FOR FILM BUFFS . . . The food event lineup surrounding the Maui Film Festival at Wailea June 17 to 21 will be set up a little differently this year. "We'll host the same party we always do , only it's been moved up to opening night," says Beau Moore, general manager of Tommy Bahama.
He's talking about Starry Night Moondance from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. June 17. It will be a hot dance-pupu-cocktail party with Sal Godinez and friends igniting the scene. Rum and vodka drinks will flow down icy luges and there will be a seafood bar with crab claws, shrimp, sashimi and mussels along with caviar on toast points, lamb chops in rosemary garlic sauce, chicken lollipops and beef skewers with Thai peanut sauce.
"We're keeping prices the same (presale tickets are $50, starting Monday), appropriate because of the economy," says Moore. "It's a great price point for locals and we'll have a few surprises."
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The Maui News / CARLA TRACY photo
Executive Chef Rey Baysa of Tommy Bahama at The Shops of Wailea is gearing up to do the food for Starry Night Moondance June 17 as well as for a prix-fixe menu that runs through summer.
Remember the mermaid lying on the buffet table dressed only in cucumber slices for scales from a previous year? In addition, Tommy Bahama kicked off an exciting three-course prix-fixe menu June 1 for $34 that will run all summer, starting at 5 p.m.
Executive Chef Rey Baysa will tempt you with snapper in wasabi-soy butter, stuffed chicken with roasted red peppers and Tobago tenderloin with dried cherry chutney. Wine pairings with each course (three glasses in all) will cost you an extra $20.
Getting back to the film festival, the stars will be out from 10 p.m. to midnight June 20 at the Taste of Chocolate, an ultra-chic party outdoors at the Four Seasons Resort Maui's upper pool. Premium liquor sponsors and over-the-top chocolates will set the stage. Cost is $120 in advance for the creme de la creme of food events.
Longhi's Wailea will host the Filmmakers Brunch from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday June 20, Taste of Wailea will wow the crowds that same day from 4:30 to 7 p.m. outdoors at the upper tee box above the Celestial Cinema with foods by 10 of Wailea's top restaurants and wines, Ocean Vodka and beers. Presale is $95. Call 579-9244.
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BITS AND PIECES . . . Those heading to the MACC in Kahului Friday for "Dhvani" music and dance of India show will find for the first time foods by Shangri-La by the Sea in Kihei. Dine on tandoori prawns, chicken tikka Masala or vegetarian plate.
The MACC staff will debut Karma that night, a light, crisp, sparkling wine that comes in a single-serving glass bottle. No straw or flute needed.
Speaking of Indian food, the Maui Temple of Peace in Haiku will host a fundraising dinner for Maui Food Co-op from 5:30 to 10 tonight with ayurvedic Indian and raw foods. There will be a sliding scale donation of $7 to $20 per plate.
Roy's Kihei will be jumping Tuesday with a six-course feast prepared by Roy Yamaguchi. He'll appear there on his final stop of his Hawaii Tour 2009 and he'll wow your taste buds with torchon of foie gras with ahi, shiso duck salad, curry marinated lamb chop and more. Cost is $65 for food and $85 with wines (plus tax and tip). He'll also appear on Bravo Channel's "Top Master Chefs" Wednesday. . . Has anyone dined in Capische? at Diamond Resort in Wailea recently? The property's main walkways and lobby areas have been renovated- and it will be called Wailea Hotel starting June 15.
My heartfelt condolences go to the family of Ray Ennis, founder of Stella Blues Cafe in Kihei. Ray passed away last Thursday. His ashes will be spread at 10 a.m. Sunday at Chang's Beach and there will be a celebration of life Sunday at 8 p.m. in the Kihei restaurant with music from a multitude of his entertainment pals.
* Reach Scene Dining Editor Carla Tracy at 242-6342.
