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May 29, 2006

Ma La

Maui, HI

Mediterranean

$20 to $30

Our rating: 3 forks

When eating in Maui who wants to waste anytime in the interior of a restaurant? Not me. Ma La is in a unique location overlooking the Pacific Ocean, in fact the patio deck is over the water. We dined in the main dining room enjoying the picture window at sunset.

The menu is loaded with creative and tasty dishes served in a tapas styles. The chef not only features Spanish and Mediterranean tastes, but also Hawaiian and Japanese. The varied menu offers something for everyone including those from the meat and potato crowd.

The standouts of our evening included sugar snap peas with chili, oyster shooter with wasabi and soy, garlic and cheese lavish, shrimp and lettuce lavish, and the Kobe cheeseburger.

Other dishes we enjoyed where the beet and goat cheese salad, and chocolate soufflé. Oh, and the fires taste mighty good when dipped in the aoli!

Ma La

Front Street Maui, HI

Average Cost Per Person, excluding drinks: $20 to $30

Patio, Bar dining, Credit cards, Bar, Casual, Great View, Romantic Spot

What To Order: Kobe Beef Cheeseburger

May 11, 2006

Maisano's Catering and Italian Deli

Garden Grove, CA

Italian

$10 or less

Run by the Galasso family, who have a significant history of baking in Southern California. Maisano's offers a delectable selection of desserts to tempt you. On a recent visit I had the Chestnut (a chocolate covered pastry filled with Chestnut cream), a fresh strawberry tart, and something that amounted to dough with sugar sprinkled on top. All were done well, but I would go back for the Chestnut. On my next visit, I plan to try the olive pizza and a brownie - not necessarily in that order!

Maisano's Catering and Italian Deli

10520 Garden Grove Blvd. Garden Grove, CA 92643 faces Garden Grove Blvd., near the Costco at Century Drive 714-537-2382

Average Cost Per Person, excluding drinks: $10 or less

What To Order: Chocolate covered pastry filled with Chestnut cream