Mother's Day is fast approaching and there's no better way for seafood lovers to celebrate than with as-fresh-as-it-gets live lobsters and crabs.
"We're the only store on Maui selling live Maine lobsters and live dungeness crabs," says Maui Prime's Will Hawkins, who also is an executive chef, fish cutter and butcher of the highest caliber.
"Sure, Oki's Corner at Foodland Kahului has those little blue crabs, and several Maui restaurants have tanks and prepare it for you. But this is the only place to get live Maine lobster and dungeness crab to take home and cook yourself."
Article Photos
Maui Prime Fine Foods owner Karin Button holds one of the giant dungeness crab legs while chef Will Hawkins hangs onto a live Maine lobster, fresh from the new tank that’s located in the Lahaina store.
The Maui News / CARLA TRACY photo
"In the past, you had to call ahead to place an order," chimes in owner Karin Button. "Now, you can just walk in the door and pick out your favorite crustacean."
Running from Tuesday, May 8 through Saturday, May 12, there will be a Mother's Day special of a one-to-two-pound lobster for $15.
"We'll also do a special combo of steak and lobster," says Button. "Our store hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m."
But how in the heck does one cook a live lobster, anyway?
"My favorite way to cook a live lobster is in hot, salted, boiling water," says Hawkins. "You drop the lobster in and bring the water back to a boil. It varies depending on the size. Then you count to 60 and you are done. You serve it cracked with drawn butter, plenty of newspapers spread on the table with fresh corn and bread."
As for crab, you "put it in a little steam bath for like, eight minutes, and it's done. You gather around a table with newspapers and pull it apart."
Maui Prime also purveys French chablis Grand Cru, 100 percent white Burgundy that is a perfect pairing.
In addition, it sells whole Spanish octopus, the same kind that is all the rage at Honu Seafood and Pizza; whole, fresh, organic Jidori chickens; and flatiron and coulotte cuts of Wagu beef.
For further details, call 661-4912.
