the tastes of maui

You know you are getting old when the food you ate is one of the highlights of your trip.  Oh, but it was.

It was all so delicious … fresh, local, great flavor … and we indulged.

One of my friends commented that it was nice to see everyone eating again after months of getting our bodies Maui-ready! Eat, we did. A lot of it.

Here are some highlights of our meals, with a few recipes at the end.

Hula Grill, Kaanapali

We dined in the barefoot bar – a sandy floor with tables under grass hut roofs. Great atmosphere with live music and very friendly staff. The dinner was amazing, but so was the dessert.

{coconut creme brulee, tropical sorbet, macadamia nut brownie ice cream sandwich}

Definitely a must-try if you are on Maui.

Mama’s Fish House, Maui North Shore

We had heard many things about Mama’s Fish House – from “best meal of my life” to “not worth the hype” – but my best friend and her husband were up to it, so we spent one evening indulging in the Polynesian experience.

{my grilled fish with rice and bok choy}

Although it was expensive, I will say this was the best collective meal I have ever enjoyed.  The appetizers were amazing {my first time trying tuna sashimi}, our entrees were perfect and the best part was dessert. We tried a variety and each one was the best thing I had ever tasted.

This is a great restaurant for an indulgent date night.

Haliimaile General Store, upcountry

If you find yourself in Maui, be sure to take a drive through the upcountry {Paia, especially}. If/when we return, we’d love to find a bed & breakfast and stay here.  Sugarcane plantations, local farms and ranches surround the area with amazing views of the ocean – it is so tropical and beautiful. My aunt’s favorite restaurant on the island is the Haliimaile General Store located in this upcountry area so we just had to try it. The food was excellent and my coconut & lime blended drink was the best. They used toasted coconut to rim the glass – I’m stealing that idea someday.

Five Palms Restaurant, Kihei

{crab cake eggs benedict}

On our last full day, Ryan and I took a long walk along the beach then stopped for a late breakfast at the Five Palms Restaurant.  I have a thing for crab cakes and eggs benedict and when I saw the two combined on the menu, I knew I was in heaven. So over-the-top but amazingly delicious. Best breakfast of my life.

Because we were in the island spirit, on the night we hosted our friends for a bbq, we decided to take ques from the food we had already tried.

Ryan grilled flank steak and pineapple {so delicious grilled}, a friend made a traditional pico but added finely chopped pineapple and I put together my new favorite salad.

Tropical Salad

mixed spring greens
red onion, finely diced
avocado, chopped
navel orange, segmented
sliced almonds
toasted coconut

Just throw it all together in a big salad bowl and serve. You don’t even need dressing, but a light citrus vinaigrette would be delicious on it.  You could grill chicken and add that on top for a full meal.

 

At breakfast one morning there was coconut syrup. I love anything coconut, so I poured a little on my fresh fruit and sprinkled on toasted coconut. What a treat! This would also be great on pancakes.

Coconut Syrup {from allrecipes.com}

1 (13.5 ounce) can coconut milk
2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 cups light corn syrup
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup shredded sweetened coconut

Whisk together the coconut milk and cornstarch in a saucepan until the cornstarch is dissolved. Pour in the corn syrup, sugar, and coconut; bring to a boil, stirring continually. As soon as the mixture comes to a rolling boil, remove from heat. Allow to cool completely before serving.

Is your mouth watering yet?

Mine, too.
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