After a few delays the much anticipated Jackie's Kitchen finally opens their doors to the public

Jackie's Kitchen has finally opened. A few changes to the opening date, and even to the opening time made for a beginning not soon to be forgotten.

Showing up before noon on the opening day for Jackie's Kitchen at Ala Moana Shopping Center the day after Christmas was no small task. Searching for parking alone was a 30 minute ordeal. Then finding out the restaurant wasn't scheduled to open until 5pm, meant a 5 hour plus wait. Not a problem really. After all it was Ala Moana, on one of the busiest shopping days of the year. The time passed quickly enough through shopping.

At 5:05pm, I found a line of about 20 people outside of Jackie's Kitchen. Confused, I asked if the restaurant was already full. No, the person in front of me informed me. The restaurant was having an electrical problem, and the air conditioning didn't work, and the kitchen wasn't in operation yet. They weren't sure when the restaurant would actually be able to open. In a few minutes, Robert Cortes came outside and apologized to those who had waited for so long. He invited everyone he had spoken to earlier to come in for a round of drinks on the house. They couldn't cook, but they could serve drinks.

I ducked into Jackie's Kitchen, and saw Curtis Wong in his bright aloha shirt right away. Shaking his hand, he gave a chagrined smile and shook his head at all the problems they were facing.  Workers explained over and over again to customers outside that the restaurant wasn't quite ready to open.

I had a Sprite which bartender Randy served quickly, but without flairing since a Sprite doesn't need any mixing. I informed the bartenders that I was doing a write up about Jackie's Kitchen for JC-News. They all were very accommodating and didn't mind flairing for pictures at all, such as Moses catching the bottle on the back of his hand.  Randy proudly showed off the beer taps which were covered in ice. A special cooling system freezes the metal which condenses the moisture in the air which then covers the taps in ice. He said Jackie's Kitchen was the only place he's seen a double ice beer tap, though he did hear another restaurant has a single. The well equipped shiny granite bar was easy to feel comfortable at. The floor behind the bar was covered with rubber, perhaps to accommodate any missed bottles or glasses while the bartenders flaired.

Cache Bouren of Flair Hawaii is the head bartender.   With his seniority and experience he showed off his flairing readily. He easily mixed and flaired to the customers content. The bartenders had to deal with the stuffiness of no air conditioning while juggling bottles, cups, shakers, lemons, cherries, ice, and even napkins. Randy even snapped a shot for me from behind the bar.  Many many people outside the restaurant looked in through the windows to watch the show. One bartender could throw a maraschino cherry into the air, and on its way down skewer it on a toothpick held between his teeth.

The inside of Jackies Kitchen is clean cut with a Japanese influence. Warm wood tones give a natural color to the interior. Circular tables will accommodate 4, while larger tables will allow parties of about 8. Tables along the walls are square with bench seating. Through the back dining room you can watch the kitchen at work.  4 flat panel TVs hang on the walls while playing simultaneous clips of Jackie movies. One over the bar, one in the main dining room and one on either end of the back dining room. Action and outtake scenes from Rush Hour, Shanghai Noon, Shanghai Knights, fight scenes from Snake in Eagle's Shadow, Tuxedo, and Who Am I? play over and over. Perhaps about 60 minutes worth.

It was a little odd to see Snake scenes in the mix of modern movies. Especially it being the end fight scene. I would have chosen his cute training scene with the Old Man and the bowl. After all, isn't that just like the flair bar? In fact, I would have chosen different clips altogether. My choices would have been more flair or food oriented. Scenes from the cooking demonstration from Mr. Nice Guy, the rope fight from SN, and the scene of trying to take the meat from the uncle in Fearless Hyena to name just three. But I digress...

By about 7pm, a majority of the original 25 people who were allowed into Jackie's Kitchen had eaten lightly and left. The bar stools were still filled, but most of the tables had cleared. I had sampled crab wontons (pretty good) and pork ribs with hoi sin sauce (VERY good). By that time I had gotten to know my bar-mates, the bartenders, and the name of the head chef, Michael Longworth. I learned that the different uniforms meant different things. Those wearing the t-shirts were busers, those in dark uniforms with the red logos were servers, white logos were bartenders, and yellow logos were management. Curtis Wong granted permission for JC-News to take as many pictures as I wanted to, and introduced me to Robert Cortes, the general manager.

Finally at 7:30pm the electrical problem was tested and fixed, and the public was allowed in. Robert made sure I got a table, and things started to really move along. I looked over the menu which had some very fun names of dishes like The JC Stunt Team Platter and Pao-Pao burger.  Server Jeff made sure I got my "Jackie's lettuce wrapped chicken" promptly. He asked if I needed anything else, and I told him he was in a shot of the dining area, and that I was planning to put it online if he didn't mind. Jeff was fine with it.  I asked for water, and he left.

Suddenly Curtis Wong came and sat with me. He talked about how busy the last three months have been for him. He's doing many many things, Jackie's Kitchen being only one of them. He assured me that Jackie would come to Hawaii to do a splashy grand opening. I suggested having some kind of online cam there, and it would generate interest for the restaurant which they are planning to expand to Las Vegas, New York and San Fransisco eventually. He said it sounded like a good idea. So it might happen. He also said he introduced Jackie to High Definition TV, and now he and Jackie will colaborate on a project involving HDTV.  Jeff came back with my water, which Curtis promptly drank. Are you reading this Curtis? You drank MY water. But it's ok. I got another, and it was very kind of you to take the time to talk. Thank you.

Curtis left me to critique my lettuce wrapped chicken. It was an appetizer, but quite a generous one. It had a good portion of cubed chicken breast stir fried with sliced straw mushrooms and water chestnuts served with 2 bao buns and 5 butter lettuce leaves and a sweet/sour but mostly sour sauce. It was very tasty, and evenually I had to ask for more lettuce. I would recommend a sweeter sauce to off set the tasty chicken, and more lettuce. Otherwise quite a good dish. Looking over the dessert menu, I took Jeff's recommendation and had a mango guava passion fruit lime sorbet. Two scoops of sorbet served with a sprig of mint. It was perfect.  A perfect end to an imperfect opening.  Pretty nice I'd say.

Menu price list:

Appetizers: Drunken Sashimi  $10.95 Ying Yang Crabcakes $11.95 Coconut Shrimp $8.95 Pork Wontons $6.95 Crab Wontons $6.95 Ahi Potstickers $7.95 Honey Garlic Chicken Wings $6.95 Hoisin Babyback Ribs $9.95 Chicken Spring Rolls $6.95 Steamed Manilla Clams $10.95 Who Am I Shu Mai $5.95 Chicken Satay $6.95 Jackie's Lettuce Wraps $6.95 Hot and Sour Soup  $10.95 Wonton Soup  Shrimp Dumplings Kung Fu Crab Dip The JC Stunt Team Platter Specialties: Miso Glazed Salmon  $15.95 Steamed Whole Fish  $18.25 HOT-Lemongrass Crusted Island Fish  $16.95 Tea Smoked Duck 16.25 Braised Shortribs  $17.50 Grilled Lamb Chops $18.95 Falling Off the Plate Babyback Ribs $21.95 Filet Mignon $ 24.95 Teriyaki New York Sirloin  $18.95 HOT-Dungeness Crab  $28.50 Fresh Island Roasted Chicken $14.95 Side Kicks: [can't make it out] Fries $4.95 French Fries $3.95 Steamed Rice $1.95 Baked Sweet Potato $3.95 Garlic Mashed Potatoes $3.95 Vegetable of the Day $2.95 Chinese Green Beans $2.95 Bao Buns $3.95

Salads: Thai Beef Salad  $11.95 Chinese Chicken Salad $6.95 Warm Duck Salad  $9.95 Fresh Island Mixed Green Salad  $6.95 Royal Ceasar Salad $8.95 Green Papaya and Shrimp Salad  $12.95 From the Wok HOT-General Chan's Spicy Stir Fry $10.25, with shrimp $13.75 Golden Phoenix Stir Fry $8.75, with shrimp $12.25 Shrimp Chow Fun $14.95 Shanghai Noon Noodles $9.95 Ginger Shrimp and Scallops $16.95 HOT-Orange Peel Shrimp $14.25 Jackie's House Special Fried Rice $6.95 Kim Chee Fried Rice $4.95 Roasted Garlic Fried Rice $6.95, with shrimp $10.75 Sandwiches: All sandwiches come with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and french fries. Pao-Pao Burger  $7.95 Twin Dragon Burger $12.95 Drunkin' Fish Sandwich  $8.95 Grilled Portobelo Sandwich  $6.95 Desserts: Poached Pear Wontons  $5.95 Mango Creme Brulee  $6.75 The Chocolate Cake  $4.95 Banana Lumpia $4.75 Cheese Cake  $5.25 Ginger-Apple Pie $5.95 Shanghai Sundae  $5.25 Ice Cream or Sorbet $3.95