Parisian Sundays, The Swiss Inn and Shore Bird

Parisian Sunday, Downtown Honolulu.

No, of course we’re not suggesting that you hop on a plane and spend the weekend in France. There’s a closer culinary experience available in Downtown Honolulu each Sunday morning. Brasserie Du Vin offers a truly different way to dine on Sundays, without limiting the times to breakfast or lunch. Go anytime between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. and enjoy specials that include mussels, oysters, fresh island fish, cheese plates, cold meats and dessert. There’s a gorgeous creation, Eggs Dauphine, of lightly cooked eggs atop fried green tomatoes and house-smoked salmon, and don’t miss one of the restaurant’s most popular dishes, Steamed Salt Spring Mussels ($14). There’s a three-course Sunday menu for around $25 that offers a choice of daily specials and dessert. If you can’t make it on a Sunday, try Du Vin’s happy hour, daily from 4 to 7 p.m. Pupu prices start around $4, with an excellent selection of wines by the glass from $6.

Brasserie Du Vin 1115 Bethel St. 545-1115

Swiss Inn Fest Returns to Ala Moana.

You know you’re on to something if you have a list of people who absolutely need to know when you’ll next be cooking Wiener schnitzel, but chef Martin Wyss always knew he had lots of loyal customers long before his popular restaurant, The Swiss Inn, closed. “We always had a list of people who’d want to know when we featured certain dishes,”

says the amiable Wyss, “and I’m grateful that the Ala Moana Hotel provides loyal guests with a chance to taste our food once a year.”

It’s an unconventional festival - a chef who has no restaurant cooks for three weeks for an audience hungry for a taste of dishes like sauerbraten and osso bucco.

But for Ala Moana Hotel’s food and beverage director Keith Koehler, the festival is an opportunity to really give people what they want.“It’s our way of giving something back to the community,” says the affable Koehler.“So many people have great memories of The Swiss Inn and the delicious meals they enjoyed there.”

The Swiss Inn Festival runs from May 29 through June 17 at The Plantation Café, with a rotating special menu available for lunch and dinner from Tuesdays through Sundays.

Call for more information and for complete menu listings.

Plantation Cafe Ala Moana Hotel 410 Atkinson Drive

955-4811.

Shore Bird Offers 50 percent off to Celebrate Anniversary.

It’s hard to imagine there’s a better deal this weekend in Waikiki than the Shore Bird’s offer of 50 percent off your food check. Based on parties of four or less, diners will receive the discount on each of their entrees. Known for its ocean views, casual, fun atmosphere and inexpensive menu, Shore Bird garners rave reviews from locals and tourists alike. Celebrating 28 years on the beach in Waikiki, this popular restaurant is offering its special discount now through May 27. The offer is valid for breakfast and lunch and for dinner when ordering after 8 p.m.

Look for a coupon in the Honolulu Star-Bulletin Weekend section.

Shore Bird Outrigger Reef Hotel

922-2887

Breakfast at A Taste of New York.

Nothing like a holiday weekend to put you in the mood for food - and if you love a large, home-cooked breakfast, then head to A Taste of New York Deli, where two of its delicious signature dishes are family recipes. “The response to breakfast has been really good,” says owner Michele Acedo, “and people love our skillets.” Hard to resist a breakfast dish made with fried, seasoned potatoes, a selection of deli meats and topped with eggs.“We use everything from the deli case,” says Michele. There’s Irish oatmeal, too, if you want to get your weekend off to a healthy start, but it’s the stuffed French toast that gets a huge reaction from diners.“The idea came from one of our employees - it was a family favorite. Once we tasted it, we said we have to put that on the menu.” French toast stuffed with sweet cream cheese and drizzled with syrup - what’s not to love? Oh, and if your weekend isn’t complete without a loco moco fix, you’ll find one here.

A Taste of New York 1137 11th Ave. Kaimuki 737-3354 (Deli)

Pasta & Basta Has Much to Offer.

Donato Loperfido’s casual pasta, panini and pizza joint (the name means “pasta, that’s it”) is a Godsend for anyone who wants to take their children out for dinner. The price is right, (our boys shared a $6 portion of spaghetti and freshly made marinara sauce with fresh bread), the atmosphere is casual (you order from the counter - absolutely no frills), and nobody cared if they wanted to run off dinner by racing around Restaurant Row. All this and the fact that whether you spend $50 or $5 on dinner, Loperfido still makes some of the greatest Italian food in Hawaii.

Loperfido, himself the father of two little girls, says that all families and children are welcome at his casual eatery, where more than 20 different pasta dishes are priced between $6 and $15.“This is a family place - you can bring everyone, and I don’t mind how much noise they make. Bring everyone, and you won’t spend an arm and a leg for good food,” says the irrepressible Loperfido. “Not too many people want to spend $50 on dinner every night,” he adds.“These are dishes that, if you had them in a full-service restaurant, you’d be paying $15 to $18 a plate.” He’s still making fresh mozzarella, using organic greens, and serving freshly caught island fish. So what if you have to get your own napkins and wait a while for your entrée. As an alternative to fast food, or for takeout on those nights you don’t have time to cook, there’s nowhere better.

Pasta & Basta Restaurant Row (Opposite the Row Bar) 523-9999

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