Commercial kitchens in food trucks are being opened to chefs on the go

Waikiki food trucks multiply: Street Food Stadium Food Park is holding its grand opening Saturday at 1687 Kalakaua Ave. (mauka of the Hawaii Convention Center). The food truck incubator, a sister site to Pau Hana Marketplace in Waikiki, provides turnkey kitchens inside food trucks to entrepreneurs and chefs who want to break into the industry. Owners plan to provide different types of food to the community, on a rotating basis, as chefs leasing the commercial kitchens on wheels have six-month or one-year leases to vend their new foods. Ten trucks comprise Street Food Stadium. Tomorrow’s opening will have items such as rice tacos, takoyaki, acai bowls and Moroccan food. A beer and wine bar is in the works. Street Food Stadium is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily beginning Saturday. For information email info@streetfoodstadium.com.

Stage celebrates: Stage is celebrating its ninth anniversary this month, offering dinners at half price April 12-23 (excluding all beverages). Seatings have been known to sell out fast; reservations are available at 237-5429. Stage is open Tuesdays through Saturdays. It’s on the second floor of the Honolulu Design Center, 1250 Kapiolani Blvd.

Imaginative bartenders wanted: Bombay Sapphire is looking for mixologists to enter its Most Imaginative Bartender Competition. The annual contest, now in its fourth year, will be accepting submissions April 14-24 on the MostImaginativeBartender.com site. If a drink is accepted, a Bombay Sapphire rep will meet the mixologist at a bar to taste the recipe, and the top 10 will be invited to compete in a regional competition. Last year’s nationwide winning cocktail, the Poet’s Muse, included yuzu and an “umami tincture,” made from shiitake mushrooms, butter, Bombay Sapphire and Himalayan salt. It was created by Justin Lavenue of the Roosevelt Room in Austin, Texas.

Taste of Hongwanji: Honpa Hongwanji Hawaii Betsuin, at 1727 Pali Highway, is holding its annual bazaar featuring entertainment, games, hidden treasures and, of course, many varieties of ono local food. This is the place where locals know they can pick up the hongwanji’s popular “Favorite Island Cookery” cookbooks. The fun begins at 8:30 p.m. April 17 and continues through 1 p.m. For information call 536-7044.

‘I Love Kailua’: The annual Windward party, now in its 24th year, is back from 11 a.m to 4 p.m. April 24. Slather on sunscreen, put on your walking shoes and head to Kailua Road between Kuulei Road and Hahani Street for some ono grinds and activities for the whole family, with multiple food booths on-site.

Foodfest at City Square: The Chamber of Commerce Hawaii is holding its first “Business After Hours at City Square Shopping Center” from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. April 28. The networking event features food samples and giveaways. Tickets, $15 to $35, include two beverage tickets and pupu. The event will be held at 1199 Dillingham Blvd. Deadline to register is April 25. Call 545-4300.

Last bite of Quickbites: This is the last Quickbites column, but don’t fear, we’ll still be covering food events in our new food section CRAVE, beginning Wednesday and in the new column Fun with Food, in this space April 8. Happy eating! Send event news to tgif@staradvertiser.com.