The Honeymoon Eats Extravaganza in Maui!

When in Rome!
That is my motto and then some. Oh, how glorious the food was in Hawaii. I mentioned in my review of  the Travaasa Resort on FBG how much I loved the food. There are no words for how I indulged and just loved me some food. I don’t know what came over me. It’s not like I ate like crap while there. There’s just something magical about being on your honeymoon and knowing it’s time to celebrate and spoil yourself … which is exactly what I did. I indulged! I spoiled! I ATE ALL THE THINGS! I DRANK ALL THE MAI TAIS!
So in no particular order, I’ll share some of my favorite and most memorable dishes and cocktails. ‘Ohoiho! (Enjoy in Hawaiian.)

Oh, How I Ate in Maui!

The first thing you eat upon arriving on your honeymoon is oh-so-important. It sets the precedent for how you’ll explore and experiment for the rest of the trip. I knew going in I was going to keep it all local. I wanted to try things I couldn’t get anywhere else.
With that in mind, I listened to friends’ recommendations to stop at this little stand on the road to Hana called Coconut Glen’s. It’s dairy-free ice cream. (Three cheers for the lactose intolerant!) There were so many fun flavors to choose from, but I went for the lemongrass ginger because I was a bit woozy from the winding road. It hit the spot. It was delicious, refreshing and nipped my nausea in the bud. Plus the spoon was made of a cute sliver of coconut. Ten points for deliciousness. Ten more for how it was served.

When in Hawaii, my gluten-free goals went out the big ocean-breeze-friendly window! I had to try the banana breads. I had heard it was a big thing there, so it was only right I give them a whirl. Travaasa was kind enough to leave us bread and champagne in our room when we first arrived. It was scrumptious.
We had purchased this great lilikoi spread from a charming stand in Hana near the resort. We spread that yumminess on the bread and allowed our eyes to roll back. The breads there are super moist and banana-rific. My stomach just growled writing this. I need more of that bread in my life!

I had a field day eating at Travaasa’s restaurant. The food was pretty pricey, but the portions were lovely and there was a healthy amount of gluten-free options and substitutions so I didn’t mind. Our first night at the resort, beef tenderloin was on the menu. We ordered one of those dishes, a beautiful salad and ahi tuna sashimi with gluten-free soy sauce. Booyah!

We figured out that each night the menu changes so we had to take advantage of the dishes that spoke the loudest; we only had one chance to try them. In my opinion, it’s the only way to dine on vacation!

I fell in love with the lilikoi fruit while there. It’s a papaya, but different than anything I’ve ever tasted (and I’ve had a papaya). Whenever I’d see lilikoi on the menu I had to scoop it up. While dining at Cafe O’Lei, I spotted this great martini on the menu. It was delicious and mixed to perfection. That lilikoi puree was the bee’s knees.

Okay, I broke my rule about only eating local, unique things once. Everyone kept yapping about the snow cones in Hawaii. I love me some snow cones and haven’t had a proper one since college (a long time ago, people!), so I got one. Tiger’s blood (something I haven’t seen since I was a child in Texas!) strawberry and mango mix. I was sooo happy and my day was complete.

I seriously never had a bad meal the whole week we were in Maui, but I figured y’all would kill me if I discussed every darn meal I had. Because I’m nice and respect your eyeballs, I’m only offering up my ultimate favorite eating moments. The above were all groovy, but the trophy for best meal has to go to the below plate.

Our last night in Maui we attended a luau at the Grand Wailea Hotel and feasted on traditional foods that I had never before tried. There was the famous pig that they bury and cook. The Maui Gold Pineapples and Kula Strawberries, cucumber namasu, green papaya salad with lime and cilantro dressing, the sweet bread rolls with macadamia nut butter. Oh my GOD, was it good! Mark went back for thirds, which was crazy.

The dessert (not pictured) consisted of coconut cake, pineapple upside down cake, traditional Hawaiian Haupia and the most rich and smooth guava mousse on the planet. I tried all of them, which makes me giggle now. Luckily, the sweet portions were tiny, so I didn’t feel too bad coming back with a full plate of treats. I can’t lie, the poi wasn’t my favorite even though it’s an important and historical staple for Hawaiians. (I so wanted to love it!) But everything else made me want to cry happy tears.

It was my first true food adventure. I feel like I really made the most of my vacation and lived like a local … maybe a little too much because now I’m craving foods I can’t get here in LA. Have you ever had that problem? Have suggestions for people destined for Maui? —Tish