Upcoming Events…
Duke’s Beach House Opening December 21st!
Duke's Beach House at Honua Kai
Guaranteed to set Honua Kai Resort aglow with aloha and holiday spirit, Duke’s Beach House Restaurant opens December 21st for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Owned and operated by Maui-based T S Restaurants – the parent company of eight Hawaii restaurants including Maui’s own Kimo’s, a landmark in Lahaina since 1977 – Duke’s Beach House will provide guests an authentic Hawaiian dining experience and a glimpse into the life of the restaurant’s namesake, Duke Kahanamoku.
“In the tradition of T S Restaurants, guests at Duke’s Beach House will love the restaurant as much for its period-inspired interiors and outdoor dining area, as for its service with aloha and delicious food,” said Bill Terry, T S Restaurants Vice President Hawaii Operations. “Duke Kahanamoku was all about sharing the aloha spirit and our new Maui restaurant will reflect his love for the Hawaiian culture.”
Fresh, locally sourced ingredients will be featured throughout the all day dining menus. ”The cuisine is Hawaiian influenced with a focus on fresh, sustainable seafood and premium steaks,” said Shaughn Helliar, General Manager of Duke’s Beach House. “The team at Duke’s Beach House is looking forward to providing residents and visitors to Maui with the Duke dining experience they know and love from our other locations, enhanced by a locally inspired menu.”
The scale and ambiance of the new open air dining hot spot is more residential in feel than other Duke’s restaurants. The renowned design team, Philpotts and Associates was responsible for the décor which features an extensive collection of Duke Kahanamoku memorabilia, including period photographs, koa outrigger canoes, vintage surfboards and Hawaiiana. WCM can’t wait to check it out!
Ritz Carlton, Kapalua, Wine Dinner, December 9th
Join winemaker Donald Patz of Patz & Hall for a wine tasting- 6pm, Wednesday, Dec. 9th at The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua. $40, 669-6200 for reservations and more information.
Mala Wailea Hosts Wine Dinner- Dec. 17th
Mala Wailea is hosting a Wine Dinner, December 17th featuring Hartford Family Wines from Sonoma. Guests in the Buddha Room will enjoy sunset views while feasting on delicacies specially created to team with the high end, limited production wines. Menu includes miso opakapaka salad with tomato relish and Kula field greens, followed by seared-ahi bruschetta with edamame puree. Guests will then tuck into Masami Farm’s Kobe hanger steak with chimichurri, fingerling potatoes along with roasted hon shimeji and maitake mushrooms. We suspect there will be something red and sweet to sip along side the Pot du Crème dessert. For reservations, call Mala Wailea at 875-9394.
I`o Wine Club – December 18th
This month’s installment of I`o’s Wine Club will feature Wines from the Top 100 Wines of the year from Wine Spectator. Enjoy top notch wines and excellent selection of pupus for only $30/pp. Stop in anytime from 7-9 p.m. during which you are invited to eat and sip to your heart’s delight.
Who Cut the Cheese – December 19th and 20th – Gingerbread Houses!
Maui Wedding Cakes Gingerbread BakeHouse at Who Cut The Cheese:
Mark your calendar for this fun-filled event for the whole family! There will be decorated Gingerbread Cookies & Houses, as well as kits for you to take home. Also available, Christmas cookie platters & gift boxes with a variety of holiday yummies. While you’re there, enter a drawing for a free $50 WCTC gift certificate or a free Lighted Gingerbread House (value $75). Too-tempting truffle samples will also be on hand to every person gets a free 3″ cookie to decorate!! Learning, eating, and prizes…it just doesn’t get much better for a great family outing!
Longboard’s Kaanapali Wine Dinner – December 20
Longboard’s Kaanapali teams up with Longboard’s Vineyard to present a Wine Dinner Sunday, December 20, 6 p.m. Start with Longboard’s Crab Cake Salad — lump crabcake on a bed of greens and mango salsa — paired with Longboard Vineyard’s Russian River Valley, 2007 Sauvignon Blanc. Next, tuck into Surf and Turf – ‘s the real deal with filet mignon and red wine demi glace sharing the plate with blackened Opakapaka dished with Pona Berry Butter accompanied by garlic mashed potatoes. The classic entree is served with a 2003 Syrah. Finish it off with a Pina Colada Tart, a wow-inspiring pastry made with Maui Gold Pineapple, Haupia Ice Cream, Puff Pastry served with a late harvest semillion from 2007. Seating is limited so call 808-269-3758 to make your reservation. $50/pp.
Ritz Carlton Teddy Bear Tea – December 20th
If there is a young one in your life, make plans to attend the Teddy Bear Tea from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 20 in the Ritz-Carlton Ballroom. Presented annually, this signature Ritz activity for children and the adults who love them includes tea (yes and juice and hot chocolate) stories, songs, games and, cookie decorating stations. All the little ones dress up in their holiday finery to play grownup (sort of) for a few hours and greet Santa. It’s truly a treat. Chris the Aloha Bear, Frosty the Snowman and of course, Santa Claus will be on hand. Admission is $25 children, and $40 adults.
For more details, call 669-6200.
On the horizon…
Pete’s Island Pub Slated to Open in Wailea
Always the trend setter, Peter Merriman has captured the latest dining zeitgeist and plans to realize the vision via a “Gastro pub” in Wailea. The newest trend in dining affords pub lovers a casual place to gather for drinks while indulging well-traveled sophisticated palates with gourmet fare.
According to Chef Merriman, “The name will be Pete’s Island Pub and it will be much more casual than Merriman’s Kapalua.” Like Merriman’s other restaurant, the gastro pub will also focus heavily on locally sourced food using the Chef’s famed farm-to-table philosophy. Given there’s a “pub” in the title, you can also expect locally crafted brews. Let’s hope the menu looks something like this gastropub in Berkeley.
Gannon’s Transform Sea Watch
Meanwhile, down south in Wailea the former Sea Watch restaurant is currently closed and undergoing a transformation before it reopens as Gannon’s, according to Bev herself who shared the news with guests gathered at her home Sunday. Her personal abode was part of the Holiday Home Tour, a fundraising event for Planned Parenthood Maui. Ticket sales were boosted considerably by Chef Gannon’s involvement. As if a peek into her glorious kitchen wasn’t enough to stimulate interest, the special brunch menu offered at her upcountry eatery, Hali`maile, really tipped it in for a good cause. Word has it Hali`maile served 250 covers to tour participants and anyone else who caught wind of the rare Sunday opening. At one point business was so brisk, the Chef was called from the Wailea remodeling job to don an apron and flip eggs for the throngs of hungry customers! Sounds like the same story of the day she first opened Hali`imaile…
In case you missed it…
Ritz Carlton Tree Lighting Pulls Out the Stops!
The annual tree lighting at the Ritz Carlton, Kapalua, is the closest thing Maui has to a big city holiday light show. People from all over the island gather that first Friday in December to witness the moment when 250,000 lights are illuminated, signaling the start of the holiday season.
This year the Ritz harnessed the power of digital imagery to create an unrivaled extravaganza. Record crowds gathered for the traditional concert performances, hot chocolate, cider and sweets, compliments of the hotelier. Just prior to sunset, three elves and Santa parachuted from the sky onto the Ritz lawns (one elf went precariously adrift for a moment adding a welcome bit of drama to the proceedings).
Then the real fun began. With the use of special projections and digital imaging equipment, the exterior of the hotel appeared suddenly overrun with Santa’s helpers as they scurried up the side of the buildings, over lanais and into the suites, where it is assumed they left virtual gifts for the inhabitants. Meanwhile on the lawn, Santa listened to the excited keiki’s secret wishes. The lights will be aglow every evening through the holiday season so be sure to stop by and be dazzled.
Iron Chef Crashes Paradise Found Grand Opening!
Paradise Found, the new creperie in Lahaina, hosted their Grand Opening Sunday, December 6th and delighted guests with a visit from Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto. Owners Pat and Bob Loar have also recently announced plans to open a second tapas/wine bar and creperie location in Honokawai Marketplace next to Nachos Grande. Ooh-la-la!
Would you like to have your event included in What’s Cooking Maui’s calendar and wrap-up? Contact WCM at info@whatscookingmaui.com. We’d love to hear from you!
