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AROUND THE TOWN . . . Formerly at the Maui Tropical Plantation in Waikapu, veteran Maui Executive Chef Marc McDowell has moved on up to greener, cooler pastures at the Kula Lodge.
“We’re going to rock the house,” says McDowell about his career move. “Owner Fred Romanchak’s a great guy. But I’m changing all of the food to make everything from scratch. Same thing I did at Makena, and before that how we did it at the Ritz. Kula Lodge has beautiful grounds with tons of stuff growing and we’ll be planting more. Lots and lots of good stuff.”
McDowell continues, “We’ve got a great team up here already. But we need some more bodies to motor through all of these made-from-scratch specifications. We plan to roll out new menus shortly. We have that beautiful pizza oven outdoors. I’ll be doing happy-hour menus with tapas and pupu. Sip a beer and check out in the incredible views from Haleakala.”
Speaking of beer, the seventh annual Maui Brewers Festival will be a heady experience on May 16 at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center in Kahului. So far, 37 breweries have lined up with a wide variety of ales, and 26 island restaurants and caterers will cook.
Some fun beer names include Sabre-Toothed Squirrel by Smog City Brewing; Cherry Bomb by Julian Hard Cider; and Modus Hoperandi IPA by SKA. Bands such as the Free Radicals Projekt will get you dancing and there will be brew-based door prizes.
A couple of new food trucks are enticing hungry diners in West Maui. Ula Ula food truck is generally parked at the corner of Wainee and Lahainaluna roads serving Mexican foods by Nacho Perez. It’s the old Starstruck food truck and Perez still works for the parent company, Na Hoaloha Ekolu, as one of the chefs at Old Lahaina Lu’au.
Perez’s daughter Yazi Perez parks her Yazi’s food truck near Maria Lanikila, serving gyros and bentos. She also works for Na Hoaloha company in its bake shop. Check out the trucks, they’re awesome.
The South Shore Tiki Lounge is shaking things up with some new drinks. “We have some new fun cocktails at the bar, including the Tic-Tac Tiki, the Green Flash and our version of the Bahama Mama, which we call The Maui Mama,” says owner Alma Tassi. “We also have new T-shirts at the bar and some fun stuff planned for the summer, so stay tuned!”
Ruth’s Chris Steak House in Wailea will be sizzlin’ with the Caymus wine dinner at 6:30 p.m. tonight and the price is $125 per person. “Seating is very limited,” says the restaurant’s Kennan Randolph.
Who knows Juvenal Hidalgo? He was the stylist with the mostest at the Fairmont Kea Lani, Maui for years. From 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Juvenal Hair Salon will celebrate its grand opening next to Manoli’s in Wailea. Providing the food will be Manoli’s, An Absolut Affair Catering and Mala Ocean Tavern.
In charge of the Latin sounds will be Sal Godinez and Kimokea Kapahulehua will perform the blessing, hula dancers will sway and salon gifts will be given out. Come and enjoy the food and fun.
Makena Beach & Golf Resort will present the Laird Family Wines dinner at 6:30 p.m. Saturday with foods such as Kauai prawns, escabeche of island snapper, spring lamb rack chops, Moulard duck and Kurobuta pork all by Chef de Cuisine Kurt Lesmerises.
Construction is still ongoing at Joe’s Nuevo Latino in Wailea, targeted to open after Cinco de Mayo. The menu will spotlight Peruvian ceviches, Argentinian beef, Puerto Rican pasteles, Ecuadorian corn cakes, Cubano pork shank, Oaxacan mole and more. Chef de Cuisine Gary Johnson is an up-and-coming talent.