One by one they paid tribute to Chai Chaowasaree and Joy Saetung. During a taping of a segment of his weekly cooking show, chef friends appeared on camera to wish the brother and sister a happy 10th anniversary for Chai's Island Bistro and a 20th one for Singha Thai Cuisine.

"Maybe it's time to open another restaurant," Chai Chaowasaree joked. "It seems like I do that every 10 years."

In celebration of the milestone birthdays, the siblings have recruited friends to help them celebrate the occasion ... and not quietly, either.

Fifteen of some of Hawaii's top chefs will abandon their kitchens on Friday, Nov. 20 to set up food stations at the foot of the iconic Aloha Tower clock.

"I can't wait for the event," said Hardy Kintscher, executive chef for Michel's. "Look at all these chefs; I think it's going to be a great evening."

Joining Kintscher will be a culinary dream team that's made up of some all-star chefs, including Kevin Chong of Chef Mavro's, Rodney Uyehara of The Beachhouse, Russell Siu of 3660 on the Rise, Rod Dizor of Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar, Jason Miyasaki of d.k Steak House, Keith Endo of Vino, Hiroshi Fukui of Hiroshi's Eurasion Tapas, and Mark Lopez and Steven Hamada of Chai's.

Other local culinary luminaries expected to shine that night are Alan Takasaki of Le Bistro, Goran Streng of Tango's, Elmer Guzman of The Poke Stop, Fred DeAngelo of Ola and JJ Luangkhot of JJ French Bistro & Pastry.

"It's going to be like eating a 15-course meal, plus a self-serve buffet station and desserts," Chaowasaree said. "Everyone will eat well that night."

Indeed they will, according to the participating chefs who have already developed their respective dishes for that night.

Chong of Chef Mavro's said he was going to prepare day boat catch ceviche with manchego croquette, while Ola chef DeAngelo noted he was going to do his seared lemongrass shrimp lollipop with luau cream.

For his part, Streng pointed out that he'll make a duck confit on risotto cake with a foie gras demiglace and Asian slaw drizzled with a citrus dressing.

Meanwhile, Takasaki hunched his shoulders and answered "maybe braised short ribs," when asked what he would be cooking for the party.

DK Kodama was even less sure about what he was going to prepare, yet he was certain that whatever it was going to be, it would have "to wow" guests.

"You're representing your restaurant and you don't want to put anything out there that's just OK," Kodama said. "It's got to impress them (attendees) and want them to come to our restaurants."

In addition to the elite cast of chefs, an A-list lineup of entertainers will include Jerry Santos, Sistah Robi, the Brothers Cazimero and the kane of Halau Hula Na Kamalei.

When the Chaowasarees opened Singha Thai Cuisine in 1989, it was a natural progression for Chai, Joy and other sister Nicky, who has since moved to the Mainland. After all, their parents owned a restaurant in their native Thailand and the three became well versed in the kitchen.

"I told Joy and Nicky that if we worked really hard we could retire after 10, maybe 15 years," recalled Chai, the youngest of seven children. "Now Joy asks me all the time what happened to retiring after 15 years."

Asked if they have any regrets about being restaurateurs, knowing full well the long hours and long-term commitment, both Chai and Joy said they wouldn't have it any other way.

"We grew up in the restaurant world," Chai said. "It was the easiest thing for us to do when we came here."

And while they have no intention on opening a third restaurant any time soon, the possibility always exists.

"You never know," Chai said. "We weren't really looking to open Singha in 1989, but we did; and I wasn't really thinking about opening Chai's in 1999 but it happened. If it's meant to be, it's meant to be."