the event guests were treated to a sampling of a four-course meal prepared by chef de cuisine, Alvin Savella, and the resort’s executive sous chef, Matt Skaletsky.

Dishes were paired with wines from Mayes' wine label, Tuscan Sun Wines, which Jim Hansen, Pulehu's manager, acknowledged would be a welcome addition to Hawaii's wine scene.

The first course paired Fresh Monchong and Pensiero, a Pinot Grigio.  

Pensiero Pinot Grigio

Fresh Monchong - Fregola, Fennel, Porcini Cream

The Monchong was delicious, and the Fregola, balls of Sardinian pasta, gave the dish a nice texture.  The Pensiero was my favorite of the wines we tasted, not only because of the smoothness and fruity aromas, but also because of the meaning behind Pensiero, or "a little gift." Tuscans always arrive to someone's home with a gift, which is just like the locals do here in Hawaii - I never go to someone's home empty-handed!

Up next was the Venison Bolognese, paired with Auguri, a Sangiovese Blend.

Venison Bolognese - Fusilli Pasta, Fresh Ricotta, Micro Basil

Bolognese paired with Sangiovese Blend, Auguri

Made with Molokai Venison and house-made ricotta, the Bolognese was my favorite dish.  The venison did not taste gamey at all, and the entire dish was amazing.  The Auguri Sangiovese Blend, comprised of 80% Sangiovese, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, was a nice pairing with the pasta.

Next was the Risotto.  I absolutely love Risotto, and this dish did not disappoint.  It was paired with the intense, yet slightly fruity Tondo Tondo, which was apropos (Tondo Tondo means "just perfect").

Pork Belly Kabocha Squash Risotto with Sage, Pomegranate, Red Sweet Williams

Risotto paired with Tondo Tondo, a Sangiovese

For the last course, we indulged in a Hazelnut Chocolate Torte.  At first glance, the mint gelee seemed to be an odd addition to the plate, but the combination of the torte, zabaione, and mint gelee was surprisingly pleasant (at the dinner on Wednesday, the dessert will be paired with Toccare le Stelle, a prosecco).

Hazelnut Chocolate Torte with Orange Zabaione and Mint Gelee

The meals and wine pairings were fantastic, and speaking with Frances and her husband, Ed, was such a delight.

I enjoyed listening to their stories about life in Tuscany and how they started their wine business.

I also appreciated how Frances really put forth the effort to offer fantastic wines, as well as how she put a lot of thought into naming each wine, and creating the labels as well. 

Each label depicts images of her favorite places around her popular Tuscan villa, and the back of the label notates the meaning behind the names of each wine.

An image of the shrine at Mayes' home (the shrine was also featured in the movie Under the Tuscan Sun)

The story behind the name

At the end of the lunch, guests were gifted autographed bottles of Tuscan Sun wines.

Autographed bottles of Tuscan Sun Wines

Guests who attend “A Toast to Tuscany”on Wednesday will not only feast on a fabulous meal and sip on Tuscan sun-kissed wines, but they will be able to participate in a meet and greet with Mayes and watch “Under the Tuscan Sun."

Thank you to the The Westin Kā‘anapali Ocean Resort Villas team and Frances and Ed Mayes for giving us a taste of Tuscany through A Toast of Tuscany.

For more information on A Toast to Tuscany, click here.

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