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Artistic, innovative fare defines Kaimuki bistro

Columns Foodie Fare

October 5, 2014

Story By: Christina O Connor | Photos by: Nathalie Walker

While JJ Bistro & French Pastry is widely known for its decadent desserts, stopping there would be remiss. The Kaimuki eatery, which offers a mix of Asian and European fare, also has a full menu showcasing salad, pizza, pasta, pad thai, fish and more.

Popular items include Lobster Cheese Ravioli ($14.95), which features ravioli stuffed with lobster — topped with lobster — and a choice of sweet tomato sauce or black pepper cream sauce. The dish also is garnished with vegetables including eggplant, zucchini and carrot.

Some of the bistro’s more popular items, such as Seafood Brioche ($14.95), incorporates JJ’s respected pastries into the entree. The brioche is homemade and filled with leek and shiitake mushrooms, along with an assortment of seafood, including shrimp, scallop and salmon.

“The brioche itself is very tasty and very buttery,” explains chef and owner JJ Luangkhot.

Another must-try is Quailbello ($14.95), which presents quail stuffed in puff pastry, accented with shallot red wine sauce, sauteed Portobello mushrooms and bell peppers. If you’re feeling extra hungry, go for the double serving for $18.95.

“We are very well known for our puff pastry,” Luangkhot says. “Everybody knows that we have the best (puff pastry), so we wanted to offer something like this.”

And while quail may seem like an unusual choice, Luangkhot assures that it is a good one.

“Quail meat is very tender,” he says.

This dish is a recent menu addition; Luangkhot likes to experiment with new dishes whenever he has the chance.

“I love to eat, so I always find myself cooking to create more dishes.”

JJ Bistro & French Pastry

3447 Waialae Ave., Honolulu
739-0993
Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
Sunday, 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m.

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