CREPES AROUND TOWN

In today's TGIF, we reviewed Oahu's newest creperie, Le Crepe Café. But this new Mänoa eatery is hardly the only place to taste these delicious French specialties. Here are some other options.

CREPES NO KA OI

French-style griddled crepes are finding a home in Hawaii at festivals and farmers markets, but Chris and Rosario "Kakay" Tarvyd took it one step further, opening this sunny little cafe that features both sweet and savory wraps. The menu includes breakfast crepes, savory crepes and dessert versions, and they also specialize in premium teas. The crepes are delicately caramelized, the fillings abundant without being excessive, and the flavors delicious.

Crepes No Ka Oi, 131 Hekili St., 263-4088.

CREAM POT

Crepes are the heart of the Cream Pot menu, both savory and sweet. The apples in caramel sauce ($9.50) are a gorgeous, rippling fan of fruit and whipped cream that tastes as good as it looks. On the savory front, the creamy chicken crepe, with pan-seared chicken, sauteed mushrooms, spinach and arugula in a drizzle of bechamel (classic French white sauce; $13) was reminiscent of ladies lunch dishes of the past, rather dainty and perfect for a lighter appetite.

Cream Pot, Hawaiian Monarch Hotel, 444 Niu St., 429-0945.

MOCHA JAVA CAFE

This Ward Centre cafe is a great place for either breakfast or lunch crepes, with both savory and sweet options. One crepe to try: the strawberries, bananas and creme crepe ($6.95) with extra chocolate sauce. Pure decadence.

Mocha Java Cafe, Ward Centre, 1200 Ala Moana Blvd., 591-9023.

EGGS 'N THINGS

The crepes here are lightly crisped at the edges and filled with various fruits and treats. Worth waiting in line for.

Eggs 'n Things, 343 Saratoga Road, 923-3447.

FOOD NEWS

Santa and Mrs. Claus will be on hand to help foster children and their families celebrate Christmas during the Family Programs Hawaii's Holiday Party tomorrow, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Blaisdell Exhibition Hall. Sponsors can buy virtual tables for $350, or donate cash, toys or a gift card. Call 521-9531 to make a donation.

Ted Sung, the founder and operator for 16 years of Ted's Drive-In, pioneers in the fast-food niche, is back in the restaurant business. Sung, who left Ted's in the late 1980s, has been developing properties at Hawaii Loa Ridge and serving as landlord for investment properties in recent years. But awhile back, he bought the 11th Ave. Atrium, along with another Kaimukí complex that includes The Fat Greek, Sabrina's Restaurant and other eateries at the corner of Waialae Avenue and St. Louis Drive.

Now, he's operating two restaurants of his own at the Atrium. First is Bella Mia, a casual, Italian restaurant with 65 seats and takeout that serves lunch and dinner. He hired Brooklynite Joey Gonzalez, whose father is Puerto Rican and mother is Italian, as chef. It's in the space where A Taste of New York used to be. He also opened Umi no Sachi, a Japanese restaurant specializing in sushi, teishoku and izakaya fare at reasonable prices. The chef there is James Matsukawa, formerly of Tokkuri-Tei.

NEW IN CHINATOWN

Chinatown denizens lamenting the loss of rRed Elephant will be happy to know the cafe has reopened with new owners. Dave Stewart, who owns Bar 35, Brasserie du Vin and Bambu Bar at Restaurant Row, and business partner Al Sieverts have created a suave, sexy martini bar/cafe with indoor/outdoor seating. Bambu 2.0, which opened last month, offers $3.50 martinis all day, along with an affordable selection of coffee, tea, pastries, bagels, sandwiches and salads for those craving a bite to eat and a place to relax. The locally grown coffee comes from Molokai and Maui, and the homemade pastries are delivered from Brasserie du Vin. Another perk: Bambu 2.0 stays open until 2 a.m. nightly, except Sunday.

BAMBU 2.0
1144 Bethel St.
528-1144
Hours: 7 a.m.-2 a.m. Mondays-Saturdays

A HEALTHY TWIST ON FRIES

The best fries in town come from ... a macrobiotic restaurant? Hale Macrobiotic's (1427 Makaloa St., 944-1555) organic fries ($4.95) are fried in sesame oil, giving them a light, nutty flavor. They come with a tofu tartar sauce and homemade ketchup, which tastes more like a bright tomato marmalade.

— Martha Cheng