Kakaako’s Salt complex continues to be a hub of activity as the burgeoning food and drink scene expands. Here’s the latest:
>> The second Our Kaka‘ako Bar Crawl is slated for 5 p.m. Feb. 17, with visits to Bevy Bar, Moku Kitchen and Village Bottle Shop & Tasting Room, all of which will spotlight Maui Brewing Co., an award-winning brewery based in Kihei that delivers a selection of handcrafted brewed ales and lagers. The crawl will close out each bar, with Bevy Bar holding an after-party until 2 a.m.
Recent openings:
>> Butterfly Ice Cream, which creates small-batch ice creams and sorbets in a glassed-in kitchen. Ice cream industry veteran C.C. Foo’s 50 flavors are offered in a rotating selection of as many as 18 choices. Flavors last week included lehua honey, black sesame and Earl Grey tea. Some choices are for adults only, infused with spirits or other alcohol, such as a rum-infused daiquiri sorbet and peach chardonnay. Hours: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays, and until 5 p.m. Sundays.
>> Bevy Market, an extension of Bevy, a bar at the corner of Auahi and Keawe streets, is a New York-style deli offering sandwiches, salads and sides from $4 to $12. Hours: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays.
Soon to come:
>> J’s Grill, the rebranded J’s Bar-B-Q plate lunchery, is tentatively slated to open in April, according to Salt officials. The closing of J’s in September 2014 was prompted by the area’s redevelopment. Formerly at the corner of Auahi and Keawe streets, J’s will be on Auahi Street near Coral Street, next to Morning Brew Kakaako, which is set to open in May.
Help Merriman’s reforest
Merriman’s on Maui has adopted the Pu‘u Kukui Watershed Preserve in the West Maui mountains and is offering diners the chance to be part of the extended family.
Through the Adopt a Tree & Preserve Our Aina membership program, diners can buy a native tree for planting in the rainforest — an aalii shrub ($50), koa tree ($100) or ohia tree ($200).
The restaurant is also donating $1 from each Caesar salad sold to Friends of Pu‘u Kukui, which helps with the conservation and maintenance of the preserve.
Quickbites is a weekly listing of dining events. Email items to crave@staradvertiser.com.
