restaurant

Top Breakfast Spots in Maui Hawaii

Posted on by sam

They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Well, if you’re in Maui Hawaii, this is not just a saying, but a lifestyle. The chefs know just how to put together a delightful breakfast treat- Maui style- and get your taste buds leaping in excitement. But, like everything else, your breakfast can go wrong if you don’t visit the right breakfast spot in Maui. Beyond the amazing weather, breathtaking landscape and wildlife, picturesque locations, and tours that create memories of a lifetime, a great breakfast can set the tone for an amazing day on the Island.

So, what’s the best breakfast spot on Maui, you may ask. Truth is, there are quite a number of places where tasteful and rich breakfast is served. This post will dive into the details so that you’re better prepared on your next trip to the land of unbelievable beauty known as the Valley Isle.

Top 7 Breakfast Spots in Maui Hawaii

  1. Kihei Café. This is a proper breakfast and brunch Hawaiian-style diner that opens at 6am and shuts its doors at 2pm. It is located in Kihei-Kalama Village and offers amazing dishes for the entire family, including Belgian Waffles, Crab Cake, Eggs Benedict, and so on. If the rumble in your stomach signals something more filling, you can go for options like a Southern Breakfast (with Bone-in-Ham) or Steak and Eggs. And, if you’re craving some local favourites, try their special Loco Moco and thank me later.
  2. Beach Street Maui. Beach Street Maui has the best shave ice on Maui hands down and we were pleasantly surprised the breakfast food was very good. We had the breakfast egg sandwich and Maui sunrise bagel which were very good. A much better option for a quick breakfast option than Jamba or Starbucks. Oh, and they have coffee drinks as well. Open since 2000 this spot comes highly recommend for breakfast in Kihei Maui.
  3. Down the Hatch. This is where you’d find some of Maui’s best foods, including an amazing array of breakfast options, such as Chicken and Waffles, Crispy Pork Belly Bennys, and Lava Lava Shrimp and Avocado Omelet. Both locals and tourists find Down the Hatch as their preferred spot for breakfast in Maui and you can sit in for an amazing breakfast between 7:30am and 11:00am.
  4. Paia Bowls. The historic town of Paia certainly offers more than just folklore and tales of historic significance. Here, Paia Bowls reigns as the king of breakfast before they serve you breakfast the Royal way. This small eatery along Maui’s North shore has been a local favourite for many years, and has also begun attracting tourists who always come out full and satisfied. The açai bowls offer a house special that visitors will certainly love. And if you have restricted diets, the friendly staff will certainly offer you special options.
  5. The Gazebo. I particularly love the view of the Napali shores overlooking the Gazebo and I found that every time I visited was memorable for me. The Macadamia nut pancakes is the restaurant’s most famous dish, but there are a whole lot more to enjoy for sweet pastries and light breakfast. You can get your breakfast to-go as most people do, walk down the beach and enjoy a delightful breakfast experience.
  6. Kula Bistro. This restaurant first opened its doors in 2012 and has since become a major stop for tourists visiting the Haleakala National Park volcano because of its unique location at the base of the park. Fresh, affordable, and tasty dishes served in generous portions make this spot one of the most popular in Maui. While I particularly love the Eggs Benedict, I’ve been told every other thing on its breakfast menu is equally delicious.
  7. The Plantation House. I am yet to decide what I love most; the food or the view? This haven is located in the Plantation Golf Course just facing the ocean. The environment is serene, warm and welcoming, with large windows and the open-air style design. So, this spot offers tasty, fresh, local breakfast dishes combined with an atmosphere for quality time with your loved ones.

Guide to opening your own bakery business

Posted on by sam

Whether it’s a home bakery, a retail shop, cafe, counter service or bakery food trucks, bakeries are an important business across the world. Think about how many people in the entire world eat bread, cake, or other types of pastries, then you’ll have a vague idea of how large the market is. You may be thinking of setting up your own bakery, whether for the passion of it or simply for its economic potential. Whatever the case, you’ll quickly realise that it’s not as easy as it looks.

 

A bakery is a technical business and requires technical and administrative skills to set up. Sometimes  many people fail even before they begin. We have put together this guide to help you open your own bakery business. There are 7 steps to follow to set up a successful bakery.

 

  1. Write a plan

I do not think you should do anything without a plan, especially when it has to do with business. This is the first and one of the most important steps because it lays out the roadmap; showing what the business is about, how it should be run, products and services, strategies, and financial projections. In fact, you’ll come to realize that a business plan helps with most of the other steps in this guide.

 

A bakery business plan should have an executive summary, company description, business offerings, market analysis, management and ownership, marketing strategy and financial projections.

 

  1. Get your capital

It is true that idea is golden, but even the biggest and most viable ideas need money to run. There are a lot of things to buy and spending money on. You must raise funds to get your baking equipment, stocking the kitchen, leasing a space, setting up the space, getting insurance, and so much more. If you do not have the funds, you may need to get a loan. You can apply for small business loans, commercial loans, or lines of credit.

 

Ensure the loan is medium to long term because your business needs a gestation period (several months or years) to find stability and break even before it starts to yield profit.

 

  1. Find a space

Unless you have a large home and it meets all legal requirements for a home bakery, you would need to find a commercial space for the business. For retail bakeries, it is best to set up in an environment that has your target market and demographic. Population and the lifestyle of your target is also a big factor because bakeries will sell better in commercial areas where lunch breaks are common.

 

The location you choose should also be close to suppliers, easily accessible, must meet the size requirement, and must be safe, not prone to crime, and healthy.

 

  1. Get your permits

You’d be operating illegally without obtaining the necessary permits and licenses you need for a bakery. There are so many regulators for the food service industry on the federal, state, and local level. Just be sure that the permits you get are those meant for your locality, as each type depends on the laws guiding the location of your business. With the right licenses, you can operate with your eyes closed and have no worries of a shutdown or other penalties.

 

  1. Tools for the job

This is the stage where you order the equipment you need in your bakery. These range from those used in dough preparation (mixers, sheeters, dividers, dough scales, worktable, etc), baking (convection ovens of different types), and storage (racks and shelves, etc) to display items and cleaning and ware washing equipment.

 

  1. Hire and train your staff

You can’t do everything yourself. You need the right hands taking care of different segments of your bakery. Hiring the right people, in the right number and arming them with the knowledge and skill they need are very crucial for your success. If you run a retail bakery, two major areas of focus are the front-of-house and back-of-house. While one person can handle front-of-house duties (taking orders and working the cash register), you would need two or more people handling the actual baking.

 

  1. Publicity and opening

I categorized the two steps in one because they serve the same purpose- getting people to know the place and patronize subsequently. You may need to place ads on the local newspaper or get your business on the billboards. Organizing an opening/launch is another amazingly effective way to publicize and get people to try what you make. This is your chance for a first impression; do not blow it.

 

Restaurants’ Most Popular Seafood Dishes

Posted on by sam

Ever since man discovered the means to explore the aquatic world, seafoods have been an important part of our diet. In fact, there are restaurants around the world that serve strictly seafoods to their customers. What is it about these aquatic treats that make us keep wanting more? Apart from being nutritionally beneficial, Seafoods are tasty and delicious and offer us an irresistible alternative to meat.

 

As a result of the vast oceans consisting of diverse aquatic life, you might get confused when thinking about the specific seafood dish to order. Not to worry, I have compiled a list of the most popular seafood dishes that are served by some of the top restaurants in the world. This list should help you narrow down your options.

 

  1. Crab Cake

The idea behind this delicious American fish cake was first introduced in ancient times by English Settlers to the various colonies. Since then, there have been several variations of its recipe. However, the standard ingredients remain Shellfish meat, eggs, breadcrumbs and flavorings like Worcestershire sauce, mustard, and fresh herbs.

 

  1. Sashimi

This Japanese dish mainly consists of shellfish, raw fish or occasionally meat, served alongside ingredients like ginger paste or wasabi and soy sauce. A sashimi dish can be creatively cut in several ways, either into thick or thin pieces. It can be taken as an appetizer with cucumbers, shiso leaves and seaweed.

 

  1. New England Clam Chowder

This dish is one of the earliest American delicacies formed by pilgrims who arrived at Plymouth Rock in 1620. This delicacy is a stew that is often prepared with bits of salted pork, briny clams, sweet onions, milk, and potatoes.

 

  1. Ceviche

This popular seafood delicacy is indigenous to the people of Peru. It consists of a bit of raw fish or shellfish, flavored with onions, chili, salt, and pepper. The mixture is often soaked in lime juice with a high level of acidity for an improved texture and flavor. The acidity of the lime juice tenders the fish without the use of any heat. The fish used in preparation are usually freshly caught. The Chez Wong restaurant in Lima, Peru serves some of the best ceviche in the world.

 

  1. Fish and Chips

Perhaps, the most “English” dish on the list, fish and chips are widely eaten all around Europe. This dish consists of a white fish fillet and sliced up potatoes. There are several varieties of fish used in this delicacy. A few of them include flounder, Cod, and haddock. The fish fillet is then marinated with a batter that is made from flour, milk, eggs and then fried in oil. Maui Seafood Restaurants really have this dish down. Maui offers the freshest catches in the Pacific Ocean.

 

  1. Bisque

This delicious French soup is made with ingredients such as seafood, wine or cognac, cream, and several other spices. Traditionally, the soup is prepared by first using a grill to roast the shellfish and then heating it again in the flavored soup. The most popular type of this dish is the Lobster Bisque. It is made with the most fascinating flavors and spices. Little wonder this dish is loved by so many from across the globe.

 

  1. Bacalhau

Dishes made with Cod are most popular among Portuguese seafood lovers. These dishes are simple and can be ordered anytime, any day. However, a few variations are reserved for specific celebrations like Good Friday and Christmas eve. Some of the most popular bacalhau in Portugal include creamy bacalhau com natas, crispy bolinhos de bacalhau fritters, Staple bacalhau com todos reserved for Christmas eve and bacalhau a bras which is very common in Lisbon.

 

  1. Himono

Himono consists of different types of dried fish dishes. Some of the ingredients used include smaller fishes like sardines or mackerel. These fishes are cleaned, marinated, and then refrigerated or occasionally dried in the sun. This method was originally used for preservation, to increase shelf life. Before that, salting was the most common form of preservation. After drying, the fish could be eaten immediately or stored.

 

Himono is often eaten with rice and soy sauce. It could be taken for breakfast, lunch or could even be eaten as a snack at night.

 

  1. Spaghetti alle vongole

It will take you only a few minutes to prepare this meal. If you get the ingredients right, you should find it easy too. This takes nothing away from its flavor. Traditionally a Neapolitan dish, Spaghetti alle vongole consists of two main ingredients: Pasta and vongole clams. There are a few who prefer the dish without any tomatoes, called the Bianco version. Yet, there are others who prefer the fish made with crushed tomatoes called spaghetti alle vongole con la salsa di pomodoro.

 

This dish is also popular in Italian seafood restaurants like the popular osteria alle testiere and the Trattoria da Emilia. It is most often served in the summer, because of sufficient availability of fresh ingredients. This delicacy is one of the most popular meals of the Neapolitan dinner served on Christmas Eve. It is called the Cena della vigilia di Natale.