I’ll admit, I’m way overdue in posting about Hawaii as it’s been two months since our Maui vacation. Things have been unusually busy this autumn, but even though time has passed I can still taste the flavors of that birthday dinner. Often times the setting plays into how much I truly savor a meal. Everything about the day leading up to my 26th birthday feast made this dinner one for the books. I woke up naturally before sunrise, spent a few hours captivated by a good book and leisurely drank coffee overlooking the water. A mid-morning seaside stroll, pool time and two and a half hours in the Grand Wailea Spa made maybe the most relaxing birthday I’ve ever had. An evening cocktail and we were off to Mama’s Fish House.
On Maui’s North Shore is Paia, a windsurfing town with quaint shops and delicious food. The main drag still has the charm of the sugar cane plantation town it once was, with its old wooden buildings still intact. Tourists flock to the cute coffee shops, like Anthony’s Coffee, and upscale boutiques. But for me, the most unforgettable experience in Paia was my birthday dinner at Mama’s.
You arrive at Mama’s to be first greeted at the valet stand. Even the short walk down the hill, along a path sandwiched between the ocean and Mama’s is charming. It sets the scene for the whole experience. Tiki torches line the path and the outdoor lobby is filled with a warm sea breeze and old photos of famous guests. It’s a massive restaurant, packed at all hours of the day and offers a sort of “Disneyland” flair. Everyone is in mismatched Hawaiian shirts and all the tables have different tropical floral arrangements. The drinks are served with paper umbrellas. In any normal setting this environment would induce sensory overload for my Au-nautral color palette. But hear me now, Mama’s is far from cheesy and undoubtedly charming.
The entire staff knows you’re on vacation and everything they present is detailed to induce relaxation. The drink menu for example, Relaxers = piña coladas. Dave and I sat awhile at the bar, sipping on our drinks and drooling over the trays of food that passed by. Feeling the creeping pangs of hunger we essentially face planted into the loaf of bread upon being seated. I was so hungry I hardly noticed the birthday note on the table. It was this moment that I knew I had to sit back and savor the moments to come. We started with the macadamia nut crab cakes with fire and ice relish. The lobster guacamole with island crisps and beef Polynesian with grilled Hana papaya also looked tempting. I doubt you could go wrong with any choice.
With satisfied taste buds we dove into the menu. Decisions were neither quick nor easy. Pardon this weirdness, but during my full body exfoliation at the spa the esthetician said the sashimi salad was a must-have. I have a list of “foodie” foods that I’ve been longing to enjoy, sashimi, along with oysters, pate, most poultry, are top of the list. The Ahi Sashimi Salad with crispy won ton, Keanae poholo fern, wasabi goat cheese, Kula vegetables, and roasted sesame seed dressing was my favorite part of the meal. This dish won me over not because it was the first time I’ve ever enjoyed sashimi but because of the conversation Dave and I had while scarfing it down. Maybe he just does it to humor me but never have I ever talked about “the mild taste of this wasabi” on a date.
Dave ordered the Onaga (longtail red snapper) sautéed with Hamakua mushrooms, garlic butter, white wine and capers. It was delicious – light despite the garlic butter sauce. I ordered the Mahimahi stuffed with lobster and crab, baked in a macadamia nut crust. It was without a doubt the best fish dish I’ve ever tasted.
Still on west coast time, we left sleepy and full. As Dave would come to find out over the course of the trip, I fall asleep quite easily in cars. With a full stomach, the scent of the Hawaiian lei around my neck and warm air I was out. It was the perfect end to a birthday and a must-do for all Maui visitors.
Mama’s Fish House, 799 Poho Pl. Paia, HI, (808) 579-8488, mamasfishhouse.com, Mon-Sun 11:00 am – 9:00 pm. Reservations required.
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