Category Archives: Tiki’s

A FIELD TRIP to a quaint apiary (Bee Farm) was a great break away from the hustle and bustle of Oahu for some of my staff.   A small group met up with my good friend Jenn and also got the pleasure of meeting Robin from Kauai Nectar Co. who is one of the few young, female beekeepers worldwide who loves sharing this ancient practice with people of all ages and backgrounds.  [caption id="attachment_8211" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Image Courtesy of Kauai Nectar Co.[/caption] They settled into having fun sweating in their special suits to protect ourselves from what they came to encounter.   It’s truly quite fascinating to watch the process of these hard-working insects.  Pollenate = Help Plants Grow = Produce Food. That’s the simple but super important math to how they are vital to our world. [bctt tweet="Pollenate = Help Plants Grow = Produce Food. #SaveTheBees " username=""] [caption id="attachment_8213" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Image Courtesy of Kauai Nectar Co.[/caption] You know that I lov... Read more

Do you make enough time for yourself and connect with those in your life?  I love the message that our next Wine Dinner's vineyard embodies with their #MakeTime Campaign.   We know people are happiest when they make meaningful connections with one another but with so much competing for our attention, it’s easy to overlook things that truly matter. That’s why Wente Vineyards has been committed to making time for one another since day one, crafting wine and wine country experiences that bring friends and family together. We invite you to choose to make time for each other too. So creating this exclusive dinner pairing 6 fantastic courses with 6 amazing wines from their vineyard was a must. Wente Vineyard has never been to Hawaii and will only be at the dinner due to our special relationship.     I'm excited to showcase our team's talent in creating new and exciting menus and these wine dinners are a great door to getting to the next level for me and my team.   Tickets are still available.  Come join us.  It ... Read more

What’s my definition of a flavor punch in a meal?  I would say that it's like it sounds...a "PUNCH"!  Bold and strong, not subtle. Not just something that enhances flavor like salt or pepper but a primary flavor like anchovies, miso, a pungent cheese, fish sauce, capers or even chocolate. When trying to recall my first 'flavor punch' meal, I couldn't really narrow that down but  I definitely was intrigued with Asian ingredients not being the norm from my childhood. Hot Chinese mustard, fermented foods & seasonings, kimchee etc, all very bold. [bctt tweet=" Get people excited about your dish! #ChefRonnie" username="@tikisgrill"] I encourage you to get people excited about your dish! Use buzz words to generate interest & anticipation. Make food EXCITING! When doing this interview with  I used words like..SIZZLING HOT, SPICY KO CHU JANG, FRESH WAIPOLI LETTUCE, HIGH-SPEED BLENDER.  You get my drift.   Tell me your favorite "Flavor Punch"? Delizioso!!  Chef Ronnie [yumprint-recipe id='6']... Read more

  [video width="1280" height="720" mp4="http://treehousechef.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Kitchen-Creations-w_-Chef-Ronnie-Nasuti-of-Tikis-Grill-and-Bar-Maui-Nui-Venison-Burgers.mp4"][/video] - Mahalo to Grace and the HAWAII NOW KGMB/KHNL/KFVE for featuring Chef Ronnie Nasuti Localicious Hawaii! is back again and we are supporting the cause! They promote participating restaurants who are committed to buying local and features a “Localicious Dish”.  During the month of March buying, that dish supports AG education in our public schools (Veggie U Kit).  Every “Localicious Dish” ordered, the restaurant will donate $1!  Localicious Hawaii is a part of the Hawaii Agricultural Foundation whose mission is: “to support and sustain Hawaii’s agricultural industry by addressing critical needs and services of farmers and the agricultural industry in Hawaii, and by better connecting the farmers with the community and vice-versa. This involves educational and outreach programs in the community, as well as direct marketing, tec... Read more

The artistry of food. The complexity of food can also be the simplicity of food. When an artist draws on his canvas, he or she is creating something, something that grows with every stroke of the brush and every twist of the wrist. A chef also has a canvas in the form of an empty plate and his imagination and thoughtful ingredients are his brush to create extremely colorful and delicious dishes. [bctt tweet="#Watermelon & Feta Cheese Salad = YES!" username=""] Summer is a hot one and what better way to stay cool than fresh cold watermelon but with a twist. Mine was meshing watermelon with arugula, feta cheese, Hawaiian salt, Mint pesto, house made harissa and some balsamic vinegar. Be yourself, break away from the typical cuisine of authentic local food and don’t be afraid to experience the absolutely delicious merge of fruit and vegetables, guaranteed to stimulate the taste buds to a different dimension! Challenge yourself to experience a watermelon in different ways. Delizioso, Chef Ronnie [yumprint-recipe id='4']... Read more

    It's that time of year again - Chocolate Festival! Today, I went and picked up a whopping 10 pounds of dark chocolate from Manoa Chocolate. For this year's Chocolate Festival, I will be making some Hawaiian Style S'mores, with Coconut Marshmallow Creme, Dark Manoa Chocolate, Graham Cracker Tartlet, Hawaiian Grown Cacao Dusted.   Manoa Chocolate Hawaii is a self-proclaimed bean-to-bar company. Besides sourcing quality beans from around the globe, they also use local cacao beans, thus drawing attention to premium products manufactured on the Hawaiian Islands. Hawaii is the only state in the U.S that grows cacao. Cacao trees produce beans, roasted beans become cacao nibs. Manoa Chocolate Hawaii then crafts them into delicious dark chocolate bars. This event is presented by Special Events Hawaii in celebration of the state the Department of Agriculture's "Hawai`i-Grown Cacao Month". This sweet celebration takes place on Saturday, October 15, 2016, in the Ward Village Courtyard. Event hours are Saturday from noon... Read more