Delicious (their masala is creamy and nurturing, their naan crispy in the right places and doughy in the right places)
Breezy (they are in North Kihei right on the shore, so the Ma’alaea winds are nearly always present)
Gorgeous (the interior is not what it could be, but their glass walls and wide open windows give unobstructed views of the harbor and the West Maui Mountains)
Today, lunch at Monsoon India featured kabobs, naan, and samosas. But don’t ask me for details … James and I were distracted by the newborn humpback whale breaching and flapping his tail just offshore.
He made a most cheerful lunch companion, and reminded me of how lucky we are to see whales everyday for six months out of every year.
In case you haven’t seen a baby humpback whale breach, I found this video on youtube. It’s taken from a boat in Ma’alaea harbor, and the background is the same one we watched today. Watch it and feel the joy!
About the Author
Molly Jacobson has been food obsessed since 1972 and is channeling it by writing about the Maui restaurant scene. Contribute to this blog by rating and reviewing Maui restaurants and signing up for the free newsletter Aloha Fridays, issued every week by email (sign up to the right).
Sunrise on Haleakala ... what we call a "spiritual experience." And then there's Easter Brunch at one of our restaurants!
Whether you spend Easter Sunday on Maui in a church pew, watching sunrise at Haleakala Crater, or just sleeping in, you’ll probably get hungry at some point in the day. There are plenty of places on Maui with special menus for the day, but we recommend the following Easter Brunches for a nearly spiritual food experience. Make your reservations now, because they go fast. Come hungry!
Easter is Sunday, April 4, 2010. For information on local church services, please check the Maui News for up-to-date listings.
If You’re In South Maui for Easter
Makena Resort Maui’sMolokini Bar & Grille has a lovely view and one of the most popular brunches on the island. On any given Sunday you’ll find their buffet tables positively groaning with local favorites and traditional brunch items, and your champagne flute overflowing (the refills come unless you stop them). The Easter Sunday brunch will feature an “extended” menu. We simply can’t imagine what else they could include, but we think it will be worth the $52 charge for adults ($27 for kids 12 and under). First seating: 9:30am; last seating: 12pm. Reservations a must, call 808-874-1111.
Five Palms Restaurant does a fabulous Easter Brunch which starts quite early (in past years at 8am) and lasts all the way through until 3pm. Champagne is included, and the buffet is very good. We love the view from this restaurant, with its glass walls and wide-open windows that offer unobstructed views of Keawakapu Beach, Molokini, and beyond. A very special place to spend Easter with friends and/or family. Call for times, fixed price, and reservations: 808-879-2607.
Grand Wailea Resort’s Grand Dining Room features a crazy-good champagne brunch every Sunday of the year, but they really extend themselves for Easter Sunday. This graceful open-air restaurant has breathtaking views of the grounds below, the pools, the beach and the ocean. The food is excellent, and our favorite malasadas on the island (Portuguese donuts with optional fillings) are made fresh in front of you. Champagne is included in Easter Brunch, which is served 9am – 2:30pm. $72 for adults, $36 for children; call 808-875-1234 for reservations.
Duo at the Four Seasonsmakes one of our favorite brunches on the island. The lack of champagne notwithstanding, we love their extensive carving station, omelet station, pancake and waffle station, and seafood bar are excellent. Service is impeccable, and we always drink too much of their delicious coffee. Some of the best artists on Maui show their work in the lobby just outside the restaurant, and few things put us in a better mood than having a morning meal here followed by a stroll on the beachwalk. Brunch is served from 11am-2pm, $87 for adults, $39 children 6-12. Call 808-874-8000 for reservations.
If You’re In Central Maui for Easter
Cafe O’Lei at the Dunes offers an affordable-yet-decadent Easter Brunch that we heartily recommend. The location at the Dunes at Maui Lani gives a fantastic view of the golf club with the massive West Maui Mountains in the distance. You’ll see a carving station, omelet station, and plenty of the Cafe O’Lei entrees that make our tummies happy. Service is friendly and efficient, and you can’t ask for better hours: 8:30am-2:30pm. $32 for adults, half price for children. Call 808-877-0073 for reservations.
If You’re In West Maui for Easter
You will definitely want to walk thelabyrinth below the resort after you have Easter Brunch at the Ritz Carlton Kapalua’s Terrace Restaurant. We predict you’ll be too full to do anything else. Pardon the clumsy pun, but the resort knows how to “put on the ritz” for holiday brunches. You’ll find their incredible seafood bar, carving stations, breakfast items, salads, and omelet stations. The view can be a little obstructed by the thick glass windows, but the food makes it worth it. Brunch is served from 10am-3pm; $75 for adults, $37.50 children 5-12. Call 808-669-6200 for reservations.
Ka’anapali Beach Hotelis known for its extensive Sunday Champagne Brunches featuring a very wide selection of Hawaiian and traditional favorites. This is definitely the best “local” brunch on the West Side. On Easter Sunday they add a church service and Easter Egg Hunt for the kids; call for details. Easter Brunch is served from 8:00am to 1:00pm; Call 808-667-0124 for reservations.
The Plantation House and Sea House Restaurant do not have special brunch plans for Easter Sunday, but if you’re looking for a good breakfast/brunch and outstanding views, we like their breakfast items very much. Plantation House: 808-669-629; Sea House Restaurant: 808-669-1500.
About the Author
Molly Jacobson has been food obsessed since 1972 and is channeling it by writing about the Maui restaurant scene. Contribute to this blog by rating and reviewing Maui restaurants and signing up for the free newsletter Aloha Fridays, issued every week by email (sign up to the right).
Roger McKinley kicks off Saint Patrick's Day on Maui on Tuesday, March 16th, just one of the many St. Paddy's events on our South Pacific "emerald isle."
I once overheard an Irish waiter at Mulligan’s on the Blue respond to a visitor’s “you’re a long way from home” with “Maybe, but on Maui, we’re all islanders.” Cute. And true. Living on a rock in the middle of the ocean – any ocean – takes a certain tolerance for isolation.
And when things get a little too lonely, beer usually helps. Every Saint Patrick’s Day on Maui brings lots of celebrants to the bar(s) to take the edge off and celebrate what Steve Carrell’s character in The Office calls “The closest the Irish get to Christmas.”
You’ll see drink specials and corned beef and cabbage on many menus, but this year, here’s our personal faves for how to celebrate. (Disclaimer: please make sure you’ve got a designated driver – Hawaii has the dubious distinction of leading the nation in alcohol-related traffic fatalities, so let’s be safe.)
Pipes on the Pacific – Tuesday March 16, 4:30-6:30pm
This is a shameless-and-enthusiastic plug for our friend Roger McKinley, who’s playing his bagpipes on a Trilogy yacht on St. Patrick’s Eve. Roger plays like a madman, and is a lot of fun. This should be a good show (and if you were thinking of hiring him for your wedding, a good way to see him entertain). The whales have been jumping around, so we imagine you’ll see some on this two hour tour of the Ka’anapali coast. Pupus, beer, wine, cocktails, and (of course) the sail and live music: $59. Call 808.874.5649 for reservations.
St. Paddy’s Day Bash – Mulligans on the Blue – Wailea – Wednesday March 17, 6:30am to closing
Mulligans is starting a new tradition this year – a golf tournament to benefit Save the Arts (a program to help bring the arts back to Maui schools). We can’t think of a nicer way to start St. Paddy’s Day (for a golfer) than a 6:30am tournament on the Blue Course in Wailea.
Irish Breakfast starts in the restaurant at 8am, and their full Irish luncheon menu arrives at 11am and lasts until 3pm. There will also be a food tent outside the restaurant with $10 plate lunches featuring Harp-battered fish and chips, bangers and mash, and corned beef and cabbage. Dinner is buffet style, and starts at 4pm: $45, or $65 to get the t-shirt, too. Prizes for best leprechaun costume.
The new Irish band Finn McCoulwill play from noon -3pm. The Isle of Maui Pipe Bandtakes the stage at 5pm, and the Celtic Tigers play from 5-8:30pm. The Willie K Bandplays from 9pm to closing. Tickets are $10 in advance and $20 at the door, no cover before 5pm. Best to call to get all the details and reservations – this place is packed on St. Patrick’s. Call 808-874-1131.
(PS: We haven’t stayed at Hotel Wailea yet (it used to be the Diamond Resort), but they’re opening their rooms at a special rate and supplying a free shuttle to the festivities down the hill. Swanky digs for $135 … call 808-874-0500 for details and reservations.)
We’re exhausted just writing about it…
St. Paddy’s Day – Mulligans at the Wharf – Lahaina – Wednesday March 17, 1pm – closing
Mulligans at the Wharf – the Blue’s west-side sister – is throwing her own party starting with the Celtic Tigers from 1-3pm, the Unintelligents from 5-7pm, and Johnny Ringo from 9pm to closing. Guiness and Harp on tap, corned beef and cabbage and bangers and mash on the menu. Call 808-661-8881 for details.
Finn McCoul at the Westin – Ka’anapali – Wednesday March 17, 6-10pm
Finn McCoul is a new Celtic band here on Maui, and they’re playing traditional Irish and Scottish music at Ono Restaurant (the Westin’s poolside restaurant). Check them out. Call 808-667-2525 for details.
About the Author
Molly Jacobson has been food obsessed since 1972 and is channeling it by writing about the Maui restaurant scene. Contribute to this blog by rating and reviewing Maui restaurants and signing up for the free newsletter Aloha Fridays, issued every week by email (sign up to the right).
Is the kalua pork at Mama's so yummy because the pig eats table scraps?
Pigs have a reputation for an indiscriminate palate – but the same can’t be said for Scott Burns’ pigs in Haiku.
Burns is the Maintenance Manager at Mama’s Fish House, which means he keeps the place in good repair (we can only imagine that it’s a big job given the salt air right on the beach). He also takes the restaurant’s table scraps and food waste, pulps it, and uses it to grow vegetables and herbs on his farm upcountry. Yes, that compost turns out glorious produce that Mama’s buys to serve in the restaurant … but it also fed a young pig which gained 200 pounds as a result.
The kalua pork that resulted was typically delicious … no surprise if the pig was “eating Mama’s” every day.
By the way, the gift certificate that Mama’s donated to our Maui Food Bankfood drive on March 6th raised a record $185 for the nonprofit. According to the Maui Food Bank, every dollar they get turns into $8 worth of food to give to Maui’s hungry (10,000 served each month). Woo hoo! Thank you, Mama.
About the Author
Molly Jacobson has been food obsessed since 1972 and is channeling it by writing about the Maui restaurant scene. Contribute to this blog by rating and reviewing Maui restaurants and signing up for the free newsletter Aloha Fridays, issued every week by email (sign up to the right).
This friendly guide, written by Jerry and Janine Sprout, is close to a bible in our house. We have never met the Sprouts (but we hope they read this and tell us the next time they island hop over to Maui, so we can meet for a meal), but their direct, friendly writing style mark them as kindred spirits.
Their accurate directions and tips will show you the entire island, from the top of Haleakala to the lava caves of Hana. Whether you’re a serious adventurer or just a daytripper, you’ll find plenty of useful information. There are several guidebooks to Maui, but if you’re looking for straight-up, honest, accurate information from friendly people with good judgment, this is it!
Check out their five star reviews on Amazon. If you already own Top Maui Restaurants, this is the perfect companion guide to make a great Maui vacation.
Hey, Sprouts – mahalo for your hard work. I know how hard it is to write a good guide!
This was late in the party after many guests had gone home. So why were we still all holding mai tais? Because after three years of R&D, these are the Best Mai Tais ever (if we do say so ourselves ... which we do). Big mahalos to Richard Marks of http://www.alohaia.com for this amazing photograph.
The smiles on all those faces say it all – our mai tai makes people happy. Very happy. Quickly.
James and I hosted another of our rather infamous mai tai parties on Friday, and it was very, very fun. Some of my favorite quotes:
“Your party was so great it caused a tsunami!” (My friend Rebecca wrote this the next day while we were all evacuating our homes to avoid the tsunami-that-wasn’t. Everyone at the party loved Rebecca, because she labored for hours to make the amazing Spicy Ahi Sashimi Cones featured on Spago’s menu. What a friend!)
“I was afraid the floor wouldn’t hold when I saw how many people were coming.” (It held just fine, thanks.)
“I don’t usually drink mai tais because they’re so sweet … but this one is great!” (That’s what I was going for with the recipe – so glad it works!)
“I have never had a better mai tai.” (Blush.)
“Why don’t you have your book for sale!?!?!” (Because we had to turn them all over to local retailers who can’t keep them in stock! Borders in Kahului, Barnes & Noble in Lahaina, Whole Foods in Kahului, and even Costco – check this page for all the island locations.)
“There are so many interesting people here!” (That’s true, we think so, too. That’s because we invite all of our personal friends, fun neighbors, business associates, and anyone on our email list who have purchased a copy of the book from us or registered their book. It’s a totally random assortment of cool people, all having a great mai tai. Makes for interesting conversation.)
The next Mai Tai party is scheduled for Friday, July 2. If you get a copy of the book between now and then, make sure you register it if you want an invitation!
If you like that photograph of us, you’ll LOVE Richard Marks. He’s not only the sweetest guy on Maui, he’s one of the most talented photographers working on the island. Some people are true artists, and Richard is one of them. If you’re having a wedding or just want someone to capture a special moment, there is no one I would recommend higher. Check out his websites – the best one to start with is http://www.alohaia.com
Molly Jacobson has been food obsessed since 1972 and is channeling it by writing about the Maui restaurant scene. Contribute to this blog by rating and reviewing Maui restaurants and signing up for the free newsletter Aloha Fridays, issued every week by email (sign up to the right).
Whew. What a week it’s been! On Monday, Whole Foods had their opening party in Kahului (the hottest invite in town, and we were in!). On Friday, we’re having our gigantic Mai Tai Party (if you’ve got a copy of our book and are “registered” you have already gotten your invitation).
And between scrubbing the floors in preparation for party-goers, we’re planning next Saturday’s big food drive for the Maui Food Bank at the new Whole Foods.
I’ve been on the phone, writing letters, cajoling, and pretty-pleasing, and the results are snowballing.
If you come down to Whole Foods next Saturday, March 6th, from 3-4:30pm, you can bid on gift certificates from some of our very favorite Maui restaurants, including Sansei, Roy’s, Mala, Pacific’o, I’o, Feast at Lele, Thailand Cuisine, Cuatro, and Bistro Casanova. That’s just the ones I have in my hands – more are coming in as I write this. More are coming!!
You can get all the details – and read about why I’m so passionate about helping Maui Food Bank – on our new website dedicated to Feeding Maui: http://FeedMaui.com
Bring your canned goods (or get them from Whole Foods – their store brand is awesome), and please, give from your heart. Demand is up 20% this year for Maui Food Bank’s services, and that’s just a travesty. No one should go hungry.
If you’re on island, I would love to meet you next Saturday at Whole Foods! And you can get a gift certificate for a GREAT cause to one of our favorite restaurants!
If you’re not on island, you can still help. You can bid on a gift certificate ahead of time. Just email us at cs@topmauirestaurants.com and let us know which gift certificate you would like to bid on. I’ll put you on the Silent Auction form to start the day off right next Saturday.
Molly Jacobson has been food obsessed since 1972 and is channeling it by writing about the Maui restaurant scene. Contribute to this blog by rating and reviewing Maui restaurants and signing up for the free newsletter Aloha Fridays, issued every week by email (sign up to the right).
Pita Paradise in Wailea? Nice, fresh, affordable food? Sweet.
Pita Paradise is a go-to restaurant for us when we want a quick, yummy lunch or dinner. Our big beef is the location: Kalama Village in Kihei is filled with the kind of kitschy-cute stuff that usually spells T-O-U-R-I-S-T T-R-A-P. And at night? A little rowdy for a quiet dinner.
That’s why we were excited to see this sign in the new Wailea shopping center up near the highway. A call to the restaurant confirms that they’re opening up the new location “in a few months” – which on Maui can mean anything from three weeks to seven months (or longer) – and that it will be a second location.
Nice. Right now they don’t have walls – or anything other than the sign – but hey, we’ll take that as a good omen for Wailea visitors and residents who crave well-prepared Mediterranean food at relatively low prices. We’ll keep you posted…
Molly Jacobson has been food obsessed since 1972 and is channeling it by writing about the Maui restaurant scene. Contribute to this blog by rating and reviewing Maui restaurants and signing up for the free newsletter Aloha Fridays, issued every week by email (sign up to the right).
What do you want most in a luau on Maui: great food, great drinks, lots of hula? These two Maui luaus will satisfy all three criteria.
Not a day goes by without someone asking “which is the best lua’u on Maui?”
Food is always a deeply personal subject, and while it’s my job to give you advice about Maui restaurants, this is one of the areas where I feel most tentative in being categorical.
Depending upon your personality and several other factors, our answer changes. In fact we dedicate an entire section of the Top Maui Tips chapter in our book Top Maui Restaurants to whether or not you should attend a luau or perhaps one of the other excellent Maui entertainment options (Ulalena comes to mind).
So without copying and pasting an entire chapter into this post, I’ll cut to the chase: our two recommendations follow.
Each is a completely different experience, and I would say that if you loved one you might actually not love the other. So choose wisely:
Should you go to a luau at your hotel? Maybe … if you just want to fall into bed afterward (or into the pool) and avoid driving or paying for cab fare.
Have you been to our two lua’us? Review them on their official pages on this website and let other readers know what you think:
Molly Jacobson has been food obsessed since 1972 and is channeling it by writing about the Maui restaurant scene. Contribute to this blog by rating and reviewing Maui restaurants and signing up for the free newsletter Aloha Fridays, issued every week by email (sign up to the right).
The eggs benedict at Gannon's in Wailea, Maui, is super-ono. And those breakfast potatoes? Tender inside, crispy outside, fragrant with rosemary.
It’s been two months since Gannon’s(formerly Seawatch Restaurant) finished their renovations (both to the menu and the restaurant) and re-opened under Beverly Gannon’s ownership, so we feel comfortable that they’ve had time to work the kinks out.
We checked them out for breakfast the other day, and OH, MAN…are we glad that we did!?!
James had the eggs benedict – which was good at the old Seawatch – and this one was a model version. The hollandaise was creamy and – as you can see from the picture – of a perfect consistency. The eggs were beautifully cooked: tender, with not a hint of rubber to the texture. The cayenne pepper on top kicked up the heat without breaking a sweat … while the potatoes were soft and melty inside a crispy shell, fragrant with rosemary and seasoned so well that we did not have to pick up a salt or pepper shaker.
Yay! Service was very good – although it took a while to get the hostess’ attention in the cavernous space. Is it our imagination, or did the elegant renovation make the restaurant seem twice as large as it did just a few months ago? The new Red Bar with its central bar and blood-red ceilings made us feel like having a martini … which means we’ll have to try dinner next. Have you been to the new Gannon’s? Share your comments on the restaurants official page: Gannon’s
About the Author
Molly Jacobson has been food obsessed since 1972 and is channeling it by writing about the Maui restaurant scene. Contribute to this blog by rating and reviewing Maui restaurants and signing up for the free newsletter Aloha Fridays, issued every week by email (sign up to the right).
Molly Jacobson has been food obsessed since 1972 and is channeling it by writing about the Maui restaurant scene. Contribute to this blog by rating and reviewing Maui restaurants and signing up for the free newsletter Aloha Fridays, issued every week by email (sign up to the right).
Five Palms Restaurant
You will definitely want to walk the 
Whew. What a week it’s been! On Monday, Whole Foods had their opening party in Kahului (the hottest invite in town, and we were in!). On Friday, we’re having our gigantic Mai Tai Party (if you’ve got a copy of our book and are “registered” you have already gotten your invitation).
If you come down to Whole Foods next Saturday, March 6th, from 3-4:30pm, you can bid on gift certificates from some of our very favorite Maui restaurants, including Sansei, Roy’s, Mala, Pacific’o, I’o, Feast at Lele, Thailand Cuisine, Cuatro, and Bistro Casanova. That’s just the ones I have in my hands – more are coming in as I write this. More are coming!!
