Quick Bites: Local produce stars at Royal Hawaiian and Alan Wong meals

Alan Wong's latest Farmer Series Dinner will feature Honey Macadamia Nut Shrimp with white shrimp from Kauai as a component. —Courtesy Alan Wong's Restaurant

SPOTLIGHT ON BEES, SHRIMP: Alan Wong’s restaurants have long been known for supporting local farmers, but Wong has recently taken it a step further by launching an Adopt-a-Beehive program and making it a goal to increase local food purchases by 10 percent.

On Aug. 3, local honey and shrimp take the forefront at Alan Wong’s latest Farmer Series Dinner — designed to help draw attention to the environmental and man-made threats facing bees and shrimp.

At the dinner, diners will have an opportunity to “talk story” with Lorna Tsutsumi, beekeeping professor of entomology at the University of Hawaii-Hilo, and Nancy Kanna of Sunrise Capital, the producer of Kauai Shrimp.

The first course, Honey Macadamia Nut Shrimp, features honey from hives in Panaewa, Hawaii, and Kauai Shrimp.

Kauai shrimp will be served side by side with domestic shrimp, and Naked Cow Dairy Butter from Waianae will be served along with butter from Hula Cow from Lalamilo Farms in Waimea, Hawaii.

Wong visited the Kauai Shrimp farm in April, where the white shrimp are raised in saltwater ponds, free of chemicals, pesticides and antibiotics.

Reservations for the Farmer Series Dinner are being accepted now; the prix fixe dinner takes place from 5 to 10 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 3 at Alan Wong’s Honolulu, 1857 S. King St. Price is $80 per person, $110 with wine pairings. Call 949-2526 to reserve.

CACTUS IN KAILUA: The new restaurant Cactus is coming to Kailua soon, focusing on the flavors of Central and South America, Cuba, Puerto Rico and Mexico.

Chef and owner John Memering, most recently the chef at Kalapawai Cafe, is opening the new venture, with a target opening date of November.

He describes the restaurant’s menu offerings as “a cuisine of the sun, land, and sea” with a focus on local produce from the isles as well as sustainably farmed seafood.

Menu items include Big Isle boar picadillo empanadas with Waialua mango and tamarind salsa; Poamoho Farms organic guacamole with fresh-made chips and three salsa; and Tacos “Al Pastor” with Shinsato Farms pork and pineapple pico de gallo.

Cactus will also offer wines from Argentina, Chile, Peru and small estates in Spain and Mexico, along with a signature frozen sangria. It will be a casual, sit-down place with professional service.

Look for Cactus at 767 Kailua Road, next door to Muumuu Heaven.

COPPER RIVER SALMON SPECIAL: 3660 on the Rise is running its Copper River red salmon special flown in from Alaska. A 6.25-ounce portion is offered grilled, with a house-made cucumber and wakame namasu and a yuzu butter sauce for $29.

Enjoy a three-course dinner menu Tuesdays through Thursdays for $29, which this month includes Duck Confit Salad with Hoisin Vinaigrette, Seafood Linguine in Lobster Cream Sauce and Baked Lemon Tart with Raspberry Sorbet for dessert.

The menu changes every month. 3660 on the Rise (www.3660.com) is at 3660 Waialae Ave. Call 737-1177 to reserve.

FARMERS MARKET BRUNCH: The Royal Hawaiian debuted a new farmers market-inspired “Royal 220″ brunch buffet on Sunday, but if you missed it you will have another chance to try it on Aug. 21.

Executive chef Hans Stierli has created an upscale feast featuring local produce from farmers within a 220-mile radius of the Hawaiian Islands.

Hot stations feature specialty dishes such as braised Hawaii Ranchers red veal scaloppini wraps with Ho Farm tomato stew, orecchiette pasta and shaved manchego cheese; Maui onion braised Kuahiwi Ranch sirloin tips with grilled Surfing Goat cheese polenta; and Ho Farm Long Beans with crispy garlic and oyster sauce.

Look for breakfast items including Hawaii Ranchers red veal loco moco; poached island egg and Hamakua mushrooms; and a taro pancake station with Ho Farms apple bananas and coconut syrup.

The “Royal 220″ Sunday brunch buffet is served from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. beneath the banyan trees in the resort’s Coconut Grove. Cost is $48 per adult and $32 per child (3-12 years). Children 3 and under eat for free with a paying adult. Local farmers will also be showcasing specialty products at the “Royal 220″ Farmers’ Market, open to the public during those hours.

—Compiled by Nina Wu. Send announcements to features@staradvertiser.com, with “Quickbites” in the subject line.