"THERE'S nothing old except the reputation, which was excellent," said a beaming Andy Anderson at the reception at his refurbished and renovated Michel's Thursday evening. Andy's investors - Clyde Kaneshiro, Ron Takeuchi and Robert Iwamoto - also were smiling at the party. The Pua Malia Trio entertained. Anderson said $1.2 million was spent on improvements and decoration. The beachfront restaurant with the incomparable setting and view is beautiful. Chef Daniel Durfort, who worked at Chez Michel for Michel Martin, the man who put Michel's on the map, promises French traditional food. "Atlantic rim, not Pacific rim," Durfort said. The restaurant opens Aug. 1 ...HANS AND CLAIRE Strasser were among the guests at Michel's. Hans ran Michel's and Colony Surf for 10 years after Michel departed. Wednesday was the Strassers' 30th anniversary and when Claire arrived home that day, she found a brand new white Mercedes sports car sporting a big red bow waiting for her in the driveway. "I had to wait 30 years for it," Claire said with a laugh. For once, Hans was speechless ... Hard to believe Guido Salmaggi turns 80 on Monday ...
GRINDING ON: Gift dish towels for guests reading, "Never Trust a Skinny Chef," and a sweet-sounding Hawaiian trio, Hoala, highlighted the first-year anniversary celebration at Sam Choy's at Diamond Head Tuesday night. Sam, who weighs more than 400 pounds, looks totally trustworthy ... Rich Little and "Bong Bong" Marcos picked Alan Wong's for dinner - at separate tables - Monday night. Benson Lau, food and beverage boss at the Hawaii Prince, celebrated his birthday at Wong's this week with Char Sato and Jeff Marcello. Wong will participate in the Cuisines of the Sun event at the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel this weekend ...
NAPPY NAPOLEON, 26, a member of the island canoeing and surfing family, is the newest assistant manager at Compadres. His parents are Bobby and Liddy Napoleon ... With mango season in full swing, Siam Orchid's Kris Vilassakdanond (that's a mouthful) and Kelvin Ro of Kahala Moon are using the fruit for desserts and dishes in their restaurants. Ro has five mango trees in his yard ...
RON HARRY joined the crowd enjoying Kit Samson's excellent piano stylings at the Captain's Table in the Hawaiian Waikiki Beach Hotel. Kit has a solo gig Tuesday through Saturday nights. Harry, visiting singers Bobby and Sanchia Roberts, has been the organist for the Boston Celtics and Boston Bruins for the past 14 years ...
Moe Keale
ISW productions from L.A. was on Smith Street last week shooting a trailer for a proposed TV series, "Aloha Spirit," when the cast and crew - including Moe Keale, Frank B. Shaner and scriptwriter Martha Noyes - got more than they expected. While filming a chase scene, two blank shots were fired. Someone out of the loop panicked and called 911. Hearing that an ambulance had been dispatched, KITV's Erin Ostrem and cameraman Oscar Betham scrambled to make the scene. Before taking off, they got word it was a film shoot but checked it out anyway, surprising the filmmakers ...
