Hop To It: Easter Dining Options Abound
By Vanessa Wolf
This Sunday, April 5, you and yours can enjoy 24-consecutive hours of Easter.
That stated, if the word “Easter” makes you want to put on some (fancy, or at least clean) stretchy pants and eat Eggs Benedict until they make you stop, then by all means keep reading.
To begin, the Makena Beach and Golf Resort, under the direction of Chef De Cuisine Kurt Lesmerises, transforms their award-winning Sunday Champagne Brunch into a holiday bonanza.
You don’t have enough time on your hands to read everything they have to offer, so let us just say freshly baked danish, muffins, sweet breads, and croissants; sliced Hawaiian fruits, melons and berries; fresh squeezed orange juice and guava nectar.
Makena’s signature Eggs Benedict with lilikoi hollandaise sauce; bacon, Portuguese sausage and chicken apple sausage; blueberry buttermilk pancakes with macadamia nuts; grand mariner soufflé french toast and made to order omelet station.
This is barely scratching the surface on the fresh Hawaiian sashimi, peel-n-eat shrimp, in-house wood smoked salmon, snap-n-eat Dungeness crab legs, assorted made to order sushi and salads including Kumu farms romaine Caesar salad bar, certified organic Kumu farms baby greens with poached lobster, roast lamb, prime rib and on and on and on.
If that’s not enough, also anticipate NY strip loin with wild spring mushroom ragu, crispy coconut shrimp with wasabi potatoes and mango chili dipping sauce, butternut squash ravioli with butter poached lobster, and a vast – no doubt – dessert selection.
Brunch is held from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and offered at $65 per person and $35 per child age 5 to 12.
Reservations are required. Call 808-875-5888 to make yours.
Meanwhile, the Sheraton Maui’s Black Rock Kitchen is also holding a lavish Easter brunch with freshly baked danish, coffee cakes, muffins and croissants and a selection of chilled sliced local Hawaiian fruits.
Also fill your basket with farm fresh poached eggs, Canadian bacon, Hawaiian sweet bread & lilikoi hollandaise sauce, Crepes Normandy with island vanilla bean custard sauce, lightly smoked bacon, mango chicken link sausage & Portuguese sausage
Anticipate omelets, waffles and pancakes – oh my! – and a carving station with honey smoked ham with Maui gold pineapple compote, oven-roasted herb crusted prime rib of beef and dim sum.
You should be aware by now, these brunches are not for wimps.
Loosen your belt for chilled seafood such as fresh Hawaiian sashimi, smoked salmon, shrimp cocktail, snap-n-eat snow crab legs, oysters on the half shell and a selection of speciality salads.
The hits keep coming with lava spiced mahi-mahi, fire roasted boneless leg of lamb, Moroccan tagine chicken, and seared ahi.
Add their champagne and mimosa bar for $12 and don’t forget the (complementary) dessert buffet.
Black Rock’s buffet is held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m .at a cost of $59 for adults and $29 for keiki age four to 12.
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Not to be outdone, the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort’s Swan Court is playing host to yet another opportunity to burst out of your pants.
Held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., anticipate a Surfing Goat cheese frittata, blueberry pancakes with coconut syrup, Eggs Benedict, made-to-order omelets, prime rib, macadamia nut-crusted baked island fish, smoked salmon and an assortment of fresh fruit, muffins, bagels, and pastries.
Brown Sugar Bloody Mary’s and Sunrise Mimosas will also be available for sipping at $10 each, or $15 for two.
Brunch is priced at $49.95/adult and $24.95/child.
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The Seascape Ma‘alaea Restaurant is also getting in on the binge eating action.
Open early for the occasion at 10 a.m., the brunch buffet (only) will be served until 2:30 p.m. and features spring mix with assorted toppings, baby spinach with crumbled goat cheese, corn and pepper quinoa salad, Mediterranean pasta salad and kimchee tako poke with cucumber and tomato.
Also enjoy peel and eat shrimp, Hawaiian sweet bread french toast with macadamia nuts and coconut syrup, crispy applewood bacon and Portuguese sausage.
But wait! There’s more.
Save room for the omelet station, truffle mashed potatoes, mango hoisin baby back ribs, roasted herb and garlic lamb, grilled salmon or broiled garlic herb steak with crispy onions.
We’ll wait for you over by the assorted mini desserts and cakes.
The buffet is $45.95 and $26 for children ages three to 12.
Seascape Ma‘alaea Restaurant is located at Maui Ocean Center. Aquarium admission is not required to dine. Entry for the public is available through the side entrance next to the Ma‘alaea Harbor Shops.
Reservations are recommended, and you can call 808-270-7068 to get one.
Still shopping for buffets?
Perhaps the Montage Kapalua Bay can put a hop in your step.
Highlights of their cold offerings include an asparagus frittata, seared tuna and Japanese cucumber salad, arugula and Kula strawberry salad, soba noodles with grilled salmon, fresh shrimp, king crab legs and oysters.
Like it hot?
Brace yourself for ricotta pan perdu, an eggs Benedict station, beef tenderloin and mushrooms, smoked salmon cakes, a pasta station and a carving station with peppercorn roasted leg of lamb and hoisin glazed Kurobuta ham.
We feel stuffed just writing about all this.
Kids can partake in a special set of offerings with mac and cheese, chicken tenders and french fries.
Montage Kapalua Bay’s buffet is $75 for adults, $25 for kids eight to 14 and free for those under seven.
For reservations call (808) 662-6681.