By Vanessa Wolf

The Mahi Mahi with a side of tortellini salad, one of Vineyard Food Company’s lunch offerings. Photo by Vanessa Wolf.

This Friday or Saturday night, local diners can enjoy a meal which will benefit the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life Maui.

The event is being held at the Vineyard Food Company in Wailuku and reservations are available for dinner at either 5:30 or 7:30 p.m.

This weekend’s menu features a Midwestern theme and each course offers a vegetarian option.

Start out with Wisconsin cheddar bacon puffs or a cherry Swiss cheese spread with crackers.

Next is a summer garden salad with herb vinaigrette or Maytag blue cheese dressing followed by split pea soup.

For an entrée, diners have the choice between chicken-fried steak with gravy, catch of the day topped with wilted spinach and cheese sauce, or a leek, mushroom and lemon risotto.

All entrées will be served with garlic mashed potatoes and corn with roasted red peppers.

For dessert there will be assorted fruit pies (strawberry-rhubarb and classic apple) with sweet whipped cream.

The full menu is $37 per person plus tax and does not include a gratuity. 15% of all proceeds with be donated to Relay for Life.

Each year, more than four million people in over 20 countries raise funds and awareness to save lives from cancer through the Relay for Life movement.

At a Relay for Life community event, teams camp out at a school, park, or fairground and take turns walking or running around a track or path.

Relay events are overnight and last up to 24 hours, and each team has at least one participant on the track at all times. Each team participates in fundraising in the months leading up to the event.

Vineyard Food Company is a BYOB establishment – beer or wine only, please – and they do not charge a corkage fee.

Reservations are required and can be made by calling (808) 243-3663 or emailing chefg@maui.net.

We welcome your feedback. Please let us know if you hear of any new restaurants opening or reopening, total menu overhauls, or simply know of a hidden treasure you want to share. Have a restaurant you want reviewed (or re-reviewed)? Drop us a line – Vanessa(@mauinow.com)