FINE DINING, SET IN THE GREAT OUTDOORS
Taking discriminating diners to the source of their food has become a winning formula for Outstanding in the Field, the “traveling restaurant” that brings together top chefs and their foodie fans at local farms.
This year, two events will commence on Oahu. For seats, visit outstandinginthefield.com:
>> Jan. 12 (1 p.m., $245): Chefs Chris Kajioka and Anthony Rush of Senia will head out to the scenic Kualoa Ranch in Kaneohe, a site of both traditional agriculture and aquaculture, where other Outstanding in the Field meals have been held in previous years. Farm hosts are owners the Morgan family.
>> Jan. 13 (1 p.m., $235): Chef-restaurateur Ed Kenney and hosts Kukui and Gary Maunakea-Forth team up to present a meal at Ma‘o Organic Farms, a social-enterprise operation that also grows community leaders and future farmers. Kenney and the Waianae farm took part in Outstanding in the Fields’ first visit to Hawaii in 2012.
Kenney is owner of Town, Mud Hen Water, Kaimuki Superette and Mahina & Sun’s restaurants.
Since 1999, Outstanding in the Field has staged hundreds of farm dinners across the U.S. and globally, working with top regional chefs who create multicourse meals using ingredients from the site of the meal.
CHEF MAVRO MAKES TOP 40 LIST
George Mavrothalassitis’ Chef Mavro restaurant has again been named one of Gayot’s top 40 restaurants in the U.S., the only Hawaii venue to make the list.
Said the review about the chef and restaurant: Mavrothalassitis “not only features the finest ingredients Hawaii has to offer, but also supplements them with luxurious imported items like caviar and fresh truffles from France.” It deems service “professional but never stuffy” and “warmly hospitable as befits a restaurant that attracts serious gourmands of all ages and from all walks of life. You are as likely to see a young couple in casual attire who saved their pennies to dine here as a well-coiffed doyenne of Honolulu society.”
Other restaurants on the list are renowned, such as The French Laundry and Atelier Crenn in California, Alinea in Chicago, and Jean-Georges and Daniel in New York.
Gayot, the guide to dining, hotels, lifestyle and travel, sent out a team professionals to evaluate restaurants on a 20-point scale. Chef Mavro was included in the list in 2004 and every year since 2007.
LIBRARY CLASS TEACHES ICE-CREAM MAKING
In commemoration of National Strawberry Ice Cream Day, Pearl City Public Library will teach teens how to make their own icy treat, the old-fashioned way — using a couple of coffee cans.
Participants will transform strawberry flavoring, eggs, evaporated milk, vanilla and sugar into a luscious frozen concoction using ice and rock salt.
The class is free, but students are asked to bring 1- and 3-pound coffee cans to execute the recipe.
The class runs 2:30 to 4 p.m. Jan. 15 at the library, at 1138 Waimano Home Road. Call 453-6566 to reserve a spot.
