573445 Tue Nov 18 22:00:33 -0800 2008 6 25 Elsewhere In America 0 4185033 SF chowhounder visiting Hawaii honolulu for the first time, what are some of the places worth checking out, love island and beach, perhaps a traditional hawaiian cuisine, but more importantly great tasting foods and a taste of the hawaiian culture. will be in town for 8 days- what to see, to eat and definitely want to try surfing too....thanks, Tue Nov 18 22:00:33 -0800 2008 14138 Rina 1 4185996 I am going to the communal table at Vino for Thanksgiving. There is going to be a fabulous menu of several courses…Nov 27th Thanksgiving ”Communal Tables”……. Thanksgiving is the quintessential day to share foods. I imagine the very first such dinner was a large table get together with platters in the middle of a wide array of comfort seasonal foods. Eating, drinking, talking story, laughing, and having lots of fun. Sure sounds like a Communal Table to me! It really is the VINO way to celebrate. So, we are challenging Chef Keith Endo to create something befitting Thanksgiving. Here is his menu….served family style VINO Anti-Pasti marinated artichokes, garden vegetables & herb roasted wild mushrooms Butternut Squash Lasagne with Fontina Cheese, Proscuitto & Bufala Mozzarella “Holiday Salad” Nalo Greens, grilled radicchio, cave aged gruyere, avocado,sweet Kahuku corn & a lemon-herb vinaigrette Tuscan Ciabatta Stuffing with chestnuts, pancetta, sweet Maui onions, pine nuts Kurobuta Pork Braciole stuffed with wild mushrooms, mushroom duxelle & served with with a lemon thyme demi L’Uccello Ripeno (stuffed bird) turkey with mortadella, fennel sausage, kalamata olives, sage & giblet gravy Sauteed Swiss Chard with garlic & olive oil DESSERT—Pumpkin “Tiramisu” You know Keith, this should be a real fun dinner! $35 per person plus tax and gratuity. Wines are not included. We will have three seatings 5:00; 5:30 and 6:00PM By Reservation only. 533-4476. On this night, VINO will be offering only the Communal Table. Good food, good wine, and good fun! I've been to their communal dinners before and they are lots of fun as he says. Usually we go across the street but this seems like something of of the ordinary. I was just in Montara and had a great meal at Gibralter and a lovely lunch at the Ritz in Half Moon Bay. I hope you enjoy your trip here. Wed Nov 19 09:22:25 -0800 2008 4185033 41725 manomin 2 4189223 that sounds great! hmm i wonder if i should do Vino instead Hiroshi, which I already booked. I haven't tried Vino yet. Thu Nov 20 10:06:37 -0800 2008 4185996 190491 dare2d4l 3 4189557 The ideal thing would be to eat at both as they are vastly different. The Thanksgiving menu is really a good one to be sure. If you are here before th 22nd Hiroshi is participating in the first restaurant week held on Oahu as are many others. Thu Nov 20 11:47:42 -0800 2008 4189223 41725 manomin 4 4189814 I had a wonderful meal before at Hiroshi (try the marinated moi or the chawanmushi) which is why I reserved the thanksgiving dinner. And I know that they share the same owners, both Vino and Hiroshi, so the menu at Vino really piqued my interest. This is the thanksgiving menu at Hiroshi: Turkey Bacon Potstickers Big Island heart of palm, haricot verts & saffron butter sauce Second Course Crispy Shrimp Linguine cilantro & black bean butter sauce Main Course Oven Roasted Turkey Breast mashed potato, lilikoi cranberry sauce & Portuguese sausage rice stuffing Sweet Course Kabocha Pumpkin Panna Cotta fresh fruits & honey vanilla ice cream Maybe I could order dishes from Hiroshi while I'm in Vino :D Thu Nov 20 13:10:07 -0800 2008 4189557 190491 dare2d4l 1 4186674 you might want to check this thread on other holiday dining in Honolulu http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/567165 Wed Nov 19 12:49:59 -0800 2008 4185033 57890 KaimukiMan 1 4192464 It sounds a little touristy but hey you are visitors to the islands so consider...a luau! Really. They'll usually add a turkey (or two or three) into the imu with the pig. That way, you'll get some local food and your t-day fix. The atmosphere is very much in the spirit of the season as well. Good fun. Fri Nov 21 13:10:45 -0800 2008 4185033 71301 goofygamine