5-star market/bistro/cafe in a 5-star resort

808-662-2832

Hours of Operation 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM

The tacky little store found in most resorts, the ones that sell a pack of gum for $5, just doesn’t exist at the Honua Kai – of course we have a 5-star store/market/cafe to go along with a 5-star resort.

Aina Gourmet Market proudly serves and sells only 100% Maui Coffee.  Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks are served throughout the day, as well as a fresh juice and smoothie bar.  Aina’s wine selection is full of organic and biodynamic choices to pair with any dish.  Aina is a great place to find local and organic produce for sale and included in the extensive deli menu.  The market is filled with local and gourmet foods and gift items, also all the fixings for that perfect custom gift basket.

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Click here to visit their own website.

Believe it or not the Aina Gourmet Market ranks #43 out of 148 of restaurants in Lahaina – and it’s just a small place located in our lobby.  I’m going to recap some of the reviews I’ve found for the place:

`Aina, the latest in the I`O and Pacific`O franchise, breathes life and aloha into Honua Kai, Maui’s newest full ownership oceanfront resort. Those few entitled souls who are among the first to settle in are finding their every wish is `Aina’s command. From attentive poolside service to inclusive in-room dining; from stocking pantries to catering parties; from breakfast, lunch and dinner service to freshly made desserts and handcrafted gelato, `Aina has it all covered.

With a beautiful, spanking-new setting, good food, joie de vivre, `Aina quivers with good vibes. The market/café/coffee shop/ice cream parlor/produce vendor/wine shop, seems to have it all, including locally crafted hand churned gelato that tempts all who enter with flavors such as apple banana and limoncello. Need a dozen flavors of sea salt? Searching for an extensive wine selection at reasonable prices, like a half bottle of Rombauer for $20? Crackers, cheese, vinegars, seasoning, spices, fresh garden produce from O`O Farms – all here and priced equivalently to what you’d expect to pay in a chain store – if only they had such fine provisions or `Aina’s appealing and helpful servers.

Reviews:

“Great selection of healthy and organic foods. A nice way to eat in your condo without cooking is to pick up prepared items here and take them to your condo to eat on the lanai while overlooking the pool and ocean. What a relaxing option!!! Do not miss their fish taco’s on Tuesday’s – they are amazing !!! more”

“Love the organic & local grown options… really yummy food…keep up the good work!”

“This is one of those shops that has something different everywhere you look. Sandwiches and paninni’s, pasta’s, home baked cupcakes and muffins, gelato, huge variety of drinks, Wines, gifts, sundries, fruit… You can’t believe everything they have.
Everything is organic, all natural and locally grown.”

“Everyday my husband and I looked forward to lunch because we knew exactly where we were going….Aina Gourmet.

Aina Gourmet uses only the freshest, farm-to-table ingredients in all of their menu items and it is immediately evident once you taste any of these items. They are associated with a couple of well-known establishments in Maui: Pacific’O, IO Restuarant, and D’o Farm which specialize in farm to table menu products. As a quasi restaurant, they mainly specialize in gourmet sandwiches, wraps, paninis and salads. The also have smoothies, gelato, desserts, muffins, and the best coffee I have ever had as well as some breakfast items. They also have a gourmet market which carries practically every gourmet product you can think of.

We absolutely loved their sandwiches… Our favorites were the Local Beast ($8) made with roast free range beef, lettuce, tomato, Maui onion and horseradish parsley dill cream on whole grain bread, Cabo Chicken panini ($10) made with organic grilled chicken, tomato, pepper jack cheese and cilantro ailo grilled served on ciabata bread, Turkey Avocado wrap ($9) made with turkey, lettuce, tomato, avocado, roasted Maui onion, remoulade sauce in a tomato wrap and the Fish Wrap ($13) made with fresh fish, roasted Maui onion, tomato and remoulade sauce.

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With each sandwich you are given the choice of chips, side salad or fruit. I highly suggest choosing the side salad. You have the choice of any gourmet salad that is available. Our favorite side salads were orzo with smoked salmon and capers, fish ceviche, pasta salad and potato/mac salad.

For desserts they have great homemade carrot cake, chocolate chip and macadamia nut cookies and gelato. The also have some other side dishes that we tasted which were great: homemade salsa with avocado chips and hummus and chips.

The setting of the restaurant is on the grounds of the beautiful Honua Kai Resort and Spa. If you would like to eat there they have a granite bar with seating for about six. There are also tables that you could use right by the koi pond. Everyone at Aina Gourmet is so friendly.”

Drop by and find out for yourselves.

In the overall scheme of things the Chef of the restaurant is really what the restaurant is all about.  Now there are things like location, furnishings, staff, etc. but the Chef is THE key component of a great restaurant.

Here are the winners for 2009:

• 1st Place – Beverly Gannon of Seawatch Restaurant
• 2nd Place – Michael Lofaro of Humuhumunukunukuapua‘a
  Restaurant at GrandWailea Resort Hotel & Spa
• 3rd Place – Alex Stanislaw of The Plantation House Restaurant

1st Place – Beverly Gannon of Seawatch Restaurant

Beverly Gannon graduated from Le Cordon Bleu culinary school in Europe and has appeared on national TV programs and has authored a new cookbook.  The Seawatch Restaurant in Wailea, is where Beverly is Chef.  I’ve not been to this restaurant yet but on our next visit to Maui we will definitely have dinner there.

The recognition that Bev has gained for her island-influenced dishes, has built a following of critical acclaim across the country. In 2004, Bev was nominated for the James Beard Foundation’s “Best Chef Award: Hawaii and Northwest Region,” and as Executive Chef of Hawaiian Airlines, her food was named “Best Food in the Air in North America” by readers of Conde Nast Traveler (2003, 2004, 2006.) This restaurant is 45-minutes south of the Honua Kai.

100 Wailea Golf Club Dr
Wailea, HI 96753
808.875.8080
www.seawatchrestaurant.com

Michael Lofaro of Humuhumunukunukuapua‘a Restaurant at GrandWailea Resort Hotel & Spa

Six restaurants are located on the Grand Wailea grounds, including Humu, specializing in Polynesian-Hawaiian dishes in a romantic setting. The thatch-roofed structure floats on a lagoon occupied by tropical fish.  This restaurant is a 45 minute drive from the Honua Kai.

3850Wailea Alanui Dr.
Wailea, Maui
808-875-1234
Website: www.grandwailea.com

Alex Stanislaw of The Plantation House Restaurant

Executive Chef Alex Stanislaw brings years of experience and Eastern European influence to The Plantation House Restaurant – a perfect complement to its traditional warm Hawaiian hospitality.This restaurant is about 10 minutes away from the Honua Kai, but to be honest we’ve not been there – will try to make it next visit.

2000 Plantation Club Dr.
Kapalua, Maui
808-669-6299
Website: www.theplantationhouse.com

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• 1st Place – Roy’s of Kahana
• 2nd Place – Marco’s Grill & Deli
• 3rd Place – Stillwell’s Bakery & Cafe

Most of the time we never order dessert – the main meal is so large that there is no room left in the tummy.  Well there are exceptions where the dessert is so good that you must leave room at dinner for a dessert out of this world.

Roy’s in Kahana

Roy's of Kahana; 10 minutes from the Honua Kai

4405 Honoapiilani Highway, Kahana Maui
808-669-6999
Website: www.roysrestaurant.com

When you eat at Roy’s, the first thing the waiter will ask is if you want to order their hot-chocolate souffle for dessert.  Imagine that, dessert is ordered before dinner!  Well it takes an hour to prepare one of these mouth-watering goodies and it must be ordered before the meal starts.  We ALWAYS order the chocolate souffle when we eat at Roy’s.

To be honest there are two Roy’s on Maui, one in Kahana just minutes from the Honua Kai, and the second in Kihei 45 minutes away – both offer the same great dessert.

So if there is a chocoholic in your party they have to have this for dessert.

Marco’s Grill & Deli

444 Hana Highway Ste. M • Kahului • 877-4446

I’m going to be honest with you folks here, there is no way that Marco’s Grill deserves second place – the food is average and WAY overpriced.

Stillwell’s Bakery & Cafe

Stillwell's is just 30 minutes from the Honua Kai

1740 Kaahumanu Ave. • Wailuku, Maui • 808-243-2243

Everyone who eats at Stillwells will tell you that their desserts are to die for.  This restaurant is located near the big airport in Kahului.  There are malls near the airport as well as Wal-Mart, Costco, and large retail malls.  While there have lunch or dinner at the Stillwell and save room for dessert.

They are famous for their cream horns which are layers of flaky dough made with a “tunnel” in the middle to fill with cool, rich pastry cream.  Dip one end in chocolate and it’s a winner! Also try the apple tart, which is very good and pretty, and what made it special is an almond paste between the pastry shell and the sliced and carmelized apples.  Awesome.