Side Orders • November 24, 2016

TANKS, EH?. . . Still need last-minute reservations for Thanksgiving Day dining  and beyond?

At the King Kamehameha Golf Club in Waikapu, brunch will be swinging famously with Willie K as the headliner on stage with popular Maui blues artist Gretchen Rhodes accompanying him and Kathy Collins as the emcee.

"It's going to be an amazing brunch with rock, blues and Hawaiian music as well as a fabulous traditional Thanksgiving feast," says Anela Gutierrez, director of food and beverage for both KKGC and the Kahili Golf Course. New chef William Aylsworth of KKGC recently has arrived from Four Seasons Resort Lana'i and soon, he will be revamping menus.

In addition, Kahili Restaurant is now on a roll this Saturday as well as Dec. 3 and 10 with HAPA a la carte. Dine at 6 p.m. Show starts at  7:30 p.m. Cost is $35 per person in advance at $40 day of the show. Call Kahili at 866-5025.

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IN MAALAEA . . .Open from 4 to 9 p.m. daily except for holidays like today as well as Sundays, Cafe del Vino in Maalaea is the place to go for classic opakapaka and other tempting Euro fare.

From the crisp hearts of Romaine Caesar to aromatic pasta alla Vongole with plump clams to steamed Kona lobster with drawn butter and lemon, this tiny restaurant at the Maalaea Harbor Shops knocks it out of the park in taste and price.

"Our sunset-dinner specials cost from $22 to $32, depending on the main dish," says legendary Guido Hauwaerts. "You get three courses in all. For dessert, you may choose tiramisu, apple tarte tatin, spumone ice cream or Coupe Maison."

Nearby at Maui Ocean Center, Seascape Ma'alaea restaurant is open from 5 to 9 p.m.  Saturdays and Sundays with live music on  Sundays with Kaulike Pescaia. This is over and above its daily lunches.

"He sings along the lines of the Cazimero Brothers or Keali'i Reichel," says Food & Beverage Director James Morrison. "He's a 2014 Brownbags to Stardom Best Male Vocalist winner."

Seascape Ma'alaea will also be open for dinner during the Holiday Shopping & Charity Event from 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 1  along with the rest of Maui Ocean Center. Actors by Maui OnStage's "Mary Poppins" and band members from King Kekaulike will perform and you may take photos with Santa Claus, dine and shop -- all for a good cause.

"Enjoy a fun-filled evening at the Maui Ocean Center to benefit Maui nonprofits,"  says Evan Pascual, marketing and public relations coordinator. "Admission is $5 for  a two-can food donation to Maui Food Bank or $7 full price."

Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar with locations in Kihei and Kapalua has been cited as one of the 50 best sushi bars in America in 2016. The list is published on www.msn.com.

"We're obviously humbled and very proud to be included with such amazing sushi bars all across America," says owner D.K. Kodama.

Meanwhile at Maui Mall, Genki Sushi will reopen Dec. 2 after a renovation with a new double rail delivery system and touch screen ordering.

Now through Wednesday, you may sip Frog's Leap wines with a specially prepared multi-course feast at the Plantation House Kapalua. Call 669-6299.

Mulligans On The Blue's 14th annual Charity Golf Tournament benefiting Hale Kau Kau tees off Saturday and there is still room for more players. "If you are not able to play with us this year, Hale Kau Kau will kindly, gratefully accept any generous donations you may offer," says Mulligans' owner Mike O'Dwyer.

It's a time for giving to noble nonprofits and for being thankful -- for guys like Maui's own Sheldon Simeon, who returns to "Top Chef" season 14 on Dec. 1 to represent our island. Go, Sheldon! Read all about it in the Sunday Pau Hana section. In the meantime, have a happy Thanksgiving.

* Got restaurant / dining-event scoop?

Call Dining Editor Carla Tracy at 242-6342; or email carlatracy@mauinews.com.