Category: Updates

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CAZIMERO’S ‘OUR LITTLE PARTY’

Robert Cazimero’s Christmas shows at Chef Chai’s will be a five-night shindig his year; the first evening was last night (Tuesday, Dec. 16) and the run continues nightly through Saturday (Dec. 20).

Already, a Christmas tree is up and decorated, and yes, ’tis the season to be jolly. No holly, but the prevailing mood is ho-ho-ho. And heightening.

If you’ve been a Cazimero/Chai’s regular, you’ll discover a few updates but mostly familiar protocols in what the kumu hula describes as “our little party.”

Robert Cazimero, right, with a familiar face/fan, Vi, aka Mrs. Harada.

Highlights and summaries:

  • The show: Standard Cazimero fare with relaxed fun; a blend of Christmas titles, local and traditional, beginning with a savvy opening: “Christmas Island,” with pauses (for no particular reason) on the Garden Island, with “Kauai, Island of Love” and “Hanohano Hanalei.” A sweet touch: “Rainbow Connection,” the Kermit classic from “Sesame Street,” with Hawaiian lyrics midway. He’s the mixologist in charge, so “White Christmas” featured solo hula by Sky Perkins Gora, segueing into “I’ll Be Home for Christmas.” Keola Makaiau, aka Bully had a bouncy hula midway through the evening, but I wasn’t familiar with the title. There’s casual glee on “Jingle Bells,” or a variation thereof, which Cazimero happily discovered; it’s the infectious “J-I-N-G-L-E Bells” version, a radio favorite made fashionable annually by Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra, and now parlayed into a sing-along.  Audience participation seldom fails, but a suggestion here: get the dining audience to lift a spoon and tingle their water glasses to evoke jingling joy. This chiming effect works equally well on “Silver Bells,” if Cazimero is willing to give it a try.
Cazimero, with his bubbly.
  • The tradition prevails: Cazimero’s favorite bubbly, Louis Vitton Veuve Clicquot, is the potion that fuels his engine and keeps his stamina and momentum flowing. The myth is real; Cazimero was a few moments behind his grand piano, when a waiter delivered a glass with this magical power; and whatever he’s doing or performing, he bursts into “Drinking Champagne,” his alma mater (popularized here by Myra English) for much of the evening.

A new entree at Chai’s: a prime rib option with mashed potato and veggies.
  • The menu: There are adjustments awaiting exploration. A starter appetizer is included but not necessary – the familiar chicken sate with Thai peanut sauce, plus Asian flat bread, and cucumber salad; and an elective combination pupu platter will be easier to savor than solo choices that now include butternut squash and lobster bisque and sauteed escargot and prawns with a garlic chili ginger cream sauce. Entree? My favorite and usual choice, the Mongolian style lamb chops, is still available, but now has glided to standby. I decided to try the new prime rib entrée. Splendid option for the holidays, and the waiter brought a steak knife. New dessert offering? a 30-layer green tea crepe, which I opted to have packed to take home. Advisory: Look around the room as you exit; darn nearly every table had multiple take-home bags.
  • Reservations: (808) 585-0011; cost: $125; dinner service from 5:30 p.m., show at 6:30 p.m. Validated parking available.
  • The Chai question: Chef Chai Chaowasaree relocated to Thailand, to care for his aging mother, and likely won’t return in the foreseeable future.  So Pomaikai Shishido has valiantly stepped up to carry on and replicate the flavors and finery a la Chai.
  • The future: I asked Shishido if he and Cazimero have already put their heads together for playdates in 2026. They both want to continue the serenades, but playdates have not yet been confirmed. Shishido said that Cazimero can select a suitable agenda, but these little parties likely won’t be set on Mondays and Tuesdays, because these are dark nights to give the kitchen and serving staffs nights off, per Shishido…

And that’s Show Biz…

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MISTLETOE, CAROLING RARE HERE

A few Christmas customs are infrequently practiced in Hawaii. Like, have you kissed someone ‘neath mistletoe, or perhaps been kissed while under mistletoe?  Mistletoe is not widely available here (markets and florists usualy sell ’em) but not commonly purchased to be hung..

And, have you ever gone caroling with a school club or an office gang. to sing the tidings over the holiday season? Caroling is not widely practiced here, but we don’t have snow to suit up in winter garb for caroling outing. Right?

Just asking…

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CHRISTMAS PINS: MORE SHARED

No matter how many Christmas pins I make, it never seems to be enough.

I’ve made hundreds and hundreds and hundreds more. Most were parceled out and mailed weeks ago.

The batches shown here were the last creations. With Christmas beckoning, I hope so.

Moral: No matter how many you create, there’s always a need for more.

So: More has arrived. And already shared.

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ARE POINSETTIA PART OF YOUR YULE?

Poinsettia are the favored blooms of the Christmas season. Their bright red color is hard to ignore.

So are poinsettia part of your yule décor? Do you display in a pot at your front door? Or in your home, as a star attraction?

And do you favor the bright red variety, or the pink or the white ones?

Share your thoughts here.

Just asking…

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LET’S ALL SCREAM FOR ICE CREAMERY

Hammond’s goes festive, demonstrating it has the holiday spirit.

‘Tis the season to show your holiday spirit.

When I went to Hammond’s Gourmet Ice Cream, the new ice creamery at the Koko Marina Shopping Center, I was joyfully impressed at the  burst of colorful and lavish  abundance of Christmas decorations. For a small merchant, it’s got spirit that would put other merchants to shame.  .

As you enter the store, a small sled is displayed inside the front door, but my eyes quickly turned to the atmospheric décor up, down, and everywhere. On the chairs, under the tables, on the walls, on the ice cream counter.

The store boasts three decorated and lit Christmas trees, two where the shop’s motto (“Ice cream solve everything”) in bright neon prevails. The third tree was down the corridor, a unique and festive number, with the top of the midsized tree tilting to the right.

The neon store motto is flanked by two festive Christmas trees.

All the chairs were covered with red fabric, shaped like an oversized Santa’s cap, complete with the white pompom dangling on the backs.

Overhead, there were wrapped Christmas gifts, dangling amid a train of white lights.

A tiny tree, with a tilting tree top, is at the back of the store.

Everywhere else,  there notable and collectible displays, even atop of the counter where the chilled ice creams are displayed so customers can stake out a selection. The framed ice cream scoops in the permanent frames also were holiday-fied.

My orange creme in waffle cone.

I should have ordered something that was seasonal, but I opted for a crème orange flavor served in a waffle cone.

Yummy, for the tummy and for the eyes. I nominate Hammond’s for the best Christmas display among Koko Marina merchants. Only thing missing: taped music of Christmas songs.

Go see for yourself, while you order your ice cream…

Zippy’s adds bacon to mini-bento choices

Bacon added to Zippy’s mini bento.

I used to regularly order Zippy’s mini-breakfast bento, opting for the Spam and Portuguese sausage selection with scrambled egg and rice.  But I noticed there was an addition to the choices recently, so gave it a try: the fried bacon and Portuguese sausage combo. The bacon was crispy, thank you.

And  have you noticed? Zippy’s, like a growing list of take-out sources, has updated its take-out containers: the black ones are gone, replaced by white trays…