Side Orders • November 3, 2016

BLOODY MARY MORNINGS . . . A prolific writer who penned over 2,000  songs, Willie Nelson wrote about a Bloody Mary morning as his baby left him without warning sometime in the night. I think even Willie would approve of the burgeoning  Bloody Mary bars on Maui.

Montage Kapalua Bay serves one at its fairly new Sunday Brunch from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. weekly at its signature Cane & Canoe restaurant.

Featuring an enhanced a la carte breakfast  created by Executive Chef David Viviano, Sunday Brunch features smooth live jazz, shrimp 'n' grits, chicken and waffles and a build-your-own Bloody Mary Bar with an assortment of liquor, mixers and all the trimmings to make a most decadent libation. For more details, call 662-6681.

Watch gridiron action on one of several flatscreen TVs, create custom drinks at the Bloody Mary bar and eat breakfast until noon on Sundays at Charley's Restaurant & Saloon in Paia, where Willie most likely played that famous song.

The eggs Benedict come with fresh sauce Bernaise and the Tito's Bloody Mary bar includes up to two slices of bacon and other fixings per drink at the Pint & Cork in The Shops at Wailea. A la carte brunch is now served weekends.

"Our menu is rich, flavorful and diverse," says Managing Partner Scott Pacer.

Pineapple Grill in Kapalua is running with an NFL package on Sundays as well as $6 Bloody Marys and kamaaina can get 20 percent off food.

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TASTE OF ASIAN BLEND . . . Put on your best kimono or hapi coat and get your headbands ready for Taste of Asian Blend on Saturday at King Kamehameha Golf Clubhouse in Waikapu.

And you thought that dressing in costume was over after Halloween and Noble Chef parties have ended. Those who win in this dress-up game get prizes.

In addition, the performers include Asian Blend fronted by Desiree and Shamroks featuring Alan Pascua. Get your boogie shoes shined and ready as saxophone player Todd Yukumoto will fly in from Oahu to perform and guitarist Dave Ray Toma will join the all-star lineup.

"For the first time in our event history, we will also offer 'live' sushi created by international Chef Quinton Yoza, who worked in Japan and other Far Eastern restaurants and recently acquired Lava's on Lower Main Street, which he plans to turn into a cool place to hang out for great food, music, karaoke and sports viewing," says Asian Blend's Mitch Hazama.

The wine sponsor is Glenn Tamura of  Tamura's Fine Wine & Liquors outlets all over Maui; and the food will once again be headlined by well-known Ka'anapali Beach Hotel Executive Chef Tom Muromoto and popular Maui restaurant owner Jennifer Nguyen of A Saigon Cafe.

Muromoto will grill his award-winning Koala lamb chops; Nguyen will do Saigon tofu salad and Asian chicken wings; Yoza will do hamachi and California rolls and pork belly in Chinese buns.

Host chef Eddie Munoz will make prime rib; Patricia Inman of Maui Pasta Co. will boil shiitake mushroom ravioli with sauces;  Ted Kesaji will do garlic shrimp; and Roy Stillwell will bake white-chocolate custard cake. For tickets or tables, call 385-6006 or 276-6645.

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BITS & PIECES . . . Christopher Lederer is the new executive sous chef of Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa's restaurants, including Black Rock Kitchen. Born and raised on Oahu, the chef worked at high-end restaurants in Waikiki before coming to Maui to work alongside Executive Chef Greg Gaspar and Executive Sous Chef Les Barayuga.

"I love to make a personal connection through food by cooking dishes that make people happy -- making the connection is always my focus," says Lederer.

* Got restaurant / dining-event scoop?

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