CHEF'S TABLE — theCULINARYIST

CHEF’S TABLE

/SHefs/ /ˈtābəl/

A table located in the kitchen of a restaurant, reserved for VIPs and special guests, served a themed tasting menu prepared & served by the head chef (and support chef’s)

When I started planning our trip to Maui – exactly a year ago – I wanted to make sure we did (3) things:

RELAX – we both needed a reboot to our systems. Me to reboot my love for life & design work through my love for cooking; Teri to reboot after all the stress of buying a school & business that she absolutely loves
EXPLORE – I wanted to find every nook and cranny of beautiful Maui. I know it’s ambitious and wouldn’t happen but I still did my best to get lost and find new favorite hide-a-ways. One in particular, the last time I was in Maui and drove the road to Hana, I saw a beach that I couldn’t figure out how to get to. It wasn’t crowded like other tourist spots. This time I was looking for it…any opening into the forest from the road. You could seriously blink and miss the turn but we FOUND IT!! A small dirt road that leads you to a secluded beach where we only saw about 4-5 local surfers. It was one of those places where I worried that the locals would be upset that tourists invaded their paradise oasis…so we enjoyed the cove for an acceptable amount of time and returned to the main road. If you see Big Moe’s…you’ve come too far.
EAT – I mean…who wouldn’t?? And for the timid…WHY?? What better activity to do than to try and experience things you couldn’t at home? Or at least better quality of it? We did the tourist attractions and we did the local. I had the best sushi I’ve had in the US during this trip. From an old Japanese Itamae in a sushi bar that only serves 8-10 people in an unassuming strip mall in Kihei. Worth more than any bougie world known restaurant on the island! No frills, no BS, no regrets!! Omakase Ohmygod!!

amazing quality!! I could eat 3 of these~~

Welcome sign to the magical world of culinary brilliance

An experience I happened to come across while researching was Maui Chef’s Table on the Maui Tropical Plantation property and once I found it, it was one that I just could not wait for!! As it describes on their website (www.mauichefstable.com) it’s an interactive, multi-course dining experience inspired by chefs’ personal stories & told through Maui’s seasonal ingredients. An open air dining space next to the beautiful Mill House restaurant, we, the guests, are encouraged to come up to the open kitchen while the chefs are cooking to ask questions, get some tips, and take pictures. And I took FULL advantage of this opportunity!!

Before going any further, let me remind you that all foods pictured in this post were not cooked by me (theCULINARYIST) but by professional chefs. I only took photos of the beautiful dishes presented to me. So, enjoy and get inspired by the artistry as I did!

Menu – Saturday, September 8, 2018

Beet Baguette Lace, Tomato, Watercress, Caviar
Kanpachi Rillette, Leek, Onion, Crème Fraiche
Roasted Vegetable, Tahini, Golden Raisin
Kanpachi, Shitake Mushroom, Mac Nut Picada
Strip Loin, Alii Mushroom, Rutabaga, Dijon Butter
Kabocha Chocolate Cake, Olive Oil Ice Cream

a couple of drinks to get this party started. The Millhouse has AMAZING handcrafted cocktails!! Waikapu Planters Punch & Espina de la Rosa

we’re ready for food, food, FOOD!!

so beautiful & a delicious start to the meal! I mean…the caviar **drool**

a work of bite-sized art

what an experience watching Chef Jeff & his supporting chefs work their magic. All the time, energy & love of their craft that went into creating this dinner experience for their guests…so impressive!

#2 may have been my favorite!! creamy without being too heavy and the pickled onions gave it a nice tart flavor to it all…still thinking about it!

as I’m watching the chefs plate, I’m in awe of how everyone has a place in the process and are so collaborative. No one does only one thing; everything - every step - is planned and executed like a dance. Each chef can change what their doing without a word to eachother. Bravo~ Chefs of Millhouse!! BRAVO!!

the man at work!

Mr. John, our table mate, being a pro photographer and avid food lover!! It was great to meet you and your lovely wife, Ms. Cindy. It’s amazing how you can meet people from different backgrounds, ages and cultures but the love of FOOD always brings us together. It was great food, drinks and conversations with our new friends the entire night!!

our other tablemates and newly weds, Kelsey & Matt! Such a beautiful couple~ Congratulations again and may your lives together be filled with much love, happiness, health and great food!!

after getting over our initial shyness, we all came up to the counter to really immerse ourselves into the cooking experience. Asking questions, taking pictures, breathing in the energy! **sidenote** to the sweet man looking right at the camera as I was crazily taking pictures…hi~ you’re so pretty!

one of my favorite shots from the night!! Great teamwork!!

pot of gold!! Golden raisin~~

this is just me…sneaking a peek at what’s next! I was too excited during the dinner to sit still. Marinated strip loin…mmm~

you may not be a fan of vegetables but this dish was as yummy as it looks!!

Oh yeah~ i’m READY!!

all the chefs are so kind and surprisingly not at all disturbed by my prying into their backgrounds and love of cooking! hehe~

seasoned kanpacki filets…ready for the FIRE!

i’m jealous of how level headed and chill they are even when they’re cooking for about 60 people at once! Man…I get so nervous and frantic when I’m cooking for 10+!

and how their plating skills are so ON POINT and effortless!!

They even make cleaning look so beautiful!

and of course, i had to be a pest and make them stop for a picture before serving. I have to say, it was worth it!! I’ll be drooling over these pictures for years to come

be still my heart…the colors, the flavors! Alii mushroom, rutabaga & Dijon butter~

where’s the beef? Here’s it is!!!

so perfectly done!! I have to admit - ashamedly - that I was worried that the meat was on the fire for a very long time and that it would be over cooked. But they proved that I’m still very much an amateur home cook and they are the professionals!

the meat course was definitely the most popular to get up close at the counter

look at our intensely longing stares and drooling~

this shot ♥♥♥

even they had to take a moment and admire their work!

it’s all about the lighting! Being an LA girl, it surprised me how DARK it gets here on the island…but after being in Maui for 11 days, I might be ok with giving up the lights!!

and the beautiful finale - chocolate cake topped with olive oil ice cream!! so yummy~~

so sad that this was the end of the meal but incredibly happy & satisfied with the olive oil ice cream!!

I'LL HAVE WHAT HE'S HAVING

while everyone was finishing up with the dessert, I decided to sneak to the back of the kitchen and see what happens behind the scenes…and here they are, the staff enjoying their work!! Teri and I both like going into a restaurant and seeing what the chefs are eating…that way, the next time we go, we order what they had bc we know for sure that it’s good! hehe~

EVERYONE was so incredibly nice and welcoming. We had the great opportunity to go behind the scenes and have a great conversation with Chef Jeff himself! Thank you, chef, for the incredible experience and hope to visit soon. If you’re in the LA area, please reach out!

My first interview - brief but to the point - about our experience:

theCULINARYIST: What was your favorite part of the Maui Chef’s Table experience?

myTeri: I enjoyed watching your reaction to it all. You were like a little kid on Christmas. **me laughing** You really were!! All excited for everything from firing up the grill, watching the chefs working as a cohesive unit, the plating, asking questions.

theC: hehe…I LOVED IT! I felt like I was being such a pest, asking them so many questions and being such an Asian tourist with all the photo taking!

Teri: But that’s what you paid for!! And as they said, what they want you to do.

theC: What about the dishes? What was your favorite?

Teri: Has to be the smoked fish on toast [referring to course 2: the Kanpachi rillettes]!

theC: mmm…yes, mine too! And the Olive Oil ice cream!

Teri: Yeah, that was really surprising.

theC: What did you think about Chef Jeff & Staff?

Teri: All so nice. I was surprised at how personable & talkative (down to earth) Chef Jeff was! He talked to us in the back for at least 15-20 minutes during his break.

theC: Yes, I hope we see him again…maybe in LA!! **chef, there’s a lot of good food in LA too~!** We’ll for sure do this again and anytime we visit Maui! The menu changes seasonally. I’m recommending to everyone I know!!

I’ll be dreaming of Maui until my next visit!!

Mahalo to the beautiful people of Maui, the chefs and staff of Maui Chefs Table/The Millhouse and to myTeri for always being such a champ & supporting me!!

Happy meals and onward to our next food adventure,

theCULINARY·IST