ISLE HAPPENINGS . . . Returning to work after 10 days off feels as if I’ve been gone for weeks — at least by the enormous amount of emails and voice messages about upcoming food events. One of the state’s most famous chefs, Roy Yamaguchi, will host his 30th anniversary Hawaii Food Tour ...

AROUND THE TOWN . . . As a former panelist for the Oscars of the food world, the James Beard Awards, I used to say how unfair it was for our island state to be grouped in the Western region with California. After all, the Golden State has an economy bigger than most nations and countless ...

BARKING UP RIGHT TREE . . . This isn’t just any old mutt year. No, this is a purebred affair, the Year of the Earth Dog, the first that has occurred on a Chinese lunar calendar since 1958. (The regular Year of the Dog spins in every 12 years.) Many of you have read all about it in the ...

RED HOT IDEAS . . . Just like oysters are considered to be aphrodisiacs, caviar is thought to be oh-so seductive with a chilled bottle of bubbly. One-ounce tins of Petrossian caviar and fine bottles of champagne may be found at Wailea Wine, tucked away off Wailea Ike Drive near Matteo’s ...

HERE AND THERE . . . Word has it former Spago Maui chef Cameron Lewark is rocking it in San Francisco with his new restaurant, Heritage, which is located in the trendy Richmond district. Former Maui chef David Paul is thinking about opening a dim sum restaurant on the Big Island and is ...

RAISING THE RAFTERS . . . Earlier this week, a joyous event was presented at a historic church in Kapalua. The Steeple House at Kapalua held its open house and blessing as Maui’s newest event venue. “We are very excited to be able to offer a beautifully remodeled venue in a historic ...