honolulu design center

hello fat boy!

if you have been anywhere near kapiolani boulevard in the last year you could not help but notice the huge construction site for the future home of the honolulu design center. lucky me, the 80,000 square foot showroom opened its doors a few weeks before we arrived home and, since my aunty is just starting the hunt for a new sofa, we stopped by to see if anything would catch her fancy.

my fella and i had a lot of fun on the first floor which is touted as the hdc's high end showroom filled with furniture from cattelan arredamenti, de sede of switzerland, molteni & c & natuzzi on one side and bo concept on the other (indeed we had so much fun that i forgot to snap any photos). many of the minimal designs found on the natuzzi side have luxe prices to match and would be at home in the million dollar condos that keep popping up in the honolulu skyline.

ever one to find the most expensive piece of furniture whenever we go shopping, my fella's radar plopped him down on the leather fendi casa sofa until i pulled him off and fiercely whispered the price in his ear ($42k!). we then hit the escalator up to the second floor where my aunty recognized many pieces from inspiration, but the best thing was lounging in the fat boy section (which is more in line with our budget) since i had spent many months lobbying for them in vain as extra seating in our cozy apartment.

the honolulu design center also has a few things planned for island foodies with the a*muse wine bar scheduled to open in march. it's a 21st century take on the traditional enoteca where customers will use a smart card to purchase tastes at an automated wine dispensing machine. how very jetsons.

you'll also be able to nosh at stage, the on site restaurant opening in april manned by chef jon matsubara, and enjoy everything from film screenings to fashion shows at cupola which is the hdc's performance space (potential wedding site for island design junkies, perhaps?). and, if you go now, the crema cafe is already open in the lobby which is a nice sunlit space to take a break and sip on pop from waialua soda works.

mac 24/7 diner

modern diner . . . be still my heart!

there's still a wee bit of jet lag to shake off but i rolled out of bed this a.m. to contribute to the island foodie scene with my take on mac 24/7. it's a modern diner which recently opened its doors at the soon to be hilton waikiki prince kuhio hotel and after reading a few reviews before we left i knew my fella and i would have to stop by and check it out.

the design is definitely not what you would expect to find in waikiki . . . chilewich placemats adorn the tables, modernist lighting fixtures add subdued warmth, and plasma televisions hang on the wall behind the bar. the menu is all about [m]odern [a]merican [c]ooking available 24 hours a day. many of the reviews have mentioned pancakes fit for andre the giant and i admit i was tempted, but i couldn't resist the biscuits and gravy once i spotted it on the menu.

biscuits + country gravy

the photo doesn't really do it justice but these were definitely the most artfully arranged biscuits & gravy that i have ever had the pleasure of being served. it looked like an entry in top chef. just the right amount of cheesy gravy goodness topped the biscuits which managed to stay crisp & soft.

my fella opted to try the pulled kalua pork sandwich. it was definitely delish but tasted more bbq-y to me. the most surprising item on the plate was a deep fried dill pickle. the portions of our dishes were just the right size to leave room for dessert which ended up being a warm macadamia nut bread pudding cupcake with vanilla custard sauce.

pulled kalua pork sandwich

all in all, we really enjoyed our meal and would definitely return. the ambiance delights my modernist heart, the wait staff was friendly, and, most important, mac 24/7's fancy diner food hit the spot.

mac 24/7 is three blocks from the zoo and, if you go, take note that the hotel offers free valet parking with validation from the restaurant.

bon appétit!

letarte swimwear

barefootin'

it may be too early in most parts of the world to be thinking ahead to summer but perhaps these saucy swimsuits by letarte will motivate you to drag yourself to the gym. with their eye catching patterns, it's easy to see why bikinis from the maui company have been spotted on everyone from heidi klum to cameron diaz.

pretty in pink

no worries if you prefer more coverage since letarte also offers a collection of bohemian cover ups that would work whether you are in maui or mykonos. online shopping at letarte is limited so your best bet is molly brown's swimwear, fig leaves or find the stockist near you.

feast at lele

if a luau is on your list of things to do but you prefer a more intimate setting sans the crush of crowds, buffet lines, and the possibility of being dragged on stage to amuse the other guests, you may want to book a reservation for the feast at lele which is a touted as a more gourmet option from the folks behind the old lahaina luau.

admission gets you in the door to enjoy an evening of entertainment showcasing music and dance from the islands of polynesia including hawaii, aotearoa (aka new zealand), tahiti and samoa; a 5 course meal created by maui chef james mcdonald (of i'o and pacific'o fame) featuring traditional dishes from all the islands; flowing cocktails; and, if mother nature cooperates, a technicolor sunset maui style.

the show has received rave reviews however foodies seem to disagree on the execution of the menu so click over to chowhound & tripadvisor and judge for yourself.

sample sale kick off

the seasonal sales calendar notes that february clearance racks are typically filled with outerwear while furniture is practically being given away. the best bet for girls with no pressing need for a winter coat or casegoods is this weekend's fashionista's market sample sale.

there will be lots of denim to wade through and the style sisters are bringing in some lotta stensson all marked down up to 80% off. and, just to keep you on your toes, a week day has been added for bargain hunters who are unable to break away from her life/work obligations on saturday.

details:   

• when: sat, feb 17th & mon, feb 19th
• hours: 10a to 2p
• where: japanese cultural center
• admission: $7 (register online to score the $3 fm member price)