Mother's Day at Arancino at The Kahala, and more options

Nadine Kam photos
The Mother’s Day insalata presentation is a treat for eyes and palate at Arancino at The Kahala. Details of the individual delicacies are below.

Every time I’m out, people lament that they haven’t tried this new restaurant or that new restaurant, dating from a year back.

Sunday, aka Mother’s Day, provides the perfect excuse to get out and try someplace new, or somewhere you might consider out of your price range for an everyday meal.

While treating your mom, you’ll also be treating to yourself to some special menus. Chefs and restaurateurs know very well it may be their one opportunity to win over the casual restaurant goer, so you can bet they’ll be putting their best effort forward.

Over at Arancino at The Kahala, here’s a look at the $68 prix fixe menu offered by executive chef Daisuke Hamamoto during dinner hours, 5 to 10:30 p.m., with last seating at 9:30 p.m. Wine pairings will be available for $90. (The regular a la carte menu will available for lunch.)

 Amuse of foie gras macaron.

The bread presentation.

A closer look at the caprese and bagna cauda selections from the insalata platter at top of page.

A closer look at the ahi carpaccio topped with tomato film, from the insalata platter.

Delightful arancini with shrimp oil infusion and shrimp flakes.

 Mom will have her pick of pasta, either this linguine with Manila clams and Ho Farms cherry tomato concasse, white wine and garlic olive oil, or below, orecchiette pasta with sun-dried tomatoes, brocolini and garlic olive oil.

 

 Knives accompany presentation of the meat course, but it’s not necessary. The sous vide merlot-braised shortribs are so tender all you need is your fork.

Dessert of roasted almond panna cotta topped with coconut gelato, and surrounded by coconut granita.

Mom will also go home with a box of six housemade macarons. Very yummy!
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Arancino at The Kahala is at The Kahala Hotel, 5000 Kahala Ave. Call (808) 380-4400 for reservations.

MOTHER’S DAY OPTIONS ELSEWHERE:

GOKOKU SUSHI
Special Mother’s Day dinner sets will be presented in a three-tiered lacquer box. In Tier 1: Tempura don, sesame sauce udon and nigiri. Tier 2: Prime beef filet steak, chilean butterfish chirimushi and fried oyster. Tier 3: Sashimi, vegetable sticks, foie gras
and dessert. The cost is $75 per person. Mom receives 50 percent off, to make it $37.50. At Koko Marina Center; reserve at (808) 888-7777.

HOLOHOLO BAR & GRILL
A Mother’s Day brunch buffet will be featured from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. For $51.95 per person, enjoy your fill from an omelet station, sushi station and dessert station, along with entrees of poached salmon with creamy dill sauce, drunken seafood pasta, Bananas Foster french toast, glazed chicken with mango chutney, smoked meat fried rice and an array of breakfast meats. The full menu is at http://holoholobarandgrill.com/event/mothers-day-breakfast-buffet/. The restaurant is at 2494 S. Beretania St. Reserve at (808) 369-7297.

MAC 24/7
The restaurant celebrates the most important woman in your life with its Feast Fit for a Queen” buffet. The buffet is $48 for adults, $21 for keiki ages 4 to 12, and free for age 3 and younger, available from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Among luxurious dishes available will be slow-roasted prime rib and turkey at carving stations; mashed potatoes with bacon, cheddar cheese, sour cream and chives; salmon benedict with lemon dill hollandaise and fried capers; shrimp cocktail; lobster bisque; seven-cheese macaroni and cheese; and more. MAC 24/7 isinside the Hilton Waikiki Beach hotel at 2500 Kuhio Drive. Valet parking is $3 when dining. To reserve, call (808) 921-5564.

MARIPOSA
Treat mom to a shopping spree plus prix fixe Mother’s Day lunch available between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. For $45 plus tax and gratuity, start with a starter choice of beet-cured hamachi crudo or Big Island hearts of palm bisque, followed by one entree choice from among six items: Poached Eggs Benedict with crab, avocado, prosciutto, lyonnaise potatoes and fresh fruit; or quinoa fried rice; grilled Big Island strip steak; Alaskan halibut; kiawe-smoked pork tenderloin salad; or lobster club sandwich. Finish with pastry of the day. Note that the menu is subject to availability of products. Inside Neiman Marcus, third floor. Call (808) 951-3420.

Sheraton Princess Kaiulani
Kama‘āina families can start celebratiing by taking advantage of a $155 per night rate available May 8 through May 11. Overnight parking for one vehicle, WiFi and a 35 percent food discount (not applicable on the Mother’s Day dinner buffet) are included; and the resort fee will be waived.

On Sunday, a Mother’s Day dinner starts with a free “Mom-mosa” for each mom dining at Pikake Terrace. Enjoy buffet favorites such as chilled jumbo shrimp with cocktail and brandy sauce; ahi poke; sushi; vegetable crudities with garlic dip; steamed crag legs with butter and cocktail sauce; pan-seared mahi mahi on sushi rice with wasabi beurre blanc and cucumber; stuffed chicken with spinach on a mushroom boursin cheese veloute; “pulehu-style” beef steak with teriyaki drizzle; a carving station featuring prime rib; and desserts.

The cost is $53 for adults and $26.50 for children between the ages of 5 and 12. Those attending the dinner will receive four hours of complimentary parking. For reservations, call (808) 921-4600. To book a stay with the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani, call (808) 922-5811.

TIKI’S GRILL & BAR
Tiki’s will be offering a Mother’s Day brunch that hits all the right spots. On the menu will be all-you-can-eat snow crab lgs, red velvet waffles, pancakes and hand-carved salt-crusted prime rib, plus a “Build Your Own” omelet station, French Toast Bar and Poke Bar. Additional items include crab eggs Benedict and macadamia nut mahimahi with lemongrass beurre blanc, mashed Yukon Gold potatoes, Nalo Farms mixed greens, seasonal fruits and housemade kim chee. Offered from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., at $38 adults, $17 keiki (ages 5 to 12), and free for 5 and younger. Tiki’s is at 2570 Kalakaua Ave. Call (808) 923-8454.

THE WILLOWS
Mother’s Day brunch and dinner buffets will be available between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. and 4 and 9 p.m., at $47.95 per adult, and $23.95 per child ages 4 to 10. The menus can be viewed here: http://willowshawaii.com/index.php/mothers-day-brunch-dinner-buffet/. The Willows is at 901 Hausten St. Call (808) 952-9200.

WOLFGANG’S STEAKHOUSE BY WOLFGANG ZWIENER
The Mother’s Day special menu starts with a glass of champagne (for 21 and older only); an appetizer choice of jumbo lump crabcake, sizzling bacon, Caesar salad or clam chowder; an entrée choice of petit filet au poivre with garlic mashed potatoes, or grilled wild salmon and broccoli or asparagus; and dessert of Junior’s New York Cheesecake. Offered between 11 a.m. and 10 p.m., at $64.95.

In addition, all moms will receive a $20 gift certificate toward her next visit. Some restrictions may apply. Wolfgang’s is in Building C at Royal Hawaiian Center, Level 3. Call (808) 922-3600 or visit www.opentable.com.

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Nadine Kam is Style Editor and staff restaurant critic at the Honolulu Star-Advertiser; her coverage is in print on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Contact her via email at nkam@staradvertiser.com and follow her on Twitter, Instagram and Rebel Mouse.