DEPARTMENT:

Title: Party Hawaii: A Guide to
Entertaining in the Islands
Author: Kaui Philpotts
Photographs: Kaz Tanabe and
David Franzen
Pages: 196
Price: $27.95
Publisher: Mutual Publishing (October, 2007)

Ever heard of a Poi Supper? Me neither, until I read this terrific recipe-cum-party book by Kaui Philpotts, former food editor of the Honolulu Advertiser and feature writer for the Maui News.

A Poi Supper, it turns out, is a kind of Super Luau. “Think of [it as] a luau kicked up a notch or two,” the author writes. Popular in the years before World War II, Poi Suppers are being slowly revived today. They are “remnants of a slower, more graceful way of living” and long overdue for a comeback.

In addition to traditional Hawaiian foods (lomi salmon, kalua pig, etc.), Poi Suppers are likely to include sweet potatoes with a guava-jelly glaze, coconut milk with baked bananas and—a touch few diners will forget—a bottle of whisky rather than wine. Why the whisky, I’m not sure, but who needs an excuse to enjoy the delights of Glenfiddich? If you’ve never imbibed alcoholic silk, make sure you attend your next Poi Supper.

Philpotts’ collection of food and party ideas is no ordinary recipe book. Above all, it’s a guide to entertaining in modern Hawaii, which means at least three things: good food, of course; ease of preparation; and finally, sophistication. A great Island party combines all these elements.

Philpotts wisely assumes her readers’ how-to ignorance, though in most cases they will already be skilled party-givers. However, the author takes us through all the basics—making a plan, choosing a theme and a setting, sending out invitations, decorating the table and surroundings, etc. Nothing is left to chance and no detail is unimportant.

You’d expect a recipe book to position the food front and center, but for Philpotts, the theme’s the main thing. “A theme helps you determine everything from the invitations, food and drinks, to [the] setting, décor and favors.” And then she’s off, suggesting a range of amusing ideas, including Easter Brunch on the Lawn, a Surprise Baby Shower at the Office, Very Pink Girls’ Day, Tex Mex Beach Party and more.

My favorite is the Bollywood Birthday Party. Bollywood of course is Indian Hollywood—you know, those colorful, romantic movies like Bride and Prejudice, full of rhythmic pounding music, rainbow costumes and spectacular dance routines. Phillpotts suggests building a party around them, and hey, why not? Here’s her suggested invitation, based apparently on a real-life party:

‘The contrived drama! The over-the-top acting! Wild dancing in every room! Guests are invited to come as a sexy Bollywood star, complete with saris, turbans and nose rings.’

(Given my looks, I could have gone as Mahatma Gandhi but, that’s another story).

Philpotts continues: “Greet your guests with a candle glow of a walkway lined with gleaming white lanterns…in one corner of the living room setup a make-believe hookah bar…section off the area with gossamer panels of multi-colored fabric suspended from the ceiling…Project Bollywood classics on a blank wall and rotate them all evening long.”

You get the idea. After a couple of whiskies everyone will be dancing the New Delhi Rumba.

Created for people on the go, every party in the book is complete with plans, recipes, sample food-and-drink menus, timelines and useful tips. Over 100 full-color photos by Kaz Tanabe and David Franzen lushly illustrate an Entertainer’s Guide that you’ll consult again and again.

Party Hawaii is available from book stores or www.mutualpublishing.com

back to top

© Copyright Generations Hawaii. Designed by Trade Publishing