A Very Merry Foodie Christmas

Kauai Midweek wishes you a holiday season filled with joy and abundance. Since Christmas is next week, I’ve listed restaurant holiday menus to help you plan.

For a sweet little something extra, the Truffle Gift Pack from Lotus Fudge is a fabulous stocking stuffer. Four truffles are tucked into an ornament box: one Coco, one Mac Nut, one Mint Crunch and one Lava. For more information, visit LotusFudge.com.

Tiki Iniki will be open Christmas Eve and during the evening Christmas Day. They are working out a special menu and will feature Christmas in a glass. Owner Michele Rundgren says that the “Poi Snow Ball,” made with fresh Hanalei poi and house-made eggnog, should be sipped under their upside-down Christmas tree!

Nanea at the Westin Princeville is serving a four-course prix fixe menu ($65, wine pairing $20) as well as a keiki menu ($30). Dinner includes a choice of vanilla butter poached lobster or pan-seared scallops; butternut squash soup or ginger short rib ravioli; grilled salmon with truffle fingerling potatoes, pan-seared opakapaka and crispy leeks, or roasted rack of lamb with tomato chutney. Dessert includes a choice of raspberry chocolate fudge cake or toasted coconut pound cake. For reservations, call 827-8808.

Kauai Grill will serve a Christmas Eve five-course prix fixe menu ($145, $55 with wine pairing), which includes a lobster and daikon roll; beet salad with endive, walnuts and goat cheese fondue; sauteed onaga with caramelized cauliflower; roasted duck breast and a Grand Marnier souffle. The five-course prix fixe Christmas menu ($145, $55 with wine pairing) includes ono carpaccio; Kamuela tomato salad; spiced bronzino; caramelized veal tender-loin and Koloa baba au rum with candied kumquats. For reservations, call 826-2741.

Makana Terrace’s Ke Ke Kai Holiday Seafood Buffet ($125, 5:30-9:30 p.m.) includes asparagus mimosa with eggs, capers and tarragon vinaigrette; assorted gourmet sushi rolls, hamachi, ahi and salmon; oysters on a half shell with yuzu ginger mignonette; taro seafood pot au feu with Hawaiian chili water steamed clams and mussels plus an assortment of desserts. For reservations, call 826-2746.

Oasis on the Beach is serving a three-course prix fixe menu ($55, $25 wine pairing). Of the three appetizer choices, one is arugula with hot shredded turkey, macadamia nuts, whipped brie and a bacon-mustard vinaigrette. There also are three entrees to choose from, one of which is a deconstructed tamale with shredded Kauai vegetables and green chili sauce. For dessert, you have a choice between eggnog panna cotta with caramel shatter or a double chocolate bunuelo. For reservations, call 822-9332.

RumFire at Sheraton Kauai is serving a Christmas buffet from 4 to 9 p.m. The price is $60 for adults and $30 for keiki ages 6-12. The menu includes Hawaiian chili pepper pipikaula beef poke, slow-roasted beef prime rib, baked mahi mahi with coconut, Kaffir lime and butter sauce, and Christmas cookies. Early bird seating ($55) is from 4 to 5 p.m. Call 742-4786 for reservations.

Plantation Gardens is offering two Christmas dinner options. Grilled 8-ounce beef tenderloin ($35.95) with Blue Lake beans, goat cheese and wasabi mashed potatoes, sauteed wild mushrooms and a Robert Mondavi Cabernet reduction. Pan Seared Local Fresh Fish ($32.95) includes lobster garlic mashed potatoes, tropical fruit salsa and Madagascar vanilla bean beurre blanc. For reservations, call 742-2121.

Roy’s is featuring a special menu with 11 entree options, including Kekaha Shrimp Risotto ($62), Holiday Bouillabaisse ($70), Koloa Rum Roasted Spiral Ham ($66) and Confit Duck ($66). Each entree includes house-cured salmon, smoked white bean puree, crispy capers and caviar; wild boar and roasted red pepper ragout with papa-radelle, crispy pork belly and lemon herb vinaigrette; and dessert is a cinnamon poached Asian pear and almond tartlet with Hawaiian vanilla bean mousse. For reservations, call 742-5000.

Marta Lane is a Kauai-based food writer. For more information, visit TastingKauai.com.