If Ka‘iulani Spices are your go-to for dressing up a meal, you’re the prime audience for “Spices for Life,” a new cookbook by Ka‘iulani Cowell, founder of the line of organic rubs and seasoning mixes.
The collection of recipes from Legacy Isle Publishing — Cowell describes them as “flavor without the labor” — all use her spices as a key ingredient. For example: grilled flank steak with sake and coffee spice, lemon chicken curry and Vegan Veggies, Hawaiian Style.
Cowell will sign copies of her book from 11 a.m. to noon Saturday at Barnes & Noble at Ala Moana Center. Retail price is $17.99, with a portion of sales Saturday donated to Les Dames d’Escoffier’s Hawaii chapter. The book is also available through kaispices.com.
FILM FOLLOWS MAN BEHIND OTTOCAKE
Cheesecake is just one slice of the life of Scott “Otto” McDonough, owner of OttoCake cheesecake bakery in Kaimuki.
“Ottomaticake,” a documentary by director Gemma Cubero del Barrio, outlines the two careers of the OttoCake founder — punk rock and baking — as well as his struggles to maintain a business amid the crime in his former location of Chinatown. The film premieres at the Hawai‘i International Film Festival next week.
A synopsis of the film reads, “Otto’s spirit brightens our world and shows through his cheesecake how one can carve their own place in the world.”
The film screens at 7:45 p.m. Tuesday and 4 p.m. Nov. 10 at Dole Cannery. Tickets: hiff.org.
FUNCTION IS KEY WHEN DESIGNING DREAM KITCHEN
A beautifully renovated kitchen is the stuff of dreams, but will it really serve you when it comes time to cook? This and other concepts in kitchen design will be part of the discussion at the AlohaExpo, Nov. 9 at Inspiration Design Studio.
The free day of seminars and exhibits will cover kitchen and bath design, with guest speakers Moorea Hoffman and Feras Irikat, designers with passions from cooking to color theory.
Registration begins at 9 a.m. with seminars scheduled until 3:15 p.m. Key to the kitchen will be Hoffman’s talks, “Kitchen Designing With Cooking in Mind” and “Trends in Kitchen Design.”
Vendors will be on hand with displays and information, for those interested in taking the next step.
To preregister, call 237-5460 or email designstudio@inspirationinteriors.com.