LOTS OF SCOOP. . . A couple of the celebrity chefs who will appear at the Maui Onion Festival this weekend are swirling in the middle of some hot island gossip about their upcoming restaurants.
Word on the street is David Paul Johnson, who currently resides on the Big Island, may open a restaurant bearing his name on Front Street in Lahaina.
Hmm . . . deja vu, isn't it?
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Inquiring minds have been asking: What has Travis Takahashi been doing while waiting for the much-anticipated Bin 69 to open in Wailea? Well, if a picture tells a thousand words, this is it. He’s with the Beer Chip Ladies at the Oregon Beer Fest. He also visited former Mala Ocean Tavern Chef Gregory Denton, who is now at Lucier in Portland's Waterfront District. As far as Bin 69 goes, “We are moving forward and getting closer,” he says.
Photo courtesy of Travis Takahashi
A Web site also says that he's "posed to launch" the Big Island Burgers franchise this year on Maui, Oahu and the Big Island. It's a "high-profile, Kobe-style burger concept" that the Web site says is the "Starbucks" of all hamburger joints." When reached by phone, David Paul says we should "stay tuned for a press release."
D.K. Kodama, who will be representing his various Sansei Seafood & Sushi Bars at the Maui Onion Festival this weekend, says he's looking at a Dec. 1 or so opening of Cane & Taro in what is now the Rusty Harpoon in Kaanapali.
"It's a cross between Sansei and my DK Steakhouse restaurants," he said by phone, kids squealing in the background at the mall. "It will offer a lot of other different ideas from, like, Cheesecake Factory and Ryan's to name a few."
D.K. is also going to open, hopefully in November, Quattro, a Southwestern/ Latin cuisine eatery near his Sansei Kihei with his former chef Eric Arbogast.
Mike O'Dwyer, the owner of Mulligan's on the Blue in Wailea, is remaining "tight lipped" as he puts it, on which rock star is trying to purchase his restaurant. But scores of other people involved are blabbing about it and we hear it may beat to a different drum as early as Oct. 1.
For now, Mulligan's Wailea Wednesdays features Willie K on stage with an optional pupu buffet starting at 6:30 p.m. with?Irish and Hawaiian fare. Chef Robert Mele does from laulau to corned beef.
The crew at Stopwatch Sports Bar & Grill in Makawao is gearing up for pre-season Monday Night Football, showing live at 2 p.m.
With five screens, Stopwatch offers good views of the game from every seat in the house. Well drinks, domestic beers and draft mugs are $1 off and you get free pupus at halftime. In addition to the full menu, look for Mo's chili cheese dog with thick steak fries on the specials board.
During the Steel Pulse concert Saturday at the MACC. Savor Serpico's pizza and subs, Kujo's chili and beef stew and Cold Stone Creamery desserts.
Gian Don's in Kihei now offers a $5.95 breakfast for two from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the weekends with two eggs any style, toast, and rice or roasted potatoes.
"I have been doing a lot of drink specials and early-bird menus to try and make it more affordable for people to get out and enjoy themselves," says owner Debbie Suozzi.
"Buy one entree, get on free from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Entrees include fettuccine Alfredo, vodka rigatoni, chicken parmigiano and fresh mahimahi Italian style.
* Contact Dining Editor Carla Tracy at carlatracy@mauinews.com or 242-6342.
