sunday night supper club

the season of giving is in full swing and here's a cool way to give back to the community. the ronald mcdonald house of hawaii is always on the lookout for volunteers to host their sunday night dinner club for families who have made manoa their home away from home while their children receive medical treatment at local hospitals.

families staying at the house arrive from the neighbor islands as well as from guam, samoa, and other parts of the pacific so the weekly supper may be their only chance to enjoy a home cooked meal. round up a few family and friends and savor your time together while whipping up everyone's favorite dishes to share with the ronald mcdonald 'ohana.

you can find more details here. and, if cooking is not your thing, do take a moment to peek at the ronald mcdonald house wish list.

chocolate lab

easy chocolate truffles + champagne truffles

this time of year has a way of bringing out one's inner martha determined to do whatever it takes to whip up a handmade sugarplum wonderland. if holiday plans call for testing your truffle making skills, do click over to the big island's cocoa outlet which is the source for professional confectioners and just happens to have an online shop open to the public.

you'll find everything you need from fine european chocolates (callebaut & valrhona, natch) to cake decorations and cool contraptions like textured rolling pins that embellish fondants with pretty patterns. and, if you really want to up your pastry game, the cocoa outlet offers the occasional class to expand every dreamy cake designer's repertoire of sweet techniques.

bon appétit!

{photo credit: martha stewart living}

island style book picks

since books are always a lovely gift idea, here is a quick roundup of recently published tomes, both modern and old school in style, that are sure to be a welcome find under the christmas tree.

for the hostess with the mostess on your gift list:

party hawai'i which is filled with updated tips and menus to throw a contemporary island style bash. {via mixed plate special}

for the foodie:

everyone who enjoys reading betty shimabukuro's by request column in the star-bulletin will appreciate a copy of what hawai'i likes to eat. betty and co-author muriel miura gathered up 137 old school island favorites including the dobash cake recipe from woolworth's.

for the design junkie:

while checking out party hawai'i online, amazon's on point recommendation was the hawaiian house now which spotlights fresh interpretations of the aloha spirit in island architecture and design. perfect timing since my latest project is stocking up on design titles for my library.

and, the book i am most excited about: hawaiian modern which will be released in late january. in design circles, you always hear about people living in a case study house or a neutra house . . . who knew hawaii had its own acclaimed architect of mid-century modern design?

hopefully, we will make it home sometime during the vladimir ossipoff exhibit at the academy of arts which kicks off later this month.

a peek inside the crafty playground

during small kid days, i was the little girl who always rocked the pigtails and, upon entering the fifth grade, the oh so sophisticated ponytail. every. single. day. my friends would wonder what i would look like if my hair ever had the opportunity to escape their elastic constraints. the one constant of both styles were those little plastic goody ponytail holders that, upon a quick release, had a tendency to crack your knuckles hard like one of my cousin's weapons of pain so essential to his quest of becoming the next bruce lee.

if these adorable hair accessories from tasha's bags & baby had been around, no doubt i would have wanted to trade up for a little more cuteness (bonus: no more bruised fingers!). tasha grew up on oahu and spent many hours in her grandfather's picture framing shop crafting to her heart's delight. now that she's tending to her own little one, spare moments are spent whipping up sweet creations with charming japanese textiles her father discovers and posts to hawaii.

in addition to hair goodies, stop by tasha's etsy shop to pick up handmade zip bags, totes, and other accessories sure to brighten your day (i am loving the hedgehog apron). if you are planning on hitting oahu's holiday craft show circuit, look out for her booth which will be stocked with all the goodness you see here.

chef for a day

with a family filled with foodies, i am always on the lookout for gifts that will tempt their palate or inspire them in the kitchen. cooking classes have always been on the top of my list, however, due to either budgetary constraints or the level of commitment they demand on my time crunched giftees, the idea was stuck in the land of possibilities never to be.

until now. i am happy to report neither one poses a problem at pacific gourmet which opened its doors last month and offers recreational cooking classes where both kama'aina and visitors can learn a few new culinary tricks. inspired by fellow foodie friends, owner chef laura (who trained at the prestigious le cordon bleu in paris) was determined to create a relaxed atmosphere where everyone from beginning to advanced cooks could explore global cuisine as well as fresh trends in the kitchen without breaking the bank.

pacific gourmet cooking classes are both affordable ($48 a pop) and intimate with a limit of 15 students per session. of course, hunger is not an option since the finale includes a sit down meal to savor all the plats du jour (dinner classes also include a wine pairing). 

private parties can be booked at your home or at pacific gourmet's classroom which is located at the laniakea ywca and, beginning next month, at nu'uanu's art zone. and, due to popular demand, gift certificates will arrive in a few weeks (yay!).

here's a peek at the upcoming class schedule:

• may 6th - healthy organic cooking
• may 8th - homemade pasta
• may 11th - hors d'oeuvres & cocktails
• may 13th - mother's day tea party

bon appétit!