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    Home » Hawaii

    Hawaiian French Fusion at M by Jeremy Shigekane

    Updated: Oct 22, 2024 · Published: Oct 13, 2021 by Dave Lee

    A culinary highlight of my week in Hawaii was dinner at M by Jeremy Shigekane, one of the best restaurants in Oahu. The "M" stands for "Mavro," as in Chef Mavro, the eponymous restaurant by George Mavrothalassitis of Marseilles.

    After training at home, the Frenchman moved to Hawaii in 1988, where he later co-founded the Hawaii Regional Cuisine movement to encourage the use of ingredients native to the islands.

    Note: M by Jeremy Shigekane closed permanently in March 2022.

    Dave Lee is excited for dinner at M by Jeremy Shigekane, one of the best restaurants in Oahu.
    Yours truly, excited for dinner.

    In the late 90s, he opened Chef Mavro restaurant, which offered tasting menus and became a training ground for young and talented chefs. In March 2020, chef Jeremy Shigekane bought the restaurant.

    Chef Shigekane previously worked at Cafe Gray in NYC, The Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay in California, and Hoku's at The Kahala Hotel & Resort in Honolulu, to name a few.

    His restaurant's new name, M by Jeremy Shigekane, pays homage to Chef Mavro. And he continues to source local ingredients from Hawaiian farms.

    White nectarine and dragon fruit cocktails.
    White nectarine and dragon fruit cocktails

    After a quick selfie in the setting sun with my girlfriend Kel outside the entrance, we walked inside and were promptly seated. I'd already scouted the seasonal menus online and knew cocktails were in our future.

    Kel ordered the White Nectarine with Del Maguey Vida Mezcal, while I went for the Dragon Fruit with Don Julio Blanco tequila. I resisted the urge to order another; we were both curious about the Blueberry with orange-infused Botanist Gin and Aperol.

    Table of Contents

    • Hawaiian French Fusion
      • First Course
      • Entrees
      • Desserts

    Hawaiian French Fusion

    Seaweed butter accompanied the bread at M by Jeremy Shigekane in Honolulu, Hawaii.
    Seaweed butter with radish

    At M by Jeremy Shigekane, you'll be enjoying Hawaiian-French fusion food. Diners can choose from two 5-course tasting menus (one with meat, the other vegetarian) or order a la carte. We did the latter, which was plenty.

    The food service began with complimentary country bread and seaweed butter. Rarely have I seen such a thoughtful, colorful presentation of butter. This kind of attention to detail makes M one of the best restaurants in Oahu.

    First Course

    Foie gras mousse with Thai basil, white wine gelee, and sweet bread.
    Foie gras mousse with sweet bread

    For the first course, I chose the silky-smooth foie gras mousse with Thai basil and sweet bread. I took bite after bite until the bread was gone. Our server, noticing how much I enjoyed it, offered to get me more. Yes, please!

    Related: Malasadas at Leonard's Bakery

    Meli Melo with farm vegetables, hibiscus, and sauce verte.
    Farm salad

    Meanwhile, Kel enjoyed her artistically plated (and no doubt healthier) Meli Melo with farm-fresh vegetables, hibiscus, and sauce verte.

    Entrees

    Seeing how we were vacationing on a Hawaiian island, I felt compelled to order fish as a main course at M by Jeremy Shigekane. Specifically, I got the day's catch with shiso, bok choy, and beurre rouge. It was okay; however, I found my date's entree more flavorful.

    Catch of the day with shiso, bok choy, and beurre rouge at one of Oahu's best restaurants.
    Catch of the day

    Kel enjoyed hearty sliced American wagyu beef with kabocha and lapsang souchong tea. It was enticing, and thankfully, she was willing to share.

    American wagyu with kabocha, and lapsong souchong tea.
    American wagyu

    Desserts

    Dessert brought more delight to our faces, and we ordered both options. The sweet bread I'd enjoyed with the foie gras mousse made another appearance in the avocado ice cream dish.

    Avocado ice cream, brioche, Meyer lemon, and seeds at one of the best restaurants in Oahu.
    Avocado ice cream, brioche, Meyer lemon, and seeds
    Orange, chocolate, merengue, and buckwheat dessert at M by Jeremy Shigekane.
    Orange, chocolate, merengue, and buckwheat
    Entrance to M by Jeremy Shigekane, one of the best restaurants in Oahu, Hawaii.
    Entrance to M by Jeremy Shigekane

    Overall, I felt like we had the romantic fine dining experience I'd hoped for at one of the best restaurants on Oahu. It's well suited for special occasions.

    Our 3-course dinner, plus cocktails, tax, and tip, cost about $100 per person, and the price matched the value and excellent service we received. By comparison, the 5-course tasting menus are priced at $125.

    M by Jeremy Shigekane carries on a decades-long tradition of serving French-inspired Hawaiian cuisine with locally sourced, high-quality ingredients. Aloha!

    If you liked this story, check out our Hula Pie at Duke's Waikiki.

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    Dave Lee

    Dave Lee

    Food Writer

    I'm on a mission to find the best food in Texas and beyond.

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