SUMMER FORECAST . . . It's going to be sizzling with food fests, star-studded soirees, wine dinners, promos and exciting restaurant openings all across Maui's horizon.
For starters, a jazz festival with headliner Tom Scott will wow Lanai on June 3 and 4 and there will be plenty of food specials at both of the Four Seasons Resort Lanai's hotel properties.
A jazz trio will play live at the Ocean Grill at Manele Bay from 6 to 9 p.m. June 3. "It's going to be a lot of fun at Ocean Grill - playful food, fun cocktails and beautiful jazz music - a perfect night under the stars," says Chef Dario Montelvere.
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Chef Dario Montelvere of Four Seasons Resort Lana‘i at Manele Bay’s Ocean Grill will pull out all of the stops for his jazz dinner June 4.
Four Seasons Resorts Lana‘i photo
At Four Seasons Lodge at Koele, more live jazz will fill the Great Hall from 3 to 7 p.m. Saturday, June 4. The Bar will offer its a la carte pupu with jazz-inspired names and drink specials. The adjacent Terrace will also get in the groove with its regular a la carte dinner menu including jazz specials. "The Lodge is going to be full of big flavors and music," says Chef Junior Ulep.
Four Seasons Lanai will offer special room rates starting at $179. Call (800) 321-4666 for reservations.
Serving Lanai City for 15 years, the intimate Pele's Other Garden will feature a fun jazz and martini night from 8 to 11 Saturday, June 4. Sip fun martinis such as the Pink Victorola, listen to live jazz and dine on specials such as ribs, pizza and shrimp.
Maui's Winery will host its next quarterly Ulupalakua Sunday Drive event June 5 with free live jazz (the same lineup as on Lanai), wine tasting, and barbecue of local beef and elk. Beach chairs allowed.
The Kapalua Wine & Food Festival will be uncorked June 9 to 12 at The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua; the Upcountry Fair will get you in the moo-d for Maui Cattle Co. beef and more June 11 and 12; the Maui Film Festival at Wailea will present all of its glitzy parties June 15 to 19; and Chef Mark Ellman will host a pre-opening bash for his upcoming Honu restaurant (located next to Mala Ocean Tavern) June 20 as a benefit for Punana Leo O Maui. In addition, Nine, Wine & Dine will tee off at the Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort Villa's Pulehu: an Italian Restaurant on Wednesday. Golf nine holes, sip fine wines and dine on four gourmet courses for $99.
Sweet Paradise Chocolatier just opened in the Wailea Gateway, where Monkeypod Kitchen and Pita Paradise are already making a splash.
It's situated on the ground floor with more than 40 kinds of gourmet truffles and confections and has a focus on tropical fruits, nuts, spices and coffee. The owner is Melanie Boudar, a former jewelry designer, who creates edible gems with her chocolates. We also hear the owner of Who Cut The Cheese in Kihei will open Guava, Gouda and Caviar in Wailea Gateway later this summer.
But the biggest new is Sweet Paradise Chocolatier will be relocating its production kitchen later this summer to the Maui Tropical Plantation in Waikapu, where cacao trees, chocolate tours, tastings and classes to make your own bars and a chocolate museum are all in the works. Move over, Willie Wonka!
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BITS AND PIECES . . . Scholarly types will want to attend Maui County Book Trust's Literary Luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, June 4 in Waikapu at the King Kamehameha Golf Club.
The cost of $75 per person includes a plated lunch from the golf club's Aloha Awakea menu and a program to support the purchase of books for needy Maui children. Local author and artist Jackie Pias Carlin will speak along with National Book Trust's Amy Friedman.
Menu choices include fresh island fish on whole-wheat hoagie, grilled Volcano-spiced chicken on ciabatta or Caesar salads with seared ahi, poached tiger shrimp or grilled breast of chicken. Call 298-1225.
In Lahaina, I'o restaurant at 505 Front St. will offer 50 percent off all entrees all night, every night to kamaaina with valid Hawaii ID.
The hugely popular Restaurant Week Wailea continues through Saturday with 15 top resort restaurants offering three-course feasts for $29, $39 or $49.
* You may reach Dining Editor Carla Tracy at 242-6342; email carlatracy@mauinews.com; or visit her blog, As Maui Dines, for more detailed information and menus on many of these events.
