Haven’t had a chance yet to check out the International Market Place? How about this for a nudge toward Waikiki: Grand Lanai Restaurant Week runs all next week at the new shopping/dining mecca.
Restaurants on the Grand Lanai — Eating House 1849, Flour & Barley Brick Oven Pizza, Goma Tei, Kona Grill, Stripsteak Waikiki and Yauatcha — will offer fixed-price menus, generally three courses, at special prices.
For example, at Flour & Barley, a $35 meal begins with choice of meatballs or a caprese or arugula-kale salad, followed by a choice from among five pizzas, then dessert of chocolate mousse or cannoli. Wine or beer pairings are an extra $20.
The event runs Monday through April 16. (Don’t confuse this event with Restaurant Week Hawaii, a benefit for the Culinary Institute of the Pacific that runs in November.)
To kick off the week, the marketplace hosts a free Poke Bowl, 5:30 to 6:15 p.m. Monday. Chefs from Eating House will prepare tastings of traditional and specialty poke dishes for sampling.
Visit GrandLanai.com to see menus from all the participating restaurants and information on prize giveaways and other events during the week.
— Betty Shimabukuro, Star-Advertiser
A taste of Mumbai at Kokua Market
Mumbai cuisine reflects cultural influences of India, Portugal and Great Britain. Every Sunday, Kokua Market customers can find out firsthand what that tastes like.
Jonathan Fernandes, who makes and sells Mykalki Spice Blends, serves up a weekly menu of Mumbai food, with two soups, six entrees and a full salad bar, catering to a wide range of eaters — vegans, vegetarians, gluten-free eaters and nonvegetarians alike.
Fernandes was raised in Mumbai, and the dishes are based on his mother’s recipes, using the spice mixes he creates from family recipes.
The mixes, which use as many as 24 spices, are all-natural with no preservatives, colorings or flavorings.
Deli prices: Brown rice and soups are $5.99 a pound; hot entrees, cold dishes and salads are $9.29 a pound.
Kokua Market, at 2643 S. King St. in Moiliili, is open daily from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Call 941-1922.
— Joleen Oshiro, Star-Advertiser