Kit n Kitchen --- 'new' neighborhood restaurant

Tried a new neighborhood restaurant recently called Kit n Kitchen, Euro-Asian Cuisine in Pearl City and it’s their second location on Oahu.   

I had read about it somewhere so when we happened to be at the complex where it was located, we checked out the menu taped on the glass and peeked in.  It looked fine but, not wanting to take the chance on a new place for dinner, we returned the next day for lunch.  Inside was much nicer than it looked peeking in and we were pleasantly surprised at how enjoyable the food was for the reasonable price. 

There wasn’t any background information on their website so had to dig and … according to a food review that was in the local newspaper on February 2012:

”It's headed by a chef, Kit Yiu, from Hong Kong, trained in Japan in Italian-style cooking (for the Angelo Pietro chain), who spent part of his early career in Hawaii’s multicultural atmosphere. All this shows. The menu is quirky at first glance, but easily figured out: It's composed of a small assortment of spaghetti plates and a lot of baked dishes (seafood, prawns, fish, chicken, pork chops and short ribs), any of which is served over your choice of rice or spaghetti. An odd configuration, but at least it's different.”

Here's a few photos taken at lunch: 

Inside was clean and very nice

 Chicken Panini --- came with soup and a little bit of salad with house-made ginger dressing

 The starter green salad which came with my lunch 'set' was very nice with a great Sesame Miso Dressing

 

Part 2 of the set was the Farmhouse Pizza with the 9" hand-rolled thin and crispy crust (minus a bite I took before taking this pix) was excellent

 

A nice idea --- a 99 cents menu encourages people to 

try a few items

The food critic visited the Honolulu location and said, “After a pair of visits during which we tried quite a number of dishes, I have concluded that Yiu and I have very different palates.” 

I’m not a paid food critic and found the dishes I tried to be very good and plan a return visit soon for dinner.  Apparently, I must have the same palate preferences as Yiu

Kit n Kitchen 1029 Makolu Street, Pearl City (across from Walmart and Wendy’s)

Open daily 11 am – 10 pm

There is also a location at 1010 University Avenue.

Volcano House reopening in March and offeriing special introductory rates

courtesy of NPS

archive photo of the 'old' restaurant

Over three years have passed since this world-famous hotel closed so the new operator (Hawaii Volcanoes Lodge Company, LLC; an affiliate of Aqua Hospitality), is pleased to report that the first of the newly renovated rooms are opening later this month.  Special soft opening rates are available for a limited time while final renovations continue in the public spaces, scheduled to open in early June.

Early bird rates are effective March 22 – May 31 for:  Crater View Rooms at $200 per night and Nāmakanipaio Cabins at $55 per night.

As announced earlier, Volcano House remains partially open during the renovation process.  The National Park Service recently spent $4M in retrofitting and safety upgrades and an additional $2.5M – $3M are being invested by owners, Ortega Family Enterprises, to renovate and refurbish this unique hotel located within a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  Guest rooms feature upgraded furnishings and amenities.  Retail space is already open with gifts and snack items available for sale, while other public spaces and outlets, including the restaurant with spectacular panoramic views of steaming Halema‘uma‘u Crater, will open in early June.

The early bird rates present an opportunity to be one of the first to experience the new Volcano House and the unique environment of Volcanoes National Park.

For reservations, see your preferred travel agent or call 808-441-7750 or 1-866-536-7972.

Some background on the Volcano House:

Historic Volcano House is a hotel that enjoys a unique location on the edge of Halema‘uma‘u Crater within Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park – designated an International Biosphere Reserve (1980) and UNESCO World Heritage Site (1987).

Debuting in 2013 with a grand reopening, the restored Volcano House will offer 33 historic guest rooms, dining room, snack bar, lounge and gift shop, along with cultural events and demonstrations. Ten newly refurbished camper cabins in the nearby Namakanipaio Campground are also part of the property.

For more information about Volcano House visit www.hawaiivolcanohouse.com or call

1-866-536-7972.

Celebrity pop-up dinners coming to Lotus Honolulu

Lotus Honolulu is excited to announce hosting a series of “pop-up” restaurants from two of today’s most buzzed-about chefs in the world.  Limited engagements feature the cuisines Chef Greg Profeta,, formerly of Restaurant Marc Forgione Tribeca; and Chef Koji Tanaka, representing Iron Chef Hiroyuki Sakai

February 14-17:  Executive Chef Greg Profeta

Cost for February 14:  $75 + tax and gratuity + optional wine pairing

Cost for February 15, 16, 17:  $60 + tax and gratuity + optional wine pairing 

Menu: 

Amuse

Oyster Shooters

1st course

Crudo/Avocado Mousse/Hearts of Palm/Maca Root/Miso Dressing/Caviar

                       

2nd course

Chilled Asparagus Salad/Charred Maui Onion Vinaigrette/Manchego/Pine Nuts

3^rd course

Seared Sea Scallops/Pink Pepper & Cardamom Yogurt/Celery Root/Blood Orange

Dessert

Chocolate Mousse/Vanilla Crème Anglaise/Honey

PLUS:  A special “tasting menu” is also included as a surprise offering from Chef Profeta.

Note:  Above menu subject to change based on locally available produce and products.  Please advise re food allergies when making your reservation.

March 1-3:  Executive Chef Koji Tanaka

Cost:  $60 + tax and gratuity + optional wine pairing

Menu:

1st Amuse
Almond Choux, Foie Gras

2nd Amuse
Seafood Cocktail, Cauliflower Puree, Wadashi Gelee, Shrimp Snap Pea Awabi

Appetizer
Tuna Ball with Avocado Lobster,  Red Onion, Egg Mayo, Yuzu Zest
Yellow Tail Ball with Farro Lemon Salsa Verde

Radish Salad

Choice of Entrée

Red Snapper with Lobster Sauce

Snap Peas with Basil-Potato Puree  

or

New York Strip Steak with Hashed Potatoes

Creamy Spinach, Red Wine Sauce

Dessert
Sakai Soufflé

Coffee or Tea

NOTE:  Above menu subject to change based on locally available produce and products. 

For reservations, please call Lotus Honolulu at (808) 922-1700.  These limited engagements will sell out, so early reservations are highly-recommended. 

To keep updated on the upcoming pop-up dinners at Lotus Honolulu, please follow us on Twitter: @aquahotels or like us on Facebook: facebook.com/aquahotels.