I couldn't imagine a better way to celebrate National Pizza Week than with lunch at Appetito Craft Pizza & Wine Bar with social media mavens Melissa (@Melissa808) and Gem (@808Gem).
Actually, when we originally scheduled this luncheon, we were not aware that we were meeting during National Pizza Week, so what started out as a planning session morphed into a celebration of one of America's favorite foods.
Gem insisted on ordering one of her favorite dishes from the menu - the Crispy Fried Portobello. I can see why she is such a popular menu item - it's darn delicious, especially when dunked in the pesto aioli that it comes with.
We also tried Mari's Garden Kale and Farro Salad. I am not a big fan of salads at restaurants, or kale, but I ate it since kale is a superfood and the pomegranate and evoo dressing does a great job of cutting the bitterness of the kale.
Since Appetito recently fired up their Kiawe wood pizza oven, and it was National Pizza Week, we had to order a couple of pizzas.
The Korean Yakiniku pizza was my favorite of the two we tried. It was slightly spicy, but full of flavor, thanks to the marinated grilled beef and kimchee.
The Prosciutto was what you would expect, and a safe bet if you're looking for something more traditional (and like Prosciutto which is uncooked ham).
For dessert, I really liked the Butterscotch Buddino!
The Chocolate Nutella Cake is a must if you love chocolate.
About Appetito Craft Pizza & Wine Bar:
Appetito Craft Pizza & Wine Bar at OHANA Waikiki East by Outrigger will celebrate its grand opening on Saturday, January 20, 2018. While the restaurant has quickly become known for its delicious fare, it’s the launch of its main attraction—craft pizza, that’s drawing crowds.
To begin, the craft pizza at Appetito is the only one of its kind in Waikiki. Made with homemade sauces and Caputo flour—an import from Naples, Italy—Regional Executive Chef Hiroyuki “Hiro” Mimura saw this as a none negotiable aspect of the pizza-making process. Another non-negotiable was that the hand-tossed pizza is made-to-order in the gilded beauty of a Kiawe (Hawaiian Mesquite) wood oven in the open-aired kitchen. Each pizza takes about 90 seconds to perfection as its enticing aroma wafts from the 900-degree Fahrenheit oven. The pizzas are enough to feed one to two people, though the variety of flavors encourage ordering a few options to share.
There are two categories of pizza available: authentic Italian and artisanal. The Italian lineup includes classics such as Margherita and Italian Salami, along with Prosciutto topped with local arugula, Funghi served with Porcini cream, Alii, shiitake and cremini mushrooms with truffle oil. Salsiccia & Kale—that’s sausage and kale, Boqurones (pronounced “Bo-keh-row-nez”) for white anchovy lovers, and Quatro Formaggi, an indulgent pizza with gorgonzola, mozzarella, ricotta and Grana Padano cheese, drizzled with local honey, round out the collection.
Meanwhile, the artisanal pizza shows the kitchen’s flair for creativity with sure hits such as Korean Yakiniku with grilled beef, gochujang mayo and kimchee, and Smoked Salmon featuring smoked salmon, sour cream, and salmon roe. Others include Roasted Vegetable with tomato and pesto sauce, King Crab Shishitou with wasabi mayo on a cream sauce, Shrimp Pesto with grape tomatoes and olives, and Chicken & Spicy Green Curry. The pizzas range from $12 – $25 per order.
APPETITO CRAFT PIZZA & WINE BAR
150 Kaiulani Ave.
(808) 922-1150
Validated parking at Ohana East ($6 for four hours)
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