LEAP OF FAITH . . . Those born on Leap Day can only celebrate their official birthdays once every four years. So on Monday, Hard Rock Cafe in Lahaina will let all of you “leaplings” enjoy a free meal from a special eat-free menu of hickory-smoked pulled-pork sliders; twisted mac, chicken and cheese; and certified Angus beef burgers with a golden onion ring topping, according to Maui sales manager Ryan Beenken.
Sad to report that the owner of Maui Pasta Company in Waikapu is now in Islands Hospice Home in Kahului due to a recent diagnosis of metastic melanoma to the brain, skin and lungs. Prior to this, Ron Inman had done the store’s bill paying, deliveries and so much more.
“I went to see him and our delivery car was stolen from the home,” says his wife, chef and business partner Patricia Inman. “It’s so hard to be with him and keep the business afloat. But new chef Mike Ayad has dropped in my lap. He has lived and studied in Italy and is doing great pizzas and meat loafs and the like.”
Maui Pasta Company is take out and catering. Hours are now 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays and 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekends. Other highlights are baked ziti, lasagne, artichoke heart dip, four-cheese ravioli and Grissini bread sticks. The Inmans can sure benefit from your kokua, although the car has been recovered. Call Maui Pasta Company at 633-3355 or visit www.gofundme.com/xeu5uqss.
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BITS AND PIECES . . . Sip cocktails from the Pau Vodka ice luge, dance the night away to Gretchen Rhodes and the House Shakers and dine on retro American fare by Beverly Gannon of Celebrations Catering from 5 to 10 p.m. Saturday at the Hui No’eau Visual Art Center’s annual fundraiser, Art Affair. This year’s theme is Andy Warhol, Celebrate Your 15 Minutes of Fame. Tickets are going fast. For more details, call 572-6560.
It will be a “Wild World” of flavors at the Maxi Priest reggae concert Sunday at Maui Arts & Cultural Center. Food service will start at 3 p.m. on the A&B Amphitheater Lawn with Mexican chicken tacos, American pulled pork sliders and Italian veggie meat lasagne plates and combos by 808 Street Grindz.
Private chef and owner of Laulima Events and Catering Lyndon Honda is consulting for Cohn Restaurant Group, which acquired Castaway Cafe in Kaanapali back at the end of December.
“We’ll roll out a new menu and live entertainment next week,” says Honda. “Items include kale pesto with smoked gouda and crostini; merlot-poached pear and brie burger with baby arugula; kung-pao calamari and papaya-rum cake from my winning recipe in the Deep Island Hawaiian Ocean Rum Contest.”
Cohn also owns Pineapple Grill and is also partners in Plantation House both in Kapalua.
Word on the street and on Facebook is that Wailea Beach Marriott Resort & Spa will undergo a major renovation after the high season and so both Mala and Migrant will close by May 15.
The chef of both restaurants, “Top Chef” finalist Sheldon Simeon, was asked to stay on. But he’ll soon open Tin Roof in Kahului. We also hear that he and Migrant owner Shep Gordon are actively seeking the perfect spot for Migrant to, well, migrate to, and I hear it will most likely be in Central Maui as well.
The other news is that James Beard Award-winning chef Roy Yamaguchi is slated to come in with a new concept in December in the Migrant location after renovation, and the Mala space will be a banquet spot and his new restaurant will have access.
All of Wailea is jumping this week with 5,000 people in the SAP sales group and Katy Perry is singing.
As for Tin Roof, the goal is to open by the end of March for lunch or until sold out. Eventually it will be open early mornings for grab-and-gos and local-style breakfast choices, and chef’s table dinners will be scheduled once or twice a month, Simeon reports.
“We’re working hard,” says Simeon of the spot that will open in the old Koko Ichiban location between Marco’s and Pinata’s on Dairy Road. “Equipment is going in and I’m not sleeping until it is open.”
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