Tapas at Kukuiula Under New Ownership

Our Kauai Food Tour -South Shore concludes at Kauai’s premiere gourmet farmers market at the Shops at Kukuiula. Daniel Lane photo

The grand opening of the new Tapas at Kukuiula restaurant, featuring a traditional Hawaiian blessing by Kapu Kelvin Ho, will be held at the Shops at Kukuiula on Thursday, January 14, 2016 starting at 4:00pm. The Shops at Kukuiula purchased the restaurant from Jean Marie Josselin late in 2015.

Tapas at Kukuiula offers a variety of dishes from the Aina (land) and Kai (sea) served tapas style with a local twist featuring Pacific Rim flavors, farm fresh local ingredients, a variety of authentic sangrias and an extensive wine list. The leadership team will be Executive Chef Kristen Yanagawa, Sous Chef Fred Rivera and General Manager Alika Youn.  Executive Chef, Kristen Yanagawa joins a line-up of Hawaii’s top chefs at The Shops at Kukui‘ula including Peter Merriman and Roy Yamaguchi. Mentored by several top Island Chefs and a local graduate from Kauai Community College Culinary School, Chef Kristen hopes to bring a new style of culinary artistry to the restaurant, focusing on simple ingredients, creative presentations and flavorful food. Dining will be available from 5:00pm to 11:00pm nightly.

“We are pleased to have one of Hawaii’s top women Chefs, Kristen join our ohana at The Shops,” said Helaine Perel, Real Estate Manager of The Shops at Kukuiula. “Moving into 2016, the new Tapas at Kukuiula, will continue to make the Shops at Kukuiula the “go to” shopping and dining destination on Kauai.”