a brilliant private dining experience. worth the trip to hawaii just for this night!!!!!read more

We had That Girl Cooks cater dinner for our family one night when we were on Oahu. Everything was…read morefabulous from start to finish. Communication was great and the food was phenomenal. There wasn't one thing that we didn't like. Angela is FANTASTIC, highly recommend it!

Wow. Very talkative and high energy guy, you can tell he wants to have right intentions but does…read morenot lead by them. Super super super paranoid, and the worst part is we paid him $200 tip on a $800 tab (25%) and he still insists on harassing every one of our guests for more money. Food was actually pretty decent but the way he presents himself and now threatens us we cannot return back to his island as we are not welcomed is insane. See photos for clarification. Not worth the "what if" factor with this guy.

This Chef Pedro as he calls himself should not de trusted under no circumstances. This man was a…read moretenant. And when he left, he stole things of great value and owing to the last month's rent. So I think it's imperative to let other prospective clients know of this chef, this man calling himself Chef Pedro. And to not let them get cough in his scam and lose large sums of money. There are other clients who have written of this chef and the scam he ran on them. Please don't let what happen to me happen to you.

My husband surprised me with a cooking class with Linda and it was one of the best experiences thus…read morefar! The class is at Linda's house and it is BEAUTIFUL. Upon walking in, we were greeted by her pig and her little fur babies which we LOVED!! Her house is beautiful and so welcoming- you feel like home when you're there and when she's talking to us and teaching us, it feels like you and your friends are chatting and catching up. She has this personality that draws you in and has so many stories about her adventures! Our class consisted of 5 people including my husband and I, so fairly small and we made 3 different types of poke, deluxe spam musubi, coconut shrimp and coconut butter mochi. All of them are drool worthy and what I think was amazing is that she shares little tips and tricks about what she puts in her food to make it even better! Honestly, the ahi poke that we made was the best I've ever had and it cuts and melts in your mouth like butter!!! Along with all of Linda's wisdom about cooking, she also teaches you about local Hawaiian culture, words and history about how each food became what it is today. All in all, we are going to come back to take another class! We loved the atmosphere, the delicious food, and the rich history that makes Hawaii Hawaii. If anyone is local or visiting the island and cooking classes interest you and it aligns with your schedule, take her class! YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT!!

The class is informative and Linda is such a cool and genuine person you will wish she adopts you…read more Had a blast learning new cooking techniques and history of the dishes. Also many little dogs and a lovely sassy pig. We felt so welcomed in her home and would highly recommend these classes are a fun time for any food lover.

Unbelievable magic and even more sendsational food-- absolutely the very best dining that I have…read moreever experience. Thank you for a time of my life. Ethan is a chef that is the very best but he also adds super personality that other lack. I highly recommend you call him Mahalo gary

Amazing service & food from Chef Ethan! A four-course meal that left us all wanting more! Be sure…read moreto hire Chef Ethan for your next special lunch or dinner to ensure a truly spectacular experience. A magic show with dessert - what more can you ask for. We look forward to our next trip out to Oahu from the mainland to experience a different menu from Chef Ethan.

I would 100% recommend Course Hawaii for a catering experience. My family was just on Oahu and…read moreCourse provided two wonderful meals for a family of 12. Everyone I worked with, from Louise to Chef Marceau, and servers Genevieve and Lauren were wonderful.

We were looking for someone who would cater our wedding at a secluded beach on Labor day weekend…read moreand found Course on IG as they have done some great work and they had great reviews on yelp as well. They have even worked for celebrities such as the Rock. The reason why is that Chef Andrew and his team are absolutely fantastic! We had a party of about 70 guests, and the Course team helped serve all the food and drinks. Everyone praised their professionalism and great attitude throughout the night and to this day. Best of all, everyone is still raving about the food. Some people have told me that "it was the best wedding food they have ever had." The appetizers were sliders and garlic shrimp. The short rib and fresh white fish were showstopper entrees and all the sides garlic noodles, rice, potatoes and veggies really completed the meal! Chef Andrew also offers a oyster bar and that was a huge hit! FYI order more than less as folks were destroying these oysters and Chef was putting in work shucking them to order. We really wanted to thank Course for making our special day extremely successful and would definitely recommend them to anyone hosting an event in Oahu!

My husband and I attended the Sooper Secret Izakaya dinner at Hana Kitchens. This was our first…read moretime attending the dinner and going to Hana Kitchens. We learned from Chef Ricky that Hana Kitchens is a commercial kitchen that is used for different classes and dinners. The Hana Kitchens website lists out their events and they get booked up very quickly. Sooper Secret Izakaya was a culinary experience I cannot stop thinking about, writing this review several days later and I already want to go to another dinner cooked by Chef Ricky. His attention to detail and the thought he gives in what he's pairing on his plate made each and every single dish so amazing. His personal experiences on island and around the area of Chinatown to procure his ingredients really shone through each dish. The staff that assisted Chef Ricky also deserve their kudos for their attentive service throughout the entire meal. I cannot stop recommending to friends that they should also experience Chef Ricky's food as soon as possible. Thank you Chef Ricky for all the passion in your food and a great evening.

A lot was learned from the Falafel class taught by Chef Askar who is from Egypt. His passion to…read moreteach and share his culture made the class informative. Besides receiving the recipe, you will learn the techniques on how to make falafels and hummus, why not to use the canned chickpeas, and explanations about the spices. The finale was being served the complete meal, with the fafale made in class, hummus, baba ganoush, green salad, slices of flat bread, dessert, and a glass of wine. Much enjoyed.

My latest K-Drama watching binge has made me hungry for Korean food so when I read about Korean…read morecooking classes at the Culinary Institute, I signed up. There were 2 sessions and each class was limited to 16 participants and I was told the class books up quickly. The August class "Cooking Local Favorites: Korean" was taught by Chef Grant Sato, winner of the 2015 Global Taste of Korean International Cooking Competition. In the 4 hour class we cooked 3 recipes: Soondubu Jjigae (soft tofu stew) with tofu made from scratch!, Miyeokguk (Korean seaweed soup with beef), and Dakjjim (braised chicken with noodles and vegetables) Chef Sato's competition winning dish. Classes are held at the Culinary Institute of the Pacific's beautiful new kitchens on 4500 Diamond Head Road. Parking is right in front of the building and you are advised to wear close toed shoes and long pants. You can bring an apron if you want (I did not). All ingredients and cooking equipment are provided. Masks are required for participants. Upon arrival you are given the recipes and assigned to a station, 2 students to a station. My son took the class with me and we got the station right in front of the demo area which was nice. The stations each have two sinks, a stove, knives, pans, and the assistants bring you the ingredients for each dish. Chef Sato gives a demonstration at the front of the kitchen and everyone watches, then goes back to their stations to replicate what he just showed. The 4 hours pass quickly, there is much to do. I even learned how to cut up a whole chicken (my son would not touch it.) One of the things I really liked about this was finding out what exact ingredients Chef uses in his cooking so I took lots of pictures of the products. The resulting dishes were all delicious and we packed them up and took them home. There was a lot of food, enough for several dinners. I will definitely take more classes here! HINT: Since you are sharing a station, its fun to sign up with a buddy.

KCC Culinary School RULES!…read more The newest addition to KCC is The Culinary institute of the pacific located at the old Canon Club on Diamond Head Road. There is a gorgeous kitchen with state of the art preparation stations for each student, KCC has done a remarkable job to propel their Culinary program forward and upward. This first time, I had the privilege of visiting the kitchen facilities as well as sample food prepared by the students at the Culinary Institute for a contest sponsored by 7/11 Stores in an effort to expand on their 2019 take out bento menu. The contest will garner 2 winners with purse of $1000 and $750 respectively for the 1st and 2nd place winners. There were eight contenders. Each entry had to contain local ingredients, healthy with conscience to nutritional value and the preparation cost price point had to be something reasonable for 7-Eleven to be able to resell the lunch meal. The meal had to also withstand the heat as it sits under the heating element waiting to be purchased. I enjoyed their sampling process. We got to try each entry served in something more than bite sized portions, chat with each contestant about their creation, chat with the educating staff at the Culinary Institute and always with Yelp Events we got to visit and chat with fellow Yelpers old and new. Congrats to all 8 entrants and kudos to both 1st and 2nd place winners! Be sure to stop in and visit a 7/11 store next year to try these great creations

As much as I like to eat, learning the techniques, tips and tricks of a real chef is a priceless…read moregift. Dear friends of mine planned a day for us with Lisa, who made everything look effortless! From the incredible setting in Lisa's spacious kitchen to the actual sit down meal served with a stunning view of Diamond Head, ocean and sky --- it was flawless! Our custom plant-based menu began with making dessert. Why you ask? A chef knows you start with the item that takes the longest to make. Everyone got to help make the strawberry peach fruit crisp, from slicing the fruit to making the crumble topping. The forbidden black rice with herbs, cashews and coconut was next, followed by green beans with a toasted sesame "dressing" and the ubiquitous miso soup with wakame, shimeji mushrooms and silken tofu. Meanwhile, Lisa also whipped up pan fried tofu with a scallion chili ponzu. Deeelicious!! Lisa patiently and eloquently explained the ingredients and where she sourced them. We tasted an amazing sesame seed found only in Kyoto and a flavorful soy sauce with a round mouthful that made all others pale in comparison. Needless to say we were awestruck and enlightened. Every bite was savored and every flavor stamped in memory! I'll not soon forget this amazing experience with a trained nutritionist who turned cooking into a culinary adventure! Even the pictures may not tell the whole story as all the ingredients held their own and shined in a way that turned the ordinary into extraordinary. Thank you to Lisa and my dear friends Tracy, Cheri, Laura, Susan and Velvet for the Best. Birthday. Surprise. Ever! Highly recommend!

We had the best time with Wellness Hawaii! We booked this as part of a Christmas gift for our kids,…read more17 & 14. Lisa was accommodating with a family member's allergies and helped us pick the perfect menu for my picky eaters. The kids had the best time making gyoza! They even were surprised at how much they liked the dessert (made with tofu)! We learned so much and plan to make the dishes at home. I cannot recommend this experience enough! If you are visiting Oahu - this is one of the best experiences you can book. If you live here, the view alone is worth it! I will definitely be back with some friends to celebrate their retirements.

I would recommend HI MEAL Prepping Company to everyone!!! Her food is very delicious and also…read morenutritious for you ... Haydee is also a very dedicated and hard working person and enjoys to cook. If you need someone to help with all your meal planning and catering services please go to see her! I guarantee you'll be very happy that you did Trust me!

Omg these are amazing!!!!! My husband and son basically inhaled them! Thank you so much!!!! We…read moreordered guayaba con queso pastelitos and she didn't not disappoint. They were delicious!!!

Kai Ku Hale was one of those little Haleʻiwa stores where I wanted half the things I saw and bought…read moreexactly nothing. The name itself made me like the store even more. Kai Ku Hale means "house on the gentle ocean at low tide." Owner Layne Larsen came up with it from one of her favorite things to do: walk the North Shore at low tide collecting shells, driftwood, sea glass and other things left behind by the ocean. She opened the store in 2008, originally thinking it would be an interior design business, but when the recession hit, she shifted it into a place that supported local artists. And once you know that, the store makes so much sense. I kept noticing recycled fabric, glass, driftwood and repurposed materials everywhere. Sustainability didn't feel like something added on for marketing. It felt baked into the place. The store now carries work from more than 50 island artists and makers, with a lot of pieces made from reclaimed, reused and recycled materials. And OMG the tchotchkes. So many things I could picture coming home with me. I bought nothing. Not because I wasn't tempted. I was VERY tempted. Expensive, yes. But this was one of my favorite stores to simply wander through in Haleʻiwa. And knowing the story behind the name made me like it even more.

Fun, unique souvenir shop with art and trinkets from Hawaii…read more Small and quaint and fun to look at