It’s time to dine out and do good for isle food security, via the annual Localicious Hawaii campaign.
Some 170 restaurants statewide will designate at least one locally sourced menu item for the campaign. For all of March, each time someone orders that dish, the restaurant will donate $1 to the Hawaii Agricultural Foundation to support its mission of expanding agriculture education programs. Some $45,700 was raised in 2016.
Localicious also seeks to raise customer awareness of restaurants that support Hawaii’s agriculture industry by buying local.
Participating restaurants are too numerous to list here but are found on all islands. They range from the casual Dean’s Drive Inn in Kaneohe to the upscale Alan Wong’s in Honolulu.
Check out the full list at localicioushawaii.com.
“With this year’s increasing amount of support, we’re collaborating with more farmers, fishermen, ranchers and students than ever before to create a healthier future for local ag production,” Denise Hayashi Yamaguchi, the foundation’s executive director, said in a statement.
Shabu shabu for you
Honolulu restaurant magnate Peter Kim will open the doors to Umami-ya Shabu Shabu, his latest concept, Thursday in Iwilei.
The 6,900-square-foot restaurant will offer hot-pot-style dining and sukiyaki at 580 N. Nimitz Highway, next to Liliha Bakery, with seating for 130 guests and including private dining rooms.
The menu offers a five-course meal with an appetizer, salad, shabu shabu or sukiyaki, rice or noodles, and dessert of yuzu sorbet with azuki beans.
Meat selections include wagyu beef, USDA Prime rib-eye steak, Kurobuta pork belly and a seafood medley. All come with fresh vegetables. Broth choices include miso, spicy miso, paitan (bone) and a signature beef broth. An a la carte version of shabu shabu starts at $25 with pork as the featured protein.
Umami-ya Shabu Shabu will open daily at 5 p.m., with the last seating at 10.
Kim’s other restaurants are Yummy Korean BBQ, Cheeseburger Factory, Chow Mein Express, Lahaina Chicken Co., Mama’s Spaghetti House, Steak & Fish Co. and Signature Prime Steak and Seafood.
Buy a sub, support the USO
Jersey Mike’s Subs in Hawaii Kai is dedicating March to fundraising for the Okinawa USO.
For the next four weeks, customers can make donations to the USO at the restaurant in the Hawaii Kai Towne Center. On March 29 Jersey Mike’s will donate every dollar of the day’s sales to the USO.
Jersey Mike’s nationwide participate in the “Month of Giving,” raising funds for nearly 150 charities. The total raised last year was $4 million, according to the company.
Visit jerseymikes.com/mog.
Whiskey taste-off at 12th Ave
Aged Japanese whiskeys will be tasted against classics from Scotland at an event March 9 at 12th Ave Grill.
For the sipping: Yamasaki 12-year, Hakushu 12-year, Hibiki 17-year and Oban, all from Japan; and the Scottish Cragganmore 12-year, Talisker Distillers Edition and Dalwhinnie.
For the munching: spice- and cider-braised pork belly, Niihau lamb ragout, oysters on the half shell, lemon ricotta tart, prosciutto-wrapped scallops, abalone tataki and filet mignon with mushroom risotto. Dessert will be a brown sugar bacon and pecan tart with whiskey-caramel ice cream.
Cost is $195. Call 732-9469.
Quickbites is a weekly listing of dining events. Email items to crave@staradvertiser.com.
