Side Orders • Oct. 9, 2014

October 9, 2014

HONEY, I'M HOME! . . . To borrow a line from Jack Nicholson in "The Shining," well, "I'm back!" I don't mean to scare you, but Halloween is coming right up and then the holidays, and Maui is jumping.So I'll skip talking about my recent vacation and focus on Maui happenings.The Rotary Club of Kihei Sunrise will host a Halloween Costume Dinner Cruise from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, aboard The Four Winds II sailing vessel.Full barbecue dinner, beer, wine and soft drinks costs $65. For tickets, call 264-3468 or buy at www.kiheirotary.org. Space is limited to 120 passengers.October is ...

Side Orders • Sept. 18, 2014

September 18, 2014

EVENTS CALLING YOU . . . Postponed because of hurricane-turned-tropical storm Iselle in early August, Maui Calls is on target for Saturday, Sept. 27, at Maui Arts & Cultural Center in Kahului.As usual, the MACC's signature fundraiser will have lei greeters putting a smile on your face at the front entrance of the annual event as you are serenaded by the Hula Honeys on ukulele and Joel Katz on steel guitar.Sip fine wines from visiting vintners, savor two food items each from top Maui restaurants and listen to Jimmy Mac & the Kool Kats.You may choose the walkabout style of ...

Side Orders • Sept. 11, 2014

September 11, 2014

AROUND THE TOWN . . . Looking for a meal deal of the authentic Italian kind? Matteo's Osteria in Wailea is now offering a lunch special of two courses with a glass of wine for $21."Hands down, my favorite lunch item is our fish sandwich with fennel aioli, arugula and tomato on our yummy house focaccia," says Gianna Mistura, whose husband, Matteo Mistura, is the restaurant's namesake."For wines on our lunch promo, the Falanghina white, among several others, is a great value, and extra delicious with the Ligurian pizza topped with shrimp mascarpone cheese and pesto."You'll also get 50 ...

Side Orders • Sept. 4, 2014

September 4, 2014

FRESH AS IT GETS . . . As many of you readers know, it was a stellar weekend at Ka'anapali Fresh food and wine festival. Shelley Kekuna and her ohana did a bang-up job of putting it all together, and the music was just as enticing as the cuisine. And the wines, such as Joseph Phelps' Insignia and Justin's Isoceles and more, poured by respective famous winemakers, took it all over the top, making it a rare, "pennies from heaven" experience.At the signature event on Saturday night, Best of the Fest winners were chefs Raymond Nicasio of the Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa for his No. 1-rated ...

Side Orders • Aug. 28, 2014

August 28, 2014

COINCIDENCE? . . . "Stressed" spelled backwards is "desserts," so it's no wonder that you feel relaxed when you indulge in Maui Macaroons.Now, you don't have to fret until the farmers market to get a bite, or two. Maui Macaroons and Artisan Market will celebrate its grand opening at 4 p.m. Wednesday on Market Street in Wailuku."Venture into the shop and you will find everything from jams and jellies to books and music by local authors and musicians," says owner Lori Steer.Eat icy-cold Shaka Pops, peruse sea-glass jewelry and colorful caps. Shop for lotions and soaps, and feel the stress ...

Side Orders • Aug. 21, 2014

August 21, 2014

THE PERCS OF THE JOB . . . I spent a pleasant two hours at the Seed to Cup coffee festival on Saturday, and enjoyed the "percs" of my job.Maui-grown coffees were being percolated, run through French-presses and served to attendees on the grounds of Maui Tropical Plantation. The sips were fresh and flavorful and free! I also tried coffee jam; and saw people buying coffee art and even coffee soap.Kimo Falconer of MauiGrown Coffee says he just got back from Ireland with Grand Wailea Managing Director Tom Donovan and their wives and others. I also schmoozed the O'o Farm team. They are not ...