— Pualana Lemelle

CREAM DE LA CREME

Wander the edge of Waikiki and you'll find The Cream Pot on the lobby floor of the Hawaiian Monarch — a high-quality breakfast and brunch restaurant with contemporary French and Japanese influences. The decor is shabby chic, in homage to a French countryside cottage.

University of Hawai'i law school grad Nathan Tran opened the restaurant last month, having returned to Hawai'i after practicing in Los Angeles and Japan. "It was a dream of mine to have a restaurant. It's nice to have a place where I would like to eat," he says.

Tran teamed up with Le Cordon Bleu-trained chef Victor Kwan to create a rich and flavorful menu, including dishes such as the classic eggs Benedict, sweet crepes, and even a few non-traditional fusion recipes such as the Eggs Benedict Toro — perfectly poached eggs on seasoned rice cakes, topped with daikon, a shiso leaf, avocado and hefty sashimi-style slices of toro (fatty tuna).

"If you are a chocolate lover, you have to try our signature dark chocolate; it's made out of 100 percent cacao, and is delicious," Tran says as he points out each item on the menu.

"I recommend the cream chicken crepes; I think the combination works well together," says 24-year-old chef Kwan.

The Cream Pot, 444 Niu St.; open 6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily; 429-0945.

— Lacy Matsumoto

HEAVENLY HOSTESS

There's a new golden trick to being a fabulous hostess — it's the Heavenly Hostess Apron. Company designer Cynthia Wadell, whose credo is "serve with grace," provides women with elegant aprons that were influenced by her grandmother. Embellished with lace, beads, organza fabrics and satin, they're fit for a queen — or at least a Desperate Housewife; the show's Eva Longoria owns one. Prices range from $45 to $122; find them at Red Pineapple at Ward Centre (next to Borders); 593-2733; www.redpineapple.net.

— L.M.

REREAD, REUSE, RECYCLE

The Recycled Planet Store creates fun and funky wearable art from all manner of recyclables. New York City-based designer Claudia Garzesi dreams up the ideas and the company has many of them manufactured in impoverished Brazilian communities. They're a blend of traditional handicrafts and a contemporary aesthetic.

We especially love the bangles and bags made with post-consumer content: The handbag and large bangle are woven from strips of already-read magazines, while the clutch and the sleek bangle were plastic labels in a previous life.

The bracelets sell for $24 (Bud Light) and $36 (woven magazines), the woven purse for $115 and the clutch for $29, at Riches Kahala, 737-3303.

— Paula Rath

RELEASES

DULCET DESCHANEL

It helps a great deal that the Him paired with offbeat actress Joey Deschanel ("Elf," "Weeds") is Matt Ward, a guitarist, songwriter and producer whose rootsy, pre-rock proclivities mesh nicely with Deschanel's country- and cabaret-flavored songs.

"Volume One," however, is mainly Deschanel's show, and though she may be most musically well known for singing "Baby, It's Cold Outside" in the shower in "Elf," she steps out confidently. She's a no-nonsense vocalist who writes endearingly unpretentious pop love songs, makes kazoo sounds with her mouth on "This Is Not a Test" and does quite nicely with a luxuriously lazy Hawaiian guitar version of the Beatles "I Should Have Known Better."

— D.D.