Situated on the slopes of the West Maui Mountains overlooking Kapalua Resort, the Plantation House restaurant is set to reopen Friday after an extensive, months-long renovation. It’s situated on the scenic 18th hole of the Plantation Golf Course, also revamped and ready to tee off the 2020 PGA opener, the Sentry Tournament of Champions, Jan. 1-5.
Starting Friday, check out breakfast, lunch and dinner by new executive chef Giovanni Gadiano, a former Navy mess specialist and accomplished culinarian who worked at several notable San Diego-based restaurant groups prior to moving here. Chef consultant Jessie Elliot, a protege of Roy Yamaguchi, assisted in updating the menus.
“You won’t recognize the restaurant,” said Plantation House office manager Kathy Felton. “Where the fireplace used to be is now an orchid wall. We have beautiful new flooring, and we took out the wall by the bar to open up the lounge.” For more information, call 669-6299.
Across from Mana Foods in Paia is Artisan Ice Cream, a perfect place to cool off with house-made treats. The walk-up counter features four vegan and eight organic dairy ice creams and sorbets. Owners Rich and Paula Westcott opened their doors in May next door to Paula’s parents’ restaurant, Cafe Des Amis.
“We are in a partnership with Cafe des Amis, so if you have a meal there, you can get some ice cream at our walk-up counter and sit down there and enjoy their dining room — or just eat our ice cream only in there,” explained Paula, who grew up on Maui and went to university at Bath in England, where she met her future husband.
“When I met Rich, we knew we wanted to open our own food biz,” she said. “About three years ago a space became available, and we’ve been getting permits and tasting recipes for some time. It’s been a dream in the making. Everything is made from scratch.”
Flavors include Earl Grey Tea With Scottish Shortbread, Housemade Marshmallow Fluff With Toasted Almond and Sea Salted Peanut Butter With Chocolate Chips, among other fun concoctions.
“We’re about to do a Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough for the holidays and just launched a new lilikoi sorbet as well. Flavors rotate. We’re open daily from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. with scoops, cones, sundaes, shakes, floats and freshly baked cookies.” Visit artisanpaia.com.
IT’S WAR AT THE MACC
Want to get down and funky and be a “low rider”? Then don’t miss War, pegged “the original street band,” Dec. 28 in Castle Theater at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center in Kahului. The last time I saw the multiplatinum-selling, Grammy Award-winning group was at Diamond Head on Oahu in 2006 at the 30th anniversary of the original show there along with the Steve Miller Band, Linda Ronstadt and Yvonne Elliman. While Miller, Ronstadt and Elliman were over the top, War was incendiary with “Cisco Kid,” “Spill the Wine,” “Why Can’t We Be Friends,” “Summer” and other hits.
For the MACC show, there will be a dance floor in front of the stage accessible to patrons on the orchestra level. The current War band members include founder Leroy “Lonnie” Jordan on keyboard and vocals; Stuart Ziff on guitar and vocals; Marcos Reyes on percussion; Scott Martin on saxophone; Stanley Behrens on harmonica, vocals and sax; Rene Camacho on bass; and Sal Rodrigues on drums.
Bring your appetites, too, as Maui ‘Ohana Catering will serve chicken yakitori with green onion and hapa rice, coconut shrimp with sweet Thai chili sauce, chicken salad in butter lettuce cups and Portobello mushroom burgers on brioche buns from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Yokouchi Pavilion Courtyard. Tickets are $15, $40, $55, $65, $85 and $125. Call 242-7469, visit www.mauiarts.org or head to the box office.
GIVE THE GIFT OF SWEETS
The University of Hawaii Maui College Culinary Arts Program is on a holiday baking spree again, offering a wide range of festive creations for sale to the public. Come to the Pa‘ina Building on the Kahului campus from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday to pick up confections for all the dessert lovers on your shopping list. Pastry chef instructors Teresa Shurilla and Hannah Stanchfield and their baking students have whipped up a storm of nougats, fruit jellies, peanut brittle, truffles, bonbons and traditional Italian panettone and German stollen. Prices range from $6.50 to $36. All proceeds benefit the Culinary Arts Program.
Or head to Maui Ocean Treasures gift shop at the Maui Ocean Center in Maalaea any day of the week to pick up colorful, freshly made fudge, Keto Treats by a locally owned family business, Maui Candy Co. handmade lollipops, gummies and more along with pate de fruit by Maui Fruit Jewels that are wheat-free, vegan and perfect for gift giving — so are the alternatives to single-use plastics, such as the reusable Wahi Straws made with sustainably harvested bamboo.
Maui Ocean Center will present a four-course prix fixe menu at its signature Seascape Restaurant on Christmas Day from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Chef Henry Tariga will feature Kona kanpachi crudo and capers drizzled in truffle oil, wedge salad tossed with raspberry vinaigrette, entree choices of fresh catch or steak and shrimp and dessert of pumpkin trifle with mascarpone cheese and chocolate sticks. For reservations and prices, call 270-7068.
JINGLE ALL THE WAY
Are you in the mood for holiday music? Maui radio station KEWE “The Spirit” at 97.9 FM and 1240 AM is broadcasting jingle-bell tunes to sing along with 24 hours a day between now and Christmas Day. Hosts Ron Middag and Kathy Collins are playing both contemporary and traditional songs from their music library as well as concerts from Maui musicians and organizations.
You can also get in the holiday spirit at the “Jingle and Mingle” event at The Shops at Wailea. Join J. McLaughlin and Cos Bar stores for festive sips, light bites, one-on-one makeup sessions and shopping until you are dropping from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday in the upper-level fashion wing.
Veteran journalist Carla Tracy pops the cork on Maui’s dining and entertainment scene in her weekly column. Email her at carlatracy808@gmail.com.
