WE'RE CRAVING: BREAD PUDDING

AGNES' PORTUGUESE BAKE SHOP

Before the weather breaks and the heat sets in, we want to settle in with a warm comforting helping of bread pudding, the dessert that's as satisfying as a meal. If you like yours traditional and resembling the classic British version of the dessert, Agnes' has you covered. Dense, dark and sliceable, it's rich with spice and brown sugar. Grab a slice ($1.55) to go, no spoon required.

Agnes' Portuguese Bake Shop, 46 Ho'ola'i St., 262-5367

GRAND CAFE & BAKERY

Grand Cafe's towering square of house-made bread pudding ($5.95) lands somewhere between the super custardy and the more solid versions of the dish. It's dotted with craisins, instead of the traditional raisins, and topped with a warm creme anglaise sauce.

Grand Cafe & Bakery, 31 N. Pauahi St., 531-0001

KAKA'AKO KITCHEN

This one's for lovers of soft, spoonable bread pudding. Kaka'ako Kitchen serves up its custardy version of the dish ($3.50), fragrant with cinnamon and swimming in a puddle of vanilla bean-speckled creme anglaise.

Kaka'ako Kitchen, Ward Centre, 1200 Ala Moana Blvd., 596-7488

MURPHY'S BAR & GRILL

Don't overlook this Irish-style pub when you're on the prowl for good bread pudding. Murphy's puts an Island twist on its version ($4.75), topping it with a sweet and tangy liliko'i whipped cream — it's the perfect complement to the vanilla and nutmeg.

Murphy's Bar & Grill, 2 Merchant St., 531-0422

RYAN'S GRILL

Made with oven-roasted pears and golden raisins, and topped with a warm bourbon vanilla custard sauce, Ryan's take on bread pudding ($7.50), though distinct, is classic enough to please purists.

Ryan's Grill, Ward Centre, 1200 Ala Moana Blvd., 591-9132

The rumors are true. Colin Nishida of Side Street Inn is planning to open another restaurant called Side Street Inn on Da Strip. Nishida, who also owns Fort Street Bar & Grill, will open the 180-seat casual dining restaurant in September in the Prudential Locations building on Kapahulu Avenue.

Sugoi Bento & Catering (City Square Building, 1286 Kalani St., 841-7984), a Honolulu Advertiser Best of the Best 2008 People's Choice winner, now offers online ordering through its Web site, www.sugoihawaii.com. The only catch is that orders must be placed two days in advance of pickup.

Pearl Ultralounge (Ala Moana Center, 1450 Ala Moana Blvd., 944-8000) is offering monthly cocktail mixology classes to be held from 6 to 8 p.m. every third Wednesday. The first class is scheduled for April 15. Attendees will learn how to mix three signature Pearl cocktails for an admission price of $20 per person. Reservations are required. An appetizer menu offering items for $5 will be available for attendees.

Whole Foods Market at Kahala Mall (738-0820) is kicking off this month's series of Market Value Tours at 6 p.m. Saturday, with tours scheduled for 6 p.m. every Saturday in April. The tour, which is free, will school shoppers on how to shop at Whole Foods while sticking with a budget.

COMMUNITY CAFE

As a project of the Pacific Gateway Center, Lemon Grass Cafe is a restaurant that feels more like a community potluck. Designed to provide immigrants with the money and skills they need to start their own small businesses, the Pacific Gateway Center has created a co-op of sorts that allows individuals to make a go of it in the restaurant business. Lemon Grass Cafe, which opened two weeks ago in Chinatown, is the first culinary endeavor of a staff from all over Asia and the Pacific, cooking up and serving their native cuisine. As such, the menu changes daily, offering dishes from various regions in Southeast Asia. One day you might get Lao cuisine, the next Indonesian or Burmese.

LEMON GRASS CAFE

83 N. King St.

851-7010

Hours: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. daily

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PIZZA FROM THE GRILL

North Shore Farms' pesto pizza has become a staple favorite at the Kailua Farmers' Market (5-7:30 p.m. Thursdays in the Longs Drugs parking lot, bigwaveflavors.com). A soft, thick crust covered with pesto (made with the farm's basil), hand-stretched mozzarella and the farm's thick-cut organic "Big Wave" tomatoes all grilled to oozy perfection ($6 per slice).