THIS IS LIFE!
Take a quick trip to France via Waikiki with dinner at La Vie, opening Thursday at the Ritz-Carlton Residences.
Chef Shaymus Alwin, formerly of the Royal Hawaiian resort, describes his new menu as “thoughtfully crafted, cheeky, modern French.”
Selections include Niihau antelope tartare, escargot dumplings and king salmon Parisienne with smoked potato, leeks and spinach. Three-, four- or five-course menus are priced at $75, $100 or $125, respectively.
La Vie — the name means “the life” in French — is one of three spots opening in a redesign of the Ritz-Carlton dining scene. Also debuting Thursday is The Lounge, a Mediterranean- inspired cocktail bar, with Quiora, an Italian trattoria, to open in the fall.
The restaurants are owned by G.Lion Group Hawaii, a division of a Japan-based group that opened a sister restaurant, La Vie 1923, in February in Osaka. The group also owns Hy’s Steak House in Waikiki.
La Vie’s general manager is industry veteran Dusty Grable; the wine list is designed by Taro Kurobe, G.Lion Group Hawaii’s wine director.
La Vie will be open for dinner from 5 to 9 p.m. daily and for breakfast from 6:30 to 11 a.m. Call 729-9729.
TOPS IN HAWAII COFFEE NAMED
What in the world would a geisha have to do with Hawaii coffee? If you’re a coffee expert, you might already have some idea.
As in, the top-scoring coffee at the 11th Annual Statewide Cupping Competition was a washed Geisha variety, produced at Greenwell Farms in Kona. It was among 93 entries from across the state.
The Hawaii coffee community was busy this past weekend, assembling for the Hawaii Coffee Association’s 24th Annual Conference, the cupping contest and the second Hawaii CoffeeChamps Competition, all at the Ala Moana Hotel.
The coffee association hosted the Brewers Cup and the Barista preliminary competitions, which drew 19 entrants from four islands.
Winners of the brewers contest, in order of ranking, were Marina Chann of Honolulu Coffee Co.; Thomas Keisling, Honolulu Coffee Co.; Ben Fitt, Holey Grail Donuts; and Gillian Perdido of Honolulu.
Barista contest winners, in order of ranking: Kyla Villamor, Honolulu Coffee Co.; Jonny Kimbro, The Curb Kaimuki; Philip- Andrew Yuen, Honolulu Coffee Co.; Perdido; Jeremy Pyrc, YWAM Ships Kona; and Elijah Wright, Hawaiian Village Coffee.
The winners of the preliminaries have passed their first hurdle toward the Specialty Coffee Association National CoffeeChamps, and perhaps even the World Coffee Competitions.
— Joleen Oshiro, Star-Advertiser
