Erika Engle has worked in Hawaii media since 1979. She writes “TheBuzz” column and additional stories about the restaurant and broader food service industries for "Crave" in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.
She was named 2008 Small Business Journalist of the Year, City and County of Honolulu, by the U.S. Small Business Administration (Hawaii).
Prior to her newspaper days, Engle worked in radio and television.
French dip sandwiches of wagyu beef served with a rich, beefy au jus; macarons reflecting the colors of the rainbow; and the popular whole-grain puffs are just a few reasons to frequent La Tour Cafe locations around Oahu. Read more
Volunteers from churches and the greater community are pitching in to make Saturday’s luau and fundraiser at Kaumakapili Church in Kalihi-Palama a success. Read more
Fourteen of the Top 20 revenue- generating restaurant chains and prepared-food sellers in the U.S. do business in Hawaii. Read more
West-side youth can get ready for school with an event Friday in Nanakuli, as the Back to School Bash returns for a second year. The fair will feature low-cost haircuts, school supply giveaways, food and drink, and a stamp rally at Nanakuli Elementary School. Read more
You should be hungry when you go to Papa Ole’s Kitchen in Hauula. Really hungry. Read more
Tamura Enterprises Inc. is making further strides in the restaurant industry with plans to open two operations at Waterfront Plaza, formerly known as Restaurant Row. Read more
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The Pineapple Room by Alan Wong will serve its last customers July 29 as its 18-year run at Macy’s, and Liberty House before that, comes to an end at Ala Moana Center. Read more
KITV President and General Manager Joe McNamara, widely known as “Joe Mac,” resigned his position this week to focus on his health. Read more
Billed as Honolulu’s largest bon dance, the Moiliili Summer Fest promises fun, food and festivities. Read more
The TV cooking competition “MasterChef” has bid aloha to the young Honolulu woman who became a contestant by cooking Spam for Gordon Ramsay. Read more
Tourists in beachwear, workers dressed for their high-end retail jobs, local residents outfitted casually or to the nines — all will have a new food destination when Dukes Lane Market & Eatery opens next week in Waikiki. Read more
Kelly Degala started losing his hearing not long after his graduation from University Lab School. Read more
Women who love to get dolled up for girls’ nights out might love Audrey Hepburn Night, being staged by Kailua establishment A Cup of Tea this Saturday. Read more
Paige Jimenez has left the televised “Master Chef” competition for home cooks after failing to impress the judges in an elimination test. Read more
Aloha Poke Co. will have 14 outlets by the end of this year and is planning even more beyond that, but here’s the thing: The company is based in Illinois. Read more
Kamehameha Schools holds a festive block party in Kakaako celebrating the return of the Hokule‘a voyaging canoe. Read more
Island Olive Oil Co. is expanding to Windward Oahu and soon will open in Kailua Town Center, in the former Lily Lotus space next to Miyoshi Ramen. Read more
Aloha Tofu Factory Inc. has launched a Wednesday pop-up, offering to-go items at Shingon Shu Hawaii. Read more
A college dean has created the food-themed musical “Coolin’aire: A Culinary Jazz Odyssey,” which features culinary students preparing food on stage and doing double time on instruments, along with area musicians. Read more
Chef Conrad Aquino remembers going to the Pacific Beach Hotel with his family for special occasions as a boy. Now he’s in charge of designing culinary concepts for the property. Read more
Ko Hana Rum Distillery will stage a celebrity chef dining event and silent auction to benefit the nonprofit Honolulu Habitat for Humanity on Saturday. Read more
