Maui Food And Dining

Mick Fleetwood, legendary drummer and co-founding member of the iconic band, Fleetwood Mac, announces the reopening of his Fleetwood’s on Front Street restaurant Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020. The West Maui eatery transitioned to a temporary closure amid the COVID-19 pandemic, but is preparing to reopen.

Moku Roots, Lahaina Gateway’s zero-waste vegan restaurant, has been named the Best Vegetarian Restaurant in Hawaiʻi by Yelp.

Son’z Steakhouse and Nick’s Fishmarket are among the wave of locally-owned small businesses working hard to re-open and support the revitalization of Maui’s economy.

Entremets, pronounced ‘ontra-may,’ are complex cakes – they involve difficult techniques, advanced knowledge of flavors and textures and the construction is nothing short of architectural.

Located on the ground floor of The Shops at Wailea, the Italian seafood restaurant will serve dinner from 5 to 9 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 2, before launching breakfast, lunch and dinner service starting Saturday.

After almost six months of closure, Frida’s Beach House announced that the Mexican restaurant will reopen on Thursday, Oct. 1. The Lahaina restaurant will be open on an adjusted schedule, tentatively opening for four days a week from Thursday through Sunday, from 2 to 8 p.m.

More than 15 Maui businesses, including eight restaurants, have closed their doors for good due to the lack of tourism and other economic woes caused by the coronavirus. Many more Maui businesses are teetering on the brink, as government assistance programs for small businesses dry up and the pandemic drags on. “We are literally hanging on by our fingertips,” said Josh Curi, owner of Da Babooze Bar in Wailuku.

Mayor Victorino notes that some local businesses are not qualifying for small business grant programs because they exceed revenue thresholds currently in place. “We had to set thresholds because I wanted this money to go to our small local businesses, not to some big conglomerate someplace else… we’re committed to help our local businesses, our small mom and pops wherever possible.”

Valkirs is hopeful that Chocolate Laulima can provide not only a benefit to the chocolate factory and to local nonprofit organizations, but that the benefit has even more direct results, as all money raised stays in Hawai‘i and mostly on Maui.

The eatery was previously located behind the 76 gas station in Kīhei near the “triangle” but closed that location in March. Now, the business is reopening at a new location at the Aloha Open Air Market, located at 1794 South Kīhei Road.

Moku Roots in Lahaina Gateway announced Monday a new menu featuring plant-based “handheld” food items and a new head chef, Brandon Martinez.

Koholā will start brewing beer in the next two weeks and prepare the tap room to welcome guests once again. The business is targeting a re-opening in approximately three weeks.

According to the company, the number of customers at the shop decreased to less than five per day since the the reinstatement of the 14-day quarantine for interisland travelers.  

The 26th Annual Made in Hawaiʻi Festival is presenting a three-day virtual experience this year with culinary demonstrations from six Hawaiʻi chefs and live-stream entertainment from today through Aug. 23, 2020.  

The iconic store, known for its strawberry and pineapple flavored sherbet, initially closed on March 14 for two weeks as pandemic related closures went into effect.

From July 24-31, LINEAGE is open for takeout only from 4 to 8 p.m. Beginning Aug. 1, it will be open for takeout and dine-in services from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday through Sunday; and from 4 to 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Limited seating is available to accommodate social distancing measures, so reservations are highly recommended.

Da Kitchen is closing its Kahului location on Wednesday, July 22, 2020 after 20 years in business.  The announcement came in the form of a company Facebook post on Monday evening and was confirmed via phone call to store managers. The restaurant is known for signature dishes that include the “Deep Fried Spam Musubi,” and its Mocos and Bowls that include the “Polynesian Paralysis Moco,” and the “Kanak Attack Combo Moco.” The Kahului location employs at least 10 staff for front-of-house operations in Kahului.

2nd Violation: The Department of Health will issue a red placard. This will result in immediate closure of the establishment and a news release will announce the red placard posting. The food establishment may request a reinspection and review to safely reinstate their operations.

Maui Kuʻia Estate Chocolate Inc. has reopened with a sweet opportunity for Hawaiʻi residents. The chocolate company is offering kama’āina and their families deals for in-person tastings at its retail store in Lahaina.

The Hawaiʻi Restaurant Association issued an open letter this month on behalf of a hui of restaurants in Maui County to the Department of Liquor Control saying the industry has been “devastated” by the COVID-19 pandemic and needs help.