gourmet cooking hawaii

chef mavro at work

island & visiting foodies, whether they have hawaii's finest restaurants on speed dial or, due to budgetary constraints, must be content to be an armchair gastronomist, have a chance to take a peek behind the kitchen door via gourmet cooking hawaii which offers cooking classes with notable island chefs. classes are scheduled a few times a year and the price of admission ($125 to $185 depending on the restaurant) gives you access into the islands' hottest kitchens where you have a chance to learn a trick or two from the chef and his staff.

participating chefs willing to reveal a few of their culinary secrets to the public include george mavrothalassitis of chef mavro and rodney uyehara of the recently shuttered bistro at century center. classes are limited in size (15 for chef mavro & 25 for chef uyehara) to allow for more personalized instruction and each three hour class ends with a well deserved food & wine tasting. and you won't leave empty handed since students also score a goody bag filled with gourmet treats made in the islands plus recipes to continue their culinary journey at home.

gch also organizes private cooking demonstrations with celebrity chefs like sam choy & roy yamaguchi which would certainly add the wow factor to a corporate event or private affair.

toasty goodness

one of the up & coming lines stocked at the candy shop is toast, the multi-talented team of michelle kaneko & jeremy shoda who ditched their architecture careers to launch an event planning biz and design studio.

toast's online shop recently opened and it is stocked with lots of fun stuff like cheeky paper goods and irreverent toys sure to delight your inner child. i am loving their . . . and counting note card which marks the big day (birthday/anniversary/ what have you) by its magic number.

toast has their own line of handmade stuff'd monkees and also carries string dolls, crafty curiosities created by architecture students in thailand made with just ONE piece of string! can't you just picture them hanging from the bag of a hipster visitor from japan? 

the next time you are stumped for a favor that will make a statement at that very important bash, remember these custom soda snacks filled with sweet & savory treats which are a playful alternative that will instantly tell your guests that this is no ordinary party.

and when you need an extra hand planning all the details, the toast team will put their architecture background to good use and tackle all the layers required to create a delightful wedding, baby shower, birthday, office party & anything else worth celebrating.

click here to learn more about what makes the toast team tick.

akane pret-a-porter collection

just a quick update to let those of you who have been coveting akane's super cute bloomers that you can now snap up a pair on ebay since the candy shop is teaming up with its sister company, wst4u, to sell akane goodies online.

in a unique twist, akane designer zana tsutakawa is also posting photos of her new prêt-à-porter collection based on where each style is stocked (click on the store name to see photos). in addition to the candy shop, akane's spring line is available at 808 skate, hic & ma honolulu.

by the way, if you haven't heard of the candy shop then get yourself down to their kaka'ako store which is stocked with diy fashion from the islands and around the world. i didn't have a chance to squeeze in a visit last month but it sounds like an ingenious & much needed collaboration to give emerging designers a space where a wider audience can discover them. and no worries if you are not on oahu since the candy shop's ebay store will offer the latest indie finds from time to time.

learn more about the candy shop and its mission to bring indie design to the islands here and here.

blue plate special

here's another fun island inspired find far from the islands. new york's fishs eddy specializes in american sturdyware and has a playful hula collection which will definitely add some whimsy to your dinner table.

and though you may not be familiar with the term sturdyware, you have surely enjoyed many a meal on it since diners and restaurants across the country dish up food on its durable surface. the hula line includes everything from mugs & glassware to plates & serving trays so you have the option of stocking up on your favorite pieces or jazzing up your kitchen cabinets with the entire set.   

snail mail spark

online bill pay has saved me countless stamps, paper checks and trips to the post office, however, despite my attempts to be a better pen pal, i don't think i can justify the expense of these lovely island inspired address labels from iomoi. i guess i will have to be content to admire them from afar . . .