Gluten-free eaters on Oahu needn’t press their noses to the glass anymore when it comes to gourmet cupcakes. Hokulani Bake Shop recently added a flourless chocolate cupcake to its lineup.
The cake lives up to the shop’s reputation for fine desserts, with a decent body despite the absence of flour — so often, “flourless” can mean overly soft and clumpy. It’s topped with a cream-cheese frosting.
TAX RELIEF
Reward yourself for filing your taxes on time with a visit to Hard Rock Cafe, where they’ll give you a free burger and fries if you get up and sing a song. The “Sing for Your Supper” giveaway takes place from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday at Hard Rock Waikiki, 280 Beach Walk. Call 955-7383. Sign up to perform something off of a list of designated songs. Visit
hardrock.com/taxday.
The cupcake is $2.95. Find it at Hokulani’s three locations, in Waterfront Plaza (formerly Restaurant Row), Windward Mall and Hyatt Regency Waikiki. Visit hokulanibakeshop.com. — Joleen Oshiro, Star-Advertiser
Tour de France
It’s pop-up time again for the Pacific Gateway Center.
This month’s fundraiser for Na Kupuna Makamae Center, which provides resources and training for kupuna, takes eaters to France with such dishes as ratatouille and plat de fromages (assorted cheeses).
The Pig & the Lady’s Andrew Le will be chef for the day, and he also will offer Pho Sot Vang (Hanoi-style broth with braised beef shank) and a coconut beignet with egg jam.
And, what’s a trip to France without wine? Offered by the bottle and the glass will be Domaine de Beaurenard Cotes du Rhone 2014, Henry Bourgeois “Petit” Sauvignon Blanc 2014 and Grandin Brut Rose.
Two seatings — 11 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. — will be available April 24 at Lemongrass Cafe/The Pig & the Lady, 83 N. King St. in Chinatown. Cost is $48.24; wine is extra. Tickets: eventbrite.com (search for “pig & the lady france”). — Michelle Ramos, Star-Advertiser
Nori cups for your niblets
Leave it to the Japanese to create yet another product that makes food visually appealing.
Nori Cups, exported from Japan by Kawa Corp., don’t taste as yummy as other roasted seaweed products and might be a little tough to bite through, but their cuteness erases any shortcomings. A tray of these tiny cups with various colorful toppings sitting atop small scoops of rice makes for an appealing presentation.
The cups are best when prepared right before serving as the nori begins to soften soon after they are filled. Also, it’s best to use room-temperature fillers because anything hot immediately causes the cup to flatten out.
The cups come in two varieties. The 24-piece package consists of circular cups about 1-1/2 inches in diameter. The 54-piece bag includes five different sizes, including an oblong cup.
Nori Cups can be found at Marukai and Don Quijote for less than $10 per package. — Michelle Ramos, Star-Advertiser