Senia In Honolulu--If Only The Stars Fell On Hawaii

As everybody knows, it is a great honor for a restaurant to receive a Michelin star.   Diners rightly go out of their way to eat at Michelin starred restaurants.  But there are many deserving restaurants that will never receive a Michelin star.  That's because to garner a Michelin star, you have to be located in a geographic area where Michelin rates restaurants.  For example,  for years Michelin did not rate restaurants in Los Angeles, and hence there were no Michelin starred restaurants here.

I kind of believe that Senia in Honolulu would garner a star if it were in Michelin related territory.  To my taste, it is the equal of Providence in Los Angeles, a two star Michelin restaurant.  Here are some of the dishes we had at this wonderful restaurant.

Starting off was the ahi tuna cigars, which are actually smoking when they come to your table.

Next was the citrus hamachi, with grapefruit and lilikoi.  What an unexpectedly wonderful combination of flavors.

How about a bone marrow sandwich made with oxtail marmelade using Hawaiian bread?

Seared scallops with crispy kale was a real winner.

Certainly not the prettiest dish, but quite possibly the best, agnolotti with truffle butter topped by truffles!

How about lion's mane mushrooms?

A most interesting dish was the beef cheeks in a bao with red pepper flecks.

Topped off by coconut cheesecake.

And caramello with white truffle caramel.

All in all a star-worthy meal.