Wolfgang Zwiener, who operates Wolfgang’s Steakhouse at the Royal Hawaiian Center in Waikiki, will launch a Wolfgang’s in Tokyo in the first quarter of 2014. This is partly in response to a high Japanese visitor following at his local establishment … and the fact that the Japanese love their steak.
Japan’s former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi was a diner locally, and when current PM Shinzo Abe had a reservation for Wolfgang’s Park Avenue site in New York, owner Zwiener (who was in the islands), swiftly flew to the Big Apple to personally attend to Abe’s needs. Of course, there was a photo op, and now a pic of Abe hangs in both the NYC and Hawaii restaurants — a kick for Japanese visitors who recognize one of their own when they book a table. …
And remember, while the Wolfgang steaks are the big draw, don’t overlook a side of that yummy and thick bacon appetizer. …
And Wolfgang’s in Waikiki is a site for celebrity-watching, with folks such as Anthony Hopkins, George Clooney, Paris Hilton, Patrick Monahan of Train, and Daniel Dae Kim spotted there earlier. Expect a barrage of footballers during the upcoming NFL Pro Bowl. …
‘TIS THE SEASON: Comedian Frank De Lima has been up late at night to make, then deliver, his Christmas aloha: pots of his late mom Pearl‘s Portuguese bean soup for select morning-drive radio personalities. It’s his 38th season (aslong he’s been in show biz) sharing the soup with his media supporters. Reminder, De Lima dons his light-up Christmas tree costume at his annual Christmas show Friday at the Pagoda’s C’est Si Bon club. …
MAC/24, the all-hours dining spot at the Hilton Waikiki Beach Hotel on Kuhio Avenue, had its share of celebs during Thanksgiving. Like: Gabriel "Fluffy" Iglesias, the comic, who hosted his "Fluffy Pancake Challenge" one morn, and actor Bill Murray, who had a sampling of chef James Aptakin‘s pancakery, along withfish burritos. …
Cuban actress Danay Garcia and her son were Hilton houseguests, r ‘n’ r-ing after she hosted a fundraiser in Los Angeles. …
Chef Yoichi Saito, of the Park Restaurant in the Lotus Honolulu at Diamond Head,and restaurant manager Dante Camara have a new wrinkle for holiday celebrants. They’ll offer a "New Year’s Eve Survival Kit" to revelers, who will receive a hat, noisemaker, Alka-Seltzer and Tylenol — to go.And surely, if you need one, they’ll hail a cab. All in the name of a safer New Year’s. …
MOVEMENTS: During their "Hot Hawaiian Christmas Tour" in Japan, Hawaii group ManoaDNA (Dad Lloyd Kawakami, sons Nick and Alex Kawakami) gave away island wear (Iolani-label aloha shirts and dresses) to fans via the timeless jan ken po game. See, the paper-scissors-stone still works. …
Congrats to former Advertiser colleague Robbie Dingeman, who also is a producer of the annual SPJ Gridiron Show, who has taken over the reins as editor of Honolulu magazine. She succeeds A. Kam Napier, who still will do freelance pieces for the mag but has settled in as an account director at Becker Communications. …
And best wishes to Jill Kuramoto, exiting her anchorwoman slot at KITV. Presume she’ll have some TV presence as the new spokeswoman for the Board of Water Supply, which is in the news almost daily with main breaks, traffic snarls, etc. With BWS stilltrying to sort out its billing mess, much aloha to Kuramoto and her colleagues. …
ON THE ROAD: Singer-composer Jay Larrin has been wintering in Vancouver, British Columbia, and posting hazy, gray, snowy images of the city. Brrrrr. …
And that’s "Show Biz." …
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Wayne Harada is a veteran entertainment columnist; reach him at 266-0926 or wayneharada@gmail.com; read his Show and Tell Hawaii blog at www.staradvertiser.com.
