For the past several years, Lanakila Pacific has hosted
The Good Table on the first Thursday of October where restaurants on Oahu sell
a table or several tables with a preset multi course meal and donating half of
the proceeds to Lanakila’s Meals on Wheels program. And because our informal
wine group loves all things food and wine, I usually try to purchase a table
for this annual event. During the first couple of years, the table I purchased
was from none other than the haute dog king of the 50th, Hank Adaniya
of Hank’s Haute Dogs. Last year was an anomaly as Hank had four tables for sale
but several were pre-purchased by diners offering more for the table than the
listed price though since the first Thursday in October was on the same day as
Vino’s re-opening, I didn’t feel like I really missed The Good Table. But last
month, we got back in the grove with a table at The Pig and the Lady.
Purchasing
Logistics
Purchasing the tables at The Good Table does take quite a
bit of effort. On some years, Lanakila actually lists the date the table will
go on sale… of course, if you don’t visit their website regularly the week
before the listed date invariably find that the actual sale started before said
date and that the only remaining tables are at Zippy’s. That’s why I visit the
Lanakila website daily from August onward just to make sure I’m not the victim
of a “flash” sale. Of course on the morning of September 7th I
checked the website before leaving for work and nothing was for sale and just
by happenstance, decided to view the site after finishing lunch. ALREADY ON
SALE! With several tables already purchased. Of course purchasing anything on
your cell phone is an adventure in itself with fat fingers that continually hit
unintended links. But by the end of lunch, I possessed a table for four at The
Pig and the Lady.
Lanakila Pacific
Lanakila Pacific basically provides three branches of
service; Lanakila TLC or the teaching and learning center which promotes
independence and inclusion for adults with disabilities, Workforce Resources
which provides training and job placement for these individuals and the
Lanakila Meals on Wheels which provides Oahu wide meal services for seniors so
that they can remain at home versus being institutionalized at overwhelming
costs.
Statistically, one in six seniors faces hunger in Hawaii and
while funding for Lanakila Pacific has remained the same since 2002, Hawaii has
the longest life expectancy in the nation with a 30% increase in the senior
population since 2002. The Good Table therefore is a significant part of
Lanakila Pacific’s Meals on Wheels fund raising program. So while it may seem
like it’s simply one meal on a Thursday evening, it contributes to many more
meals to end kupuna hunger. Feed your body and soul at the same time.
The Menu
RAMEN EGG & CAVIAR
Marinated soft boiled egg, American caviar, shallot, fried chicken skin
Marinated soft boiled egg, American caviar, shallot, fried chicken skin
SCALLION AREPA
Anchovy XO sauce, pickled corn, buttermilk, cilantro
Anchovy XO sauce, pickled corn, buttermilk, cilantro
HAKU LEI
100% local vegetables, seeds, roots, sprouts, and flowers sourced from the bounty of the land and sea of the Hawaiian Islands. It’s our way to celebrate our farmers for their dedication!
100% local vegetables, seeds, roots, sprouts, and flowers sourced from the bounty of the land and sea of the Hawaiian Islands. It’s our way to celebrate our farmers for their dedication!
CHORIZO BOLOGNESE
Garganelli pasta, spiced Spanish style chorizo, pickled red onion,
Garganelli pasta, spiced Spanish style chorizo, pickled red onion,
aged manchego,
shishito, cilantro
GRILLED DUCK A
L'CALAMANSI
Calamansi puree, yuzu kosho + honey glazed beets, salted coriander seed crumble, grilled and pickled turnips, mustard frill, roasted duck jus
Calamansi puree, yuzu kosho + honey glazed beets, salted coriander seed crumble, grilled and pickled turnips, mustard frill, roasted duck jus
IN LOVE WITH THE COCO ICE
Coconut water granita ice, citrus & lemongrass jellies, frozen mango & compressed watermelon, salted lemon peel, shredded coconut, condensed milk espuma
Coconut water granita ice, citrus & lemongrass jellies, frozen mango & compressed watermelon, salted lemon peel, shredded coconut, condensed milk espuma
and crystallized
ginger almond granola
Since The Pig and the Lady was on the verge of opening
their sister restaurant – Piggy Smalls – in Kakaako, Chef Brandon Lee who will
be running the Piggy Smalls kitchen came out to describe new dishes that will
be featured at Piggy Smalls. The ramen egg was insanely good somehow capturing
the flavor of a good ramen broth with bits of crunchy chicken skin and caviar
to provide the salty element. If this isn’t on the regular menu, it should find
a permanent place there! The arepa or South American corn cake will be featured
at Piggy Smalls and it was a very nice spicy starter. The haku lei is named
based on its appearance on the plate featuring all local produce and it’s quite
a large portion and luckily, you too can sample it as it’s on the current menu.
The Pig and the Lady ALWAYS makes great pastas (freshly made in-house) whether
it’s the truffled cacao e pepe, the Ludovico chicken with pappardelle or our
chorizo Bolognese with just enough heat to awaken and refresh the palate so you
know any pasta course will be divine. The duck was twice cooked and very tender
though the beets and turnips that accompanied the dish were my favorites for
the course and dessert did give me a brain freeze as the fruits and jellies
were frozen and the salted lemon gave the palate surprising hits of salty and
sour between the brain freeze.
Next Year?
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