Catch a wave

Chef Wade Ueoka’s revamped menu at Tsunami is a primer on classic Hawaii flavors with a twist

By Nadine Kam

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Mar 20, 2013

~~<p>There comes a time in a young chef's life when he yearns to leave a comfortable nest to realize his capabilities. In the past a chef, backed by family and/or deep-pocketed investors, simply opened a restaurant. That was the expected path.</p>
<p>The new economy has resulted in more novelty and invention, with chefs announcing their work through temporary pop-ups, trucks and shared spaces. In another unexpected move, Alan Wong alumnus Wade Ueoka has traded white tablecloths for a stint at Tsunami, a pau hana and late-night lounge, where he's revamped the menu in his signature bold style. Last year Ueoka was named one of Hawaii's 14 Rising Star chefs under 40 by <a href="http://StarChefs.com" target="_blank">StarChefs.com</a>. Read more at <a href="http://bit.ly/TQ2Be8" target="_blank">bit.ly/TQ2Be8</a>.</p>
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There comes a time in a young chef's life when he yearns to leave a comfortable nest to realize his capabilities. In the past a chef, backed by family and/or deep-pocketed investors, simply opened a restaurant. That was the expected path.

The new economy has resulted in more novelty and invention, with chefs announcing their work through temporary pop-ups, trucks and shared spaces. In another unexpected move, Alan Wong alumnus Wade Ueoka has traded white tablecloths for a stint at Tsunami, a pau hana and late-night lounge, where he's revamped the menu in his signature bold style. Last year Ueoka was named one of Hawaii's 14 Rising Star chefs under 40 by StarChefs.com. Read more at bit.ly/TQ2Be8. Login for more...