OCTOBERFEST . . . Brigit & Bernard's Garden Cafe in Kahului industrial area will celebrate Octoberfest over the next three Fridays and Saturdays with an all-you-can-eat buffet, live oompah music with "The Dorfmusikanten" (Village Musicians) and of course plenty of beer.
The buffet includes lentil soup, roasted chicken, veal sausage, pork bratwurst with sweet mustard, German pork roast, German-style meat loaf, spaetzle (home-made pasta dumplings), German potato salad, sauerkraut, Bavarian kraut salad and braised red cabbage.
The all-you-can-eat buffet costs $38 per diner. Apple strudel with vanilla sauce will be available for an extra $8.50.
What would Octoberfest be without beer? The Garden Cafe will feature Spaten Octoberfest, Warsteiner and Gordon Biersch on tap. There will also be a selection of 17-ounce bottles of Franziskaner or Ayinger, Ayinger Ur-Hefe and Spaten Optimator. Both imported and domestic 12-ounce beers will also be available, including Beck's nonalcoholic brew.
Octoberfest runs from 5 p.m. to closing Friday, Saturday, Oct. 17, 18, 24 and 25. Brigit and Bernard's Garden Cafe is located at 335 Ho'ohana St. For more information, call 877-6000.
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Fact Box
* Carla Tracy is dining editor of Maui Scene. She will be on vacation until the issue of Oct. 30. In the meantime, you may contact Rich Van Scoy at 242-6323 or email him at richv@mauinews.com.
BEST LAU LAU & SHORTBREAD . . . The Princess Ka'iulani Festival Oct.18 on the Saint John's Episcopal Church grounds in Keokea will include two cooking competitions paying tribute to the princess' Hawaiian and Scottish heritage. The winner of the best lau lau contest will receive a trophy and gift certificate for brunch for two at the Grand Wailea Resort Hotel & Spa. The winner of the best shortbread competition will also receive a trophy and a gift certificate for two to the Old Lahaina Lu'au. There will be three judges for each competition. Those interested in competing need to bring three good-sized portions to the festival by 11 a.m. There is no cost to enter and the competition is open to all. Entrants may enter at the festival or preregister by calling event chairman Norman Mizuno at 573-1130 to obtain an entry form.
The festival will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be traditional Hawaiian food prepared by the Richard Ho'opi'i family available for purchase as a benefit for Kahakuloa Hawaiian Protestant Church. The Isle of Maui Pipe Band will be making Irish beef stew, "bangers and mash," cornish pasties, shortbread and trifle. Auntie Tweety Lind will be demonstrating poi pounding and selling ulu poi, as well as taro poi, fresh taro and mini lau lau.
The festival is presented by the Isle of Maui Pipe Band and is sponsored by the Hawaii Tourism Authority and the County of Maui with additional funding from the Dowling Community Improvement Foundation. Admission is free. For more information about the event, including entry forms for the cooking contests, visit the band's Web site at www.isleofmauipipeband.com
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BENEFIT . . . The Rusty Harpoon's new location at 2290 Ka'anapali Parkway is now open for business and on Oct. 17, Chef-owner Suzzette Metcalfe will present a grand opening party. The event will feature food stations showcasing favorites new and old from The Rusty Harpoon menu, beer and wine and live music from Silky Ringo. The price for the event is $75, and all proceeds will go to the Lahainaluna High School Foundation for a cookbook library in honor of Metcalfe's parents, Jerome and Sharon, and for a culinary scholarship at Maui Community College.
"I am very committed to supporting and preserving the culture and culinary traditions of Hawaii," said Metcalfe. "I see our grand opening as the perfect opportunity to raise support for the students at Lahainaluna High School and Maui Community College who are our future chefs and scholars."
The new Rusty Harpoon is the only sports bar on the west side of Maui to broadcast all games live and in HD. The expanded dining room seats 214, up from 189 at the original facility. For more information, call 661-3123.
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MACC MENUS . . . Longhi's is back at the MACC for the Styx show Friday night with some of its signature dishes. Selections include mushroom and pepper lasagna, and grilled chicken on focaccia with salsa and aioli. Both are served with Caesar salads.
Alexander's Famous Fish will be serving food at the performance of "Kahekili" Saturday night. Grilled veggies, teri chicken and Cajun fish are some of the entrees.
Kool & the Gang will take the stage Wednesday, and Penne Pasta will be serving chicken parmesan, fresh fish picatta and Penne Pasta pomodoro in a rich plumb tomato, garlic and fresh basil sauce. Entrees include Chef Mark's Caesar salad and flaxseed bread.
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KAMA'AINA SPECIAL EXTENDED . . . Ruth's Chris Steak House is extending its 10-year anniversary on Maui promotion through Oct. 31. Kama'aina with ID will receive a 25 percent discount on all food at Ruth's Chris in the Lahaina Center and in The Shops at Wailea. The discount is not valid with "Prime Time" or with any other promotion.
