After spending the morning and early afternoon zipping from one Maui farm to the next my belly growled and demanded a wee bit of attention. And so it was that my guide for the day Charlene Kauhane, PR Pro at Visit Maui parked our car beside the cutesy Hali’imaile General Store. The restaurant is an elegant yet unpretentious spot to grab lunch with a menu that focuses on celebrating local flavours in a warm and refurbished plantation store setting located amongst the pineapple fields of Upcountry Maui.
Hali’imaile General Store is run by one of the islands first culinary entrepreneurs Beverly “Bev” Gannon who describes her cuisine here as “eclectic American with Asian overtones.” Her restaurant is a classic stop for tourists road tripping across Maui. Once passing through the breezy entrance Bev’s cookbook can be seen for purchase at the hostess stand. She’s clearly a local culinary celebrity here, walking into the hallway past the kitchen the walls are covered in framed awards and editorial features for her much loved sips and nibbles.
We were seated by the verandah at the front of the restaurant which offered us ample opportunity to people watch by the bar and stare up at a huge splattering of colour on canvas. Charlene and I both quenched our thirst with a Tai Mai (an interesting twist on the original island favourite) and Kaffir Lime and Coconut Daquiri. With our hopes and dreams bent on indulging in a light lunch we shared Bev’s Famous Crab Pizza (imagine warm and creamy crab dip on pizza dough heaven), Blackened Mahi Mahi Tacos and a Cubawaiian Sandwich featuring Hawaiian style bbq pork, black forest ham, swiss cheese, wasabi aioli and pickled pineapple. Lunch time is for lovers and all I have to say is “Heyyyyyy now!”
Tai Mai
maui’s old lahaina light and dark rums, fresh lime, house sweet and sour, citrus zest, lilkoi
Kaffir Lime and Coconut Daiquiri
malibu coconut rum, lime, coconut toasted rim
Bev’s Famous Crab Pizza
Blackened Mahi Mahi Tacos
warm tortillas, mole, cotija blanco cheese, salsa fresca, lettuce, cilantro sour cream, guacamole, lime
Cubawaiian Sandwich
kalua style bbq pork, black forest ham, swiss cheese, pickled pineapple, wasabi aioli, hoagie, seasoned fries
