By Vanessa Wolf

Taste of Wailea. Courtesy photo.

This Saturday, June 7, is the culinary jewel in the crown of the Maui Film Festival.

Held at the David Leadbetter Golf Academy of the Wailea Golf Course, the annual Taste of Wailea is jam-packed with exquisite appetizer-sized offerings from the surrounding resort restaurants.

This year’s event is no exception and features the following restaurants and menus:

Spago

• Kiawe Grilled Maui Cattle Beef with Kula corn puree and chimichurri sauce
• Island Vanilla Chiffon “Lollipop” Cake Three Ways

Monkeypod

• Maui Nui Farm Organic Kale Salad
• Fresh Caught Fish Tacos with tomatillo salsa, avocado, vine-ripened tomato, jalapeño, locally-made corn tortillas

Duo

• Keahole Lobster Biscwitch – Lobster slides with Kula corn biscuit, caramelized Maui Gold pineapple and smokey black pepper sauce
• Panko Parmesan Breaded Chicken Milanese with rocket salad, cherry tomatoes, Buffalo mozzarella and basil citronette

Morimoto Maui

• Hamachi Tacos with avocado and nuoc chom
• Kakuni with ten-hour pork belly, rice congee and soy-scallion jus
• Road to Matcha with Kula strawberries and white chocolate rocks

Joe’s & Gannon’s

• Kalua Pork Posole – Slow-roasted Kalua pork with tomato vegetable broth, Guajillo chiles and hominy
• Abalone & Giant Surf Clam Corn Dog

Alan Wong’s Amasia

• Smoked Lilikoi BBQ Glazed Lamp Chops
• Passionfruit Kampachi Ceviche in Cone Cups

Ko

• Oyster Tempura on Ko Choo Jang Slaw with Orange Tobiko and Micro Shiso
• Keanae Lilikoi Ice with Hibiscus and
• Kula Strawberry French Macaroon

Matteo’s

• Misto with roasted beets, butternut squash, marinated figs, goat cheese, citrus, mint, and shaved fennel
• Ossobuco alla Milanese – Braised pork shanks, demi glaze with saffron risotto and grimolata topped with kale chips
• Fernet Vanilla Bean Panacotta with cognac dulce-de-leche and chantilly cream

Tommy Bahama’s Grilled Steak Tenderloin Salad. Photo by Vanessa Wolf.

Tommy Bahama

• Grilled Baby Back Pork Ribs with sweet and spicy blackberry brandy BBQ sauce
• Grilled Steak Tenderloin Salad with grilled potatoes, Roma tomatoes, crispy shiitake, garlic aioli and tamarind vinaigrette
• Piña Colada Cupcake Bites – Vanilla cake, Myers Dark Rum, pineapple, white chocolate mousse and toasted coconut

Capische?

• The Market Paninis: Reuben or Grilled Cheese with Tomato
• Salad Lyonnaise with crispy Malama pork
• Grilled Kona Kampachi with taro puree and abalone vinaigrette

Mulligans & Fabiani’s

• Mini Harp-Battered Fish ‘n Chip Cones
• Chilled Watermelon Gazpacho Shooters
• Arancini con Quattro Fromaggio
• Lilikoi Tiramisu & Salted Caramel Macaroons

Mala Wailea & MiGRANT

• Seared Ahi Bruschetta – Black pepper-crusted seared ahi on flax seed toast with Maui tomatoes, edamame puree and 20-year-old balsamic vinegar
• Seared Diver Scallops with yusu aioli and garlic crisp yukari
• Hibachi Hanger Steak with pickled shallots and watercress

The event runs from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Please note that individual tickets have sold out, but both Cosmos Passes and VIP Patron Passes (which include admission to the event) are still available.