Side Orders • January 5, 2017

AROUND TOWN . . . With prime rib, turkey and mashed potatoes all threatening to hang like saddlebags on our hips, it's time to buck off the old with healthful resolutions in the New Year.

"Diabetes, Pain and Cancer: Get Your Health Back in 10 Days" will be the talk by Terry Shintani, MD, at 7 p.m. Jan. 12 at the Kaunoa Senior Center in Spreckelsville. The event is presented by the Vegetarian Society of Maui with food by Down to Earth. For more details on the free talk and tasting, call 385-2790.

All of the Jamba Juice outlets on Maui are offering two medium smoothies for $10 now through Jan. 17. They're full of fruit to keep you energized.

The New Year's Eve event benefiting Maui Food Bank and Maui Arts & Cultural Center at the newly named Wailea Beach Resort - Marriott, Maui also saw the likes of actor-comic Jim Carrey and "Wonder Woman" Lynda Carter jump on stage to perform with rock legends.

For the third straight year, Major League Baseball all-star Kurt Suzuki returns home to Maui to host events. The food-related one is Jan. 15 with James Beard Award-winning chef Alan Wong.

Setting the stage is Four Seasons Resort Maui in Wailea with current "Top Chef" contestant Sheldon Simeon, Andaz Maui  Chef Isaac Bancaco, Spago Chef Cameron Lewark and Four Seasons Executive Chef Craig Dryhurst. Maui band Ekolu will be performing and Kanoa Leahey will return as emcee. All proceeds will benefit medical and other Hawaii nonprofits. For tickets, call (310) 525-3755.

Those heading off to be spectators at the Tournament of Champions in Kapalua now through Sunday will find Plantation House at the center of the action for pass holders daytime and for everyone in the evenings. Chef Jojo Vasquez has made a three-course feast in addition to the regular menu for $49: Options are braised beef short rib on creamy polenta, duck confit a l'orange, Hawaiian fish, ahi poke tacos and more.

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IN WITH THE NEW . . .  Maui  was  blessed with a plethora of new restaurants last year -- all to the delight of diners around the island.

Auntie's Kitchen is dishing up comfort food at Westin Ka'anapali Ocean Resort Villas. Sale Pepe Italian eatery in Lahaina has recently expanded with its A Fianco, which is now open for lunch.

Shearwater Tavern is flying high in part of the old Stella Blues at Azeka Mauka in Kihei (nearby the new Fork & Salad). It's  DK Kodama's eighth establishment in his restaurant group. . . Taverna in Kapalua and The Mill House in Waikapu celebrated  openings as did other 2016 new hot spots  Cafe del Vino and Tin Roof.

Wailea Kitchen & Tap is beginning to jump in the old Joe's in Wailea with "a view to dine for," a fun bar scene and food such as wings, housemade hummus, classic red Texas chili with no beans and wedge salads with blue cheese dressing. . . Luana at the Fairmont Kea Lani morphed into a new, "reimagined lounge."

MauiWine relaunched its Old Jail as a tasting room in Ulupalakua. Four Seasons Resort Lana'i reopened after an extensive renovation along with One Forty and Nobu among others. In the Maui Mall earlier last year, Max's brought a taste of Manila with its famous chicken.

The Farmacy health food eatery keeps expanding and so does Tamura's with its latest location in Kihei. Of course, there are many others out there.

Closing in 2016 were the new Pangea and the longtime Lynn's Cafe in Haiku, and familiar Lahaina establishments such as Lulu's Lahaina Surf Club & Grill in the Lahaina Cannery Mall, coffee and tobacco store Sir Wilfred's and Hard Rock Cafe, both on Front Street. Up in smoke were two restaurants. Three's Bar & Grill in Kihei has reopened, while we're still waiting on Oceanside in Maalaea.

* Got restaurant / dining-event scoop?

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