Treat Mom to an elegant meal

Mother’s Day Wiki Wiki Box ($70/person, two-person minimum)

When looking for an excellent dining experience — whether it’s a special occasion or a run-of-the-mill Tuesday — Chef Chai is an ideal choice. From the exceptional service and beautiful interiors to the award-winning cuisine, it remains an in-demand restaurant.

Last year, the restaurant tackled lockdown restrictions head-on. Chef Chai Chaowasaree engaged with the public through his cooking videos and he created an avenue for people to partake in his food in an approachable way. “During the pandemic over a year ago, we created the Wiki Wiki Box to keep our staff working and offer our guests a good-quality meal at reasonable prices. It was a hit from the beginning and continues to be very popular today,” says Chaowasaree.

This Mother’s Day, you can bring some of that Chef Chai charm to your own home. The Special Mother’s Day Wiki Wiki Box not only offers up a delectable family-style menu, but it also makes for an elegant, yet uncomplicated meal so everyone can focus on the star of the day — mom!

“We don’t want you or your mom to clean up after the meal, especially on Mother’s Day,” Chaowasaree says, adding that since many restaurants will be sold out on Mother’s Day due to dine-in capacity restrictions, the Wiki Wiki Box is the perfect solution.

The Wiki Wiki Box Mother’s Day menu includes Alaskan king crab cakes with roasted garlic aioli and mango salsa; jumbo shrimp cocktails; organically grown Big Island baby greens with soy vinaigrette; roasted butternut squash and lobster bisque; braised boneless beef short ribs with five spice demi, Waialua asparagus and kabocha pumpkin; baked stuffed salmon with lobster, crab meat and creamy leek sauce and mashed potatoes; and a dessert medley of chocolate cakes, French macaroon, pineapple cookies and peanut butter opera. The box is $70, with a two-person minimum. Order by calling Chef Chai at 808-585-0011 or online at chefchai-catering.hrpos.heartland.us/menu.

The Wiki Wiki Box requires no cooking or cleaning — everything just needs two minutes in the microwave.

Wiki Wiki Boxes are available for pick-up 11 a.m.-3 p.m. May 8-9, or delivery is available for a $15 charge almost islandwide, call for delivery areas. Chef Chai even makes pick-up easy.

“Just drive into our parking garage next to the restaurant entrance on Kapiolani Boulevard,” he says.

Customers give their name to the staff and the box is placed in the car.

“It is a simple tasting sample menu, just like you have a small buffet at home. The Alaskan king crab cakes are my favorite, topped with fresh tomato mango salsa. I remembered I ate them for several weeks in a row when we first made them,” Chaowasaree says.