So, a shoe salesman walks into a bar… Sounds like the set up for a joke, but it’s actually the beginning of a beautiful friendship. A fan of the deep whiskey list that Justin Park (two-time “World’s Best Mai Tai” champion; 2014 “Shake It Up!” Cocktail Competition winner; USA representative, IBA... Read More
A quick action photo at the hottest ticket to drink in town right now: Bar Leather Apron in the Topa Financial Center downtown. I took this photo on the final night of BLA’s soft opening weekend. That’s head bartender Justin Park on the left, with his bar crew of Art... Read More
Last week, The Manifest held one of their Tasting Session seminars with bar manager Justin Park. This one focused on whiskies from the Japanese distillery Nikka. I happened to see a posting on Instagram (if you want to find out about future tasting sessions, you should definitely be following them)... Read More
This past weekend, the Hawaii Chapter of the United States Bartenders’ Guild held a fundraiser for the Hawaiian Humane Society: Punch for Pooches. Brilliant! Shake and I love punch and are very sad that it’s not more popular here. Fix that, people. I mean, how can you resist something like... Read More
I don’t care if summer is “officially” over, I am determined to enjoy this summer cocktail until I stop being sweaty. Which will be, like, sometime in February. The Pimm’s Cup is a drink I enjoy, but usually forget the existence of until I spy a bottle of Pimm’s No. 1... Read More
The first entry in what will be our ongoing catalog of things—dishes, drinks, products—we’re obsessed over. The Diamond & Dutch Cocktail at The Manifest in Chinatown started out as one of the bar’s weekly specials. (They have a cool menu board to the left of the bar that features the... Read More
In March, I had the opportunity to tag along and play unofficial “second shooter” at a photo shoot for HAWAI‘I Magazine featuring some of the rising star chefs and bartenders elevating the local food and drink scene. The chefs and bartenders were Nos. 2 and 3 on HAWAI‘I Magazine’s list... Read More
So, I totally skipped over November and December’s round-ups…but you’ll forgive me, I hope. Of course, the first thing (literally) consumed this year was a bowl of ozoni at my parents’ house. Ozoni is the traditional Japanese New Year’s mochi soup. Every family has their own recipe. Our family recipe... Read More