The Royal Lahaina Resort was built in 1962 and is still going strong as a West side destination. Nestled along the Kaanapali strip, but on the Honokowai side of Black Rock, and full of old school charm, the resort has recently stepped up its entertainment and committed to a concert series kicking off with Five for Fighting in April and Toad the Wet Sprocket in May. Their latest announcement is the renovation of their lawns, and the opening of the Oceanfront Barefoot Bar.
“The time was right to update the existing bar and refurbish our beautiful expanse of oceanfront lawn,” says Gary Hogan, president of Hawaiian Hotels and Resorts. “Interestingly, the shuffleboard court was brought back to life after years of dormancy…now our guests are loving the chance to get up and play bocce ball and shuffleboard while enjoying a fresh hand mixed drink or cold draft beer.”
The Oceanfront Barefoot Bar is a perfect place to take a pau hana retreat; I don’t think there’s a bar with better views of the beach and ocean. Turn down to Keka‘a Drive by the Fairway Shops and hang a right, and head to the self-parking area, or go valet. Kick the shoes off and enjoy their handcrafted sangria with pineapple and Bacardi gold, or a lovely mixture of coconut cream, basil and Ocean Vodka.
“If it’s your first time visiting definitely try a mango margarita,” recommends director of operations Tom Bell. “The sweetness of the mango coupled with the heat from the fresh serrano chili is over-the-top refreshing. Pair that with our pupus like the seared ahi tacos served on a crispy shell with ancho chili, or mahi cakes with ginger and Maui onion.”
Local liquor laws prevents you from wandering off with your drink, but we’d also recommend leaving your cocktail behind and heading off for a dip in the ocean, the perfect end to any (responsible) imbibing excursion.
With the ongoing nuclear crisis in Japan, there is a lot of concern about the level of radiation that may be traveling in the air. First off, experts say the risk for Hawaii and the Mainland remains low, but for those who take the “better safe than sorry” route, potassium iodine pills—which have flown off shelves—aren’t the only option.
The iodine pills work by saturating your thyroid with stable iodine and keeping out radioactive particles. You can get a similar benefit via a number of foods, including spirulina, chorella, kelp and algaes, miso, beans, cabbage, seaweed and sea vegetables, plus potassium-, calcium- and mineral-rich foods.
You can buy Hawaiian-made spirulina, called Spirulina Pacifica (pictured), at health food stores islandwide. It’s excellent sprinkled on popcorn.
Planning a little St. Patty’s Day fun this Thursday? I’ll be at Mulligan’s on the Blue at 11am to see Trevor Jones. Thursday evening Roy’s will be hosting a beer-pairing dinner with their delightful Guinness cornbeef. Not into meat? Chef Doug McNish is taking organic vegan cooking to the next level in a chef demo at Whole Foods at 7pm.
Later in the week, Chef David Paul’s second installment of the Vineyard Dining Series features an alluring multi-course dinner paired with Morgan Wines on Thursday. “I lived in Hawaii for 11 years and had the great fortune to work with David Paul at Diamond Head Grill,” says Morgan Winery’s Elise Faur. “I know how important food and wine pairing is for him. We cannot conceive of a better way to showcase our wines than to pair them with David’s cuisine. This is how it should be.” Indeed.
Finally, heads up for next week Friday: Fresh!, the spring cocktail party of the season, is at I‘o on the Beach at 505 Front Street. Look forward to farm-fresh fruits and herbs hooking up with booze under the direction of Chef James McDonald. Party starts at 8pm with pupus, no reservations needed, $30.
Comments
comments