Side Orders • May 25, 2017
ON THE HORIZON. . . Drive along Kahului Harbor on Lower Beach Road and floral and feather garlands are everywhere at lei stands for grads. As summer nears, food trucks are proliferating, too, as it’s time to grab and go . . . to the beach.
“We’ve had our Maui Hamburger Company trailer for over a year now. But it’s not our primary business, so we only run it on weekends,” says owner Kirt Marquez, whose wife and daughter manned a booth at the Maui Brewers Festival recently.
“This Saturday, we’ll park by the Kahului Harbor boat launch ramp from 11 a.m. until we sell out around 1 p.m. It will be near the Geste Shrimp truck. They are our friends and we like to park by them.”
The burgers are juicy, people. So it’s worth a stop if you are in the ‘hood.
“The good taste is because we use Maui Cattle Company beef,” says Lushanya Marquez, Kirt’s wife. “People have actually called them to check. We have nothing to hide as we do use the meat. The secret ingredients we mix into the beef also make it popular.”
To order a burger in advance Saturday, call 495-5079.
A cool item to take to any graduation party is the latest flavor by Maui’s own Roselani Ice Cream on Lower Main Street in Wailuku. It’s blueberry cheesecake made with wild Oregon blueberries.
“We knew we wanted to do something different,” says Roselani Ice Cream maker Cathy Nobriga Kim. “I love the ‘pop’ of fresh flavor of wild blueberries and we had to find just the right source,” she adds. “And that ‘pop’ blends perfectly with the slightly tangy flavor of the smooth cheesecake ice cream base.”
It’s available right now by the scoop at Banyan Treats and Scoops (both in Lahaina), and Hula Cookies & Ice Cream upstairs in the Ma’alaea Harbor Shops.
Lovers of Filipino foods may check out the 48th annual Barrio Fiesta from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday and from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday at Binhi at Ani Filipino Community Center in Kahului.
Besides folk dancing, and singing and fashion contests, the Filipino cultural event features traditional Filipino food such as lechon, or whole roasted pig; kare kare, pinakbet and more.
Who’s planning on attending Maui Film Festival at Wailea on June 21 to 25 at the Celestial Cinema outdoors above Gannon’s in Wailea?
“This year, we will have Maui Greek Oven be the food vendor at the cinema,” says festival founder and co-director Barry Rivers. “They are a new restaurant in Haiku putting out some special food and we thought it would be great to give them a go at it.”
Restaurant Week Wailea continues at 21 participating establishments through Saturday. As an example, DUO at Four Seasons Resort Maui will present a three course feast for $59 with your choice of ahi tuna “tiradito” (watermelon, beets, yuzu, apple, micro popcorn) or steak tartare with grilled bread); Hawaiian shutome or whole roasted strip loin of beef as entrees by Chef Brendan Gooderham and Kula strawberries “minestrone” as dessert. Call DUO at 874-8000 for a reservation. Or visit www.restaurantweekwailea.com.
Hali’imaile General Store has resumed its Upcountry happy hour weekdays from 2:30 to 5 p.m. with an all new food menu along with its cocktail specials. Choose from the indoor seating to outside on the front lanai.
Migrations Luau Show will be presented by Manutea Nui E hula halau of traveling performers and minstrels on Wednesday, May 31 at Sugar Beach Events in Kihei. With less than 50 guests, this intimate affair showcases a fire pit talk-story session with performers, custom head lei, locally sourced Pacific Rim cuisine, an awa ceremony and bar service. For more details, call Sugar Beach Events at 856-6151.
* Got restaurant / dining-event scoop?
Call Dining Editor Carla Tracy at 242-6342; or email carlatracy@mauinews.com.