By Vanessa Wolf Tony Bennett is not only real, he can croon.  Too bad for the fictional “most interesting man in the world.” Get an earful of the 87-year-old icon’s stylings next Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. when he plays the MACC’s Castle Theater with his daughter Antonia Bennett . As for the title...

Can you name all the items associated with the “12 Days of Christmas” song? Neither can we. But supposing we could, surely some of those gifts were real stinkers. Lords a-leaping? Can you even return those guys? And even if you can, thanks for the chore, True Love. Maybe a gift card next...

WARNING: SATIRE… MOSTLY. Most of this is utter nonsense, but some of it near the end is actually founded in fact. By Vanessa Wolf A public forum focusing on issues surrounding feral cats and chickens on Maui is planned for tomorrow night. With respect to the issues at hand, Mayor Arakawa...

What would you pay for a massive serving of baby back pork ribs with a sweet and spicy blackberry brandy barbecue sauce? $30? $40? What if we also gave you a serving of intensely buttery whipped chive potatoes with that? Before you answer: what if we were to throw in some outstanding Asian...

WARNING: SATIRE. The following is intended to give you a break from the heave ho that is life. For the most part, if it sounds too good to be true, it isn’t. By Vanessa Wolf The multinational biotechnology corporation often makes worldwide headlines for its Roundup brand, an herbicide that...

As you might recall, in earlier chapters of the story, the protagonist spends her time seeking out a wide variety of food venues across a magical land known as Maui. From corner to corner, our heroine follows numerous woodland paths, sky-high beanstalks and white rabbits, only to encounter...

There’s a reason Casanova’s Italian Restaurant has been in business for nearly 30 years. Décor aside, it’s Maui’s answer to the Olive Garden: somewhat Americanized, but reliable Italian fare. When in Rome… er… Makawao, it’s best to start with the standards. The Calamari Fritti ($10) arrives...

This one goes out to all the meat-eaters currently dating, married to or traveling with vegans in the hizzouse. Prepare to become a hero. It’s called Joy’s Place, and it’s in Kihei. Located in a close-to-The-Cove-yet-difficult-to-find-unless-you-know-where-you’re-going-already location, it’s...

WARNING: Satire. By Vanessa Wolf “I don’t know how to describe it,” she explained, visibly shaken, “but I suddenly realized: jumping off this thing is incredibly stupid. I mean, we’re talking a 75-foot leap of faith here. I could cripple myself. Heck, I could DIE.”Despite owning a copy ofMaui...

Like a lone revolutionary, Like Poke? stands out against the rusty landscape on a daunting stretch of Hobron Avenue, shunning crowds and convention and defying you to continue to drive around as a growing conviction in you says you’ve made a wrong turn. You haven’t. Still, unless you’re a...

Juanita’s Mexican Restaurant has materialized in the space the former KFC on South Kihei Road left behind. Similar to offerings typically found in Southern California taco joints, Juanita’s boasts an extensive Mexican take-out style menu. We decided to dive into the deep end and start with...

WARNING: satire By Vanessa Wolf Sources report she has chosen the form of a middle-aged woman with a beehive hairdo. It’s unclear whether or not she is wearing glasses on a chain around her neck or just an unusual blouse.Over the warm waters of the eastern Pacific Ocean, Tropical Storm...

If you’ve ever looked out the window while getting  your tires rotated in Kihei, you may have noticed a cute little house across the street. That’s Chez Meme Baguette Bistro, a delightfully renovated space with a dynamite view of the Goodyear Tire store. What was once a modest little cottage...

Mike + Hong Kong + Bistro. Hmmmmm… The name alone provides the tip-off. In an epic co-mingling of gastronomical styles, Mike is offering several genre’s worth of cuisine under one roof. Kind of like a little Epcot Center in Wailuku. It’s a four-part battle for supremacy and only one will...

Stewart’s Burgers currently occupies the spot that used to be Fat Boy Burgers (and before that was a fish and chips place) in the Kukui Mall on South Kihei Road. It also seems to have stuck with Fat Boy’s same lots o’ burgers with clever names a la carte state of affairs. But whatever. It’s...

Clean-cut, family friendly comedian Brian Regan will be performing at the MACC on Saturday, June 29 at 8:30 p.m. Known for material that explores the humorous side of everyday events like shipping a package with UPS or a visit to an optometrist. Regan’s clean, off-center humor has been...

If you like your happy hours crowded with options and other people, Five Palms Beach Grill in the Mana Kai Condo building in South Kihei will likely put a smile on your face. The desirable prime time happy hour seating area by the bar fills up fast and stays that way. Expect service to be...

In early March, Whole Foods Market, the supermarket chain best known for its beautiful displays and vast organic inventory, announced that it will “aim for full GMO transparency” within five years. By 2018, the Austin, Texas-based chain hopes to be able to identify and label all products in...

Alright stop whatcha doin’ ’cause I’m about to ruin The image and the style that ya used to. Was Shock G foreshadowing the existence of this acai bowl – aptly named “the O.G.” – when he uttered these words back in 1990? Obviously, the answer to that question is “yes.” If you are a person who...

If lots and lots of words made a restaurant excellent, well, disregard, because that’s obviously silly. Let’s start with the good news: the “Ren’s Sushi” part of the alphabet soup is really quite solid, filling in a notable gap in Kahului dining options. The location on Dairy Road is...