WINE SCUTTLEBUTT . . . It's happened before and will happen again. I have "egg on my face." The date for the Five Grapes French wine dinner at Gerard's in Lahaina was wrong in last week's column. It will flow at 7 p.m. this Saturday. Take note, you may sip top Bordeaux and Sauterne wines and feast on four fabulous French courses by Chef-owner Gerard Reversade at $75 per person, plus tax and gratuity.
Speaking of fab food and wine, Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa in Kaanapali will host its second annual Fall Festival of Wines from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday in the Coral Reef Room. All proceeds will benefit Maui Youth & Family Services. Cost of $40 includes wines donated by Better Brands, JMD and Johnson Brothers, paired with elegant hors d'oeuvres. Bid on auction items, too.
So many fundraisers. . . . so little time. From 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday, the Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project will host its inaugural fundraiser at Hui No'eau Visual Arts Center in Makawao. Listen to the music of Halemanu and George Kahumoku Jr., graze on gourmet pupu, sip fine wines and beer and bid at auction. Cost is $100, and a portion will be tax deductible, of course.
Article Photos
The Maui News / CARLA TRACY photo
Travis and Charol Takahashi are a local brother-and- sister team who recently took over Maui Ocean Grill in the Maui Marketplace food court.
Maui's own Grammy Award-winning musician Kahumoku really does get around. He and his bluesman-guitarist pal, Bob Brozman, will release their new CD, "Kani Wai Sound of Water," at 6 p.m. Sunday at Lulu's Lahaina Surf Club and Grill at Lahaina Cannery Mall. What's this got to do with food, you say? The release party will feature a wine and pupu reception followed by a three-course wine dinner. Cost of $30 plus tax and tip includes reception, meal, wines and one "Kani Wai" CD.
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BITS AND PIECES . . . These veteran restaurant and wine guys also really get around. Now, Travis Takahashi is running his own place, the Maui Ocean Grill in the food court at Maui Marketplace in
Kahului. It will be renamed Daily Grinds Cafe soon. Travis, who was general manager of Roy's and targeted for the same position at Bin 69, (which never opened its doors), is serving incredible restaurant quality food at plate-lunch prices.
He's in the biz with his sister, Charol Takahashi, former pastry chef at Roy's. Besides her yummy cupcakes from red velvet to vanilla-bean to carrot cake (which you may order in advance by the dozen for take-out), their local food includes meat loaf with mushroom gravy, Hawaiian plate, mac and cheese, and misoyaki butterfish.
For one day only, this Friday, you may enjoy the new Bonfire Barbecue Burrito for free with the purchase of a Mondo Burrito at the new Taco Del Mar in the Maui Mall in Kahului. Customers may win gift certificates for future meals there as well as a barbecue grill.
Cafe La Plage at Dolphin Plaza in Kihei will celebrate its second anniversary from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday with 50 percent off food and drink. "One of our specialty breakfast sandwiches is the Kalama, a bagel with egg, bacon, lettuce and avocado," says owner Christophe Benoit, former food and beverage director of The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua.
Last but not least, the MACC will be happening Friday with Broadway songstress Lea Salonga - and the cuisine by Tommy Bahama will include ribs with mango barbecue sauce, burger sliders and Tommy's Bungalow salad of grilled chicken, bacon, apples, mixed greens and tomatoes with blue cheese, tossed in a light, honey-lime dressing by Chef Rey Baysa.
Reuniting at the MACC on Saturday will be Loggins & Messina and Longhi's will wow concertgoers with their frutta di mare of jumbo shrimp, scallops and calamari - all marinated in olive oil and served over mixed greens; as well as vegetable lasagne, and grilled chicken on focaccia with salsa and aioli. Drink the "Centipede," inspired from the duo's song, "Lahaina."
* You may reach Dining Editor Carla Tracy at 242-6342.
