NEW IN WAILUKU . . . People walking or driving down Market Street in Wailuku are noticing all of the construction at the former Cafe O'Lei in the Pono Building.
We hear it's targeted to reopen as the Old Wailuku Grill on Nov. 15. The new owner is former Cafe O'Lei manager Molly Wilson, who also ran An Absolute Affair catering company for 25 years.
Jennifer Nguyen is pleased to announce that she will do a soft reopening of her smashing new open-air lounge from 3 to 6 p.m. Tuesday at A Saigon Cafe.
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A Saigon Cafe’s owner Jennifer Nguyen will relaunch her new open-air lounge in Wailuku on Tuesday with her new pupu menu during happy hour.
CARLA TRACY photo
"I'm pleased, very happy," she says. "I just brought in all new high-boy tables and new bar stools and now it's all open to the outside with plants and fresh air."
The construction is finished and the cement bar and floors are chic, clean and urbane. Nguyen will debut her new pupu menu during happy hour Tuesday.
"I've added about 10 to 12 new items," she says. "Some with a French influence such as baguette with three cheeses and maybe escargot. We'll do Vietnamese crepes, sashimi on banana flower, and crab-and-cream-cheese won tons tied with green scallions in spicy sauce. Our wine list now offers 26 selections."
Fact Box
Got restaurant / dining-event scoop? Call Dining Editor Carla Tracy at 242-6342; or email carlatracy@mauinews.com.
With cars lined up and down the street in Waikapu, it's obvious that the hugely popular Cafe 808 is open in its new location, but only for take-out and catering for now, with dine in coming soon.
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BITS AND PIECES . . . Make your reservation now for a fun event on Thursday, Nov. 15 featuring international street vendor food of the Middle East, Asia, Latin America and New York City.
Street Eats will be held in the Lei's Family Class Act at UH Maui College starting at 5 p.m. and the cost is $40 for all you can eat of pulled pork crepes, poached quail eggs and chorizo on plantains and much more. Sip from the beer and wine cash bar. Come support Maui Culinary Academy's Garde Manger class. Call 984-3367.
Maui Brewing Co. will be a sea of suds starting at 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 16 at a special beer dinner. Rub elbows with guest of honor Yiga Miyashiro, the head brewer of Pizza Port of Ocean Beach, Calif. The eat and drink affair costs $60 per person. Call 669-3474.
Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa just signed a proclamation in honor of Floyd and Doris Christenson, who both were recently inducted into the Hawaii Restaurant Hall of Fame for 2012. As the owners of the iconic Mama's Fish House in Kuau, the Christensons also now have Oct. 29 dedicated to them in perpetuity by the county.
How many chicken wings can you consume in just four minutes flat? Come and put your stomach to the test at the Lahaina Second Friday Town Party's Campbell Park Wing Eating Contest. "Entry is free. Sign up at the scrip booth," says publicist Luanne Yapp. Competition follows the entertainment, which ends around 7:30 p.m. and then the winner will be announced. Hope to see you there for a night of festivities and flavor!"
Stroll down to I'o and Pacific'o restaurants at 505 Front St., in Lahaina Friday and meet owner Janet Trefethen of the acclaimed Trefethen Winery on premises.
"There is no set time to dine and meet the owner other than our normal hours making it easy to attend based on your time schedule," says Chef James McDonald. "The evening showcases three wines to choose by the bottle or by the glass. The format is different from regular winemaker dinners in that we will have a special appetizer and a special entree meant to pair with certain wines, or you may enjoy the regular menus."
The Rotary Club of Kihei Sunrise will host its Spaghetti Dinner from 6 to 8 p.m. on Saturday at Stawasz Hall on the grounds of St. Theresa Church in Kihei. DJ Dr. Love Smith will spin tunes and you may savor pasta, meatballs, salad, garlic bread, dessert and soft drinks or water for $15 adults and $7.50 children 7 to 12 years of age.
"Purchase tickets online at www.kiheirotary.org," says assistant governor Joanne Laird. "A portion of the dinner proceeds will go to benefit the Hale Kau Kau Feed The Homeless programs."
There are a bunch of food and beverage classes coming right up as part of the EdVenture program at the UH Maui College. You may learn how to do Delicious Desserts for the Holidays; or opt for Winter Holiday Cakelets, or Superb Holiday Side Dishes such as New Orlean style cornbread stuffing. Call 984-3231.
Manoli's in Wailea is building a new 30-seat outdoor bar with flat-screen TVs. During the build out, Manoli's will temporarily open at 4 p.m. and once it's finished, it will open at 11:30 a.m. daily for lunch.
