A DORAKU DEBUT
Doraku has reopened its Royal Hawaiian Center location in Waikiki following a renovation project, with a new look and new dishes.
The 150-seat casual restaurant, on the third floor of the shopping complex, has been redone as a traditional izakaya accented with wood features and paper lanterns.
New to the menu are a trio of lobster dishes, with the shellfish served as sashimi, tempura and in miso soup.
Also new: beef sliders with Okinawan sweet potato fries, rack of lamb, steak fried rice, grilled calamari and deluxe sushi platters. Whiskey flights and an expanded sake selection have been added to the drink menu.
Hours are 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays to Saturdays; 5 to 10 p.m. Sundays to Thursdays, until 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Call 922-3323 or visit the website dorakusushi.com.
LEARN CAJUN COOKING
This month’s Moana Surfrider cooking class ventures to New Orleans with a lesson in Cajun cooking June 8. Chef Colin Sato leads the class in preparing gumbo with chicken and andouille sausage, noon to 2 p.m. at the Beachhouse at the Moana restaurant.
Cost is $100, which includes the lesson, a tasting of Kukui Sausage Co. products and a gumbo lunch with beer pairing. For tickets go to 808ne.ws/gumbolesson.
PUPU MAKE A POINT
The aim of appetizers to be served at a talk-story session June 19 is to support local agriculture and sustainable fishing.
The event, 5 to 7 p.m. at Da Shop Books & Curiosities in Kaimuki, will feature Kara Miller, an expert on invasive fish; Jess Rohr, owner of Forage Hawaii; and fisherwoman Jhana Young.
Pupus With a Purpose will include three seafood courses by Sarah Burchard, chef with the Healthy Locavore, cocktails and wine. Cost is $75. Go to 808ne.ws/pupu.
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WHAT’S OLD IS NEW
Coca-Cola is preparing for the third season of Netflix’s fantasy series “Stranger Things” with a limited release of New Coke (remember that?), 34 years since the soft drink made its brief appearance in stores.
New Coke has a “cameo” in the new season of the series set in the mid-’80s.
It’s not a simple matter of going to the store for a can, though.
Two 12-ounce New Coke cans are available online in a bundle that includes two limited-edition, numbered, “Stranger Things” bottles, one of regular Coke and one Coke Zero. The bundle, released last week at CokeStore.com/1985, is $19.95. Shipping is free.
A few words about New Coke, for those who missed out on the hoo-ha the first time around: The drink, introduced in 1985, was an attempt by Coca-Cola to freshen the taste of its signature soft drink. It was sold for just 79 days, according to the company, because Coke fans proved “extremely passionate” about the original Coke taste, which had been around for 99 years at the time.
“Stranger Things” debuts July 4.
Quickbites is a weekly listing of dining events. Email items to crave@staradvertiser.com.
