Chez Paul's Chef Market Sprouts Every Thursday

Preparing meals at home is a time-honored strategy for cutting back on expenses, but it doesn’t necessarily fly in Hawai where grocery prices are shockingly high and imported perishable items often arrive on their last leg.

Locals know their way around this conundrum by shopping at neighborhood farmer’s markets. The European style of shopping (buy fresh only when you need it) is so ubiquitous to Maui there is even a daily veggie/flower/fruit market smack in the middle of Maui’s largest shopping mall, Kaahumanu Center. Unfortunately, Kahului is a long way drive for West side residents with a fancy for salad fixin’s.

A far cry from chain store prices and quality.

Thankfully, restaurateur, Patrick Callarec, of Chez Paul, now hosts a resource for premium produce closer to home at prices everyone can afford. Located just west of the intersection of Lahainaluna Road and Honoapi`ilani Highway in Lahaina (turn makai; it’s in the lot on the south side of the street under a giant mango tree) the mini-stand pops up every Thursday mornings like fresh asparagus in the spring.

Callarec gathers the top of the crop from all over Hawaii and makes it available at a few non-descript tables. Although the selection is limited, everything offered is of excellent quality. This past week I netted fresh-off the farm greens, lychee on stem, beetroot, Roma tomatoes, pure white mushrooms, field corn, and perfectly ripe avocados for $2/lb (as opposed to $3 apiece as is typically charged in the supermarkets.) Soon enough I cheerily toted home a sack of specially selected treasures, having paid only $16 for the lot.

Chez Paul brings quality produce to Market every Thursday.

Word has it that persnickety chefs gather at 7 a.m. to snatch up prime selections for their own establishments. Beat ‘em to the punch and nab something for your kitchen like newborn shitake or oyster mushrooms and tender baby carrots as sweet as guri-guri.

On Saturday night join the Chef at Chez Paul for Jazz Night and enjoy a special pupu and dessert menu or 50% entrees served after 9 p.m.