Foodie Events at the Maui Film Festival: Part Two

The Maui Film Festival starts this week … which means I’m eating very little over the next couple of days so I can take full advantage of all the great food at the Festival’s special events, including two very special ones on Friday and Saturday.

Show your sweetie this picture and see if she starts salivating. Don Juan used chocolate as an aphrodisiac ... and so should you. The Maui Film Festival's Taste of Chocolate is this Friday, June 18. See you there...

Taste of Chocolate – Four Seasons – Friday, June 18, 10pm – $120 single tix or get a pass

You probably wouldn’t be surprised to find out that men search for the keyword “sex” online more than any other.

Would you be surprised to find out that the subject women search for most online is chocolate?

If you are surprised, I’m betting you’re a gentleman, and I also bet that you haven’t been paying attention to those Dove chocolate ads on television.

Women enjoy a rather sultry relationship with chocolate, which means you would be wise to bring your loved one to The Taste of Chocolate at the Four Seasons on Friday, June 18 at 10pm.  Soak in milk chocolate mousse with salted caramel, chocolate creme chiboust, sorbets, chocolate paninis, chocolate banana milkshakes. Dip homemade marshmallows, pistachio cakes, chocolate chip cookies, and fresh strawberries into the chocolate fountain.  And that’s just for appetizers.

Mains feature chocolate shortbreads, roasted strawberries, baked mousse, chocolate panna cotta, white chocolate cheesecake, chocolate lavender emulsions, and peanut butter and chocolate cake.

It’s an evening dedicated to a lady’s preferred aphrodisiac, so be sure to leave some time and energy later for a little “down time.” If she slips into a pleasure coma, pat yourself on the back. You will be rewarded later!

The Taste of Wailea is like a huge dress up picnic catered by some of our favorite restaurants on the island. Don't miss Spago's Spicy Ahi Cones. Photo Credit: Randy Jay Braun

Taste of Wailea –  David Leadbetter Golf Academy at Wailea Gold and Emerald Gold Course – Saturday June 19, 4:30pm – $95.00 or get a pass

Wailea’s restaurants send some of their best dishes to the Taste of Wailea. It’s a fabulous, upscale event. Here are our Top Ten Reasons why you should attend this Saturday.

1. Spago’s miso ahi spicy sesame cones. They’re like sushi candy, and we take them by the handful and pass them out to other guests, especially if we find out they’ve never had one. People. Try the cones.
2. Capische?’s decadently tender, exuberantly creamy, slightly nutty kabocha pumpkin gnocchi with lavender brown butter. Our second favorite food on Maui, and you can have more than one dish.
3. The meatloaf sliders from Joe’s. I’m not particularly a meatloaf fan…and yet, I find myself drifting back for seconds.
4. The view from the party. Unless you’re a jaded Gold and Emerald course golfer, I guarantee you will find yourself staring out at the immaculate horizon dotted with islands.
5. The stars, the stars, the stars. If they’re attending the festival, they’re probably at Taste, dressed in their breeziest clothing and looking a little sunburnt, just like the rest of us (it can be hot at 4:30pm in the afternoon).
6. Everyone else is there. No matter what circles you run in on Maui, if you’re someone, you’re at Taste.
7. Fancy cocktails. No kidding, we’ve had some really killer drinks at Taste – most of which we can’t quite remember. I had something really yummy last year, with fresh blueberries. Sorry, no more details to be had.
8. Wear your best clothing! Maui folk don’t get dressed up much, but we love to dress for Taste. Wearing a little dress and a freshly-pressed silk shirt is just plain fun. And if your heels sink in the grass, it’s not a problem. Just take them off.
9. Free admission to the evening’s Celestial Cinema. After you’ve boozed and tasted, simply wander down the magnificent green to the gigantic movie screen set up below the party. No waiting in line and you get first dibs on the best spots (just as the hill starts to slope up, along the center aisle).
10. The free shuttle bus ensures that whether you go to the movie or not, you don’t have to worry about parking. They run continuous, and are tres convenient.

You can find details on the Festival’s films and get tickets and Passes here.