Aloha Folks!
I hope everyone is beating the heat and enjoying the wonderful fresh fruits and summer vegetables available in the markets this time of year! Experiment with your outdoor grill and take advantage of the balmy weather to entertain friends and family with casual fun food and the sharing of meals in the relaxed setting of your own back yard. That is, of course, if you can't make it to Hali'imaile General Store, Joe's in Wailea or the Lanai City Grille!!!
We just rolled out a new lunch menu at Hali'imaile General Store. The big hit so far is the Pulled Pork Sandwich on a Hoagie. I offer barbecued pulled pork laced with my 'to die for' BBQ sauce, crispy slaw and lots of love piled high on a hoagie bun. It's a great sandwich and folks are lining up for it! The Grilled Ahi Panzanella Salad, Mahi Mahi Melt and Summer Vegetable Sandwich of grilled eggplant & zucchini, Heirloom tomatoes, smoked Gouda and caramelized onions are all truly delectable! Please stop in for lunch Monday thru Friday from 11:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. You won't be disappointed!
I just returned from Napa and San Francisco where I had many great meals, taught a cooking class and took some well deserved R&R. Thomas Keller’s Ad Hoc in Yountville was delightful. My favorite meal was at Boulettes Larder in the Ferry Building in SF. They have one table that seats up to 24 guests that is right in the kitchen and the menu is left to the design of Chef Amaryll Schwertner who uses the amazing fresh produce and myriad items available in the huge farmer’s market at the front door. Everything was so wonderful – some friends had the place for the evening and the experience was top notch from Amuse Bouche right through to Dessert. The wines were incredible and everyone enjoyed the meal and ambience. And the farmer’s market!!!! There were 10 varieties of fantastic looking and smelling apricots, flowering arugula, micro greens, free range chickens, all grass fed beef and I could go on and on – it was a chef’s paradise.
During my trip I zoomed over to San Mateo and taught a cooking class at Draeger’s. If you aren’t familiar with this gourmet wonderland, they are a chef’s dream at 222 E. 4th Ave in San Mateo. I have a following in the area and the class was sold out weeks prior. It was fabulous to see so many familiar faces in the crowd! Thank you to all the folks who came out to see me and to those who made this event possible and I look forward to returning soon!
Although action packed, I did have some time to relax during the trip! The universe aligned and Rebecca Schillaci and I had time to relax away from work. Rebecca is the classy dame who runs my businesses as General Manager and she was in the area visiting friends and family. We took advantage of the free time and went shopping and didn’t talk about work for 48 hours in a row! If you know how the two of us work…..that is an accomplishment!
In other news, Rachael Ray stopped by Hali’imaile General Store with her husband John Cusimano to film her show Rachael’s Vacation for the Food Network. Yes – Rachael is as sweet and endearing in person as she appears on television. After the shoot, they stayed to really eat and everyone, including the other restaurant patrons, had a fun night. I will keep you posted as to when the show will air on the Food Network, so stay tuned!
O.k.! It’s off to Manila next week for a short trip for Hawaiian Airlines. I am going over to the Philippines to teach the cooks at the station down there to make my dishes for Hawaiian Airlines. I love Manila for the people, the food, the shopping and the GREAT manicures, pedicures and massages!
We also have a new chef at the Lanai City Grille, so we plan to roll out some new dishes on that menu – I’ll keep you up to date on those happenings. He is from back East and has experience with the Four Seasons hotels as well as The Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows on the Big Island!
Happy 4th of July! Have a safe and wonderful holiday.
With warmest aloha,
Bev
