A Hawai‘i sommelier shares her favorite restaurants and bars to get a drink and a bite to eat.
Text by Brad Dell
Image by Alan Light
Liane Fu’s life was changed in 2001 by a 1997 Pine Ridge merlot and a foie gras-covered ahi steak cooked in a Bordeaux wine reduction. When it was presented to her, Fu was only an occasional wine drinker, but she was confident that the sommelier of David Paul’s Diamond Head Grill was wrong about the wine pairing. Fu remembers saying, “Really? Pine Ridge, that’s a big merlot.” The sommelier replied, “Trust me.” The pairing knocked it out of the park, and set her off on a path to a career in wine.
Since then, Fu has gone on to become a sommelier and head some of the best pairing and tasting events on O‘ahu. We asked her to recommend her favorite places, and here is where she recommends:
–Chef Mavro, 1969 S. King St.
–La Mer, Halekulani Hotel, 2199 Kalia Rd. (pictured above)
-Wine Down Wednesdays at Tiki’s Grill and Bar, Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel, 2570 Kalakaua Ave. (Half-off on glasses and bottles of wine from 5 p.m. to close.)
–Michel’s, 2895 Kalakaua Ave.
–Amuse Wine Bar, 1250 Kapiolani Blvd.
To learn more about Fu’s journey to wine expertise, and get a few of her pairing tips, read our story “A Thirst for Satisfaction”.