CATCH IT HERE . . . According to the "Oyster Guide" experts, oysters are like wine and cheese in that they owe much of their flavor to terroir, or specific growing environments. There are more than 200 suitable regions in America.
In Maui stores and restaurants, we're lucky if we can find as many as three varieties of oysters for purchase. But these days, the good news is Maui Prime Fine Foods in Lahaina is shipping in 10 types to slurp.
"We're bringing in East Coast and West Coast oysters," says chef and fish cutter William Hawkins. "I particularly like the Malpeque and the Blue Points, and we also have some from Hurricane Bay, Westport and Well Fleet along with our usual picks."
Article Photos
Maui Prime fish cutter William Hawkins hefts a fresh halibut and owner Karin Button showcases a bag of fresh Blue Point oysters.
The Maui News / CARLA TRACY photo
Maui Prime is under the umbrella of wholesaler Oyster Seafood. Both are at Emerald Plaza industrial area past the Panda Express in Lahaina. Oyster Seafood sells to DUO at the Four Seasons Resort Maui, which offers an incredible raw bar Thursdays to Saturdays. It also sells Ipswich clams and fish such as striped bass and periwinkles to the new Honu on Front Street.
"The more these restaurants buy, the more product we're able to bring in for our Maui Prime customers," says Karin Button, who owns both businesses with her chef husband, Cary Button. "We're also the only retail store in the state of Hawaii to sell the Snake River Farms' Kobe beef as well as its Kurobuta pork."
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BITS AND PIECES . . . Legendary for its gourmet dinners and striking sunsets, Sarento's on the Beach in Kihei just launched breakfasts.
"We just kicked it off Monday and we'll be open every day from 7 to 11 a.m. with complimentary valet parking," says Patricia Blackburn, director of sales and marketing for Sarento's and its sister restaurants, Nick's Fishmarket and Son'z at Swan Court.
Breakfast fare includes Caprese omelets, frittatas, four different styles of eggs Benedict, bananas Foster French toast, loco moco with filet-mignon meatballs and mushroom gravy, and more. Now you may SUP or snorkel after your meal and work off calories.
The Food Network's hugely successful culinary reality series "Food Network Star" is currently casting for its season No. 8.
"We are holding an open casting call in Honolulu on Tuesday, August 30," says Amy Weiser, casting assistant.
"We are looking for people who are full of life, passionate about cooking and knowledgeable about food to meet us in person at our open casting call. It's for any chef, home cook, caterer or culinary enthusiast -who might be interested in becoming the host of his or her own cooking show on the Food Network!"
The time to be on top of your game is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 30 and the spot is the Sheraton Waikiki. Email fns8honolulu@gmail.com.
The promotors behind Taste of Hawaii event in Makena ran into snafus and thus, the food and wine event will not be uncorked Labor Day weekend.
But you take the Expeditions over to the Lanai Slack Key Guitar Festival Aug. 26 and 27 and enjoy food at Four Seasons Resort Lana'i's two hotels.
"It's the perfect opportunity to combine music and cuisine together, an ideal recipe for the arts," says the resort's new Executive Chef Kevin Erving. "I've created a special menu for the event that incorporates local, seasonal ingredients from Lanai and the Neighbor Islands."
From 6 to 9 p.m. Aug. 26, listen to tunes in Manele Bay's Kailani Terrace and order the special two- or three-course dinners at $40 or $45 per person.
From 3 to 9 p.m. in the Great Hall of the Lodge at Koele, listen to slack key legends and savor Hawaiian short rib stew, Kauai shrimp summer rolls and drinks such as the Slack Key Passion.
Little Lanai is jumping these days. We hear "Hawaii Five-0" just filmed outside Richard's Market on Sunday and the community was watching from Dole Park. The annual Lanai Rendezvous fishing tourney is also next weekend, and you will see big catch at the harbor.
Cheeseburger in Paradise is not putting another restaurant on Lahainaluna Road. The logo paper covering the window there is hiding a new storage facility.
