AROUND THE TOWN. . . There's a cute and cheery soft-serve frozen yogurt shop near Jamba Juice and Quizno's at Maui Marketplace in Kahului that operates for a noble cause.
Anyone who buys a frozen yogurt at Orange Leaf should note that half the profits go to the Feed My Sheep charity for Maui's hungry.
Owned by Grace Bible Church, Orange Leaf is part of a national frozen yogurt franchise based out of Oklahoma. More than 100 yummy flavors are rotated through and you'll find at least 16 each day.
Article Photos
Elizabeth Wildman (left) and Crisel Failano weigh fresh soft-serve yogurt at Orange Leaf at Maui Marketplace in Kahului.
The Maui News / CARLA TRACY photo
"I'm prejudiced for the Mudd pie," says Dr. William J. Martin. "My favorite flavor is the taro," says Grace Bible's Pastor Eddie Asato, whose son, Davin Asato, is manager. The yogurt is sold by the ounce, there are toppings galore and kids love the knee-high tables.
Henry Kapono will perform in the lounge at Mala Wailea from 6:30 to 8:30 this evening, and there will be no cover charge. "Looking forward to performing, and seeing everybody at my favorite restaurant on Maui," says Kapono of the culinary hot spot.
Mala's drink menu features watermelon cosmopolitans, lychee mojitos, made-from-scratch mai tais and a host of cold beers by the bottle.
Appetizers range from crunchy calamari to Hood Canal oyster shooters to seared ahi bruschetta. Speaking of that tasty Italian staple, Mala's Chef-partner Mark Ellman has emailed me from afar that he just dined on Singapore-style scorpion bruschetta, Taiwanese crickets stir-fried with garlic and Asian basil, and Thai silkworm pupae.
"Mmmm. . . delicious," he writes. "I'll try anything once!" What restaurant, you ask? It's Typhoon at the Santa Monica Airport!
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BITS AND PIECES. . . Volunteers are being sought for the Progressive Dinner Party Through Lahaina's Historic Sites on May 13 and 14.
Hosted by Lahaina Restoration Foundation, the event will feature three courses by three different Maui chefs at three different historic venues in Lahaina. The evening also will include a dinner theater show, live music and a fun, narrated trolley tour. Chefs are Mark Ellman of Mala Ocean Tavern (his other restaurant), Sheldon Simeon of Star Noodle and Ryan Luckey of Pineapple Grill.
"We are seeking volunteers to assist with setup, serving food and cleanup," says Theo Morrison, executive director at Lahaina Restoration Foundation. "The work is fun and it's a great opportunity to meet like-minded people and to get behind the scenes at this exciting event."
Tickets are also now available through May 7; there is an early-bird special of $250 for two (including beer and wine). Or pay $135 per person. Call 661-3262 (weekdays) or visit lahainarestoration.org.
On Friday, May 6, the Mental Health America on Maui organization will hold its eighth annual dinner at Cafe O'Lei at the Dunes in Kahului.
"This is our Mental Health Month kickoff event," says Colleen O'Shea Wallace. "The mayor will give a speech as well as present and sign a proclamation. We've had some valuable art donated for the auction and music will be by Tim O'Hara and Tony Krieg.
The dinner buffet sounds yummy. There will be sauteed mahimahi with tomatoes, basil garlic and kalamata olives, chicken provencale with mushroom cream sauce, linguine and spring vegetables and more.
Guests arrive at 5 p.m., dinner begins at 5:30 p.m. and the live auction follows. "Tickets are still only $65!" says O'Shea Wallace. Call 242-6461.
Tween heartthobs, the Jonas Brothers, played golf at the Plantation Course in Kapalua Easter Sunday with family, and then they dined at the Plantation House restaurant, and yes, paparazzi snapped away. Recent other celeb sightings at the restaurant were Five for Fighting. "For Mothers Day, we will be open with our all-day menu," says Executive Chef and partner Alex Stanislaw. "Reservations are filling up fast."
The 19th annual East Maui Taro Festival will get to the root of the Hawaiian cultural matter this weekend at Hana Ballpark. You'll find more than 22 food booths from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday as well as music and crafts. Sunday, come to the Taro Pancake Breakfast from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. and find loco moco bowls and more.
* You may reach Dining Editor Carla Tracy at 242-6342.
