MARK CALENDARS. . . One of the year's most anticipated food-and-wine events will flow Friday, Aug 13. Maui Calls will elicit the glamorous days of old Hawaii, when it takes center stage under the stars on the Events Lawn at Maui Arts & Cultural Center in Kahului.
"Sample gourmet delights prepared by 15 of Hawaii's top chefs and taste fine wines from around the world," says the MACC's Marketing Director Karee Carlucci. "Swing to tunes by Jimmy Mac & the Kool Kats, enjoy special surprise entertainment and browse the wide array of travel packages, art, vintage collectibles and more at the live and silent auctions."
Sponsored by JMD Beverages, the event will bring in some of the top winemakers in the business. There will also be exciting and new location sites for the silent auction and the Epicurean reception.
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AUBREY HORD PHOTOGRAPHY
Savor food by 15 top chefs at Maui Calls, the signature fundraiser for Maui Arts & Cultural Center.
For more details, call 243-4225 or e-mail kathy@mauiarts.org.
Lahaina Yacht Club will celebrate the 22nd Vic-Maui International Yacht Race from 5 to 10 p.m. Saturday, July 24, with an awards banquet at Lahaina Jodo Mission, which is located right on the ocean near Mala Wharf.
It's open to anyone who wants to meet the crews who cross the ocean from Victoria, Canada, to Lahaina, Maui. Enjoy dinner cooked by Cilantro Mexican Grill as well as Pizza Paradiso Italian Kitchen, and then dance to the Haiku Hillbillies under the stars. Highlights include grilled ono with pesto cream sauce, chipotle rotisserie chicken, and chocolate cake with mixed-berry sauce. Cost is $35 for adults and $20 for keiki. Drinks will be extra. Call Bonnie West at 269-0118 or e-mail bwest@abhawaii.com.
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BITS AND PIECES. . . While visiting the Big Island recently, I chatted with a nice family from Atlanta dining next to us in a cafe. The dad, Richard Ward, said he reads my column every week online. It's amazing that there is an audience for "what's cooking" on Maui, 6,000 miles away.
Another reader, Florentino Villaro Jr., writes in about the freshly made hamburger steak plate with fried rice and macaroni salad that he enjoyed at the new Kiyota Okazuya in Kihei.?"It's a very clean establishment," says Villaro Jr.
Reader Ann Harley emails in, "please thank whoever was responsible for bringing back the original Akahi hot dogs. I just had one from Ah Fook's and it was great! Now, I remember why we all loved Maui's red, crunchy hot dogs!"
Have you ever watched "MythBusters" on the Discovery Channel? The show's host, Grant Imahara (and this is no myth), was spotted dining this week at the Plantation House in Kapalua.
National Ice Cream Day is this Sunday, and Dairy Queen in Kihei will cool you off with its new Pecan Pie Blizzard, featured throughout July. It's packed with pecans, pie pieces and rich caramel sauce served over creamy vanilla soft serve.
Lahaina Grill is continuing with its 20th anniversary celebration with 50 percent off entrees for kamaaina on the 20th of every month. This means Tuesday; those with Hawaii ID get discounts.
Enjoy happy hour food-and-drinks deals and live music at Duke's Beach House in Kaanapali from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday through Thursday. (Fridays, Henry Kapono is back playing from 4 to 6 p.m., but there are no happy-hour discounts.)
The Kahuna sliders feature beef as well as Portuguese sausage and applewood-smoked bacon, the Cajun-ahi tacos utilize line-caught fish and crunchy cabbage slaw, and the nachos are filled with black beans, four cheeses and tomato-avocado salsa. By the way, "Maui boy" Dylan Ching is the general manager of Duke's Waikiki. It's debatably the state's highest-grossing restaurant, so it's way cool that a Mauian is running it.
Speaking of Oahu, the Food Network just named the "Tastiest Breakfast in Every State" and Eggs 'n Things was the Hawaii winner. But many rave about MAC 24-7 at the Hilton Waikiki Prince Kuhio. Order the 4-pound, Elvis pancakes for $15 and you may feed the whole family.
Now, here's some juicy Maui restaurant news. . . New management has taken over Gian Don's in Kihei and plans to resurrect Bocalino Bistro & Bar in that location. It will also offer a taste of the former Lobster Cove with a similar sushi bar.
"Gian Don's bar will become Koi Sushi Bar and we are building a new liquor bar and will feature live entertainment along with tapas, appetizers and pastas," says Manager Marc Dehandschutter, who is running it with his dad, Guido Hauwaerts.
In Wailuku, Eha's sports bar has closed, while we hear in Upcountry, Local Mocha Cafe is opening in Pukalani Square, serving breakfast and lunch. It will turn into a sushi spot at night with music.
The Friends of Dorothy Dining Club for gays and lesbians invites kamaaina as well as visitors to its next dinner outing Tuesday at Kimo's in Lahaina.
