David Paul and his son the next generation for Island Grill

Here’s a chance to take a cooking class with Chef David Paul. Let one of the best chefs in Hawaii be your muse and mentor with his innovative style, love of Maui ingredients and dedication to craft. Join him for intimate lessons in his gorgeous and spacious restaurant kitchen beginning Sunday, Feb. 12^, and every second and fourth Sunday of the month.

“The last class I held here I told the group we were going to make tuna sandwiches,” said Paul. “You could see the eyes rolling around like this was going to be a waste of their time. [But] then I pulled off the cover of a 150-pound tuna to show them how to break it down, what to look for, what parts get used where, then how to make the focaccia bread and the aioli and so much more just to prepare a fabulous yet simple meal. Good food is simple, but simplicity is a relative term.”

Princess and the Pea

Each class includes a three-hour cooking course followed by a sit-down luncheon featuring dishes made in the class and paired with wines and other beverages. Later there’s a question and answer forum.

Cost is $150 per person, which includes tax and tip, meal and a certificate of completion. Classes begin at 12pm sharp. Reservations and prepayment are made in advance and no later than two days prior to the class date. Class size is limited to 12. Culinary students receive a 50 percent discount with proof of enrollment in a culinary program.

February 12 “Cooking with Passion”

February 26 “Mediterranean Meets Hawaii”

March 11 “Real Men Eat Quiche”

March 25 “What Woman Really Want”

All classes are subject to change and cancellation based on enrollment.

Call 808-662-3000 for more information or visit our website at www.davidpaulsislandgrill.com

There’s so much to do this weekend, I hope you can pack it all in. Henry Kapono will be at the Royal Lahaina Resort for a summer beach concert and barbecue on Saturday, July 16 starting at 4pm. Barbecue is all-you-can-eat so pack your appetite. The cost is just $34.50 for adults; children 12 and under are $12.95. You are welcome to bring your beach chairs, but please, no outside food or drink.

I'o photo courtesy Sean Hower http://howerphoto.com

On Friday the 15th, I’o at 505 Front Street hosts their wine club at 8pm, which is $35. Last week we were so excited about it that we jumped the gun and gave you the wrong date. This month’s theme is Da Mix, so jump in da mix with wine, beer, great pupus and both feet.

Also on Friday, David Paul’s Island Grill hosts the Sky Lounge, with discounted martinis and wine, pupus, and DJ CIA spinning under the stars. The next night, Cakebread Cellars’ wine educator, Matt Rubin, will guide foodies through four courses paired with this magnificent winery. Four different wine genres will be entered: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot and Zinfandel. The reception starts at 6:30pm and costs $95.

Capische photos courtesy of Sean Hower, http://howerphoto.com

In Wailea, Capische? is offering a buy-one-entree-get-one-half-off kamaaina deal. Bring your ID, and feast on stunning Italian cuisine in this intimate restaurant. Their happy hour is nightly during sunset, 5pm to 6:30, and their mixologist menu is phenomenal. They have the best Manhattans on Maui.

Mulligan's on the Blue courtesy of Sean Hower http://howerphoto.com

In the mood for something more casual? Head to Mulligans on the Blue–their live entertainment every night of the week is always a good time. Gail Swanson rocks Friday, the Celtic Tigers appear on Sunday, Willie K headlines Tuesday and Wednesday and there are always great beers on tap and great food.

Village Cafe courtesy of Sean Hower

Lastly, on Tuesday the Village Cafe and Sweet Shoppe in Kapalua is doing a Clambake, and you don’t have to go mucking for clams to enjoy it. Thirty five dollars gets you in from 5:30 to 8:30. Glen Kakugawa will play Hawaiian Music and you get to stuff yourself with seafood delights.

David Paul’s Island Grill Sky Lounge
900 Front St., Lahaina
808-662-3000

Location: David Paul’s Island Grill is going to be your northern most restaurant that is still in town, right across from a short rock-made seawall.

Decor: You have three atmospheres of cool in which to enjoy your amazing food here: there is the ocean and sunset view al fresco lanai right on Front Street; the inner circle, elegant table and chairs, the bar seating, booths that overlook the inside of the kitchen and the luxe couches; and last the back patio where the dj plays next to the satellite bar and you can drink under the stars (hence the Sky Lounge was born) and sit on cushy outdoor couches among flora and fauna.

What is the prettiest thing I have drank lately?: It had to be the new moon margarita, served in handblown glass, rimmed with line hing mui, with 1800 silver tequila and Eristoff black, and blackberries. Dark and mysterious as midnight, the drink was slightly viscous and sweet. Sky Lounge has more than pretty drinks: guys and dolls mingle over lounge music spun by DJ CIA, and chat each other up over fetching tapas. The specialty cocktail menu reads like a chef designed it, with top shelf spirits and fresh garnishes and juices. Ring your bell with a Front Street Flip with egg yolk and hennessy, or the aptly named Lahaina Relief, a champagne cocktail with St. Germain.

Entertainment: Music starts on the Sky Lounge at 7pm and goes till close. Like DJ CIA on FB. Wanna hear get a taste of the music DJ CIA played April 1,2011? Get it here: http://www.mixcrate.com/mix/41144/David-Pauls-Island-Grill-Sky-Lounge-VIP-Launch-Party

From the lips of Chef David Paul: “The inspiration for Sky Lounge came when I wanted to go out for a drink one night and found I wanted to expand the options here in Lahaina. Our outside lanai is perfect for the lounge, we designed it with that in mind. It seemed like appropriate timing to launch something new and exciting.

The tapas menu will change every week, and this menu is unique because it is still has my quality and style, but at a very approachable and flexible pricepoint, allowing you to order individually or in quantity.

The signature and featured cocktails of Sky Lounge are unique due to our bartenders’ desires to create unusual cocktails, focusing on fresh juices, vegetable and even herbs.  In addition, we plan on bringing in guest mixologists to help expand the creative items we are currently offering and constantly coming up with.”

Grinds: Slider dogs $3, poketini $11, Kobe or crab sliders $6, blue corn chips $8, popcorn shrimp $8, oysters $2, pommes frites $8, just to name a few of the tapas.

Happy Hour: Happy hour has two shifts, from 5-7pm on Fridays the specialty cocktail menu is half price( $7) and then 7pm-close you can get the sky lounge cocktail menu that features two hand crafted drinks designed for the evening for $8, and a red and a white ($10 and under) and a sparkling ($5) by the glass chosen for the evening.

Parking: The Lahaina Center has parking that can be validated at the restaurant.

Princess and the Pea

I am not sure what I should be more excited about, the champagne, or what Chef David Paul will be pairing with the champagne. David Paul’s Sommelier Mark Du Mez, Better Brands Anthony Moore, and Southern Wine & Spirits James Wadsworth will be hosting and they have a lot of bubbly to pour. End your February with a bang or a pop in this case.

I love champagne so I cannot wait for this event. Chef David Paul’s pairings are always out of the box, I am hearing truffle popcorn, oysters with Champagne sorbet. I am begging the powers that be for more details but I guess we will have to be surprised on Monday.

Here are the details:
February 28th 2011
6:30 pm Reception
7:00 pm Dinner
4 Course Dinner with pupus to start
Paired with various labels, including: Nicolas Feuillatte, Vilmart, Tattinger, Bollinger, & Piper Hiedseik
$125++ per person
Diva Discount DOES apply! (15% off)

Maui Bake Shop has a Fabulous Handmade Chocolates

Valentines Day on Maui – Your Guide to Maui Restaurant Events

With so many great dining events in the name of love this week, don’t be the guy left holding the dozen red roses, make dinner reservations! Unlucky with love? Consider yourself liberated from the drama of relationships and celebrate with food.

Start the V-Day weekend with a kick off on Saturday at the Alii Kula Lavender Farm where you can read each other poems and stroll with lavender scones and tea in hand. They also have a chocolate sale, love elixirs, and on Valentines you can reserve a guided tour with a picnic lunch. So romantic! Other upcountry delights will be the special menu at Max Bistro on Sunday Night by Chef Curtis presenting duckling, lamb, pear and creme anglaise.

Valentines Day dinner will be hosted at Casanovas with the eternally romantic classical guitar played by Yorma Bruschi. At the Haliimaile General Store no roses necessary to intoxicate your senses with their four course Valentines menu presented by Chef Jennifer Evetushick , from oysters to pohole fern to the chocolate mouse bomb.

If that is not your cup of tea, perhaps dinner and a show is? David Paul’s Island Grill and Ulalena will have two seatings for their dinner and theatre package on Valentines, multi-course dinner with champagne and rose included. Kimo’s is throwing a pre party Valentines dance on Friday the 11th with DJ 007 so you can find your hook up, then follow that up with their Valentines Dinner featuring filet and chocolate loving’ spoonful cake.

Black Rock Steak and Seafood at the Sheraton is offering 3 different pre fixe menus to choose from each more fabulous than the next. Watch the sunset from the open air dining room at Tropica and indulge in their 3 course offering. Looking for a more tactile dining experience? The Melting Pot has Lover’s Lane seating while you heat things up at the table with their full blown four course extravaganza.

Maui Bake Shop Marzipan Cake

In South Maui Stella Blues will feature the phenomenal Gail Swanson rocking their supper club room for two romantic seatings, one at 5:30 and then 7:30. Enjoy their Valentines specials or order your favorite entree, like their mouthwatering macadamia-nut crusted fresh fish Roasted with a lilikoi beurre blanc, served with mashed purple sweet potatoes. Let Wailea Pita Paradise unfold island style romance with hawaiian entertainment from Gordon Samuelson and Ken Stover along with their special prefix three course menu featuring fresh caught fish and other Greek specialties.

Hotel Wailea’s Capische just announced they are on the top 50 most romantic restaurants from Open Table, celebrate Italian Nouveau with Chef Brian Etheredge with their special 5 course valentines menu, vegetarian friendly is available too. Their martini menu and wine list is incredible, let your cup runneth over. For more ethnic treats Monsoon India will have romantic dinner music with Louise Lambert and valentines specials.

The shrimp avalon and New York steak at Tommy Bahamas are just the tip of the iceberg on their valentines day menu. that features shared courses for two. At Mala Wailea Chef Mark Ellman outdoes even himself with fresh grilled spiny lobster, organic greens, Kurobuta pork, raspberry mascarpone mousse.

Maui Bake Shop Handmade Truffles

Makena Resort pulls out all the stops with their extravagant seven course dinner replete with champagne and wine paired courses served outdoors on the lawn. Taittinger Brut, Kula Strawberries and pancetta and truffle stuffed filet will fill your heart and other parts with joy. Molokini Bar and Grill will also have a special menu. At the Grand Wailea, choose from Bistro Molokini or Humumhumunukunukuapua’a for amazing pre fix dinners or play it casual at the Botero Bar where they have a special cocktail menu.

Coasting in Central Maui on Valentines Day? Make a sweet stop for a sweetheart at Maui Bake Shop your priority, for their handmade truffles, marzipan cakes shaped like butterflies, and other hand crafted treats will will win hearts and tongues over. Bistro Casanova is a sure bet for romantic dining al fresco over their paella for two with a glass of wine.

No matter where you are on the island this v-day there is no excuse for not celebrating this celebration of hearts over some of maui’s great food.

Wine Pairings with Chef Stanislaw and Chef David Paul

Have the urge to drink fabulous wine paired with fine dining courses? This week you will have two fine opportunities to see the creative muscle flexed by two of Maui’s Top Chefs. On Monday Chef David Paul hosts his monthly Vineyard Dining Series spotlighting McIntyre Vineyards from the Santa Lucia Highlands in California with their Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Merlot. Chef David Paul’s  reception starts at 6:30 and his pairings are brilliant, highlights from the multicourse dinner at 7pm will include tomato sashimi, diver scallops with roasted fennel, and duck confit.

DAVID PAUL’S ISLAND GRILLPRESENTS THIS MONTH’S WINERY MCINTYRE VINEYARDSFROM SANTA LUCIA HIGHLANDS, CA WWW.DAVIDPAULSISLANDGRILL.COM MONDAY,JANUARY 24TH,2011 ENJOY A MULTICOURSE DINNER PAIRED EXCLUSIVELY WITHTHE SUSTAINABLY GROWN WINES OF MCINTYRE VINEYARDSHOSTED BY CHEF DAVID PAUL & WINEMAKER STEVE MCINTYRE RECEPTION AT 6:30 PM DINNER AT 7 PM$85 PER PERSON PLUS TAX + GRATUITY, PRE-PAID$110 PER PERSON AT THE DOORCALL 808.662.3000

course one

Heirloom Tomato Sashimi

oak-aged soy sauce, extra virgin olive oil & fleur de sel

Vin Gris of Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands 2009

course two

Pancetta-Wrapped Diver Scallop

roasted fennel bulb, celery root mash & chardonnay-lobster bisque

Chardonnay “Estate” Santa Lucia Highlands 2008

course three

Duck Confit

Forbidden Rice risotto, braised Hamakua mushrooms & pinot noir reduction

Pinot Noir “Estate” Santa Lucia Highlands 2007

course four

A Selection of Cheeses

dried blueberries, Marcona almonds & olive bread

Merlot “Kimberly Vineyard” Arroyo Seco 2007

Later in the week on Wednesday Chef Alex Stanislaw and the Plantation House Restaurant host the Seghesio Family Vineyards with representative Edd Lopez in the House, reception starts at 6pm. The wine dinners at Plantation are a special event, if you missed his bacon themed wine pairing dinner this is your chance to be wowed by the culinary prowess of Chef Stanislaw. Seghesio Vineyards has been planting grapes since the late 1800′s in Sonoma Valley, but only began bottling their own wine in the 80′s. They have a fabulous line up of wines to be paired from their Pinot Grigio, Sonoma Zin, Barbera and Venom, with surprises along the way.

http://www.seghesio.com/SeghesioStory/HistoricTimeline/tabid/238/Default.aspx

http://www.theplantationhouse.com/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Plantation-House-Restaurant/111549922216727?ref=ts

Last month when I gathered a group of close friends togeter to attend David Paul’s Island Grill’s Diva Club I had no idea I was heading to one of the best themed parties I’ve attended on the island. We really took the Hollywood Glam theme to the next level with mandatory wigs and pearls for the girls in our group but as we arrived and paparazzi followed us down the red carpet, and handsome men in suits escorted us in we knew we were in the right place at the right time.

March Divas by Tim Smith

The Diva Club was created by Chef David Paul as a network for women in business to mingle, self-promote, and get pampered while raising funds for charity. At $15 membership per year and a members only party every third saturday of the month the value is unbelievable, but the real clencher is that money goes directly to Women Helping Women of Maui. Once inside there are lots of other perks, participating vendors offering goods and services like updos and makeup by Hina Mana Salon at last March’s party. There is live entertainment that changes with the theme. For Hollywood Glam it was Pio Marasco spinning backup to the sweet vocals of Gretchen Rhodes, who have just released a new ep called Paia. Their electronic house music were the perfect touch to the Glam vibe of the party. For those who want to keep it going after 8pm when the party is over, Quinn Ross Director of Operations of Timba has partnered in offering all Diva’s no cover and no wait at the 505 Front St. Club.

Chef David Paul always goes all out on the food at the party. He will switch it up to suit the theme, and for Hollywood Glam it was a sushi bar. David Paul was behind the bar creating the hand rolled sensations at your request, with spicy tuna, fresh unagi, and truffled salmon. There were exotic shoyu mixes from spicy to sweet to season your sushi, all top notch. Our be-wigged foodie divas were in heaven. They had Cupcake Love there offering an assortment of cupcakes that looked so pretty we almost didn’t want to eat them. Chocolate dipped strawberries, baked brie, bruschetta, mini cheese breads, summer rolls were just a few of things that rounded out the hors d’ oeuvres that evening. On the cocktail menu there is kai vodka sponsored cocktails, wines, and a fabulous champagne bellini bar with fresh fruit purees. We couldn’t get enough of the lilikoi bellini’s. The drinks are just $5.

When I asked Chef David Paul about putting this party on he said, “Giving back to the community is always at the forefront of our mission statement. I have always been involved with the community as a benefit to the industry and individual charities. In economic hard times it’s that much more important to give than to cut back. Women helping Women is a charity close to my heart. As a child, I witnessed abuse and vowed to do something about it when I could. DIVA is a fun and exciting venue to do just that. An evening of pampering, camaraderie and indulgence!” His vision is coming to fruition as their membership has grown to over 300 since the inception in December 2009. Their goal is to have 800 by their one year anniversary, and raise over $12,000 for Women Helping Women.

This Saturday, April 18th is the next Diva Club featuring a Spring Fashion Show with Pakaloha Bikinis, Maggie Coulombe, and Tamara Catz spring lines. The menu is all Spring with lavendar cookies and lemon bars, strawberry romanoff, brie with walnuts and port reduction, antipasti platters, thai summer rolls and much more. Fresh produce from Oluwalu Farms, Wines by Clos du Val and vodka cocktails by Kai Vodka and their fabulous bellini bar with purees of rasberry and lilikoi are divine. Diva Club will also be launching their own line of Diva wear with the Diva logo as another way to earn funds for Women Helping Women. Trunk shows with be all the rage at this fashion party and special discounts will be offered for the Divas. Its not hard to get into the exclusive David Paul’s Island Grill party, with $15 a year and all of that donated to charity and a tax write off for you its money well spent.