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CHEERS TO 20 YEARS . . . One of Maui’s most popular restaurateurs is celebrating 20 years in business in 2015. Jennifer Nguyen is also the reigning queen of the Mayor’s Small Business Awards for her size company of 10 or more employees, and that is the Best Ethnic Restaurant on Maui: A Saigon Cafe in Wailuku.
“In celebration, tonight we’ll do a Ca’ Momi wine tasting, she says. “We do something every month in the restaurant, always around the fifth. We’ll be pairing light pupu with the five wines, like French baguettes, cheeses and Vietnamese appetizers. Cost is $40.
Nguyen just got back from a whirlwind restaurant tasting in San Francisco and Napa Valley wine region. “I brought back a Ca’ Momi cab reserve just for the event. I want to thank all of my loyal friends and customers and staff. It’s like one big happy family.”
A Saigon Cafe will also breathe fire into Wailuku at 5 p.m. Feb. 19 for Chinese New Year with lion dancers, a food special and more.
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MORE TO UNCORK . . . Sip sauvignon blanc from the Loire Valley and petit chablis from Chablis at the French Wine Dinner at 6 p.m. Friday in Capische? at the Hotel Wailea.
Flying in for the affair will be Suzanne Chambers of Chambers & Chambers wine merchants and her husband, Larry Turley of Turley Cellars.
Chef-owner Brian Etheredge will make fresh kampachi carpaccio, crispy opakapaka with Meyer lemon, lamb and mushroom ragu, braised veal, and panna cotta – and wines from Provence to Ventoux will flow. The cost is $99 per person. Call 879-2224.
At Makena Beach & Golf Resort, wines from some of California’s finest properties will be explored Saturday at a pairing dinner. Sip from Napa Valley’s Far Niente, Nickel & Nickel and Dolce, along with EnRoute from Russian River Valley. Courses range from hamachi and Hokkaido scallop sashimi to filet mignon and crab Oscar. Cost is $130. Due to popular demand, Makena’s RARE sushi bar will roll out Tuesdays to Saturdays until late March. Call the resort at 875-5888.
BITS AND PIECES . . . On Super Bowl Sunday, the folks at Takamiya Market cooked up a 4-pound burger from their famous mix and passed out pieces to curious spectators. They also dished up free sliders for customers. Now, that’s the aloha spirit.
The Rotary Club of Wailuku will be snapping as usual with its annual Lobster Fest from 1 to 4 p.m. at Maui Arts & Cultural Center. The casual affair will feature live music, cold drinks at the cash bar and fresh lobster. Proceeds will benefit Rotary projects. Cost is $100 per person. For tickets, call 242-7469.
Bistro Casanova in Kahului went through a renovation recently in the private, 50-seat Alelele Room. Now there’s an original artwork of a beautiful waterfall in Kipahulu by Piero Resta; and a real waterfall/fountain by Bruce Ficke of Hawaiian Island Fountains.
Alelele will be open to the public when not booked for private functions. In the main dining area, a large section has been changed into a lounge area, with low couches and low tables, to accommodate the ever-growing happy hour crowd and after-the-show martini sippers, according to owner Giovanni Steven Cappelli.
Wish Bob Marley a happy birthday at Charley’s in Paia Friday. Celebrating Mr. “Red, Red Wine’s” life and music will be Marty Dread, Kanoa, Nara Boone, the Kryptones and special guest DJ Boomshot. The new smokehouse menu will be, well, smokin’ hot.
The Mill House will present its second dinner show with the HAPA duo of Barry Flanagan and Ron Kuala’au on Saturday. Come early to check out the transformation of this Waikapu tourist attraction and enjoy lavish pupu and dinner by Chef Marc McDowell.