by VICTORIA ELIZABETH
Owned and operated by the enigmatic serial entrepreneur Pasquale Allegrini, Allegrini is one of Waikiki’s most precious hidden gems. Backstage Pass recently paid a visit to this culinary treat.
Nestled within the lower level of the bustling Waikiki Shopping Plaza, Allegrini features an exhilarating array of fresh, authentic, Italian goods. It doubles as both a full service shop and restaurant, affording “foodies” the exclusive opportunity to peruse and shop an assortment of the finest quality goods while waiting for their specially prepared, scrumptious entrees.
In addition to satisfying thousands of customers, both local and from all around the world, Allegrini also provides wholesale items and ingredients to many of the top restaurants on the island, a direct testament to their food’s premium quality.
Relentlessly charming, amiable, and gracious, Allegrini personally greeted me and the rest of the Backstage Pass Team upon our arrival. He provided a personalized tour of the shop and an explanation of the restaurant’s beautifully curated menu.
We then were ushered to our seats and presented some of this dynamic restaurant’s most popular menu options.
We were treated to:
LA Bomba Pizza, which features a thin crust, a flavorful sauce infused with spices, tender sliced meat, and a rich, satisfying mozzarella topping. This wildly popular pizza will make you feel as though you are on a tour of Italy.
Meat and Olives. Allegrini’s version of a charcuterie board. This satisfying appetizer features savory prosciutto, and other assortments of meats, green olives, house made crackers and delicious cheese.
Ravioli with Spinach and Pesto. Bursting with dynamic flavor at every turn, each ravioli is stuffed to perfection with tender spinach greens , and adorned with just the perfect amount of pesto sauce. This scrumptious entree is just as aesthetically pleasing as it is delicious.
Tiramisu. Artfully prepared and presented, this legendary Italian dessert classic features an exhilarating blend of ladyfingers, mascarpone cheese and a strong hint of espresso, dusted with a sprinkling of the finest cocoa powder, which artistically outlines the shape of a fork on the dessert plate.
Cannolis. Made with real Ricotta cheese, this indulgent dessert features the choice of two cannolis: either chocolate or pistachio. Artfully prepared, this classic Italian favorite is sure to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Following our sublime dining experience, we roamed the expanses of the shop, specializing in imports/exports, with every single item completely made in Italy.
A few of the many standout items the shop has to offer are a staggering plethora of world class extra virgin olive oils, truffles, and freshly baked breads, just to name a few.
Special thanks to the outstanding Kei Segawa and Mr. Allegrini for facilitating our visit for this spotlight feature.
WEBSITE: https://waikikishoppingplaza.com/allegrini-mozzarella/
PHONE NUMBER: (808) 200-2348
INSTAGRAM: @littleitalyhawaii
