School lunches go upscale at Waipahu High

The hottest meal ticket on the island? Right now it’s an exclusive little dining room that’s open only on select Thursdays into early April, and only for lunch. Your name has to be on a list for you to get in — not just to hold your table, but also to get past the security guard in the parking lot.

The Marauder Cafe is the final project of the year for culinary students at Waipahu High School, and it’s a biggie. The students plan and execute a four-course menu, serving it at their own restaurant.

They put everything they’ve learned to use — while practicing on you. Well, you if you’re lucky enough to get a seat. They go fast.

Last week was the opening. On the menu were entree choices of Thai curry (in fish, chicken or pork) and a noodles-in-soup dish with char siu, vegetables and shoyu egg. The students made nearly all the components, including a delightful crisp rice cracker that was served with a smoked-fish dip as an appetizer.

I can personally attest to the quality and to the extremely attentive service.

The same menu is offered this week, to be followed by a new-American menu (entree choices of chicken hash with blueberry sauce, grilled beef with Korean-style vegetables or pan-seared fish with edamame).

Cost is $18 this week, $20 after that. Remaining service dates are Feb. 15 and 22; March 1, 8, 15 and 29; and April 5. Seatings begin at 11 a.m. Call 307-9458 or email whs.culinary.arts.program@gmail.com.

— Betty Shimabukuro, Star-Advertiser

WAIPAHU MATH TEACHER SUCCEEDS AS FAKE BAKER

In the world of mathematics, there’s right or wrong — no faking your answer. But Waipahu High School math teacher Edmar Ramos turned out to be a master “faker,” so much so that he took home $10,000 as a winner of the Food Network series “Bakers vs. Fakers.”

The episode aired Sunday.

This is not to say Ramos was a baking poser. Quite the opposite, actually, as he fooled judges Paulette Goto and Alex Guarnaschelli into thinking he was a professional. The show pits four bakers, two amateur and two professional, against one another as they create their best desserts using mystery ingredients.

Ramos razzle-dazzled judges in the first round — assignment: lava cake, secret ingredient: lavender — with an ube lavender lava cake with a lavender tea and lavender honey granita, plus a banana lumpia brushed with lavender honey.

“I was trying to pay homage to my Filipino heritage and my mom’s desserts,” he said.

The judges said Ramos’ desserts best showcased the herb and were especially impressed with his granita and lumpia.

Round 2 brought forth an oat challenge, which Ramos tackled with a chocolate oatmeal stout cupcake with oatmeal-stout caramel and coconut buttercream frosting, served with an oatmeal-macadamia nut streusel “to bring it back home, incorporate the flavors from Hawaii.”

Asked what he’ll do with his winnings, Ramos said, “I’m going to take my mom and dad on a trip, possibly to the Philippines, but wherever they want to go.”

— Joleen Oshiro, Star-Advertiser