Vegan Lasagna ($11.95)
When it comes to food, nothing seems to faze JJ Luangkhot, aka Chef JJ. That’s the beauty of loving what you do, and the highly creative and innovative chef epitomizes that sentiment. When asked what he’d like to showcase this week, the owner of JJ Bistro and French Pastry ponders a bit, throws out a couple of recommendations and then pauses.
“I can make a Vegan Lasagna ($11.95),” he announces.
It’s how his mind works. When you love to cook, any challenge becomes a pleasure — and that goes for modifying your menu to meet people’s dietary requirements and/or preferences.
“We can make most of our pastas vegetarian,” he notes. All you have to do is ask. And to make things even easier, you don’t even have to do that. Some of the menu’s pasta offerings are listed with (Veggie) options, such as Southeast a la Maison (Veggie $7.95), a mouthwatering mix of flavors and textures with eggplant, bamboo shoots, red bell peppers and zucchini in a green curry sauce. According to Chef JJ, if you see something enticing on the menu but would like it altered to fit your taste — whether it’s an appetizer, entree, pizza, salad or sandwich — he’ll try his best to make it your way (within reason, of course).
Chef and owner JJ Luangkhot
But let’s get back to that lasagna. “I use look fun noodles to wrap the vegetables,” he notes. Those vegetables include eggplant, zucchini and shiitake mushrooms, and the lasagna is finished with a tomato-based sauce. And depending on whether or not you choose to eat cheese, it can be topped with savory Parmesan.
Anyone who’s been to JJ Bistro knows to leave room for dessert, as the acclaimed pastry chef’s talent extends to innovative, irresistible works of art — sweet.
JJ’s Bistro & French Pastry
3447 Waialae Ave.
739-0993
Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-9 p.m.
Sunday, 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m.
Honolulu, HI 96816
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