The Market by Capische (as it’s called on the signage –  other sources give it other appellations, but we’ll let those slide) is, as the name implies, a market. However, it’s more a shop of the ‘$100 picnic’ ilk than a place for area residents to grab some basic staples on the way home… well,...

What do Thai food, three-wheeled auto rickshaws, and a psychedelic school bus straight out of The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test have in common? If you said “Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band” or “The Grateful Dead,” you’re probably right. However, in this particular case, the answer we were...

Izakaya Matsu, located in the Makai Azeka Shopping Center, offers a unique opportunity to sample some traditional Japanese pub fare here on Maui. If you aren’t already familiar, an izakaya is a Japanese tavern that serves Japanese-style tapas, making it akin to a Japanese gastropub. (We will...

By David Kvasnicka Vanessa Wolf  of Maui Now has been nominated for a national award for food journalism by the Association of Food Journalists. The AFJ selected Vanessa Wolf as one of three finalists in the ‘Best Restaurant Criticism’ category for her reviews of eating establishments on...

If you were alive at the time, you may recall that back in 1934: Dirt storms swept across the American Midwest, destroying 100 million acres and damaging another 200 million resulting in a natural disaster now known as the Dust Bowl. Adolph Hitler became Fuhrer. Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker...

In the book “It Must Have Been Something I Ate,” award-winning food writer Jeffrey Steingarten dedicates an entire chapter to one topic: pizza. How much can be said about pizza, really? Watch and learn. Largely considered an Italian invention, pizza (or a concoction going by that name anyway)...

If you’ve ever been to Costa Rica, you know the expression “pura vida” – literally translated as “pure life” – is used extensively as a greeting, farewell, toast, adjective meant to communicate a laid-back lifestyle and even a synonym for “excellent.” But why? According to Wikipedia, “Pura...

First off, let’s just come out and address the obvious: Kihei’s Eskimo Candy is the epitome of false advertising if ever there were. Is it a chocolatier run by Inuits? A confectionery staffed with native Yupik people? Nope. Not even close. There aren’t even any sweets… well, unless your idea...

It’s official. We have a new crush, and we have it bad. Seafood lovers and party animals rejoice: Tamura’s Fine Wines and Liquors offers a stunning array of what you crave. Sure, the name, location and appearance are rather deceptive, but trust us on this one: Tamura’s is positioned to give...

South Kihei’s La Tienda del Sol is the Clark Kent of Maui Mexican cuisine: under the radar, quietly typing away at his desk in the back. Forget the Bruce Wayne flash, this little restaurant is artfully disguised as a small, understated Hispanic grocery store. Hidden on the bottom floor of a...

In little more than an hour (correction: day. Thanks for the catch, Laura G. ~VW), Star Noodle’s annual Empty Bowl Project benefit kicks off. Whether due to claustrophobia, empty bowlophobia, conflicting plans or something else entirely, those who miss the event can still take in a little...

Your dreams of winning a billion dollars courtesy of Warren Buffet and a bullet-proof bracket dashed, you can still lose a little of your own money in a friendly Final Four bet or two. While you’re at it, consider taking in the games, some brews and some classic pub grub at the The Sports...

There’s nothing quite like the thrill of anonymous fuming via the internet, is there? Last week’s blurb about Taco Bell’s forthcoming venture into breakfast spawned a whole lotta grumbling and one “I can’t wait for Vanessa’s review!” What’s that? A request? A dare? A double-dog dare? A Cheesy...

Every so often, readers send in review requests or recommendations as to “the best [fill in the blank]” –  a gesture we very much appreciate. After three such endorsements for Pho Saigon 808 in Lahaina, we caved to the pressure and checked it out in person. Surveying the menu, the high-level...

Monkeypod Kitchen by Merriman offers an expansive, eclectic menu. Light eaters, multi-plate nibblers and cheapskates will be happy to learn there is also a diverse spread available as part of the happy hour menu. Better yet, it’s offered twice throughout the restaurant every day from 3 to...

Picture an East Coast pizza joint in your mind. If you came up with a small, hot space filled with notable accents, Yankees memorabilia and Scarface posters, then Giannotto’s Pizza in Wailuku is already super legit. They do more than make pizza, but since that’s mentioned in the name, we’ll...

One pitfall of the restaurant business – if not life itself – involves attempting to be too many things to too many people. On the surface, it looks like Café des Amis in Paia may be falling victim to this temptation – “They serve Mediterranean AND Indian food?” – but non, they actually have...

Another day, another west side food truck. This week’s adventure brings us to the Shark Pit, located at the end of the Sugar Cane Train route in Ka’anapali. The eight-item menu is short and to the point, and there is but one rule where the two or three daily specials are concerned: be early...

The latest venture from the owners of Café O’Lei and the Makawao Steakhouse opened in Kihei late last fall. Make no mistake; this is not a French restaurant. Rather, ‘ami refers to the hip-rotation hula move, rather than the word for “friend.” Occupying the breezy space formerly inhabited by...

Here’s the problem with people who love everything: they love everything. How does one distinguish between varying levels of superlative? Is awesome better than amazing? Does scrumptious trump mouthwatering? And what to do about delicious, delightful and de-lovely? Darned if we know. People...