FUUD: Bernini Honolulu

By • July 8, 2011 • Food

I had heard about it and I always think about trying it whenever I drive past.

So when my girlfriend invited me to dinner at Bernini Honolulu, a new contemporary Italian restaurant that opened in April near Ala Moana Center, I didn’t hesitate.

In fact, I already knew what I wanted to order.

Bernini Honolulu isn’t your ordinary Italian restaurant. Its chef is Kengo Matsumoto, who got his chops in northern Italy before opening three restaurants in Tokyo. Bernini is his first eatery in Hawaii.

It’s pretty evident by just looking at its menu that Bernini serves its signature brand of Italian fare: fresh sea urchin spaghetti, king crab atop linguine with a tomato cream sauce, penne with swordfish and an oregano tomato sauce and the Vongole Bianco (shown) consisting of fresh clams in a white wine sauce.

And if you love authentic Italian-style pizza, Bernini won’t disappoint, offering 18 different varieties of pie all cooked in a WoodStone pizza oven.

Here’s what we ate:

Bernini Honolulu

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This new restaurant opened in April in the space vacated by Sweet Nothings on Waimanu Street.

Bernini Honolulu, 1218 Waimanu St., Honolulu. Hours: 5:30-11 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, closed Monday. Phone: (808) 591-8400

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Today’s happy shot

By • July 7, 2011 • Food, Happy Shots

I’m not much of a salad eater, but this one from Tango Market in Ward Centre is mouthwatering good. (It’s the sweet-and-tangy raspberry vinaigrette that makes it!)

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Your favorite Hawaii beaches

By • July 7, 2011 • #CatTravels

On Sunday, on our way to Kaena Point, we stopped at Makaha Beach (left) to kill some time.

I had forgotten how nearly perfect this place is.

The beach itself is a relieving exhale; it’s wide and usually uncrowded, with enough room for you to stretch out. Unlike popular beaches in town, you won’t likely be disturbed by beach-goers blathering on their cell phones or chain-smoking on the beach mat next to you.

And there’s surf. Not the occasional freak set of swells. We’re talking serious waves from north and south swells that can reach advisory levels in the winter that can generate dangerous shorebreak and strong rip currents.

It’s easily one of my favorite beaches in Hawaii.

I get asked that question all the time — people visiting the Islands always want to know where the best beaches are. Some want calm waters with living coral reefs perfect for snorkeling. Others want world-class surf breaks. Still others want beaches where all the hot chicks frequent.

I like beaches that offer options.

The beaches in Waikiki (right) has a plethora of things to do, from snorkeling to swimming to surfing. You can rent everything from stand-up paddleboards to inner tubes at concession stands along the beach. And if you want to lie back and watch the world pass by, you can do that, too.

And if you get bored with the beach, you can always ditch the towels and walk along Kalakaua Avenue for frozen yogurt, shave ice or a li hing margarita.

See? Options.

But I can appreciate a more secluded beach like Wailea Beach on Maui.

This crescent-shaped golden beach on the southern shores of Maui (left) was voted “America’s Best Beach” — and for good reason. It offers ideal swimming and snorkeling in its protected waters, with restrooms and equipment rentals nearby. Like other Neighbor Island beaches — Secret Beach on Kauai, Papohaku Beach on Molokai — Wailea isn’t very crowded, at least by Oahu standards. And sometimes I like going to the ocean to get away from the noise and commotion that is my life. Crowds aren’t what I’m looking for.

So I’m throwing it out there: what are your favorite Hawaii beaches and why?

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Cat Chat: Mavro’s summer menu

By • July 6, 2011 • Food, Videos

Change can be a good thing.

And that’s definitely the case at the award-winning restaurant Chef Mavro, which recently unveiled both a new chef de cuisine and a new summer menu.

Back in May, chef/owner George Mavrothalassitis (@chefmavro) hired Paul Feng — who has worked at Wolfgang Puck’s famed San Francisco restaurant Postrio and at the now-closed Tabla in New York City — as chef de cuisine. The two collaborated on a new summer menu with innovative dishes like a tako (octopus) ceviche with a tomato granite and a Keahole lobster a la Thai with coconut cream froth atop rice noodle cake.

I was salivating just reading the menu.

So we had to check it out for ourselves.

Chef Mavro graciously let us hang out in the kitchen before dinner last week to watch his staff prep this menu, about 80 percent of which uses locally grown ingredients. (Chef is big into the local farm-to-table movement.)

So here’s your sneak peek into the restaurant’s latest offerings and a chance to meet the new chef de cuisine. Sorry, there are no subtitles.

Outside Chef Mavro

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Around for more than a decade, Chef Mavro is consistently rated as one of the best Hawaii restaurants and holds the prestigious James Beard award.

The menu is offered in three courses ($75, $48 more with wine pairings), four courses ($85, $55 more with wine pairings), six courses ($128, $63 more with wine pairings), or the Grand Degustation, which is all of the dishes in tasting portions ($165, $85 more with wine pairings).

Chef Mavro, 1969 South King St. Phone: (808) 944-4714

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Dog owners FOUND!

By • July 5, 2011 • The Dog Dish

We got the call we were all hoping for — none more than Charlie, the Cavalier King Charles we picked up on Sunday wandering the streets of Portlock.

And, by the way, his name is Rascal.

Like we figured, the owners had no idea Rascal slipped out of their house for an unsupervised Sunday night stroll. Luckily, Rascal had only been out for a couple of hours — if that, according to the owners — before we found him.

And like many dog owners (including us), the owners didn’t know they had to register the microchip with the Hawaiian Humane Society. It’s something all of you with pets should do today.

Skin allergies are surprisingly common with dogs, and Cavalier King Charles are no exception. The owners have been trying to figure out what’s wrong with Rascal, and changing his diet was one of their many attempts. (If anyone has suggestions or tips I can pass along to the owner, post ’em here.)

Pet ownership isn’t easy, especially if you’re trying to provide a safe, healthy and fun-filled life for your animals. And it’s particularly difficult when your pet is suffering from a disease, injury or condition like Rascal.

By this afternoon, he should be reunited with his family and sleeping in his comfortable bed. Thanks to everyone for your help in tracking down his owners — for the re-tweeting and Facebook posts — and sending your happy thoughts to Rascal. He’s going home!

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