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HAPPY HOURS . . . I popped into Saltimbocca in Maalaea the other day for happy hour with my sister, and we were thrilled with the menu served in the bar and lounge from 4 to 6 p.m. daily.
In fact, now that the holidays are behind us, many are craving deals on meals. I know I’ll be back to pound the $3 turkey-and-pork meatballs; and $6 items such as calamari and prawns combo, floured and deep-fried in spicy tomato sauce; and crisp Caesar salad with white anchovies and housemade dressing.
Plus, you’ve just gotta love the views of the harbor and the ocean from Saltimbocca’s perch.
Another wonderful place to go for happy hour is Tommy Bahama upstairs in The Shops at Wailea. Served from 2 to 5 p.m. daily, happy hour offers discounted drinks and small plates of $6 food from the regular menu.
Chef Maka Kwon excels at the fish tacos with tomato relish, Asian slaw and lime sour cream; the goat cheese with mango salsa and flatbread; and ahi poke with fresh guacamole. The presentations are fun and so is Tommy’s relaxed, life-is-a-beach ambience.
In Kaanapali, Son’z Steak House in the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa is running with happy hour from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. except for holidays.
Formerly called Son’z at Swan Court, the restaurant was pegged the “most romantic” in the world by “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous” back in the day.
Corporate Chef Geno Sarmiento will knock your socks off with his $6 appetizers in the bar. Choose from crispy calamari to filet-mignon skewers to cheese steak egg rolls. For the same price, he also does Kobe beef sliders, taco of the day and flatbread margaritas pizza along with pommes frites with garlic and dusted with porcini and parmesan. Mai tais and Alohatinis flow as do discounted well drinks with Bombay Sapphire, Dewers Scotch, Jack Daniels and beers and house wines.
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BITS AND PIECES . . .Sitting in my idling car while waiting for a safety inspection at Patao’s on Lower Main Street in Wailuku the other day (along with dozens of other drivers), I couldn’t help but notice the sign in front of JB’s Kitchen. Starting this weekend, the popular Korean eatery will serve an all-you-can-eat buffet from 5 to 9 p.m. on the first Sunday of every month. The first buffet at JB’s started off as a fundraiser for server Latasha Liftee’s daughter to raise money for her cheerleading squad.
But it was such a success that owner Sunny Abe will do it once a month. For $25, you get fried chicken, kalbi beef, mandoo, chicken tofu, noodles, rice and, of course, lots of kim chee. Call 244-9616.
The Hyundai Tournament of Champions will tee off Jan. 8 to 12 at the Plantation Course at Kapalua Resort. It’s your chance to get up close and personal to defending champ Zach Johnson and invitees such as Bubba Wilson and Hunter Mahan.
This year, the Hyundai caterer will be Paradise Grill in Kaanapali, and we’ll have more details next week on what it will serve to spectators, says the restaurant’s new general manager, Reid Bellmore.
Former Hyundai caterer CJ Jorgensen of CJ’s Diner in Kaanapali is busy doing a ton of chef-to-go comfort food meals. “We marinate meats in foil pans and provide sauces, condiments and lemons so you can just throw it on the grill. The kits are really popular.”
Wanna go whale watching while dining on the foods of Italy? A Taste of Sardinia sunset cruise aboard Kai Kanani in Makena will depart from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday with pupu by Chris Kulis of Capische? Bradda Dwight will perform live music and wines will flow. Cost is $119 per person. Email captmelissa@kaikanani.com.
5 Palms restaurant in Kihei got into the holiday spirit as usual recently. General Manager Moki Chong Kee invited local lifeguards to pick up a complimentary turkey dinner on Christmas Day. Chef George Gomes Jr. cooked up a storm for lifeguard Jeff Meadows and others representing Kamaole 1, 2 and 3 beaches.