Show 360, February 15, 2020: The Challenges of Valentine’s Day Dining for Restaurants

Andy Harris at the KLAA StudiosValentine’s Day is a particularly difficult Holiday for restaurants to manage. Expectations are high on the part of couples and it’s all tables of two who want to linger. What are the operational and food preparation challenges of Valentine’s Day from the restaurant’s perspective?

Executive Producer Andy Harris (who has a background in restaurant operations) explores this with the show’s Producer/Engineer/Board Operator Aaron Fry, who moonlights as a proficient bartender and server with years of experience. Valentine’s Day extends into the Weekend this year so it’s possibly 3-nights of elevated, high-pressure Valentine’s Day dining.

Show 53, December 21, 2013: Aaron Fry, Honeymoon Dining in Maui

It’s Christmas / New Year’s Holiday vacation time and that means a lot of relaxing getaways to Maui. We have a mouth-watering Lahaina dining report from an informed, recent visitor.

Aaron Fry just returned from his glorious honeymoon in Maui. Aaron is a master bartender as well as a senior Board Operator right here at AM 830 KLAA. We’re turning the microphone around on him this morning.

One of the standouts in all his dining in Lahaina is the use of a lot of local ingredients in the dishes where possible. This is a welcome return to the old ways in The Islands when Hawaiians were totally self-sufficient in feeding themselves.

Fleetwoods on Front StreetAaron and his new bride enjoyed a couple of visits to Fleetwood’s on Front Street in the heart of Old Lahaina. The second level of the 10,000 square foot establishment affords an incredible ocean view and there is quality live music nightly. The principal is Mick Fleetwood, the well-know rock drummer. When he’s not touring he spends most of his time on Maui.

Although it’s a casual setting they are equally serious about their food. The chef advisor is Scott Leibfried (who you’ll remember as one of the two sous chefs for Gordon Ramsay on Fox’s “Hell’s Kitchen.”) Chef Scott continues with the project.

Aaron recommends the Lemon Shrimp with a cream cheese polenta cake, wild arugula and cherry tomato salad, lemon-thyme vinaigrette and roasted tomato sauce. Look for “Today’s Local Fish” and the 10 oz. Grilled Filet with Big Island Hamakua Mushrooms as standout dishes.

Maui Brewing Company CoCoNut PorTeRAaron is a craft beer aficionado so also on his Maui menu was a stop at the celebrated brewpub of the Maui Brewing Co. This is the most successful craft brewery in The Islands and quite a story. Their only “problem” is that they can’t keep up with demand on The Mainland. They can their most popular styles and they are available in California. One of their signature brews is their award-winning CoCoNut PorTeR. The brewpub features some seasonal styles only available on Maui.

The food is seriously good, too, and a big attraction for locals. They even make their own salad dressings. You can’t go wrong with their pizzas or the Kalua Pork Sliders.

A local Island favorite is The Plate Lunch which Aaron sampled at all levels of dining establishments during his visit. It’s a lot of filling food designed for the hungry working guy. The best of the lot was the Pub Plate at Maui Brewing. It’s Kalua pork, white rice, mac salad, and CoCoNut PorTeR BBQ sauce.