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Our Picks

For Friday, September 26, 2008

By Star-Bulletin staff

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Sep 26, 2008

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FOOD

Wasabi Bistro

The Breakers Hotel, 250 Beachwalk / 922-1133

Fans of Wasabi Bistro, who watched it morph into the more traditional Japanese restaurant Wasabi and Nadaman, will be happy to know that owner Kumi Iseki wasn't quite over the concept herself. She's resurrected Wasabi Bistro in Waikiki, with the built-in nostalgic vibe of the charming Breakers Hotel.

The indoor-outdoor aspect of the low-rise, courtyard apartments is echoed with Wasabi Bistro's minimalist "Gilligan's Island"-meets-Ikea aesthetic that manages to be casual, comfortable, contemporary, chic and conducive to relaxation. Inside this cocoon, one unfamiliar with the area would have no idea that just one block over is the glitzier, noisier Waikiki Beach Walk.

Sigh and settle in for sake and sushi. Chances are, you'll want to linger for a long while, and this is the kind of place where you're never short of options. Depending on your mood, appetite and state of your game in stock-market roulette, you could limit yourself to nibbling on a handful of $5 to $7 appetizers or go for the serious entrees and sets, from a $14.75 soba trio to ribeye steak or butterfish misoyaki for $27.50.

You can't visit Wasabi Bistro without sampling a couple of its signature dishes, though the mayo hater's club could probably take a pass on the creamy likes of the Wasabi No. 1 Special ($9.75), a sort of baked California roll featuring two small mounds of surimi, avocado and white fish enveloped in a thick, unagi and mirin-sweetened house sauce.

Another of her signatures is the baked scallop special ($12.75) which is mostly rice, topped by a few pieces of scallops and mushrooms, layered with bonito flakes and another creamy, spicy sauce. As much as I try to avoid rice (no sugar-releasing carbs for me), I reached for second and third spoonfuls of this dish.

Open 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5:30 to 9 p.m. daily. Costs about $15 per person for lunch; about $35 to $70 for dinner for two without drinks.

IN CONCERT

Jasmine Trias, SOS LV together again in Waikiki

It's hana hou for former "American Idol" contestant Jasmine Trias when she reunites with the Society of Seven LV at the main showroom of the Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach.

Expect more first-class musical celebrity impersonations and dramatic numbers from the group that's long on vocal and instrumental talent.

The encore engagement starts Friday and runs through Oct. 25, nightly, except Mondays, at 8:30.

Seating starts at 7 p.m. and includes a dinner buffet package, which features such fare as prime rib, mahimahi and tempura.

Call 923-7469 for reservations.

MUSIC

Orvis concert pays tribute to music supporters

The University of Hawaii Music Department will remember Raymond and Marion Vaught, a couple recognized for supporting music in the isles, with a free concert at Orvis Auditorium on Sunday at 3 p.m.

Performances will include Puccini's "Tra voi, belle," Dvorak's "Song to the Moon," Borodin's String Quartet No. 2, Randall Thompson's "Alleluia" and Charles Villiers Stanford's "Beati quorum via."

On the lineup to perform are the Galliard String Quartet, Hawaii Vocal Arts Ensemble, Partners in Time and singers from Hawaii Opera Theatre.

Raymond, a music professor at UH and founder of the Honolulu String Quartet, died in 2000. His wife, Marion, played flute for the Honolulu Symphony and volunteered for Hawaii Opera Theatre. She died in May.

Call 956-7756 or e-mail uhmmusic@hawaii.edu.

FESTIVAL

Ward Warehouse festival feeds the need for beads

Bead freaks will come out in droves for the Soft Flex Glass Art and Bead Festival this weekend, featuring more than 30 exhibitors with everything from handmade collectible beads to gems.

Beaders will be able to replenish such "supplies" as findings, wire and chain at nice prices and perhaps still have enough in their budgets to peruse the gorgeous handmade glass creations by artisans from all over the country.

The festival will be housed in the Ward Warehouse second-floor conference rooms, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Visit www.softflexcompany.com/FestivalHI_Main.html.

ON STAGE

Zine editor guests at HawaiiSlam

The sixth official HawaiiSlam season rolls on with its monthly qualifiers at First Thursdays at the Hawaiian Hut on Oct. 2. The top two poets will qualify for the HawaiiSlam Finals in April 2009 which determines the team that will represent the state at the 2009 National Poetry Slam in Florida.

The special guest will be Laura Yes Yes, the 2008 Berkeley IWPS champ and editor of Nth, a zine featuring work by international underground poets and artists. As always, the night will be hosted by Kealoha and will feature live painters, massages in the lounge, and a guest disc jockey providing turntable sorcery throughout the evening.

Doors open at 7:45 p.m. at the Atkinson Drive venue that fronts Ala Moana Hotel. The show starts at 8:30 p.m. Admission is $3 before 8:30 p.m. and $5 after. Call 387-9664 or visit www.HawaiiSlam.com.

 

FOOD

Wasabi Bistro

The Breakers Hotel, 250 Beachwalk / 922-1133

Fans of Wasabi Bistro, who watched it morph into the more traditional Japanese restaurant Wasabi and Nadaman, will be happy to know that owner Kumi Iseki wasn't quite over the concept herself. She's resurrected Wasabi Bistro in Waikiki, with the built-in nostalgic vibe of the charming Breakers Hotel.

The indoor-outdoor aspect of the low-rise, courtyard apartments is echoed with Wasabi Bistro's minimalist "Gilligan's Island"-meets-Ikea aesthetic that manages to be casual, comfortable, contemporary, chic and conducive to relaxation. Inside this cocoon, one unfamiliar with the area would have no idea that just one block over is the glitzier, noisier Waikiki Beach Walk.

Sigh and settle in for sake and sushi. Chances are, you'll want to linger for a long while, and this is the kind of place where you're never short of options. Depending on your mood, appetite and state of your game in stock-market roulette, you could limit yourself to nibbling on a handful of $5 to $7 appetizers or go for the serious entrees and sets, from a $14.75 soba trio to ribeye steak or butterfish misoyaki for $27.50.

You can't visit Wasabi Bistro without sampling a couple of its signature dishes, though the mayo hater's club could probably take a pass on the creamy likes of the Wasabi No. 1 Special ($9.75), a sort of baked California roll featuring two small mounds of surimi, avocado and white fish enveloped in a thick, unagi and mirin-sweetened house sauce.

Another of her signatures is the baked scallop special ($12.75) which is mostly rice, topped by a few pieces of scallops and mushrooms, layered with bonito flakes and another creamy, spicy sauce. As much as I try to avoid rice (no sugar-releasing carbs for me), I reached for second and third spoonfuls of this dish.

Open 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5:30 to 9 p.m. daily. Costs about $15 per person for lunch; about $35 to $70 for dinner for two without drinks.

IN CONCERT

Jasmine Trias, SOS LV together again in Waikiki

It's hana hou for former "American Idol" contestant Jasmine Trias when she reunites with the Society of Seven LV at the main showroom of the Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach.

Expect more first-class musical celebrity impersonations and dramatic numbers from the group that's long on vocal and instrumental talent.

The encore engagement starts Friday and runs through Oct. 25, nightly, except Mondays, at 8:30.

Seating starts at 7 p.m. and includes a dinner buffet package, which features such fare as prime rib, mahimahi and tempura.

Call 923-7469 for reservations.

MUSIC

Orvis concert pays tribute to music supporters

The University of Hawaii Music Department will remember Raymond and Marion Vaught, a couple recognized for supporting music in the isles, with a free concert at Orvis Auditorium on Sunday at 3 p.m.

Performances will include Puccini's "Tra voi, belle," Dvorak's "Song to the Moon," Borodin's String Quartet No. 2, Randall Thompson's "Alleluia" and Charles Villiers Stanford's "Beati quorum via."

On the lineup to perform are the Galliard String Quartet, Hawaii Vocal Arts Ensemble, Partners in Time and singers from Hawaii Opera Theatre.

Raymond, a music professor at UH and founder of the Honolulu String Quartet, died in 2000. His wife, Marion, played flute for the Honolulu Symphony and volunteered for Hawaii Opera Theatre. She died in May.

Call 956-7756 or e-mail uhmmusic@hawaii.edu.

FESTIVAL

Ward Warehouse festival feeds the need for beads

Bead freaks will come out in droves for the Soft Flex Glass Art and Bead Festival this weekend, featuring more than 30 exhibitors with everything from handmade collectible beads to gems.

Beaders will be able to replenish such "supplies" as findings, wire and chain at nice prices and perhaps still have enough in their budgets to peruse the gorgeous handmade glass creations by artisans from all over the country.

The festival will be housed in the Ward Warehouse second-floor conference rooms, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Visit www.softflexcompany.com/FestivalHI_Main.html.

ON STAGE

Zine editor guests at HawaiiSlam

The sixth official HawaiiSlam season rolls on with its monthly qualifiers at First Thursdays at the Hawaiian Hut on Oct. 2. The top two poets will qualify for the HawaiiSlam Finals in April 2009 which determines the team that will represent the state at the 2009 National Poetry Slam in Florida.

The special guest will be Laura Yes Yes, the 2008 Berkeley IWPS champ and editor of Nth, a zine featuring work by international underground poets and artists. As always, the night will be hosted by Kealoha and will feature live painters, massages in the lounge, and a guest disc jockey providing turntable sorcery throughout the evening.

Doors open at 7:45 p.m. at the Atkinson Drive venue that fronts Ala Moana Hotel. The show starts at 8:30 p.m. Admission is $3 before 8:30 p.m. and $5 after. Call 387-9664 or visit www.HawaiiSlam.com.

 

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CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARBULLETIN.COM
Enjoy Wasabi Bistro's rainbow roll ($15) as you relax in its casual setting at the Breakers Hotel in Waikiki.





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