tasty lunch at OGG Kahului Airport on Maui

I’ve flown a lot recently, which (gastronomically) translates to eating institutional food at overpriced airport restaurants  and paying big dollars for little onboard snacks.

I identify strongly with the phrase “I live to eat” and not at all with “I eat to live” – so being forced to eat meals only to keep the flight attendants safe from my low-blood-sugar-induced grumpiness makes me beyond miserable.

I just had lunch at Sammy’s Beach Bar & Grill in the Kahului Airport (OGG). I’m moved to write about the lunch (I’m typing this on my iPhone) because – despite my low expectations – I am satisfied. My belly is full and my soul is soothed. After lunch at an airport restaurant? Weird.

Sammy’s is inside the main restaurant area in the center concourse. A sit-down grill with a full bar named for the rock legend Sammy Hagar, it shares the open space with a more-casual area dedicated to those eating at Burger King and – as of today – Maui’s first California Pizza Kitchen.

(I have not had the chance to try out the new CPK, but it looks promising with it its own pizza oven and fresh made dough. On my next trip thru OGG, I will be sure to try it out and post a mini review here. If you get there before then, please post a comment below.)

My lunch at Sammy’s was a giant beach salad containing mixed greens, jicama, sliced hard boiled eggs, fresh pico de gallo, corn salsa, avacado and lime wedges. Everything was fresh and made that day–including tortilla chips. The salad was expensive at $10.99, especially when I upgraded (for $4) to add a perfectly grilled chicken breast. I could have spent another few dollars to get shrimp, crab or lobster (although I’m not sure I’d do crustaceans in an airport restaurant, no matter how good).

Despite the high ticket price – which is inevitable – I was relieved to eat food that I could identify as being local, or at least very fresh. There actually is someone who cares grilling that chicken – and the pico de gallo and salad dressing were excellent.  It was a delicious meal – way better than anything I have tasted at 30,000 feet lately – and a pleasant enough atmosphere, for an airport. The wait staff was attentive and prompt.

The best part about leaving Maui for other parts is knowing that when I head home, I’ll be headed for Maui. I never thought I’d look forward to the food at OGG … but I might be able to do that, now. Maybe I’ll pick up a little CPK before I collect my bags on Friday.