Page 3 - Dining Out - June 13, 2021

Restaurant Insider with Anne Lee
2
1
tionwide 100% plant-based online to offline wholesaler. Hawaii is our first location and main hub, but we (are also in) Georgia and California.
AL: Why did you choose The Other Side Diner to show- case your products?
TH: They have always stayed true to their roots. For every animal-based protein, they offer a plant-based protein. That is exciting to us, as our mission is to offer these op- tions and not to take anything away from anyone. Sixty-five percent of the menu is plant- based. It’s freedom of food choice; options for every-
body. This is our goal for not just every restaurant in Ha- waii, but also the country.
AL: Tell us more about The Other Side Diner.
MS: This was previously Downbeat Diner. As a patron, I enjoyed the food. The menu is not separated, everyone can get the same items by switch- ing the protein. In Septem- ber 2020, I took ownership, changed the name and decor, but kept the food and team in- tact. During the pandemic, we saw about a 70% increase in takeout for plant-based dish- es. When it was mandated for us to stay home, many people
with caramelized onions and mushrooms for $3 more.
Squealers Delight ($12): housemade slow-cooked pulled Barvecue pork sand- wich with vegan coleslaw, with a locally made vegan bun. Or, the meat version ($12): slow-cooked pulled pork, with coleslaw, Swiss
gained weight. We have cus- cheese and barbecue sauce tomers trying out plant-based on a toasted potato bun. dishes and are going toward a NoDoh Vegan Mozzarella better diet. The ordering sys- Sticks ($8) — no one else has tem that VEDGEco has makes them — with marinara sauce; it easy. That is what made us or regular Mozzarella Sticks move our entire plant-based ($8).
ordering through VEDGEco. Vegan Wings ($12) — tossed in buffalo or house- AL: Do you have an execu- made barbecue sauce, tive chef? served with TOS vegan MS: Douglas McKenna. He ranch. Or, regular Chicken helped open Downbeat Din- Wings (call for price), which er and was the connector is a half-pound, deep fried to in making the transition so golden crispness, served with smooth to The Other Side. He buffalo, barbecue or ranch/
is a Le Cordon Bleu-trained TOS vegan ranch.
chef. We are known for our signature cocktails. AL: What are the most pop- Beverage director Jarel ular dishes? Brown created Chem MS: Loco Moco ($12), meat Trails ($11) with Avia-
or vegan. Meat is a Big Is- land beef patty on rice with an island egg, smothered in housemade vegan gravy or chili. You can make it vegan with a housemade TOS vegan patty on rice, with JUST Eggs, smothered in housemade vegan gravy or vegan chili. For $2 more, you can have it with an Impossible Burger patty; and make it deluxe
tion Gin, Amaro
Nonino, Aperol
and lemon juice. And, our neighbor Wing Ice Cream Parlor makes the vegan ice cream we use in our shakes.
AL: Do you have happy hour or brunch?
MS: Happy hour is 3-6 p.m. daily, featuring $1 off beer and wine and $2 off house cocktails. We also have our Happy Hour Bites menu that offers appetizers like chick- en wings ($6) and pulled pork sliders ($8). Brunch is served from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays.
AL: Anything else you want to share?
TH: I feel that the future is plant-based. With the pan- demic, we learned that re- lationships are everything,
VEDGEco
201 Kapaa Quarry Place Bldg. 50 No. 4, Kailua 808-800-4104 vedgeco.com @vedge.co
The Other Side Diner 42 N. Hotel St., Honolulu 808-533-2328 theothersidehi.com @theothersidehi
11 a.m.-midnight Tuesdays-Sundays; 11 p.m. kitchen closes
and independent restaurants needed to know that they were supported. We did this by offering an incentive of $150 in free products — they can try new items that could help their sales. This incen- tive is for any independent restaurant, including food trucks, caterers and regu- lar customers. Order online at vedgeco.com. We now have a business-to-business subscription. We ship Mon- days-Thursdays with deliver- ies arriving the next day.
If every restaurant kept an open mind and carried more plant-based options, it wouldn’t take away their uniqueness, but would create new revenue streams, as well as new customers.
3
4
1. Loco Moco ($12)
2. Squealer’s Delight ($12)
3. NoDoh Vegan Mozzarella Sticks ($8)
4. Vegan Wings ($12)
Happy Ever After at The Kahala
Start your new chapter at The Kahala, Oahu’s premier wedding venue. Our experienced staff will bring your dream wedding vision to life with stunning ocean-side ceremonies, gourmet food and drinks, and unique little details. From large and elaborate events or intimate affairs, weddings at The Kahala are picture perfect
and unforgettable.
SECLUDED WATERFRONT LOCATION
For more information:
LIVE THE KAHALA LIFE
KahalaResort.com 739.8715
Dining Out / June 13-19, 2021 / 3