Category

Maui Life

Category

Maui Foodie Adventures – Earth Aloha Eats Foodtruck, Plantbased Vegan Grinds

No Comments

Happy Monday Maui Foodie Fam! If you’re not from Maui or visiting – no worries, we hope you still enjoy this post. Today, we are sharing with you another Maui Eats find. We love love love checking out food trucks on the island and the Earth Aloha Eats truck has been a recent find on our foodie adventures. Today, we are sharing EAE with you.

What and Who is Earth Aloha Eats

First, I’d like to apologize, because, in my video, I called them Aloha Eats, but they are indeed Earth Aloha Eats or EAE (for short). Earth Aloha Eats is located in Kahului, just a mile or so from Kahului International Airport. It’s situated on Dairy Road at the Foodtruck Lot in the old Shell Gas Station, next to Bedmart. EAE is a Vegan truck that specializes in plant-based specials. Earth Aloha Eats is open daily from 11am – 8pm and there are a variety of specials as well as takeout and delivery available.

Maui Foodie Adventures - Earth Aloha Eats Foodtruck, Plantbased Vegan Grinds
Earth Aloha Eats in Kahului on Dairy Road. Follow them on Instagram @earthalohaeats.

Upon arriving at their food truck, I asked the team a bunch of questions about their food and was greeted with a warm smile and lots of aloha.  Their advertisements on the side of the truck included pictures that were absolutely enticing. But, honestly – I was intrigued that a “pork” anything, as well as “fish” and “burger”, would taste like real meat. The Maui Foodie fam decided we would try out their Pulled Pork Fries and Creme Brulee.  

The Pulled “Pork” Fries

Maui Foodie Adventures - Earth Aloha Eats Foodtruck, Plantbased Vegan Grinds
Pulled “pork” fries

The pulled pork fries include Golden french fries topped with vegan pulled pork, rainbow coleslaw, and their house-made BBQ sauce.  It is the ultimate in plant-based nom noms! The takeout dish is both vegetarian and vegan and the “pork” is made with a plant/soy base. Let me start by saying that the plate itself is really pretty to look at and the colors are gorgeous. But, the taste is really really good. It is stuffed full of flavor and there truly is a lot of food for a “slide nom” as they call it. The french fries were crispy and there was a lot to this dish. For just $8.95, you get a lot of food.

Now, let’s talk about the vegan pulled pork for a sec shall we? Did it really taste like meat? Hmmmm… I have to say, I’m quite impressed. I have tasted mock-chicken before and other types of vegan based meat-like items. But, the texture is not always ideal.

Maui Foodie Adventures - Earth Aloha Eats Foodtruck, Plantbased Vegan Grinds

The Creme Brulee

The Creme Brulee is a mildly sweet and creamy vanilla custard with a caramelized sugar top.  This little mason jar of goodness has the perfect amount of sweetness and creaminess. I loved the crunchy creme brulee caramel top. It was crispy and delicious. My creme brulee was liquidy, so I’m not sure if that is how it normally is… but it definitely was delicious. While the texture was different than I would expect from a traditional creme brulee, it ultimately had the flavors I look for. It was decadent and yummy!

Maui Foodie Adventures - Earth Aloha Eats Foodtruck, Plantbased Vegan Grinds

As I mentioned before, both food items are vegetarian and vegan and the creme brulee is gluten-free. 

Maui Foodie Adventures - Earth Aloha Eats Foodtruck, Plantbased Vegan Grinds

Other Food Items

EAE offers a varied menu with lots of items for any taste or craving. Here is a list of some of the options available – but keep in mind that they offer daily specials as well.

  • Golden Fish
  • Thai Chicken Tacos
  • Mexican Street Tacos
  • Buddha Bowl
  • Asian Teriyaki Bowl
  • Falafel Wrap
  • Grilled Chicken Wrap
  • Gyro Chicken Wrap
  • Aloha Burger – Beyond Burger on a toasted ciabatta bun
  • Pulled Pork Sandwich
  • BBQ Chicken Sandwich
  • Phish & Chips (crispy golden vegan fish served over french fries w/mixed greens, etc.)
  • Greek Plate with housemade falafel, hummus, mixed greens, brown rice and more
  • yummy drinks like Eqyptian Hibiscus Iced Tea, Kombucha, Amazing Lemonade, Cucumber infused iced water and Green Goddess Smoothie (special)
  • Kid-friendly meals like Vegan cheese quesadilla, chicken nuggets with french fries as well as rice and veggies

They are reasonably priced and again, all products are vegetarian and vegan so you get a guilt-free foodie experience that will satisfy any craving.  

Maui Foodie Adventures - Earth Aloha Eats Foodtruck, Plantbased Vegan Grinds
EAE has a little garden with herbs that is attached to their food truck. It’s not only unique but adds to the dining experience and I LOVE the concept.

As a meat-eater, I’m always looking for plant-based/vegan food that provides me with the flavor and most importantly, the texture of the meats that I enjoy.  The Maui Foodies was definitely impressed with EAE’s food selection as well as its flavor profile.  EAE also have their own garden right on the food truck which makes it a unique experience. 

Check out our Video on YouTube

Watch the video!

If you are in Kahului and are looking for something new to try or feeling like you want to go vegetarian or vegan for the day – head on over to Earth Aloha Eats.  We definitely suggest you giving them a try. Earth Aloha Eats food truck also offers not only takeout but also delivery. Check them out on Instagram for more info.

Overall, we truly enjoyed our experience at Earth Aloha Eats Food Truck. We highly suggest you stopping in and checking it out for yourself. If you do stop on by to try them out, let them know that The Maui Foodies sent ya!

Disclaimer: Nothing to disclose. All items featured and reviewed were purchased with our own money. Affiliate links may be posted throughout (please visit our Disclosures Page for information on monetization, sponsored posts, etc.)

Keep Reading
By

Maui Eats – Three’s Bar and Grill

No Comments
maui eats, three's bar & grill, three's bar and grill, food, maui food, grinds, maui, maui travel guide, sushi, local grinds, hawaii grinds, maui grinds, tourist, what to do on maui, oysters,

If you’ve been a long time reader here, then you know that my family and I love experiencing new restaurants and eateries.  Last week, we found ourselves craving sushi and after spending a few hours at the Batting Cages in Kihei, we decided we would dine in at Three’s Bar and Grill.  Having not had the opportunity to eat here yet, we were quite excited to try out the establishment, especially since it was visited by Guy Fieri from Diners Drive-Ins and Dives on the Food Network.  I’m not gonna lie though, just reading their menu online had us very ecstatic about the food we were going to be ordering.

maui eats, three's bar & grill, three's bar and grill, food, maui food, grinds, maui, maui travel guide, sushi, local grinds, hawaii grinds, maui grinds, tourist, what to do on maui, oysters,

Three friends who loved to cook and loved to surf dreamt up the idea of starting their own catering business.  In 2009, Three’s Catering was launched using a rented warehouse and their old trucks.  After a few short months, their unexpected success had them looking for a location for a restaurant and here we are today.  Sadly in October 2016, Three’s Bar & Grill had a fire at the restaurant and it needed to be repaired before reopening after renovations the following month.  Now, the business is booming and I’m excited to share our experience with all of you.

maui eats, three's bar & grill, three's bar and grill, food, maui food, grinds, maui, maui travel guide, sushi, local grinds, hawaii grinds, maui grinds, tourist, what to do on maui, oysters,

Three’s Bar and Grill includes three chefs’ three cuisines – Hawaiian, Southwestern and Pacific Rim, making it a great place to experience a variety of food with different flavors and ethnicities.  I love the wide range available to select from and I definitely love the casual island lifestyle vibe you get when you dine in here.  You can choose between indoor or outdoor dining areas which are great for the laid-back atmosphere of the Southside area of Maui.

So, let’s talk about food, shall we? Three’s is open for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner and also offers a great Happy Hour selection (2 times a day is available).  I also love that they have a great wine list as well as a selection of signature and delectable cocktails to choose from.  All of these things are great, but I think one of my favorite parts of their food menu is the fact that they also offer a Kid’s menu and being a mom, that’s definitely a plus.  We selected Three’s Bar and Grill because we wanted to try out their sushi and I just had to have a taste of their Oyster Shooters – a special on the menu (which, if you’re an oyster lover, I highly suggest).

maui eats, three's bar & grill, three's bar and grill, food, maui food, grinds, maui, maui travel guide, sushi, local grinds, hawaii grinds, maui grinds, tourist, what to do on maui, oysters,

Let’s talk about the Oyster Shooters.  Traditionally they come in a shot glass with saké (Japanese rice wine), but I didn’t want to have any alcohol, so I asked them to make up a special order for me.  The Oyster Shooters are made with Uni (sea urchin), a fresh oyster and tobiko (fish roe).  They are topped with just a little bit of scallion or green onion for a fresh and vibrant look but also to bring out some of the flavors.  They are tiny but filled with a punch of umami that will definitely cater to all of your senses.  If you like seafood or love oysters like I do, this is a must-try for sure.

maui eats, three's bar & grill, three's bar and grill, food, maui food, grinds, maui, maui travel guide, sushi, local grinds, hawaii grinds, maui grinds, tourist, what to do on maui, oysters,

Whenever it comes to sushi restaurants or bars, my husband and I always order the Rainbow Roll.  It gives us an idea of how fresh the different types of seafood is and the presentation of the sushi.  Most sushi bars create the same types, but they all have different flavors and flare.  We enjoyed the Rainbow Roll for sure and loved that each of the ingredients was fresh and absolutely delicious.  It was so fresh that we were able to eat the leftovers for lunch the next day and the sushi was as vibrant the next day as it was the night before.  Delicious and fresh sushi, made-to-order, usually comes with a Rainbow Roll on their menu and you can tell it’s fresh by the texture of the fish.  Traditionally a rainbow roll includes the following:  Ahi tuna, salmon and hamachi (yellowtail) or shrimp.  If you bite into the different fish in this roll and they are buttery in texture, that usually means they are very fresh.

maui eats, three's bar & grill, three's bar and grill, food, maui food, grinds, maui, maui travel guide, sushi, local grinds, hawaii grinds, maui grinds, tourist, what to do on maui, oysters,

We had several different types of sushi rolls to include:  Shrimp Tempura Roll (pictured above is 2 orders), Lava Roll (pictured below), and of course, the Rainbow Roll.  The specialty rolls range in price from $14.00 to $20.00 which is about average for sushi here on the island.  It’s reasonable considering the market price of the fresh fish.  Their fish is fresh and flown in daily and they offer a variety of specialty rolls, sushi and hand rolls and specialty items.

maui eats, three's bar & grill, three's bar and grill, food, maui food, grinds, maui, maui travel guide, sushi, local grinds, hawaii grinds, maui grinds, tourist, what to do on maui, oysters,

Pictured above (and below) is the Lava Roll which includes:  Spicy Tuna Roll topped with ahi, sriracha finished with tempura crunch, Negi and chili oil.

maui eats, three's bar & grill, three's bar and grill, food, maui food, grinds, maui, maui travel guide, sushi, local grinds, hawaii grinds, maui grinds, tourist, what to do on maui, oysters,

If my family and I order sushi, we always order a sashimi platter or sampler to try as well.  This sashimi sampler (pictured below) included a variety of delectable and fresh fish that we loved.  It’s the Chef’s assortment, so we don’t get to choose, but each piece that we received was delicious.

maui eats, three's bar & grill, three's bar and grill, food, maui food, grinds, maui, maui travel guide, sushi, local grinds, hawaii grinds, maui grinds, tourist, what to do on maui, oysters,

Our Sashimi Sampler included Saba, Hamachi, Ahi, Shrimp, and Salmon.  The platter itself was filled with beautiful colors making it a delight to eat.  Yummy!

maui eats, three's bar & grill, three's bar and grill, food, maui food, grinds, maui, maui travel guide, sushi, local grinds, hawaii grinds, maui grinds, tourist, what to do on maui, oysters,

And, since we were there during their Happy Hour that evening (Happy Hour times are: 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm and 9:00 pm to 10:00 pm, Late Night Happy Hour is Only available in the Surf Lounge) I decided I would place an order for a few more oysters.  Their fresh shucked Penncove oysters are just $2.00 each for their Happy Hour special.

maui eats, three's bar & grill, three's bar and grill, food, maui food, grinds, maui, maui travel guide, sushi, local grinds, hawaii grinds, maui grinds, tourist, what to do on maui, oysters,

I wasn’t able to catch photos of my husband and son’s Beer Battered Fish & Chips Entree which they each ordered and definitely enjoyed.  The Fish & Chips were made with beer battered mahi mahi that was fried to perfection, homemade tartar sauce, crispy fries, and lemon.  This entree was simple was so good that they ate it too quickly for me to grab a photo of their food. lol

maui eats, three's bar & grill, three's bar and grill, food, maui food, grinds, maui, maui travel guide, sushi, local grinds, hawaii grinds, maui grinds, tourist, what to do on maui, oysters,

Three’s offers a wide selection of menu items to choose from and a great selection for their Happy Hour.  We enjoyed the fact that these three Chefs came together and created a menu like this.  I can’t wait to bring my other family members here to try the menu, since I know that there will be something for everyone to choose from.

maui eats, three's bar & grill, three's bar and grill, food, maui food, grinds, maui, maui travel guide, sushi, local grinds, hawaii grinds, maui grinds, tourist, what to do on maui, oysters,

Service was quick and our server was very courteous.  The one thing that took the longest to arrive was the seafood and sushi, but our reservation was for 9 pm and we understood that they were in the midst of a busy rush, so it was expected.  Most places on the island close by 9 o’clock in the evening and this particular part of South Kihei was still booming, with Three’s Bar and Grill quite busy for the time of night that it was.  It’s a rare thing to see restaurants open so late so that is definitely a plus.

maui eats, three's bar & grill, three's bar and grill, food, maui food, grinds, maui, maui travel guide, sushi, local grinds, hawaii grinds, maui grinds, tourist, what to do on maui, oysters,

Three’s Bar and Grill is located in a little marketplace area off of South Kihei Road across from Kalama Park.  The menu prices are about average for Maui and the food definitely tasted and looked fresh.  My entire family enjoyed what they ordered (the Twins had Chicken Strips with Fries off of the Keiki Menu) and we look forward to going back again soon.

Three’s Bar and Grill is the sister restaurant to Fork & Salad, one of my favorite places to get a fresh salad with local ingredients.  Stay tuned in the coming week or so for a review of some of my favorite treats from Fork & Salad discussed here on the blog.

Three’s has their own food truck that rolls up to different events and parties.  You can find it at the Kihei Town Party events alongside the Fork & Salad Beer Garden Set Up for the Kihei Town Parties for Kihei 4th Friday.  But, you can also book the food truck for your private parties and events.

maui eats, three's bar & grill, three's bar and grill, food, maui food, grinds, maui, maui travel guide, sushi, local grinds, hawaii grinds, maui grinds, tourist, what to do on maui, oysters,

If you’re interested in checking out Three’s Bar & Grill, definitely call ahead to book reservations or use Open Table (which is what we love to use) to book for your party.  If you’re going to be dining in late, I highly suggest sitting in the Surf Lounge to take advantage of the Late Night Happy Hour and don’t forget to try out some of their signature cocktails too.

Restaurant Hours
Mon – Fri: 8:30 am – 10:00 pm
Sat – Sun: 8:00 am – 10:00 pm
Happy Hour 
3:00 pm – 6:00 pm
9:00 pm – 10:00 pm

Location [map]
1945 S Kihei Road, Suite G
Kihei, HI 96753-7836
808-879-3133

Want to learn more about Three’s Bar & Grill?  Head on over to their website and have a look at their menus, about the company and restaurant and so much more.

As I stated before, my family and I enjoyed Three’s Bar & Grill and we know it will be a restaurant we’ll return to again soon.  We hope they expand and open a location in town (Central) like they did with Fork & Salad, I think it would be a hit.

Disclaimer:  This is not a sponsored post.  All opinions are our own, 100% honest & unbiased.  Affiliate links may be posted throughout.

Keep Reading
By

The Future Brings a Change in Time and Places | Waihee Valley Swinging Bridges – Maui, Hawaii

No Comments
Maui, swinging bridges, hawaii, waihee valley trail, waihee valley, moutains, islands, tourists, our island home, sadness, over populated, home, maui home,

Yay – I’m so excited that it’s finally summer break for the boys.  While the twins will be going to Summer school in a few weeks, we still plan to take full advantage of the days we have with each other and summer for us means fun and adventures.  Since the boys and I are going to be adventuring around our island like tourists this summer, I figured that I would share with all of you some of the pictures of our journey.  While some of them will be fun and exciting, we also plan to revisit some of the places I played in my childhood.  So many changes happen as the future evolves and this is my way of sharing all of it with my boys.

A few days ago I found myself pumping gas into my car and an overwhelming feeling of a need to visit sanctuary overcame me.  As a child my parents took me to different places on the island to cool off during the summer or hot months or to just relax and as a teenager, I visited these places with friends.  I wanted to take a drive to calm my mind.  Out of the blue, I found myself driving to little towns that I haven’t been to in over 10 years and what I saw hurt my heart.

Maui, swinging bridges, hawaii, waihee valley trail, waihee valley, moutains, islands, tourists, our island home, sadness, over populated, home, maui home,

My first stop was to Waihee Valley and a location the locals here know as Swinging Bridges.  It’s at the top of a narrow road at the base of the mountain range and somewhere I spent many summers, walking across these swinging bridges on a hike to get to the waterfall at the top of the trail.  The last time we entered, we were charged a fee (about 10 years ago), even if we were Kama’ainas (local residents).  So, I expected that I would need to pay a small fee to enter the grounds again.  This time, I was greeted at the top of the road before the entry to Swinging Bridges with a large gate that blocked my entry.

Maui, swinging bridges, hawaii, waihee valley trail, waihee valley, moutains, islands, tourists, our island home, sadness, over populated, home, maui home,

In shock, I sat there for a few minutes to collect my thoughts.  How is this even possible?  I turned my car around and just as I started my descent back down the road, I passed a local man tending to his garden.  His house is located just to the side of where this photo (above) was taken.  If you’ve been to Hawaii or live here, then you probably know that even is Aunty or Uncle, so I greeted him by saying… “Good morning Uncle, how are you today?”  He responded by approaching my car and we talked story a bit.  He explained that the gate was put up about 5 years ago and the property which is owned by the plantation and a private land owner decided to remove access to the public.  We talked about how the families that lived in the valley were either moving away or they were offered a lot of money to sell their homes.  Long time residents that go back generations that live on the road are also blocked access to something they grew up with.  We talked for about 30 minutes and the uncle ended the conversation by saying that I was welcomed to come back any time to wala’au (or talk story).

As a kid, we often went up to those areas to pick fern so that we could make haku leis (floral head wreaths) for hula, weddings and other events.  The local people no longer have access to that area any longer without asking for permission.  Like I mentioned before, we also swam in the ponds and waterfalls as kids to cool off from the hot Maui heat.  About 10 years ago I took my eldest son to these places and he loved it, but now it is no longer accessible.

I absolutely think that those who own the property have the right to block access to the public, however, much of the land in these parts are technically not “owned” by anyone.  Hawaii is known for parts of the islands that are blocked from access when they technically are not owned by the person who does so.  It’s a common argument throughout the islands.  I was so sad to see this gate here because I figured that if it was still easily accessible, this would be one of the places I would bring my sons to go hiking and journeying through the Valley and ending at a gorgeous waterfall.  I’m sad to see that the access is blocked, but I know there truly is not much I can do about it to fix the situation.  I can only hope that they open it for hiking some days and I can take my sons to visit my childhood stomping grounds.

This was just the beginning of my journey on that day.  Over the next week or so I’ll be sharing more of my adventure and over the next couple of months, I’ll be sharing photos and our journey as we enjoy our summer break.  Stay tuned for more.

Wishing you all a wonderful summer!

Disclaimer:  This is not a sponsored post and all images are my own.  Affiliate links may be posted throughout and all opinions are my own.

Keep Reading
By