Chef Louis Pauole and Miyo’s in Hilo celebrate Mom with special omakase event

If you’re looking for a unique dining experience coupled with Mom taking the day off from planning dinner, a Hilo chef has the perfect solution.

Chef Louis Pauole, executive chef of Miyo’s Restaurant and Izakaya Bar in Hilo, is hosting a special, one-night only Mother’s Day Omakase with services at 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. May 12 at the restaurant.

An omakase is a series of small servings or courses chosen by the chef and offered together for a set price. Pauole is serving seven courses highlighting dishes infused with locally grown ingredients.

The chef created the event to spotlight the depth of flavors found only in Hawai‘i on Mother’s Day.

“This menu celebrates the diversity of our island cuisine in an elevated manner,” said Pauole.

The menu will feature:

• An amuse bouche, a Japanese donut with yuzu shiso aioli butter cream and Kaluga caviar; a Hokkaido scallop (raw), semi-cured with salt and sugar; a coconut vinaigrette with coconut milk, vinegar, sake and Kombu; cilantro; garlic oil; pickled onions; crispy ginger; and coriander powder.
• Soup dumplings of ground pork and spinach with a Dashi Nigiri trio of Kohada, Otoro and Shima-aji.
• An intermezzi (yuzu sorbet and champagne).
• Japanese red snapper with coriander and salt, lobster tomato bisque foam and herbed couscous with Hāmākua mushrooms.
• Kona lobster tail with a Beurre monte sauce (sake, thyme, lemon, garlic).
• Japanese A5 Wagyu beef with red wine demi, parsnip purée, sous vide egg yolk, tomato relish and candied pepper corn hazelnut.
• A “Zen-scape” dessert with stacked stones (three flavors) and a macaroon, made by a talented local baker, to take home.

Pauole has just one request for guests: “Don’t be late.”

Seating is limited. Cost is $150 per person; wine pairings are $80. To make a reservation, email to nicolejones@miyosandizakayahilo.com.

Pauole has been with Miyo’s since 1997. He became executive chef 25 years ago and is now also a partner in the business.

Growing up with a tremendous passion for cooking and feeding the people of Hawai‘i, Pauole left Hilo and went to culinary school in Maryland. He then toured the Mediterranean before coming home to Hilo.

Miyo’s Restaurant and Izakaya Bar has been a Hilo favorite since opening in 1987. It is renowned for its high-quality homestyle Japanese cuisine.

It’s newest addition, the Izakaya bar, features an intimate 23-seat setting that offers hand-crafted cocktails, Izakaya-style specialty pupus and a variety of draft beer, sake and wine.

The restaurant is located in the Manono Marketplace at 564 Hīnano St.

For more information about the restaurant and Mother’s Day event, visit the Miyo’s website and follow it on Instagram.