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Entries in paia (19)

Thursday
Sep022010

maui: foodie report

chocolate peanut butter cheesecake happiness

i have reached the conclusion that i would make an awful food blogger simply because snapping a shot of my meal is the last thing on my mind when my plate arrives. also, my camera skills are a bit lacking (an area i hope to remedy with a little practice). my trip home last week was far too fleeting and filled with family gatherings for any new culinary explorations, but i finally gathered up my notes and photos to file a report on the delicious dishes enjoyed during my springtime hop to maui.

first, let's start with an afternoon treat at paia's ono gelato which offers tempting scoops made with a "farm to fork" philosophy. deciding between a surfing goat dairy fusion or a chocolate peanut butter cheesecake concoction was my most difficult decision of the day, but the latter won my $5 plus change if only as an homage to the yummy frozen pie my southern granny would whip up when she visited the islands.

judging by the pollock-esque ice cream splatters along the sidewalk in front of the shop, it seems i was not the only one challenged to finish up my cone before it melted all over the nearest crosswalk. my advice: order up a cup instead of a cone and sticky fingers should not be an issue (although there is a wash room a few steps outside the gelateria's side door).

maui brewing co. sampler
. . . & beer battered onion rings
keg illumination

earlier in the day, the mister and i ventured out on the long drive to lahaina to check out maui brewing co. my resident beer geek started out with a sampler ($3.75) and ultimately gave the thumbs up to lucifer's angel. if you prefer bubbles without the buzz, i am happy to recommend the homemade root beer which is frosty and delicious!

we both find beer battered onion rings ($7) irresistible when listed on a menu and mbc's hearty offering, even with a slight sheen leftover from the fryer, became even more tasty after dipping each thick slice into the chipotle remoulade which added a spicy kick. rounding out our meal were an andouille sandwich ($12) for him while i, anticipating my upcoming gelato treat, selected kalamata sliders ($5).

while there's no view to speak of unless you count the myriad of televisions screening everything from surf videos to the sporting event du jour, the tap list was quite impressive making mbc a must stop for anyone who geeks out over beer. the decor is standard issue brew pub fare, but the industrial gleam of steel kegs smartly transformed into lighting fixtures hanging in the rafters was a fun design note.

t. komoda malasadas

on our way out of town the following day, we stopped at the t. komoda store to sample their legendary cream puffs which are quite deserving of all their accolades. we also couldn't resist a malasada stick stacked in a row of sugary delights (genius!) which was a nice balance between leonard's light and airy offering and the denser dough fried up at the tex drive-in on the big island.

alas, my camera failed to capture the giant house salad i ordered up (and quickly abandoned due to my woeful headache) and what the mister described as a super 'ono burger during our first night's supper at colleen's in haiku with the always delightful conn and john from cuckoo for coconuts. and, french fry lovers take note: conn shared a tip that the fries tend to be salty and recommends asking the kitchen to skip the final seasoning. my mister followed conn's lead and agreed they were still delish without the extra salt.

my colleen's salad ended up dressing up our takeout from paia flatbread (recommended by the cfc 'ohana) which, with its wood-fired crust accompanied by fresh and simple ingredients, was the perfect bite after rushing up twisty, curvy olinda road to our upcountry getaway to catch the sunset on our final day.

fyi: all of our stops were casual eateries so no fancy dress or reservations required.

bon appétit!

Thursday
Jul152010

tamara catz spring/summer 2010

coral loveliness

i have finally shaken off my wretched monday night malaise and am relieved to return to the land of the living. in between pages of breaking dawn, the past few days were spent peeking into the online storefronts of island designers when i realized that it has been far too long since the glamorous upcountry looks designed by maui's tamara catz appeared on h|h.

some of the most fetching styles are tamara's silky coral frocks which are simply too gorgeois not to share with you. the pattern pops up throughout the collection and is offered in whispers of color and a mix of silhouettes making the design wearable for anyone with a soft spot for the intricately woven seaside pattern. the coral is quite a becoming backdrop and i am finding myself hard pressed to pick a favorite.

other new patterns to woo you include a rainbow repeat and a fun abstract animal print. whimsical embellishments continue to add delightful boho charm especially in the playfully hand embroidered bird and tree shift, delicate crocheted necklines, and dazzling beaded accents. the wedding collection has also expanded its offerings of romantic gowns with layers of chiffon, draped bodices, and grecian details perfected for the beach goddess bride.

rainbow print * tree & bird

seahorse tote

almost all of the featured designs are stocked in the online shop, but if you find yourself in paia definitely stop by tamara's lovely boutique to browse the racks and say hello!

  • where: 83 hana hwy, paia
  • shop hours: sun to thu, 10a to 6p & fri/sat, 10a to 7:30p
Monday
Mar222010

letarte 2010 collection

starfish bikini

hope everyone had a lovely weekend and took a moment to take a tour of the new website (this would mean you, mr. & ms. email or rss subscriber!). while i was away tinkering on h|h's makeover, the letarte 'ohana sent over news of the maui-based label's ten year collection which scored quite a few snaps in the latest edition of the sports illustrated swimsuit issue.

letarte can always be counted on for girly glam - fun and flirty beach-inspired looks accompanied by either a dash of boho, a hint of rocker edge, or a cheeky combination of the two (hello skull toile!). i continue to swoon for letarte's pretty, playful prints including the gorgeous abstract feather design introduced this season and the aloha guitar's cheery repeat which was inspired by hawaii's own slack key guitar and ukulele (be sure to take a peek at the coordinating tunic with little aloha's embroidered along the hem).

and, of course, no letarte collection would be complete without a proper coverup which is offered in an endless variation be they bardot-inspired nautical stripes, sweet peasant details, or luxe embellishments.

more peeks below . . .

feathers bikini with leather straps
aloha guitar
pink sand tunic
pineapple juice maxi

2010 styles have already landed in letarte's online shop (which offers complimentary shipping to the upper 48) and the flagship boutique in paia.

take a peek at the collection and remember to report back and share your favorite looks!

Thursday
Feb042010

letarte sale at hautelook!

swooned for letarte's 2009 resort collection when it was featured on h|h? hele over to hautelook which just kicked off a huge sale this morning. a quick peek revealed over 100 styles from saucy swimwear to letarte's lovely tunics for 55% off!

if you are not a member, simply register at hautelook to access the sale. alas, no returns are allowed so click over to letarte's size chart to help you select the best fit while shopping.

  • sale dates: now to sat, feb 6th @ 8:59a pst
Tuesday
Jun232009

new peeks: wings hawaii

miter shell dress * ocean bandeau * mermaid skirt

if you stopped by the fashionista's market fresh shopping fair last weekend, you scored one of the first peeks of the new collection offered by the lovely ladies of wings hawaii. this time around wings is expanding their repertoire with made to order dresses cut from a stunning new offering of island inspired fabrics that have been block printed and dip dyed by hand in their maui studio.

the result is simply dreamy with tiny seashells receiving a delightfully graphic translation to create looks any modern day mermaid would swoon over. as a girl who counts lotta jansdotter and orla kiely among my favorite textile designers, i am seriously crushing on the maui made designs which add a whimsical indie spirit to the standard issue beach dress.

more peeks below . . .

water dress & skirt
aloha classic
aloha skirt * bandeau sun dress * miter girl
bangles * cowrie black diamond * pueo angel wing * full circle

the jewelry collection's handcrafted luster continues to impress with its mix of hammered metals, semi-precious gemstones, and delicate findings that have washed ashore after a journey through the pacific.

and, happy news for readers, the wings 'ohana is offering you a sweet summer surprise with 25% off your entire purchase plus a complimentary lucky wish necklace!

  • secret code: hapahale
  • expires: sun, jul 5th

the deal is valid in both the online shop and the wings flagship boutique on maui (simply whisper at checkout):

{mahalo sam!}

{update | feb 2011: wings moved its flagship shop to lovely little paia town last year and can now be found at 71 baldwin avenue}