Kicking up its heels with the biggest St. Patrick's Day celebration on the island - as usual -will be Mulligan's on the Blue in Wailea.
Other restaurants in Central and Upcountry Maui will feature theme buffets and specials on Saturday as well.
"The most fun thing about this St. Paddy's day is that we will be 'Sharing The Green' with our third annual golf tournament at 7 a.m. in support of Hospice and Backpack Buddies of Kamalii School," says Mulligan's owner Mike O'Dwyer.
Article Photos
Mulligan’s on the Blue bartenders Celeste Gemberling, laughing at left, and Jenn Perez serve up heaps of Guinness on tap as well as a slew of green bottled beers at last year’s St. Patrick’s Day celebration in the popular Wailea restaurant.
SEAN MICHAEL HOWER photo
Then a full Irish food buffet will be dished up from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and we hear Mulligan's chefs have been cooking 48 sides of beef for corned beef and cabbage, and mixing up barrels of Irish stew as well as frying an ocean of catch for the fish 'n' chips to be crunchy and hot.
Other highlights are potato-and-leek soup, Emerald salad and Molly Malone's bread pudding. Guinness will flow.
"Maui's newest Irish band, Celtic Hart, starts at noon led by Roger McKinley and special guest Shelly Connolly from Portland, on banjo and fiddle," says O'Dwyer, who hails from Tipperary, Ireland.
Fact Box
Mulligan's at a glance:
* Irish lunch buffet: From 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Cost is $25 per person.
* Outdoor food tent: From 2:30 to 9 p.m. at $15 a plate. Just want to hear music and drink? There's a cover charge after 4 p.m.
* Dinner buffet: Seating is from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. The cost of $50 per person includes admission, buffet and table and chair for the evening of live music.
* Call Mulligan's: 874-1131.
"It's on a Saturday so bring the keiki. We'll have Irish dance lessons with Eileen, face painting and much more. For the rest of the entertainment lineup, we have The Celtic Tigers, world champion piper Jack Lee and Isle of Maui Pipe Band with Maui's newest band, The Free Radikals Project, closing out the night."
Dinner will be served from 3:30 to 8 p.m. with the above-mentioned Irish dishes as well as shepherd's pie, Colcannon mashed potatoes, Granny's homemade apple pie and more. Or head to the food tent for just a plate starting at 2:30 p.m.
"As we say in Gaelic, 'Slainte: To Your Health,' " says O'Dwyer.
At the StopWatch Sports Bar & Grill in Makawao, you may come in for the annual corned beef and cabbage specials with all of the fixings anytime Saturday from 11 a.m. until it runs out.
"We'll also serve Rueben sandwiches at special prices and offer Irish whiskies and Guinness beers," says StopWatch partner Haru Hiu-Arian. Call 572-1380.
There will be a pot o' gold, so to speak, at the end of the Rainbow Dining Room in Maui Beach Hotel in Kahului from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday.
That's because its all-you-can-eat buffet will be upgraded with St. Patrick's day food favorites such as corned beef and cabbage and Irish desserts.
Begin at the salad bar with fresh greens, grape tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, red onions and dressings. Then pile on macaroni-potato salad, chicken long rice and more from their local repertoire.
Sink your teeth into Maui Beach Hotel's famous prime rib with au jus sliced to order by the chefs along with other hot entrees such as fried noodles, shrimp and vegetable tempura, baked salmon, sweet and sour spare ribs, steamed rice and sauteed mixed fresh vegetables.
Japanese favorites are California roll and maki sushi along with miso soup with your choice of toppings.
Besides Irish cakes, desserts include fresh fruit and frozen yogurt; and you may sip as much iced tea as you'd like. Cost is $29.95 adults, and $15 for children 6 to 11 years of age (plus tax). Reservations recommended. Call 877-0051.
Cary & Eddie's Hideaway on Kahului Harbor will serve its regular dinner buffet with the addition of entrees such as corned beef and cabbage, hearty Irish beef stew and mashed potatoes for revelers.
The dinner buffet is up and running from 4:30 p.m. Other Hideaway staples include barbecue baby-back ribs, baked ranch-style ono, paniolo baked beans, beanless chili, corn chowder and salad island, soft drinks, tea and coffee. Cost is $22,99 for adults, and $11.99 for keiki younger than 10. Call 276-4703.
Maui Ocean Center's Seascape Maalaea Restaurant will offer Irish lunch specials from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday. Enjoy corned beef and cabbage, Irish cream parfaits and little leprechaun smoothies. Admission and reservations not required, but you may want to pay extra for Green Day activities of the eco kind inside the center.
