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CITY FOR TASTE OF HAWAII FAVORITES!

Sunday, March 11, 2018

MAMA MANOA GRAND OPENING

MAMA MANOA
2740 E. MANOA ROAD
HONOLULU, HI. 96822
808-888-4392
HOURS:  Monday thru Saturday 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM
                 Sunday 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM

Full disclosure, I am part owner of Mama Manoa.  Realized my dream of bringing a neighborhood bistro to Manoa that celebrates University of Hawaii sports and athletes from the State of Hawaii.  With my business partner Serge Arellano who also owns Serg's Mexican Kitchen, we created a Pizza - Wings and Greens concept that is part museum, part garden and a big part great food.  While we wanted the food to be the star here, we also wanted the atmosphere and feel of the restaurant to compliment and enhance the Manoa neighborhood.  I think we accomplished this with our beautiful outdoor patio that has three widescreen televisions to enjoy University of Hawaii and other sporting events, a fresh herb garden where we cultivate herbs for the kitchen and Rainbow Falls which is a small waterfall adjacent to our garden.  All of these elements plus the indoor Wall of Fame that includes photographs of some of Hawaii's greatest athletes, signed jerseys and memorabilia from Hawaii's great athletes and coaches.  All of this comes together with great menu and wall art created by local artist Erin Mauro.  Erin captured the essence of Mama Manoa and hand painted the menu, murals and wall art inside and outside of the restaurant.  Her passion, ability and talent brought our entire concept together with color and textures she brought to the space.  Now lets get to the food and Grand Opening. First off the Grand Opening was like the Oscar Awards for Hawaii sports.  Coaches, former Hawaii players, Olympic athletes, NFL and CFL Football Players, Beauty Queens and celebrities graced Mama Manoa for a very special evening where we presented the entire Mama Manoa menu in buffet form to our guests.  The list of people in attendance was humbling and a true reflection of the diversity of the great athletes and coaches from Hawaii.  Maa Tanuvasa, Chad Owens, Rich Miano, Greg Salas, Bryant Moniz, Dave Shoji, Robyn Aw Mow Santos, Angelica Lundquist, Natasha Kai, Jeff Hall, Miss Hawaii USA (Julie Chu), Leonard Peters, Keaola Pilares, John Veneri were just a few of the stars attending the opening.  Olympic Soccer star Natasha Kai actually brought her Gold Medal from the Beijing Olympics.  ESPN1420 Radio was on hand with the Sports Animals doing a live broadcast from Mama Manoa.  Live interviews with the athletes were done on site and even Serge and myself were interviewed.  The athletes feasted on all of our Specialty Pizzas which are named after Hawaii athletes, Sandwiches, Salads and hundreds of Chicken Wings. Cannot say what they liked best as everything was being eaten in large quantities and to my knowledge there was not a single complaint.  Reviews of the food were incredible.  Blessed to bring this restaurant to Manoa and for all of the support we have received from the University of Hawaii, athletes and community.
Click link below to get the story behind the story on how I ended up in the restaurant business again;

MISS HAWAII USA, JULIE CHU (R) OPENS MAMA MANOA
HAWAII SAND VOLLEYBALL ASSISTANT COACH DANNY ALVEREZ
KHON2 LIVING808 HOST JOHN VENERI AND HIS GIRLFRIEND
TEAM IOLANI WAS IN THE HOUSE HELPING SERVE
UH TWIRLER (L) EMILY DOOMS AND FRIEND FEASTING
 MAA TANUVASA - TWO TIME SUPER BOWL WINNER WITH DENVER BRONCOS
OLYMPIC CHAMPIONS ROBYN AW MOW SANTOS AND NATASHA KAI
MAMA MANOA PACKED ON OPENING NIGHT
MISS HAWAII USA JULIE CHU AND FRIENDS
JULIE CHU IN FRONT OF MAMA MANOA HAND DRAWN MENU
MAMA MANOA PIZZA COMING OUT HOT
WING EATERS AT MAMA MANOA
GREG SALAS WITH TAYLOR KANESHIRO AND FRIENDS
GREG SALAS SIGNS HIS JERSEY AT MAMA MANOA
FORMER WAHINE VOLLEYBALL STAR AND CURRENT ASSISTANT COACH ANGELICA LUNDQUIST
THE LEGEND DAVE SHOJI SIGNING HIS RETIREMENT BANNER
WHICH NOW HANGS AT MAMA MANOA
HAWAII SAND VOLLEYBALL HEAD COACH JEFF HALL DONATES A SIGNED HAT AND BALL
MISS HAWAII USA JULIE CHU (RED) AND HER SISTER ALII CHU (WHITE DOTS) AND FRIENDS
THE OUTDOOR LANAI WAS HAPPENING PLACE
GREG SALAS AND HIS WIFE DOMINIQUE ALONG WITH PAXTON WANG FROM IMG SPORTS
LEONARD PETERS AND CHEF SERG
GREG SALAS SIGNS HIS TWO PHOTOS ON THE WALL OF FAME AT MAMA MANOA
BEAUTIES AND CHICKEN WINGS AT MAMA MANOA
BRYANT MONIZ SIGNS HIS PHOTO AND A CFL CONTRACT
CHAD OWENS AND ME - WHAT A GREAT GUY CHAD IS.  TOTALLY HUMBLE AND COOL
MAMA MANOA HOSTESS READY TO SERVE OUR GUESTS
NATASHA KAI AND HER OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL
UH HAWAII RAINBOW DANCERS OUT BY THE WATERFALL AT MAMA MANOA
MAMA MANOA PIZZA HOT OUT OF THE OVEN

SOME OF HAWAII'S GREATEST PLAYERS AND COACHES ALONG WITH ME
BEAUTIES AND ONE BEAST AT MAMA MANOA
GREG SALAS SERVED UP THE GREG SALAS CARNE ASADA PIZZA BY CHEF SERG
MAA TANUVASA SIGNING HIS PHOTO AT MAMA MANOA
THE RICH MIANO ITALIAN SANDWICH
KEALOHA PILARES SIGNING HIS PHOTO ON MAMA MANOA WALL OF FAME
THESE GALS CAN EAT!
ESPN1420 SPORTS ANIMALS BROADCASTING LIVE FROM MAMA MANOA
ENJOYING THE FOOD AT MAMA MANOA
NATASHA KAI SIGNS HER PHOTO AT MAMA MANOA
GREG SALAS SIGNING
JEFF HALL AND DANNY ALVEREZ (CENTER), SHELDON NAGATA (R)
LEONARD PETERS AND CHAD OWENS WILL PUMP YOU UP AT MAMA MANOA
I THINK THEY WERE ENJOYING THE FOOD AT MAMA MANOA
MAMA MANOA SPECIALTY PIZZAS READY 
MAMA MANOA SAYS "GO BOWS"
GREG SALAS AT MAMA MANOA
MAMA MANOA IS ATTRACTING SOME BEAUTIFUL GUESTS
CHEF SERG AND MAA TANUVASA
RYAN TANAKA FROM WATERHOUSE AND HIS LOVELY GAL
RICH AND LORI MIANO WITH CHAD OWENS AT MAMA MANOA
CHAD OWENS DOING RADIO/WEBSITE INTERVIEW WITH ESPN1420
CHAD OWENS SIGNS HIS PHOTO AT MAMA MANOA
WELCOME TO MAMA MANOA
THE LEGEND DAVE SHOJI SIGNING HIS PHOTO AT MAMA MANOA
ROBYN AW MOW SANTOS SIGNING HER PHOTO AT MAMA MANOA
GREG SALAS ALWAYS SEEMS TO BE SURROUNDED BY BEAUTIFUL WOMAN
ESPN1420 SPORTS ANIMALS WITH HAWAII WOMANS GOLF COACH STEPHEN BIDNE
LEONARD PETERS SIGNING HIS PHOTO ON THE MAMA MANOA WALL OF FAME
MAA TANUVASA IN THE HOUSE AT MAMA MANOA
LEONARD PETERS STEALING THE MAMA MANOA HOSTESSES AWAY
NATASHA KAI AND JULIE CHU WITH THE OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL
THE LEGEND DAVE SHOJI SIGNING HIS SHIRT AT MAMA MANOA
THE LEGEND DAVE SHOJI SIGNING HIS PHOTO IN FRONT OF A WALL OF PHOTOGRAPHERS
JULIE CHU AND CHEF SERG
ESPN1420 INTERVIEWS JULIE CHU AT MAMA MANOA
MAA TANUVASA ENJOYING THE MAMA MANOA MEAT LOVERS PIZZA NAMED AFTER HIM
MAMA MANOA ANTIPASTI SALAD
UH WAHINE VOLLEYBALL COACHING TABLE AT MAMA MANOA
ESPN1420 INTERVIEWING WOMANS SAND VOLLEYBALL COACHES
MISS HAWAII USA, JULIE CHU SIGNS HER PHOTO AT MAMA MANOA
THE BRIAN CLAY SANDWICH AT MAMA MANOA
CHAD OWENS FAMILY AND FRIENDS
BEAUTY GRACING MAMA MANOA
CHEF SERG WITH EMILY DOOMS AND FRIEND
CHAD OWENS CELEBRATING HIS DAUGHTERS BIRTHDAY AT MAMA MANOA
TAYLOR KANESHIRO (R) AND FRIEND AT MAMA MANOA
ESPN1420 SPORTS ANIMAL CHRIS HART ENJOYING MAMA MANOA PIZZA
SWIMMING CHAMPION MIKI DAVID (R) AND FRIEND AT MAMA MANOA
CHAD OWENS AND NATASHA KAI ENJOYING THE EVENING AT MAMA MANOA
CHEF SERG AND MISS HAWAII USA PRESENT DAVE SHOJI WITH THE SANDWICH
NAMED AFTER HIM AT MAMA MANOA
LEONARD PETERS ONCE AGAIN GETTING ALL THE WOMAN
CHAD OWENS IN FRONT OF HIS SIGNED PHOTO AT MAMA MANOA
TRY THE MAA TANUVASA MEAT LOVERS PIZZA AT MAMA MANOA
SIGNED DAVE SHOJI RETIREMENT BANNER ONLY AT MAMA MANOA
SHAKA FROM MAMA MANOA
TRISTY FROM MAMA MANOA


BAKU

BAKU
INTERNATIONAL MARKET PLACE
2330 KALAKAUA AVE #396
HONOLULU, HI. 96815
808-800-3571
HOURS:  Sunday thru Thursday 4:00 PM - 10:00 PM
                 Friday and Saturday 4:00 PM - 12:00 AM

Did not know what to expect when we walked into Baku at the International Market Place in Waikiki.  I had not heard of the place and had no intel on the food or concept.  While I left totally not understanding the concept, I did leave very happy with the food.  After viewing the menu with some out of town friends of which one of them worked with the Head Chef at Baku in Chicago, we decided to order family style and enjoy a variety of dishes.  I can honestly say there was not one dish that we did not like.  All hit on presentation and flavor.  If there was one dish that did not hit the mark it would be the Soft Shell Crab.  Pretty bland and I think the only dish where some was left on the table.  
The Hamachi and Potstickers were the stars of the meal for me.  Could have eaten three plates each of these items.  Sushi was also delicious.  I really want to return to Baku to try another dozen dishes!

BAKU

BAKU WAIKIKI

INDOOR SEATING AND BAR
OUTDOOR SEATING AREA
VIEW OF KALAKAUA AVENUE FROM OUTDOOR TERRACE
BAKU MENU





EDAMAME
HAMACHI
CALAMARI
SOFT SHELL CRAB
BAKU DRAGON ROLL
BEEF TENDERLOIN AND ASPARAGUS SKEWERS
OCEANS ROLL
BAKU HEAD CHEF (L) AND MY BUDDY FROM CHICAGO 

POLYNESIAN FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME DINNER

POLYNESIAN FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME DINNER
SHERATON WAIKIKI


 Hands down one of the best events of the year.  I love the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame dinner.
Incredible athletes and people.