party saver: event essentials

bubble club sofa * wood stump cake stand * sake cups

one of the benefits of hawaii being a destination wedding hot spot are the decorating possibilities courtesy of the rental services catering to the most swoon-worthy i do's. when the future mister and i peeked into a traditional party rental supply on island way back when, the pickings were quite depressing - think standard issue china, glitzy 80's centerpieces, and a surprising lack of anything stylish to compliment our modern un-wedding. and, this was a few years in to the 21st century.

when tara from pacific bride guide mentioned the lovely goods available at event essentials, my daydreams of one day hosting a fabulous soirée became ever more delightful as i imagined mixing in whimsical bubble club sofas (compliments of tara), dreamy french beverage dispensers, and the oh-so-toasty fire pit.

if your budget allows, it's a briliant way to add a little more loveliness to the occasional celebration when more seating is required, you simply cannot justify ownership of an oversized confectionary jar in your small space, or if, like me, your borrowing circle does not share your crush for moroccan lanterns and tree stump cake stands.

more peeks of pretty party possibilities after the jump!

wooden cake stand * rattan charger * glass cookie jar

teak lounge * moroccan lantern * frenchie dispenser

rustic buri lanterns

party bonfire!

event essentials owner christina farrow (who also creates pacific aisles' lovely weddings) was kind enough to share a little cheat sheet to save you some extra clicks over the hectic holiday season:

• inventory is limited so it's best to reserve asap. especially if your event date falls on a saturday.
• no minimum quantities required so mix and match to your heart's content.
• posted rental fees are for 24 hours but extended rentals may be accommodated upon request.
• delivery is available on oahu for a fee (starting at $75; required for furniture rentals), however you can arrange to pick up smaller items at ee's aiea storage space.

a sampling of rental price tags include $2 for a ceramic sake cup, $20 for the large french beverage dispenser, and $150 for the fun bubble club sofa.

is hosting a festive fête on your holiday must do list this year?

{photo credit: 1/pacific bride guide (sofa) : punam bean (stump) : visionari (sake); 2/visionari (stand & jar) chrissy lambert (charger); 3/chrissy lambert (lounge) : visionari (lantern) : nineteen owls (dispenser); 4/frank amodo + alex rapada (buri)}

maui: foodie report

chocolate peanut butter cheesecake happiness

i have reached the conclusion that i would make an awful food blogger simply because snapping a shot of my meal is the last thing on my mind when my plate arrives. also, my camera skills are a bit lacking (an area i hope to remedy with a little practice). my trip home last week was far too fleeting and filled with family gatherings for any new culinary explorations, but i finally gathered up my notes and photos to file a report on the delicious dishes enjoyed during my springtime hop to maui.

first, let's start with an afternoon treat at paia's ono gelato which offers tempting scoops made with a "farm to fork" philosophy. deciding between a surfing goat dairy fusion or a chocolate peanut butter cheesecake concoction was my most difficult decision of the day, but the latter won my $5 plus change if only as an homage to the yummy frozen pie my southern granny would whip up when she visited the islands.

judging by the pollock-esque ice cream splatters along the sidewalk in front of the shop, it seems i was not the only one challenged to finish up my cone before it melted all over the nearest crosswalk. my advice: order up a cup instead of a cone and sticky fingers should not be an issue (although there is a wash room a few steps outside the gelateria's side door).

maui brewing co. sampler

. . . & beer battered onion rings

keg illumination

earlier in the day, the mister and i ventured out on the long drive to lahaina to check out maui brewing co. my resident beer geek started out with a sampler ($3.75) and ultimately gave the thumbs up to lucifer's angel. if you prefer bubbles without the buzz, i am happy to recommend the homemade root beer which is frosty and delicious!

we both find beer battered onion rings ($7) irresistible when listed on a menu and mbc's hearty offering, even with a slight sheen leftover from the fryer, became even more tasty after dipping each thick slice into the chipotle remoulade which added a spicy kick. rounding out our meal were an andouille sandwich ($12) for him while i, anticipating my upcoming gelato treat, selected kalamata sliders ($5).

while there's no view to speak of unless you count the myriad of televisions screening everything from surf videos to the sporting event du jour, the tap list was quite impressive making mbc a must stop for anyone who geeks out over beer. the decor is standard issue brew pub fare, but the industrial gleam of steel kegs smartly transformed into lighting fixtures hanging in the rafters was a fun design note.

t. komoda malasadas

on our way out of town the following day, we stopped at the t. komoda store to sample their legendary cream puffs which are quite deserving of all their accolades. we also couldn't resist a malasada stick stacked in a row of sugary delights (genius!) which was a nice balance between leonard's light and airy offering and the denser dough fried up at the tex drive-in on the big island.

alas, my camera failed to capture the giant house salad i ordered up (and quickly abandoned due to my woeful headache) and what the mister described as a super 'ono burger during our first night's supper at colleen's in haiku with the always delightful conn and john from cuckoo for coconuts. and, french fry lovers take note: conn shared a tip that the fries tend to be salty and recommends asking the kitchen to skip the final seasoning. my mister followed conn's lead and agreed they were still delish without the extra salt.

my colleen's salad ended up dressing up our takeout from paia flatbread (recommended by the cfc 'ohana) which, with its wood-fired crust accompanied by fresh and simple ingredients, was the perfect bite after rushing up twisty, curvy olinda road to our upcountry getaway to catch the sunset on our final day.

fyi: all of our stops were casual eateries so no fancy dress or reservations required.

bon appétit!

and the winner is . . .

maire of kuli'ou'ou who will be scooping up a charming pop in a box gift set compliments of shop toast! my apologies for the delay in posting the lucky winner . . . my email service went down on friday and the weekend was a whirlwind split between my cousin's happy wedding day and jetting back to the mainland.

anyhoo, you still have a few days to scoop up the pop in a box during its $20 introductory offer (ending tomorrow - tue, aug 31st). btw, if you love to bake up yummy delights for gifting, be sure to take a peek at toast's new diy press/repeat baker's box complete with baker's twine, boxes, perishable stickers, plus a custom stamp to to put the finishing touch on your sweet offerings. $65 buys you enough to do up 24 treat boxes with additional box orders available.

the baker's edition can be ordered online and shipped to your mailbox or picked up at toast's kaimuki storefront.

• where: 3434 waialae avenue, suite 3, kaimuki
• shop hours: m / w / f / sat - 12p to 6p

congratulations maire!

[many mahalos jeremy & michelle!]

shop toast pop-in-a-box

my mister's hiatus has begun, the trader joe's omiyage is packed, and we are about to make our way home to celebrate my cousin's wedding. before i sign off, the shop toast 'ohana recently shared the news that a new mini pop gift set has arrived on the shelves of their kaimuki storefront. each pop in a box comes with five petite bottles which can be filled in-store with local-style yummies. add a little sticker, tie on a coordinating ribbon, and you can be out the door in a snap with a sweet and savory surprise made for gifting.

you can scoop one up for just $20 through the end of the month *or* if you are lucky to live on oahu jeremy and michelle are hosting another of toast's fabulous giveaways!

remember you must call oahu home since the pop in a box is for local pickup only. follow the fine print posted below and good luck!

• click here to send your name *and* current hometown by thu, aug 26th
• please put toast pop in a box giveaway in the subject
• one entry per person/household
• oahu readers only, please

the plan is to announce the winner on friday* . . . unless island time tinkers with my schedule. sending wishes your way for a happy and delightful week.

sneak peek: made in hawaii 2010

the made in hawaii festival opens on friday and, after many many clicks, i have compiled a little cheat sheet filled with island vendors to investigate if you plan on strolling the blaisdell this weekend.

1 - honolulu's be aloha transitions from custom alohawear for the japanese market to retro resort looks with the launch of its to kei label. {booth 372}

2 - rock simple koa hoops crafted of local wood gathered on mauna kea by woodworker jeff gomes. {hui 'ike ku'una section}

3 - north shore jewelry designer nilma hunter coaxes recycled sterling silver into puka shell bangles and other budget-friendly pretties. {booth 91}

4 - a member of the sig zane designs 'ohana has left the nest to launch punawai's line of delicate silk chiffon scarves and shawls printed with natural motifs inspired by the big island. {hui 'ike ku'una section}

5 - pretty up your everyday wardrobe with lovely screenprinted tops by noe clothing of oahu. {booth 294/295}

6 - kula-made pala'au's therapeutic skincare nurtures and detoxifies with medicinal hawaiian botanicals. {booth 366}

7 - tuck an everlasting flower in your hair with handmade enameled headbands by geisha fabulous of maui. {booth 386}

8 - uh hilo's kulanui product line offers beauty balms and kitchen deliciousness formulated with ingredients grown by local farmers. {booth 452/453}

9 - designer paula nurse of the big island constructs one-of-a-kind pieces composed of semi-precious, vibrational gemstones from topazes to tourmalines. {booth 94}

10 - tropilicious will be scooping up handcrafted ice cream with 'ono flavors like hawaiian mocha and toasted coconut. {booth 397}

11 - kona paradise candies' description of their chocolate dipped senbei is already tempting my sweet tooth. (order online at pat's island delights.) {booth 63}

12 - salty wahine mixes up gourmet seasoning blends but gets a mention simply for the kaua'i company's cheeky name and lovely logo. {booth 458}

13 - taste the freshly churned butters whipped up by waianae's naked cow dairy and remember to thank me later. {booth 461}

p.s. click back tomorrow for a roundup of festival news from our favorite designers!