A new year and a fresh start!

Happy 2008 everyone!

The holidays were great. Each restaurant was BUSY! Kudos to the kitchen staff at both Haliimaile General Store and Joe's in Wailea! My team rocked out like superstars. So many guests came up to me and said that they had enjoyed their best meal ever - not just in Hawaii - but anywhere! The sore feet and aching backs are worth it when you are privileged enough to share fantastic food, beautiful wine, fun, friendship and family with people from across the globe!!!

We had a lot of return guests in for the holidays - too many to name here. Some of my guests have been coming back for 15 - 20 years and for that I am thankful. We try to exceed their expectations each time and from what I hear, we are knocking it out of the park!

Old friends like Helen Hunt, Meg Ryan, Alice Cooper and his lovely wife Sheryl as well as many others made it a point to stop in for a bite during the past few weeks. One of my favorite moments was sitting at the bar at Haliimaile General Store with Tom Moffatt, whom you may know as the Showman of the Pacific! Tom has been a friend for years and chatting with him about "the old days" is always such a treasured pleasure.

My catering company, Celebrations Catering, also produced some amazing events this season. In particular, one large event at a private home on Maui's South Shore is being dubbed the event of the year.........their words.....not mine! The catering staff is amazing and make me so proud every day. Rebecca, Henry, Mike, Paula, John, Joanie, Freda, Jacque, Jesse, Anna Mae, Michelle & Babba all deserve a round of applause (and probably a soak in a hot tub)!

We have new menus at both Joe's and Haliimaile General Store and I personally think that they are the best menus we've had - now that's 20 years of menus, so you know how pleased I must be! Come in and check out the new items!

Keep Friday, February 8, 2008 open.....I am teaming up with Violet Grgich from Grgich Hills Winery for a spectular wine dinner - see the website or stop into Haliimaile General Store for more details!!!!!

So - am I the only one that made New Year's resolutions? In 2008, I vow to spend more time with cherished friends, continue to write recipes and create menus that are worthy of my magnificent guests and find the time to take a sabbatical before our 20th anniversary!!!!!!!!!

The first few months of the year will find me in Sydney, San Francisco and back in Manila. I'll make sure to keep you up to date on those trips as they occur.

Well everyone - I have to hop on a plane to........wait.....where am I going?......I'll figure it out when I get there! HA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

With warmest aloha,

Bev