Ichiban Kahului Sushi Chef Ren Padilla (left) and Server Carol Jaramillo are longtime staff members who remain after the owners sold the business. The menu is still the same, too. The Maui News / CARLA TRACY photo
HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS . . It’s beginning to look a lot like the holidays at Cold Stone Creamery in Kihei, which is debuting festive flavors this season, including Red Velvet Peppermint Cake and “Aquaman’s” Blue Velvet shake, topped with edible glitter.
“We love to bring people together during this time of year to enjoy delicious treats that really get them in the holiday spirit,” says Sara Schmillen, vice president of marketing at Kahala Brands, parent company of CSC.
Jolly old St. Nick will make an appearance Sunday at Grand Wailea’s Breakfast with Santa in Grand Dining Room, which will be set up with the Letters to Santa station, frozen “hot chocolate” station and a keiki buffet. For more details, visit www.grandwailea.com or call the resort at 875-1234.
In addition, Spa Grande has deemed December as the “Season of Self Care” with Mint Chocolate Mistle-Toes manicure and pedicures; Naughty or Nice organic facials by Eminence and Holiday Detox massages that stimulate the circulatory system, says Spa Director Rachel McCrory.
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BITS AND PIECES . . . For years, husband-and-wife Henry and Patsy Chan were the successful owners of a Kahului restaurant, when she decided to retire to watch her two grandchildren and he settled in to keep plugging away at his auto-body shop.
Now Ichiban Restaurant & Sushi has new owners, who kept the original team in place. Zaida Juan, who has closed Juan’s Kitchen in Wailuku, will keep Ichiban a family affair with her children helping out.
“Ichiban is still the same,” says Zaida. “The menu is the same, we have a liquor license, and my daughter, Jasmine Juan, who cooks for Lineage, will help out once in awhile; and my son, Adam Juan, is pretty much helping out in the front of the house.”
Tokyo Tei in Wailuku opened in the 1930s, a landmark restaurant that has seen the likes of a young Sen. John. F. Kennedy dine there. On Dec. 1, longtime Kitagawa family owners Betsy, Eunice, Tori and Lauren sold the business. Keeping the menu the same and the shrimp tempura light and crisp is new owner Song Colagross.
Pi Artisan Pizza in the Outlets of Maui mall in Lahaina was recently sold to a couple of pals. It retains its wood-fired theme of cooking artisan pizzas with a farm-to-table menu and a full bar. Pi Artisan Pizza partners John Pope and Dave Mecklenburg (the latter a partner in Beach Bums in Maalaea; see story, Page 18), will feature music two nights a week, and happy hour all day long on the mall lanai. Hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
The Ritz-Carlton Kapalua’s Alaloa Lounge kicks things off Sunday mornings for patrons to cheer on their favorite football teams. Toast to your mates with a morning beverage and grind breakfast bites from the resort’s Kai Cafe, situated across the lobby.
“Alaloa Lounge boasts 80-inch televisions to watch the games and it has panoramic ocean views,” explains director of Food & Beverage Daniel Schmidt.
Makana Market & Cafe is targeted to open Saturday in the former Caffe Ciao at the Fairmont Kea Lani Resort in Wailea. A Hawaiian word for “gift,” Makana will feature a poke bar with locally caught fish, salads, pizzas, smoothies, acai bowls, house-crafted pastries and coffee of the islands, including cold-brew, espresso and pour-over drinks as well as matcha and Lot 35 tea blends, according to Executive Chef Tylun Pang.
* Got restaurant/dining-event scoop? Call Dining Editor Carla Tracy at 242-6342; or email carlatracy@mauinews.com.
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