A NEW BAKERY

When Fendu Boulangerie opened for business last week at Manoa Marketplace, it didn't matter that it opened in a shopping center between Longs Drugs and a sandwich joint. Because where there's fresh bread, there's a crowd, and so it was on Fendu's second day of business.

Owned and operated by master pastry chef Neil Koep, former executive pastry chef for the Four Seasons Resort on Lana'i, the bakery is a bread lover's paradise.

Baskets of freshly baked baguettes, ciabatta and rustic country loaves hang on the basil-colored walls, and flaky pastries tempt from their glass cases.

Koep puts his bread skills to exceptional use with his pizza dough. The crust is thin on the bottom, thick and doughy on the edges, and is the perfect base for his gourmet toppings that include shrimp, jalapenos, five-cheese blends and Hamakua mushrooms.

FENDU BOULANGERIE

Manoa Marketplace, 2752 Woodlawn Drive

354-0736

Hours: 6:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays; 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Sundays; closed Mondays

MUST TRY

LOCO MOCO WITH A TWIST

Tucked in the Miramar at Waikiki (2345 Kuhio Ave., 922-2077), Sammy's Restaurant continues to lure tourists and locals with its French-influenced Kuhio Loco Moco ($10.50 at lunch; $15.50 at dinner). It's Angus beef that's seared, then grilled, so it's crunchy on the outside and soft inside. "It's well done, so you don't have to worry about it being undercooked," owner Sammy Li said. "It's our best-selling item." The dish is topped with a fried egg and demi-glace (a thick brown sauce), and accompanied by broccoli, carrots and rice. It's a winning combo for those open to a new take on this Island specialty.

FOOD NEWS

Manalani's, a new takeout restaurant owned by Tommy Moore and Yvonne Nielsen, has opened in Kahalu'u, offering gourmet lunches for about $10. Nielsen, daughter of restaurateur Ray Vnuk, grew up in the business and is the chief cook. Moore handles buying and the front of the house. The restaurant touts fresh ingredients (sea salt and real herbs "to infuse the foods with healing qualities") and dishes such as mahi curry, smoked shrimp, kalua pork with white barbecue sauce and jasmine saffron rice. "Everything is made with love," Nielsen said. The restaurant is at 47-6761 Kamehameha Highway, just past the Hygienic Store and Art Gallery, ocean side. It's open 11 a.m.-7 p.m. daily, except Tuesdays. Breakfast service will start soon. ("No phones," Nielsen said. "We do everything — no time to answer.")

The Wine Stop (1809 S. King St., 946-3707) will host its annual corned beef and cabbage cook-off between owners Kim Karalovich and Liane Fu on St. Patrick's Day from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. They'll cook, and you'll judge. Soda bread, green beer and red wine will also be served at this free event.

Aaron's Atop the Ala Moana is the latest Honolulu restaurant to close. The restaurant is owned and managed by Tri Star Restaurant Group, whose president and CEO Aaron Placourakis said the group has chosen not to renew the restaurant's lease. The 30 full-time employees have been given the opportunity to continue at one of the group's other restaurants — Sarento's Top of the I in Waikiki, Nick's Fishmarket Maui, Sarento's on the Beach and Son'z Maui at Swan Court. Aaron's last day of service is Sunday.

WE'RE CRAVING: FOOD O' THE IRISH

MURPHY'S BAR & GRILL

The hub of all things Irish always unpacks its best for St. Patrick's Day. The special menu will include Gaelic steak (steak prepared with a creamy mushroom-whiskey sauce), stuffed salmon and, of course, corned beef and cabbage. And for every pound of corned beef the restaurant sells in March, it will donate $1 to the Hawaii Children's Cancer Foundation. Last year, it donated $5,000. That's a lot of corned beef.

Murphy's Bar & Grill, 2 Merchant St., 531-0422

KELLEY O'NEIL'S

Kelley O'Neil's offers a few traditional Irish dishes year-round, like its cottage meat pies, but on St. Paddy's Day, the kitchen gets busy making enough corned beef and cabbage to keep Waikiki satisfied.

Kelley O'Neil's, 311 Lewers St., 926-1777

12th Ave Grill

This contemporary American eatery offers its own take on Irish cuisine with a menu that includes the chef's house-cured corned beef brisket and Guinness-braised lamb. Skip the restaurant's exceptional wine offerings just this once in favor of a perfectly poured black and tan.

12th Ave Grill, 1145 12th Ave., 732-9469

BIG CITY DINER

Count on BCD to raise the fun factor on the traditional Irish stuff with green-colored offerings like green eggs and ham and double-mint chocolate chip ice-cream cake. If you like your St. Paddy's Day grinds on the more traditional side, BCD will also offer corned beef and cabbage.

Big City Diner, five locations: Ward Entertainment Center, 591-8891; Kaimuki, 738-8855; Kailua Foodland Marketplace, 263-8880; Pearlridge Shopping Center, 487-8188; Waipio Shopping Center, 678-8868

WAILANA COFFEE HOUSE

The old-school diner keeps it real with corned beef and cabbage, chicken o'shannon and salmon florentine.

Wailana Coffee House, 1860 Ala Moana Blvd., 955-1764

WAIKIKI COMMUNITY CENTER

Waikiki Community Center will host a St. Patrick's Day Luncheon on the Moana Terrace of the Waikiki Beach Marriot Resort & Spa. Watch the parade pass by below while you feast on a menu of corned beef and cabbage, pesto Caesar salad, soda bread and Bailey's cream pie ($30 per person).

Waikiki Community Center, 310 Paoakalani Ave, tickets available at center or call 923-1802.