It’s all in good fun and, as always, the fun is served with great food and drinks to benefit Women Helping Women.

Disco Divas Dance and More

Aipono Award Wine Dinners are always excellent affairs. Best yet, the proceeds benefit Maui Culinary Academy programs where many of Maui’s fine food professionals first cut their chops. Literally!

Gerard's Lahaina

This month’s wine dinner presents the best of France paired with the best of California—on Maui! Join celebrated Chef Gerard Reversade and Better Brands wine experts for an inspired marriage of classic French cuisine and Sonoma County wine.

~First Course~

Duck Rillettes with Foie Gras
Country French bread
Arrowood, Chardonnay, 2007

~Second Course~

Seafood Bouchee
Shrimp, scallops, Hamakua mushrooms, Nantua sauce
Windsor, Sauvignon Blanc, 2007

~Third Course~

Braised stuffed Veal Loin
Creamy beets, sorrel au jus, Gruyere risotto
Hartford, “Land’s Edge” Pinot Noir, 2006

~Fourth Course~

Macadamia chocolate cake
Pistachio creme anglaise
Iron Horse, Wedding Cuvee, 2005

$95 per person, plus tax and gratuity.

Seating is limited and reservations are required.
(808) 661-8939
Click here to visit the Gerard’s Restaurant website

Maui Brewer Fest May 15

The Second Annual Maui Brewer’s Festival is being held May 15th at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center event lawn on May 15th from 3-7 p.m. The Festival showcases the greatest hand-crafted beers made in Hawaii and elsewhere.

Hosted by the Maui Brewing Company (our favorite local brewer) and the MACC, participants will be invited to taste beers from 30 different makers along with pupu samplings from various island restaurants. There will also be live musical entertainment by local talent and fun prize giveaways because after you’ve had a few brews you know you will do anything for that logo cap.
Tickets: $45 / General admission package includes micro-brews and imports, island-style dishes and parking.

If you like beer but have graduated from the bleacher seats, a $75 Happy Hour connoisseur package which includes reserved parking, early entry at 2 pm, beer with the brew masters and representatives, and a logo gift in addition to general admission may be your ticket.

Pineapple Grill Hale Makua Event

Winning Dish

Ah, the Maui onion – as different from average onions as Maui Gold Pineapple is from … other pineapple, and hence, deserving of its own festival:

Purported to be the sweetest onions in the whole wide world, these glorious bulbs are the star of Maui’s annual festival. The Maui Onion Festival has been a signature event at Whalers Village since 1990. It’s dedicated to the cultivation and promotion of the world-famous Maui Kula Onion and is attended by thousands of visitors and residents every year.

Receive a free Maui Onion Festival canvas bag when you spend $150 or more.

To sell your unique onion product (click here)

For information, contact Whalers Village at 808-661-4567 or email info@whalersvillage.com

Friday, April 30

Saturday, May 1
Center Stage

Beach Lawn Stage

Onion Festival Poster

Raw Foods First Course

Drawing from a rising popularity in the raw and living foods diet, the University of Hawaii Maui College’s Maui Culinary Academy (MCA) has teamed up with renowned local raw food chef and author Jeremy Safron to create an all raw, five-course, gourmet dinner for it’s annual Le Grinds fundraising event. The event will take place on Friday, April 30^th at 6pm and will feature organic and biodynamic wines pared with dishes such as Haleakala Sunset Salsa with Crater Chips, Coconut Caravan Soup, and Cajun Nofu with Hemp Rice and Marinated Vegetables.

Tickets are available to the public for $40 a person or $20 for UHMC students, faculty, and staff.   With a career spanning well over a decade, Jeremy is a renowned expert in the creation of raw foods and dietary health. As the author of numerous books including The Raw Truth, The Fasting Handbook, and The Raw Foods Resource Guide, Jeremy has been interviewed in numerous media outlets and is highly sought after workshop leader.   Jeremy is also the former owner of The Raw Experience, Maui’s first raw food restaurant in Paia, where his artistic vision and relentless exploration of taste allowed him to pioneer many of the concepts and dishes that are common in raw eateries today. He has also developed some of the most successful raw food products on the market including Powerwraps and Rawmesean.

Prior to the event, Jeremy will be working with MCA students in Chef Jake Belmonte’s class, teaching them not only how to prepare raw foods but also about their nutrition and the importance of using local ingredients. Many of the students in the class stated they had heard about raw cuisine but none had any experience in its preparation. MCA was able to partner with Whole Foods Market, who will provide many of the the local ingredients used in each dish.

MCA Instructor Chef Jake Belmonte states, “Le Grinds is an event that focuses on introducing fresh ideas to food enthusiasts at a very reasonable price. It’s all about enjoying what the ‘aina’ has to offer and preparing it to its full potential. I am just ecstatic to be a part of this gig and able to showcase what’s hot in the culinary world.”   MCA Director Chris Speere states, “Our mission as a Culinary Academy is to expose our students to food preparation styles that support America’s growing trend toward more conscious eating habits. Were finding that alternative dining, such as; raw, vegan, vegetarian, and organic can be delicious and satisfying to the palette. We are extremely pleased to have Chef Jeremy Safron in our MCA kitchen to educate our students in the intricacies of Raw Cuisine and its benefits for better health and vibrant living.”

Maesyn

The event will also feature live music by singer, songwriter, and violinist Maesyn. Classically trained on violin since the age of 4, Maesyn composes all of her own orchestration, and thrives on improvisation. She fronts her own band, and also has performed on stage for thousands with artists such as Matisyahu. She spent a year fronting the conscious hip-hop band, The Luminaries.   Seating is limited so make your reservations early by contacting Tiffany Ida at 984-3434. MCA is only able to accept cash or checks and payment will be collected at the door. Student produced culinary specialty products and well as Jeremy’s books will also be available for sale at the event. Proceeds will benefit the Maui Culinary Academy.

Event At a Glance

Who: UHMC’s Maui Culinary Academy and Chef Jeremy Safron

What: Le Grinds, Featuring Raw and Living Foods prepared by Maui Culinary Academy students and Chef Jeremy Safron. Organic and Biodynamic Wine Pairings. Live music by Maesyn.

When: Friday, April 30^th 6-9pm

Where: Maui Culinary Academy’s Class Act Restaurant, Paina Building

How: Make Reservations: Call Tiffany Ida at 808-984-3434 for reservations. $40 for public, $20 for UHMC students, faculty, and staff. Payment by cash or check only.

Sunset Dining Cruise David Paul for Maui Food Bank

Chef David Paul’s Menu For the Event

2007 Carneros Chardonnay
Kurobuta pork salad Honey glazed and lightly smoked shaved Kurobuta pork loin with roasted apple, Kula field greens and sauce natural.

2005 Merlot
Wagyu beef pastrami sandwich Open faced shaved Kobe style beef pastrami on toasted F…ocaccia bread, melted Gruyere cheese, reduced black plum and merlot aioli

2007 Napa Pinot Noir
Seared Tuna and Foie Gras Peppered seared Island tuna loin and pan seared Foie Gras with Pinot Noir reduction and Rhubarb jam.

2006 Cabernet Sauvignon
Spiny Lobster with Mushroom Risotto Pancetta wrapped and pan sautéed spiny lobster tail on Crimini and lobster mushroom risotto, fried tobacco onions, red wine essence

Dessert
Assorted European cheese platter with fresh locally grown fruits and nuts, crusty French bread

2010 Aipono Awards

Fait attention foodie comrades!  The time has come for the biggest food event of the year where everyone who is anyone in Maui’s food scene gathers with baited wine tinged breathe to learn the names of this year’s winners.

Who will nab Best Chef Award for 2010?

Which establishment can brag “Voted Best Restaurant on Maui” forever more?

And which of the handsome newcomers to Maui’s dining scene will have earned the reputation as Best New Restaurant for 2010?

If you are longing to know the answers to these and 27 other  burning questions, book your seat at the Aipono Awards Gala at the Ritz Carlton, April 18th, sponsored by Maui No Ka Oi Magazine and Better Brands.

_____________________________

About the ‘Aipono Awards now in their eighth year, the ‘Aipono Awards are the first high-profile restaurant awards devoted entirely to Maui. They are awards of honor and distinction determined by Maui No Ka Oi readers—the residents and regular visitors of Maui. The prestigious Chef of the Year title is decided by peer review—voted on exclusively by Maui chefs and industry insiders, offering the Maui restaurant and hospitality industry a celebratory evening they can call their own.

The awards presentation is a benefit for the Maui Culinary Academy. Ticket sales generate valuable unencumbered funds for the school, as well as scholarship money for deserving students. Students enjoy the invaluable experience of working alongside sponsor restaurant chefs on the day of the event, in preparation for the gala’s dinner where Gold and Silver winners in thirty categories will be announced, as well as the Maui County Farm Bureau’s “Friend of Agriculture” and the 2010 Chef of the Year.

Better Brands will uncork the spirit of the evening, which promises to bubble over with signature spirits and wines. As always, Maui Culinary Academy students will be in the kitchen apprenticing with award-winning chefs and practicing flawless service. This year students will be competing Iron Chef-style for the best appetizer. The awards ceremony follows, during a fabulous dinner prepared by three of last year’s winning restaurants. Afterward, dance the night away to the lively sounds of Dr. Nat and Rio Ritmo!

Reserve your tickets for the 2010 ‘Aipono Gala now, as this event sells out. And after partying, don’t drive home. Gala guests can book rooms at the Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua for a deeply discounted rate–just $150.

Book your seat/table now.

RECAP:

Aipono Awards Gala, “Haute Kitchen”

Sunday, April 18th

Ritz Carlton, Kapalua, Maui

5:30 The Better Brands & Grand Crew Wine & Spirits Experience

7:00 Formal Dinner and Awards Ceremony

Table Reservations:

Puakenikeni Sponsor Table, $2,500

Table for Ten, $1,500

Individual Tickets, $150

Register today at: http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07e2sd2q3bf4242c62

Or call Lisa at 242-8331.

Roy's Moi

In case you missed it, or in case you were there and want more of the fabulous food and drink pairings Roy’s consistently presents, this weekend, April 2nd, Roy Yamaguchi invites you once again to join him for a six course dining experience.

First Course
Kiawe Smoked Kona Kampachi

Second Course
Torchon of Foie Gras

Third Course
Roulade of Shiso Duck Salad

Fourth Course Seared Moi with Seafood cassoulet

Fifth Course
Curry Marinated Colorado Lamb Chop with Seasonal Vegetables

Desert
Chocolate Peanut-Butter Souffle

Wines will be paired with each course.  As usual, Roy’s wine/food dinners are a super value at only $65 per person/$85 per person with wine pairing.

Note: Tax and gratuity not included.  The menu is subject to change.  For more information please call Roy’s at 808-669-6999.