A Taste of Paradise on Maui

Molokai sweet potato pancakes at Cane & Canoe at the Montage Kapalua. What a way to greet the morning.

Molokai sweet potato pancakes at Cane & Canoe at the Montage Kapalua. What a way to greet the morning.

 

MAUI, HAWAII — In seven days on this tropical paradise, one can do major damage to the waistline. So much for that Speedo or bikini bod.

I can practically live on nothing but poke and papaya when I visit Hawaii. But of course, when you’re a guest invited by the Maui Visitors Bureau, with meals and accommodations provided, you end up eating a whole lot more. Happily, of course.

In fact, I miss the food already. Can you blame me? Just take a look.

Montage Kapualua Bay

One of the newer resorts in the area, the 24-acre, oceanfront Montage Kapualua Bay opened in June 2014. A former Ritz-Carlton time-share, the property still boasts a fair number of privately-owned luxury units. But 50 of them are operated by the hotel, comprising one-, two-, and three-bedroom residences with gourmet kitchens, living rooms and spacious lanais.

There’s also a large fitness center with state-of-the-art equipment, spa services, outdoor hot and cold plunge pools, and exercise classes. Yours truly even dragged herself to an early-morning cardio core class one day.

The view during breakfast.

The view during breakfast.

The living room in our suite.

The living room in our suite.

The full-service kitchen, which even has a washer-dryer off to the side.

The full-service kitchen, which even has a washer-dryer off to the side.

One of three bedrooms in this particular suite.

One of three bedrooms in this particular suite.

But first things first. After a very long flight that arrived late at night, my husband and I were so looking forward to breakfast the next morning at the resort’s restaurant, Cane & Canoe.

The open-air restaurant affords a perfect view of the pool and ocean as the sun comes up. Bask in that sight as complimentary mini kabocha muffins arrive to the table.

You won’t be surprised that my husband, aka Meat Boy, dove right into a very gourmet version of Loco Moco — a mountain of white rice, local mushrooms, brown gravy, Kobe burger and a fried egg.

I love kabocha in anything. Especially these muffins.

I love kabocha in anything. Especially these muffins.

My first papaya -- but not my last -- of the trip.

My first papaya — but not my last — of the trip.

An upscale version of loco moco.

An upscale version of loco moco.

I, of course, had to enjoy my first papaya of the trip. That was followed by a huge stack of pancakes made with Molokai purple potatoes. They were fluffy and tender, and crowned with bananas, pecans and a sweet, glaze-like haupia (coconut) sauce.

That night, we really got to experience the restaurant at its finest when its Chef Riko Bartolome, created a tasting menu for myself and other media, as well as local and visiting chefs participating in that weekend’s Maui Ag County Festival.

I could have eaten six of these -- easily.

I could have eaten six of these — easily.

The multi-course feast began with a perfect deviled egg, glammed up with truffle mousse and a smidge of Osetra caviar.

On it was to a lightly cured hamachi draped over uni curd, accented by the sweet perfume of logan fruit.

A dramatic uni curd with cured hamachi.

A dramatic uni curd with cured hamachi.

Dig for the duck liver mousse on the bottom.

Dig for the duck liver mousse on the bottom.

Onaga in a potato basket

Onaga in a potato basket.

A most unusual dessert.

A most unusual dessert.

Next, a layer of passion fruit gelee hiding a creamy poached duck liver mousse. Raspberries and Meyer lemon dust ringed this gorgeous dish full of rich gamey and fruity flavors.

Then, a lovely potato basket encircling maitake mushrooms, Perigord truffle potato puree and a glistening fillet of onaga (long-tail red snapper).

Dessert was an unusual parsnip cheesecake, its nutty flavor heightened by a hazelnut puree. Chef Bartolome made us guess the dots of green puree on the plate. Would you believe it was chive oil? Yes, on a dessert. The oil was sweetened slightly, so what could have been totally wacky was actually just rather daring.

Chefs hamming it up at Cane & Canoe dinner: (L to R) Kyle Kawakami of Maui Fresh Streatery Gourmet Food Truck; Seakyeong Kim of Charlie Palmer's at Bloomingdale's in Costa Mesa; Oscar Torres of Acabar in Los Angeles; Richie Nakano, late of Hapa Ramen in San Francisco; Riko Bartolome of Cane & Canoe; Jeff Scheer of Maui Executive Catering; Sheldon Simeon of Migrant, and Mike Lofaro of Humuhumunukunukuapuaa.

Chefs hamming it up at Cane & Canoe dinner: (L to R) Kyle Kawakami of Maui Fresh Streatery Gourmet Food Truck; Seakyeong Kim of Charlie Palmer’s at Bloomingdale’s in Costa Mesa; Oscar Torres of Acabar in Los Angeles; Richie Nakano, late of Hapa Ramen in San Francisco; Riko Bartolome of Cane & Canoe; Jeff Scheer of Maui Executive Catering; Sheldon Simeon of Migrant, and Mike Lofaro of Humuhumunukunukuapuaa.

Grand Wailea

With 40 acres of beach-front property, the Grand Wailea is sprawling and picturesque. But since I last stayed there four years ago, it’s gotten a face-lift with a new look for the rooms and a new chef for its Humuhumunukunukuapuaa restaurant, which is named after the state fish.

One of the many fountains at the Grand Wailea.

One of the many fountains at the Grand Wailea.

Beach time.

Beach time.

A remodeled corner room.

A remodeled corner room.

The once dated rooms now sport a much refreshed, airier look. And Chef Mike Lofaro brings mainland sophistication to the food, having cooked for many years in the Bay Area with Chef Michael Mina.

One evening, he prepared a special tasting menu for our group of media, local chefs, visiting chefs, and representatives from the Maui Visitor’s Bureau.

Kampachi with smoked ponzu.

Kampachi with smoked ponzu.

Hamachi with celery "shave ice.''

Hamachi with celery “shave ice.”

The first dish was one of my favorites of the night. It was deceptively simple in looks yet suffused with intense umami flavor. Raw slices of Big Island Kampachi perched in a smoked ponzu sauce accented with mustard oil and grated ginger. I lapped up every drop of that brothy sauce with a spoon.

Next, raw hamachi dolloped with a riff on shave ice. Only this one was a a yuzu-ginger ice with a haunting green color from celery juice.

Scallops and foie.

Scallops and foie.

Perfect rack of lamb.

Perfect rack of lamb.

Another standout was a dish of plump scallops, paired with seared foie gras and a beguiling smoked strawberry sauce.

Colorado rack of lamb was juicy and flavorful with the brightness of apricot yuzu puree.

An inventive cheese course followed with a fortress of sweet watermelon slabs protecting creamy Maui goat cheese and bits of crisp prosciutto.

Yup, this is the cheese course.

Yup, this is the cheese course.

You can never go wrong with chocolate and peanut butter.

You can never go wrong with chocolate and peanut butter.

Lastly, everyone’s favorite combination of chocolate and peanut butter in the form of chocolate cremeux with candied peanuts and a scoop of creme fraiche sorbet.

And you wonder why I tried to fit in a cardio class.

AgFestGrandTasteIsaacDish

More: Tantalizing Tastes from the 8th Annual Maui County Ag Fest

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3 comments

  • That loco moco does look fancy. I had to do cardio classes every other day while staying in Hawaii too!

  • Ummm, can I have your life, please?

  • Hamama falls hike is one of Oahu’s best hike. This is the most famous hiking course for people in the area though it is trespassing. Hamama falls is a vast, hidden waterfall in the back of waihe’e valley. It takes around 1-2 hours hiking roughly 4 miles round trip depending on the time you spend at the falls. Though it is hidden, it is one of the biggest waterfalls on the island of Oahu which is yet not well known.

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