Son'z at Swan Court in the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa, Ka'anapali, opened recently under the director of JAS Restaurant Group corporate chef George Gomes, Jr., and executive chef Geno Sarmiento, who have built the menu around local ingredients wherever possible: Kula corn and strawberries, 'Ono Farms avocado from Maui, Hana hearts of palm, Maui Cattle Co. beef, Purple Rain goat cheese from Surfing Goat Dairy in Oma'opi'o, Maui-grown coffee (used for a beef marinade) and local fish.

The dinner-only restaurant is owned by a partnership that includes restaurateurs Aaron Placourakis (Aarons, Sarento's, etc.) and Scott Rolles (Chuck's Steak House, Wolfgang Puck Express) and Honolulu businessman Jiro Noguchi.

Another JAS restaurant, Blu, is scheduled to open on Front Street in Lahaina early next year.

GODIVA INTRODUCES DESIGNER POP ROCKS

Godiva Chocolatier shops are having trouble keeping a new candy in stock because tasters are so intrigued when they try them. The new Pop Chocolates are a combination of smooth chocolate and crackly, popping ingredients such as you find in Pop Rocks candy.

The candies, which come in CranOrange Dark Chocolate Dazzler and White Chocolate Raspberry Sparkler flavors, shiver and fizz on the tongue. Lynn Otaka, store manager at the Kahala Mall Godiva, said the effect is isn't an explosion, more of a "gentle celebration."