Issue #2
Stella Blues – Jacques – Los Pelones – Lulu’s

Highlight of the Week
Los Pelones
-Lahaina Cannery

Those of you saddened over the departure of Compadres in the Cannery Mall, take heart. The Mexican eatery is operating full force under a new name with direction by former Compadres GM, Steve Austin. I visited Los Pelones for breakfast last weekend and found a soul-satisfying array of morning menu delights fit for a honed palate and tight pocketbook. I chose the Texas style belt-buster, a heaping platter of perfectly crisp tortillas layered between carnitas, beans, eggs, melted cheese with a few contrasting artery-cleansing items like avocado and tomatillo sauce thrown in for good measure. Given that you won’t need to eat again until Sunday, at $12.95 the dish really hits the sweet spot for any budget gourmet.

When you want to stay lighter on your feet, or a post-binge nap is not in the cards, Los Pelones offers the following specials:

• Happy Hour: Daily 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., $3 Mexican (bottled) beers and $3 house margaritas
• Monday Night Football: $1 beer dogs and beer specials
• Taco Tuesdays and Thursdays: $1 beef and chicken tacos, $3 Coronas and house
margaritas, live music
• Salsa Saturdays: $7 cover, drink specials and live music or salsa DJ
• Kids eat FREE

ONO DEALS

• Breakfast is 20% off Monday – Friday from 7:30am – 8:30am
• Dinner is 20% everyday from 5pm – 6pm.
  
• Download the coupon

Jacques (Pa’ia)
There’s nothing bad about Mac Nut Crusted Mahi, but sometimes you gotta mix it up. Jacques famously eclectic menu is just the place to start.  With pasta, seafood, curries, sushi and more, Jacques is the best North Shore destination for the nights when Mama’s is not in the budget. For an extra-kind wallet experience:

• 50% off sushi rolls Tuesday – Saturday from 5pm – 6pm.
• Happy hour from 5 – 6:30pm where $3 draft beers and $5 margaritas are the name of the game.

Lulu’s – Lahaina
Remember the first time you tasted alcohol? The first sip at age twelve seems ghastly and then, wonder of wonders, you find yourself enjoying the shocking potion as you come of age.

So it was when I tried Lulu’s Hawaiian Superman cocktail. The potent concoction of Hawaiian Chili water and gin comes with a word of caution printed on the menu. But you’re a he-man, you like it hot, so you ignore the warning and order the drink along with Calamari Dynamite and a kalua pork quesadillas. You settle back under the glow of the tiki torch, take your first sip, and suddenly wonder who in the world came up with the idea of hot Hawaiian chili water as a cocktail! Not to be wasteful, you take another sip and before the meal is over, you’re snagged. The adrenaline and dopamine release from that first hit lingers long after in the reptilian area of your brain. Next time out, you’ll order it again.

In case you aren’t up for fire-breathing, Lulu’s presents a slew of other ingenious tropical drinks. You’ll find clever touches like Li Hing Mui rimming the margarita, a dash of chili water in the luscious Cane Fire concoction, and mai tais topped with sea foam, served in a Maui Gold pineapple shell.

At their new location in Lahaina’s Cannery Mall, the only difficulty you’ll encounter at Lulu’s is distilling their extensive Hawaii-centric menu. Select pupus include Ahi and Tahitian Poke, Bo Diddley Squidley,  Marlin Macho Nachos, shuckers, shooters and sliders – all under $10. The Maui Wowie salad with fresh rock shrimp, grilled avocado and feta was nearly as satisfying as my companion’s award winning burger at $9.95. My favorite dish of the evening was the grilled steak pupu with carmelized Maui onions and peppers – hot, sweet, mouth-watering and cooked to perfection.

I don’t easily fall for dining gimmicks or touristy menus, but Lulu’s had me hooked with the first encounter. I can’t wait to return and eventually try everything on the menu.

Lulu’s Has Deals!

5-6 p.m. 50% off all food!

Monday’s are Service Industry Night – show an I.D. and get 50% your entire bill.