chef for a day

with a family filled with foodies, i am always on the lookout for gifts that will tempt their palate or inspire them in the kitchen. cooking classes have always been on the top of my list, however, due to either budgetary constraints or the level of commitment they demand on my time crunched giftees, the idea was stuck in the land of possibilities never to be.

until now. i am happy to report neither one poses a problem at pacific gourmet which opened its doors last month and offers recreational cooking classes where both kama'aina and visitors can learn a few new culinary tricks. inspired by fellow foodie friends, owner chef laura (who trained at the prestigious le cordon bleu in paris) was determined to create a relaxed atmosphere where everyone from beginning to advanced cooks could explore global cuisine as well as fresh trends in the kitchen without breaking the bank.

pacific gourmet cooking classes are both affordable ($48 a pop) and intimate with a limit of 15 students per session. of course, hunger is not an option since the finale includes a sit down meal to savor all the plats du jour (dinner classes also include a wine pairing). 

private parties can be booked at your home or at pacific gourmet's classroom which is located at the laniakea ywca and, beginning next month, at nu'uanu's art zone. and, due to popular demand, gift certificates will arrive in a few weeks (yay!).

here's a peek at the upcoming class schedule:

• may 6th - healthy organic cooking
• may 8th - homemade pasta
• may 11th - hors d'oeuvres & cocktails
• may 13th - mother's day tea party

bon appétit!

the machine stops here

custom denim button belt

machine machine is yet another fresh etsy find - this time from the island of kauai. the relatively new clothing line from indie designer shannon hiramoto made its debut earlier this year and is filled with a mix of deconstructed pieces ranging from strapless minis to personalized belts sure to be adored by anyone with an independent streak.

and, may i say, it's hard resist the creations of an island girl who shares intriguing philosophical musings like the following:

"machine machine is simple clothing for complicated times. i am akin to the idea of making/wearing one of a kind things as a method for liberating oneself from the machineries which often dominate independent thought."

mini dress

pupule clutch

even if your mini days are but a faint memory, machine machine's abbreviated dresses pair nicely with your favorite jeans. don't forget to take a peek in the aptly described pouchey department to add a little deconstructed love to your accessory closet.

get inside the mind of mm's creator via her blog and stop by the etsy shop to take stock of the current collection (or to contact shannon about custom work).

big island style finds

today is etsy day! one of the newest finds is the budget friendly collection from big island jewelry designer heather anne nelson. primarily self taught, heather's work can be defined by its delicate wire work combined with the clean, organic shapes of the natural stones that are the focus of many of her designs.

custom orders are always welcome as are requests to recreate pieces that have already been snapped up. when on the big island, drop by heather's booth at the kailua village farmers market every wed through sun or stop by her etsy shop 24/7.

free shipping at timana tea

with mother's day fast approaching, timana tea is offering complimentary shipping on us orders of $50 or more. if gifting your mom with all the fixings for her very own island style tea party sounds like a plan, you best hele on over to timana's online shop as the deal ends on tue, may 1st.

{update | jan 2010: the company rebranded the line after this was published and is now known as tealani tea}

organic sweets from hawaiian host

as further evidence of the mainstreaming of green, hawaiian host introduced their very own certified organic line called pure aloha earlier this year. the organic goodies have finally been stocked in hh's online shop which means eco conscious foodies (and the people who love them. hint, hint.) can now enjoy the organic version of one of the islands' most popular treats.

in addition to the standard milk chocolate option, health conscious folks can nosh on antioxidant rich dark chocolate covered mac nuts which, when combined with the omega-3 power house that is the macadamia nut, means you can enjoy each tasty nugget guilt free (at least that's the lie i tell myself so i can sleep at night). some may find the packages light for the price with only eight pieces alloted to a box (portion control, perhaps?) so plan your purchase accordingly.

also, unadulterated organic macadamia nuts seasoned with sea salt are available when that salty craving wins the battle with your sweet tooth.