West Maui Book Club

Jody Fausk is a long-time Maui business owner but missed her favorite pizza joint so much back in Philadelphia that she finally convinced Antonio Carannanty to move his establishment into her own back yard.

“It’s true,” says Fausk. “I’d go home every so often and kept asking him to come into business with me on Maui…now that our children are grown, the time was finally right.”

Pointing to the back table she adds, “We’ve only been open two weeks and we’re so busy that you see where I have to do my paperwork!”

When my husband and I visited for lunch, the place was packed with parents and after-school keiki as well as professionals on their lunch breaks. In the corners, storage boxes and styrofoam were still neatly stacked and a temporary menu was tacked above the shiny, new pizza ovens. But oh how our hearts beat at looking over our choices and watching Antonio throw that unbaked pizza crust. Real Italian…real Napoli…real Philly Cheese Steak…real Amoroso bread from a five-generation bakery…and so much more, all right here on Maui.

I could go on but I suggest instead you just go in. ITALIAN DELIGHT is located in the Lahaina Gateway Shopping Center between Office Max and Foot Locker. Dine in or take out, open seven days a week for lunch and dinner. 662-0077.

We wish Italian Delight much success and by the looks of things when we were there, they are well on their way.

Legendary restaurateur Bob Longhi passes away
As Maui Dines
July 30, 2012 – Carla Tracy

Legendary Lahaina restaurateur, Bob Longhi, 79, passed away Monday afternoon at Maui Memorial Medical Center after suffering a stroke.

Known as “the man who loves to eat,” the outspoken panama-hat wearing restaurateur opened Longhi’s Lahaina, his first Maui establishment, in 1976. With its then verbal menus, valet parking and trademark black and white marble floors, it quickly rocketed to become one of the top 10 highest grossing restaurants in the nation.

With too many awards under its belt to mention here, the bastion of fine dining drew in celebrities from Robert Mondavi to Kareem Abdul Jabbar over the decades for its excellent service, fine wines and Italian specialties such as linguine with clams, Lobster Longhi and tiramisu.

In subsequent years, he also opened Longhi’s Wailea and and Longhi’s Ala Moana on Oahu next to Neiman Marcus. Both continue to be success stories.

In the true Italian tradition, Longhi’s enterprises have always been a family affair. His son, Peter Longhi, is the vice president and general manager of Longhi’s Lahaina. His other son, Charlie Longhi, is in charge of the Oahu operations.

Bob’s daughter, Gabrielle Longhi, penned a cookbook with her dad entitled “Longhi’s: Recipes and Reflections From Maui’s Most Opinionated Restaurateur.” Daughter Carol Longhi O’Leary graduated from the Culinary Institute of America and ran the kitchens in Lahaina for quite some time. Daughter Genafer Longhi has also spent much time growing up in the dining rooms as “the youngest hostess in America.”

My sincere condolences go out to the family. He was a colorful Maui man who changed the landscape of dining here. Bob Longhi will be missed.

Just back from a visit to Hilo on the Big Island of Hawaii and I don’t believe there is any place closer to what an older Hawaii must have been like.

People smiled and actually saw you. They came forward if you were looking around for a specific street and offered directions. They walked with you, even, to show you the way, chatting amicably about where you are from and how long they have “lived Hawaii”.

And, once you got to where you wanted to go and made your purchase of say some local strawberry mocchi from the Two Ladies Kitchen on Kilauea Ave and started back, there they would be again just to make sure you had found your destination.

Even more surprising, they accepted your offer in return of one big ono strawberry mocchi that they were not expecting. Something “strangers” wouldn’t do. But in Hilo there are no strangers…only friends you haven’t met yet.

Yes, I think that’s what an older Hawaii must have been like and it brings a smile to everyone’s faces. I’m so happy it still exists!