Good Eats, Good Deals, Good Cause

The second-annual "Restaurant Week" fundraiser begins on Monday, Nov. 16, and runs through Sunday, Nov. 22. Over 50 restaurants are participating, ranging from greasy spoons to fine dining. Each is offering a special deal for special dishes during the week, meanwhile donating a portion of the proceeds toward ambitious plans to build a vastly expanded Culinary Institute of the Pacific on Diamond Head.

My favorite deals? At Paina Cafe at Ward, a great and healthy lunch spot, you can get a "Paina Plate" (salmon or ahi) plus a free side of poke or a steak skewer, and a small iced tea for $10. At Town in Kaimuki, choose any pasta dish off the regular menu, and get any salad and any desert for $20.09. At L&L, you'll get $1 off a regular chicken katsu plate. Chai's Island Bistro at Aloha Tower has lunch and dinner specials (with appetizer and dessert) for $30 or $40 respectively. And as the Honolulu Star-Bulletin notes, the Wailana Coffee House in Waikiki will offer all-you-can-eat pancakes, two eggs and bacon for $5.75 (regular price is $7.60).

Check out the full list of restaurants and deals. From Ruth's Chris to Popeye's Chicken, there's something for everyone. And it's much easier to rationalize dining out when you're saving money and supporting a good cause at the same time.

The current Culinary Institute offers a two-year degree through Leeward Community College. The planned 40,000-square-foot facility would feature state-of-the-art classrooms and culinary laboratories, and offer a Bachelor of Applied Science in Culinary Management. There'd also be short-term professional courses and an Advanced Professional Certificate in Asian, Pacific, and Hawaiian cuisine.