Jordan Segundo

On the heels of this season’s American Idol finale, I decided to catch up with Hawaii’s first ever American Idol contestant Jordan Segundo. As a talented singer and performer, and most importantly, a true foodie at heart, Segundo was more than happy to accompany me to Jade Dynasty Seafood Restaurant in Ala Moana Center to tackle some of the best in Chinese cuisine for this week’s Dining with the Stars.

“I love Chinese food and I’m a big fan of Jade Dynasty,” says Segundo, who started singing at the age of 5. “Here they serve authentic Chinese food and the quality of the food really is superb. Everything is prepared perfectly and flavored just right. There’s always something new on the menu, which I appreciate and always look forward to tasting,” he adds.

“The presentation of the food also is always beautiful. You have to make sure you take a photo of the food before you eat it!”

And once restaurant general manager Gary Chan presented us with a feast fit for kings and the photos were snapped picture-perfectly, we pigged out on everything from Crispy Roast Beef ($17.95) to Chicken with Roasted Garlic ($17.95), Honey Walnut Shrimp ($16.95) and Snow Mountain Char Siu Bun ($3.50), just to name a few.

“The Crispy Roast Beef is really nice and tender, and I like that the outside is a little crispy,” Segundo exclaims. “I like the chicken, too, you can taste the garlic, but it’s not too overpowering — everything is blended together perfectly.” And what would a genuine Chinese meal be without paying tribute to Segundo’s favorite, Honey Walnut Shrimp? “I mean, what can I say? It’s a classic dish, and I like the way they serve it at Jade Dynasty because the sauce is at the perfect consistency and the batter is cooked just right,” he says.

So, while Segundo has a devout love for dining, his true passion is found in singing. In fact, Segundo recently participated in two student tours throughout the state with Adults Friends for Youth and the D.A.R.E. program, where he performed for and spoke to Hawaii’s youth, encouraging them to stay drug-free and pursue their dreams. And now, you can catch Segundo on stage Tuesday through Saturday at 8:30 p.m. through June 16 in the Magic of Polynesia Showroom at Holiday Inn Waikiki Beachcomber Resort. He will join award-winning performers Rocky Brown, Starr Kalahiki and Little Albert as part of a special engagement of Roberts Hawaii’s Return to Paradise Starring Lani Misalucha show. They will lend their voices to the Hawaii-inspired musical production while Misalucha currently fulfills a previous commitment on the Mainland.

“Being a part of the Return to Paradise show is a great experience for me, and I’m thrilled to share the stage with such talented singers and musicians. I’m grateful to Roberts Hawaii for including me in this great production,” Segundo shares.

“Audiences can expect an exciting show with four great singers and a lot of variety — everything from Hawaiian to Broadway, from pop to swing and even some impersonations as well. So there’s something for everyone. We’re all very different and we all bring our unique style to the show, but combined together it creates a really entertaining show.”

For reservations and more information, call 971.4321 or visit LaniInWaikiki.com. A special kamaaina discount admission rate of $30 for adults and $25 for children also is available for Hawaii residents with a valid I.D. for shows scheduled until June 16.

Jade Dynasty Seafood Restaurant