Ever since it opened Feb. 5 in the old Bada Bing in Kihei, Three's Bar & Grill has been in the back of my mind. It took one of the best palates on Maui to push me to expedite it right to the very front.
"We had some Kumamoto oysters on the half shell and some hamachi to start," says Jim Powlan of Chambers & Chambers fine wine merchants. "Both were bright and fresh and the oysters were served with Kettle One mignonette and spicy ponzu."
The minute I finished reading his e-mail about the potato-wrapped salmon and the Hawaiian steak, cooked to perfection, I grabbed the phone to give them a call.
Article Photos
The Maui News / CARLA TRACY photo
Former surfing buddies and Three’s Bar & Grill chef-owners Travis Morrin (from left), Jaron Blosser and Cody Christopher are taking Maui by storm with their innovative concept.
"The basic premise is we're three friends, who used to surf together," says Jaron Blosser, 28. "Now we don't have time!"
The trio also are all graduates of culinary schools. Jaron from Scottsdale, Ariz., Travis Morrin, 30, from Maui Culinary Academy and Cody Christopher, 22, from Houston. At their restaurant, Jaron specializes in his passion- sushi and Pacific Rim cuisine. But he's classically trained in the French tradition. Cody is like a little Bobby Flay with Southwestern options, and Travis is a local Mauian who "does all sorts of cool stuff with Hawaiian foods." Cody also just won a Chaine des Rotisseurs award and will represent Maui in a national competition.
In addition, the trio were chefs at Longhi's for seven months and started their own company, Three's Catering, doing parties for Maui baseball great, Shane Victorino, along with events at the MACC and much more.
"We're bold and young and we wanted to make a big, bold statement by opening a restaurant," says Jaron. "Hopefully, by April 15, we'll have our liquor license, and then we'll open the other part of the restaurant and turn it into a lounge with leather couches, surfboard tables, a granite bar and lots of live music."
For now, Three's Bar & Grill is open for lunch from noon to 4 p.m. and for dinner from 5 to 10 p.m. with both indoor and outdoor seating. Those on a budget will appreciate it's BYOB. They also serve fun non-alcoholic beverages such as naked mojitos in various flavors.
"We have a raw bar (not visually present) with fresh-shucked oysters, a sushi 101 menu that is expanding, ceviche and poke," says Jaron. "We do flat breads, but not like pizzas. Instead, they are topped with salads."
The three chefs also honor special requests and go over and beyond the call of duty for those with "crazy allergies."
"Being that we started in a low economy, we keep our prices extremely competitive," Jaron says. "It's Wailea food at Kihei prices."
For more details or take-out, call 879-3133.
