To Table: Ono Eats

Lava Lava Beach Club’s pineapple fried rice with shrimp, soybeans, egg and a sweet and savory teriyaki sauce. Photo courtesy of Lava Lava Beach Club. When Chef Kim Brun left Lava Lava Beach Club after helping the new restaurant open in 2015, something told her to keep her emblazoned Sous Chef coat. And it’s a…

Kauai ginger being harvested. Daniel Lane photo I never thought a love for food would make me sick. Truthfully, it wasn’t food that made me ill, it was the lengths I went through in the name of good food. After trying several remedies, my recipe for a simple tea was most effective at providing relief. The…

Christopher Kim, chef de cuisine at Kauai Grill. Daniel Lane photo In July 2016, Christoper Kim began his post as chef de cuisine at the St. Regis Princeville’s Kauai Grill. Born in Garden Grove, CA and raised in Mission Viejo, CA, Kim fell in love with cooking as a child. “I remember cooking my mom…

Owners Erin Keller and Jose Cortez. Daniel Lane photo Note: In 2017, our blog posts will be less frequent. We’ll continue to update the book and app, but I will be writing a cookbook! I submitted a book proposal to Andy Ross, an agent I met at the 2016 Kauai Writers Festival, and he is now…

Guests play piano and even bring Champagne to celebrate special occasions. Daniel Lane photo The Tea Room at The Gallery evokes a charming, easy going time when things moved a lot slower. Teas, written by hand with colored chalk, are listed on chalkboards that are hung with white ribbon. There’s botanical tea powder by Naikela,…

Any Kind Eggs ($18) with “Add the Works” and “Make it A Meal.” Daniel Lane photo On Sept 24, word spread across social media that Trees Lounge was closing after nine years of business. Kauai’s residents and loyal visitors were distressed to learn the news. After all, they’d became accustomed to the only place in…

The Lanai, located at the Shops at Kukuiula, is now open and serves Napa inspired food in a contemporary Hawaiian setting. Daniel Lane photo The Lanai opened just before Thanksgiving, on Nov. 20, 2016. Owners Howard Warner and Jeff Sacchini built the outdoor restaurant as an extension of Living Foods Gourmet Market & Cafe. The…

Jennifer Bryant of The Club at Kukui‘ula is named Kauai’s Best Bartender. Photo courtesy of RumFire Poipu Beach Last night, RumFire Poipu Beach declared Jennifer Bryant of The Club at Kukuiula champion of the Kauai’s Best Bartender competition. In the contest’s second year, 16 finalists from the island’s food and beverage industry were challenged to…

Joey Gottesman, an Oahu-based mixologist. Daniel Lane photo. This Hawaii coconut rum cocktail recipe features Koloa Coconut Rum, an ingredient that eight chefs will use during the Tasting Kauai Coconut Cook Off. Since Koloa Rum is celebrating their 7th anniversary this month, I’ve also included four fun-rum events that save money and will tickle your palate….

Greg Askew and Candace Boxer of OnoPops. Daniel Lane image. A pan of mochi bakes in the oven and the smell of butter fills the OnoPops kitchen. Candace Boxer, wearing a blue hairnet and white lab coat, mixes local beets with lavender and strawberries. She dips a refractometer into the blend and holds it to…