Even with no holidays, specials abound

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Friday - February 23, 2007

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OK,so Valentine’s Day is over and there are no major holidays on the horizon until St. Patrick’s Day. However that doesn’t mean your motivation to dine out has to go kaput - February is still alive and well. New specials and deals are popping up at a few local places, including Jackie’s Kitchen, Michel’s and Sam Choy’s Diamond Head. Read on and get hungry!

Taking a break at Jackie’s Kitchen are Chef Stephen “Mits”
Hamada, manager Kwon and bartender Christian Self.
Self’s wife was the first to stop by on Wednesdays to see
her husband and watch ABC’s LOST on the bar TV. Now,
every Wednesday at Jackie’s is LOST night.

Jackie’s Kitchen

All local fans of ABC’s LOST,also known as “LOST-ies,” now have a place to gather every Wednesday to enjoy good food and watch their favorite TV show.

Inside the sophisticated, yet fun, atmosphere of Jackie’s Kitchen is the restaurant’s Bamboo Bar, where the popular Hawaii-filmed TV series is aired and tasty food is consumed.

While watching LOST, fans can chow down on pupus appropriately named for the show’s characters, including “Kate’s Krispy Won Tons,” “Hurley’s (pork) Hash,” “Mr.Eko’s Edamame,”“Sawyer’s Shu Mai"and “Desmond’s Dumplings.” The regular menu is also available. The Bamboo Bar holds about 40 people and the sound is kept at a decent level, as not to disturb guests in the main dining area.

If you need a tasty cocktail to go along with your pupus, try any of Jackie’s island-inspired “sake-tinis.” Flavors include almond heaven,ginger blossom infusion, green tea, Rising Sun sake-kazi, pomegranate and Thai coconut delight.

Head to the Bamboo Bar on Wednesdays from 8 to 9 p.m. to watch the show, and stick around until 10 p.m. for a trivia contest and prizes. No cover, one drink minimum.

Jackie’s Kitchen Asian Grill Ala Moana Center, fourth floor (next to Ruby Tuesday)

943-2426

Michel’s

Complete with a Ketel One Bloody Mary Bar for $5 (where, by the way, you can mix your own drink!), scrumptious offerings of food and a live harpist, Michel’s at the Colony Surf is a cool spot to try for Sunday brunch.

On the new brunch menu are tropical fruit, ahi sashimi, smoked salmon, soups, seafood Benedict, Gold Coast omelet, coconut haupia sweet bread French toast and a lot more that will leave you full when you walk out the door. There’s a champagne flight (three half glasses),coffee, orange juice, the usual brunch beverages. Laid out at the Bloody Mary bar are all the necessary items including carrots, celery, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauces and the ready-made mix of tomato juice and vodka, prepared by the bartender.

The spot works, too, with a pretty close-up view of the ocean. Enjoy live music by harpist Shareen - she plays a bit of everything, even Green Day. According to manager Flora Applewhite, the weekly crowd includes a lot of regular customers. One small snag is that prices are a la carte, which means you pay for each individual item, unlike other brunches where the price is an all-inclusive deal.

Brunch is every Sunday from 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Michel’s at the Colony Surf 923-6552 or www.michelshawaii.com

Sam Choy’s Diamond Head:

On the edge of Waikiki, this fine dining establishment caters to both tourists and locals. Locals, by the way, says restaurant publicist Sally Watanabe, are continually attracted to the restaurant’s ongoing Kamaaina Special menu.

Served daily from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.,the four course menu changes each month. For February, it’s soup du jour, spicy tako chopped salad, marinated New York steak or an oven-roasted catch of the day, or honey macadamia glazed chicken. Make sure to save room for dessert - a coffee bread pudding. If this dinner is anything like the Brew Master’s Dinner served monthly at the other location (Sam Choy’s Breakfast, Lunch and Crab on Nimitz), you’re in for an evening of really good food. Prepare to eat, drink and be merry, and be full. Kamaaina Special is $29.95 per person.

Call for reservations.

Sam Choy’s Diamond Head 449 Kapahulu Ave., second floor 732-8645

- Kerry Miller