AROUND THE TOWN . . . Tradewinds Poolside Cafe and Spices at Maui Coast Hotel in Kihei have closed. But the good news is, the hotel's General Manager David Frazier is keeping food on the front burner by opening his own restaurant.
"We've opened as Kamaole Poolside Cafe LLC and we are serving breakfast, lunch and dinner to keep our three-star rating," he says.
"Me and my team of crack culinarians are doing a very informal setup with breakfast from 7 to 11 am.; and an all-day menu from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. "
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Dip thick slices of blackened ahi into shoyu at Duke’s Beach House oceanfront at Honua Kai Beach Resort Friday, when Henry Kapono will do a free performance.
Photo courtesy Duke’s Beach House
"But Rome wasn't built in a day. We're just doing soups, burgers, salads and normal fare. We hope that in a few weeks, it will be the nicest poolside cafe on the island. And we have a lineup of music, to boot."
Speaking of musicians, Mick Fleetwood (Art in View) is back in town after cutting a new album with Fleetwood Mac in L.A. and playing on Stevie Nick's solo CD. We hear he's getting set to open his Lahaina restaurant, Fleetwood's on Front Street, hopefully by mid-June.
Henry Kapono flies in from Oahu to perform on the last Friday of each month at Duke's Beach House in Kaanapali from 5 to 7 p.m.
"A lot of people like to get there early to get a seat and enjoy aloha hour specials from 3 to 5 p.m.," says Marketing Manager K.C. Hendrickson. "The show is complimentary, and fun pupu include panko-crusted calamari, blackened sashimi and crab-and-mac-nut won tons. We also serve aloha hour drink specials $4 draft beers, and $5 mai tais and Duke's lemonade."
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BITS AND PIECES . . . He's been featured on the cover of countless romance novels; now Fabio will appear at Whole Foods Market Kahului from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in a meet-and-greet scenario.
The Italian fashion model, actor and author will pitch his Healthy Planet Whey Protein Power and you may meet him and taste the product. In addition, if you donate $5 to the Hawaii Animal Rescue Foundation, he'll pose for a picture with you.
The Paia Fourth Friday party will be in the groove this week from 6 to 9 p.m.
"Sure, we're a week late, but our town is the place to be to dance, eat, shop and play in the name of all that is green and good. Bring your family and friends to the north shore for an unforgettable night celebrating Earth Day," says publicist Donna Yanos.
As for food, the Hemp House will dish up a free tasting of hemp brownies (not spiked!)," she continues. "Mana Foods will serve Wet Fire Hot Sauce and Rugged Nuggets food samples by Rudy's OG Wet Fire Hot Sauce, 5 to 8:30 p.m.; 100 percent profits will go to the SAM Sustainable Agriculture Movement."
Head up Baldwin Avenue to Paia's Fresh Mint, where you'll find vegetarian entrees of the Thai and Vietnamese kind. This restaurant is perfect for people who want to make the transition to eating healthier products as it offers mock meats out of soy products.
Dig into golden soy "chicken," vegetarian black pepper "steak," pan-fried noodles and more.
Starting at 5 p.m. Mondays, Lilikoi Grill & Wine Bar in Haiku is pouring $5 margaritas In addition, its full dinner menu is now being served seven days a week.
Just Wing It, the new chicken eatery at Piilani Shopping Center in Kihei, is giving out an award to two students at St. Anthony High School.
Senior Kelley Donaghey and Sophomore Jade Boren created the Chicken tip Jar, inspiring Just Wing It partner Michael Capuano to give a percentage of the gross sales every Monday to St. Anthony's art class. It's kind of like how Flatbread Pizza Co., in Paia does regular fundraisers for various nonprofits Tuesdays.
Bob Jones, a retiree of The Maui News from waaay back when, called me to rave about the $5.95 breakfasts served at Marco's Grill & Deli in Kahului.
"You get two eggs, toast and breakfast potatoes," Jones says "It's served from 7:30 to noon weekdays and until 1 p.m. weekends. We like to sit on the bar side around 9 a.m. because it's kind of quiet."
Pita Paradise in Wailea just added a Greek burger that's a mixture of beef and lamb in a pita, served with onions, spices, garlic and fresh dill, tomatoes, lettuce and scallionaise with roasted red peppers on the side," says owner Christine Arabatzis.
Stella Blues Cafe in Kihei will be jumping with HAPA Saturday at its supper club. The four-course menu includes arugula and baby spinach salad, fun appetizer pinwheels, fish with tropical beurre blanc or chicken with garlic mashed potatoes, and apple Foster a la mode.
Got restaurant / dining event scoop? Call Dining Editor Carla Tracy at 242-6342; or email carlatracy@mauinews.com.
