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IMPROVISATIONAL Want to enjoy a little jazz with, say, tater tots tossed in gorgonzola cheese, bacon and truffle oil? Listen to sexy saxophone while you munch on ahi poke tacos and sip sparkling pomegranate punch with fun liqueurs? Then come to ‘Ami ‘Ami Bar & Grill at Maui Coast Hotel in Kihei from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday for live jazz in its Plumeria Room.
“Join us for a night of jazz with Mel Martin, composer, arranger, saxophonist, flute player and one of San Francisco’s most creative and versatile musicians, who will perform with Maui’s own Benoit Jazzworks,” says Claire Pastula Byler, catering and events manager for Cafe O’Lei restaurants that manages ‘Ami ‘Ami.
Cover charge is $15 per person, and cocktails, pupu and dinner are available. Be seated between 5 and 6 p.m. and dine on the three-course pre-set feast of Caesar salad with organic kale and Romaine; mac-nut-crusted mahimahi in yuzu butter with pineapple relish and steamed rice; and chef’s dessert. The Green Fairy Experience cocktail with Absinthe is all the rage, too. Call 875-7522.
Musical chairs is happening among Maui chefs these days. The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua’s longtime executive chef, John Zaner, has moved on to Houston. Former Pulehu: An Italian Grill at Westin Ka’anapali Ocean Resort Villas Chef de Cuisine Wes Holder is now at Roy’s Kaanapali. Former Roy’s Chef Joey Macadangdang is apparently setting up an eatery at Whalers Village.
Wine lovers should note the date for Maui Calls has been changed to Aug. 14. It’s the Maui Arts & Cultural Center’s signature fundraiser. . . . and did you hear? There ain’t no mountain high enough to keep Diana Ross away from a concert at the MACC on June 14.
BITS AND PIECES With all of that rain pouring down on us in recent weeks, a satisfying bowl of soup was a good way to warm the soul.
Of note is the Maui Culinary Academy’s new Ramen X noodle soup bar that serves innovative, extruded creations in several combos. The old ramen bar has basically been moved across the food court and rebranded. You’ll still find sushi chef and ace ramen maker Jimmy Yanigida doing his magic.
Noodles are made fresh daily, extruded or forced through a pasta machine. Flavors include kale-and-flax-seed ramen, chive-and-sea-salt ramen, toasted-rye ramen, black squid-ink ramen and whole winter wheat.
“We have four different broths,” says Yanigida, “and one of our combos includes ramen noodles with housemade char siu, boiled egg, kamaboko, bean sprouts, bamboo shoots and green onions.” Ramen X is open weekdays for lunch only. In addition, MCA students were asked to give back to their high schools by performing for up-and-coming chef wannabes.
“We did a demo and presentation in front of Maui High School sophomores and seniors,” says first-year MCA chef-student Sharmaine Bartolome.
Born-and-raised Maui girl Kristy Apana, who now lives in Southern California and her husband, Greg Bashant, have been featured on TV recently. That’s because their restaurant, Kristy’s Wood Oven & Wine Bar, that overlooks Zuma Beach in Malibu aired as part of the “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” on Sunday and on “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” recently. Bruce Jenner and sons were shown eating at Kristy’s.
Want to sip some beer? Bring your thirst to Japengo at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa in Kaanapali from 5 to 7:30 p.m. today to enjoy $5 pints of craft beers paired with unique pupu, live music and more. For more details, call 667-4727.
The recent Grow Some Good benefit at Hotel Wailea raised more than $54,000 in ticket sales and auction item donations.