The Perpetual Tourist

I’ve been a vegetarian for 18 years.  For nearly the last two decades, every time I’ve gone out to eat, I’ve had at most three choices:  the veggie burger (meh), the pasta (whatever), or the salad (hardly a taste sensation).  When I came to Hawaii, I was prepared to eat a lot of salad in the state known for its delicious seafood.  (I’m a strict vegetarian — eggs and dairy are fine, but no fish.)  I had no idea just how well I was going to eat!  I spent four days at the beautiful Kapalua Resort in Maui, where yes, all of the restaurants specialize in seafood — which I heard from my companions was second to none — but they know how to feed a vegetarian here!  Choices!  I never get choices!  None did it better than the Plantation House Restaurant.

How's this for a view? Looking out from a table at Kapalua Resort's Plantation House Restaurant

Looking over the menu, I was initially a little bummed — there were several amazing fish creations, but it appeared once again I’d be “choosing” the pasta and contenting myself with the view, which was indeed stunning, overlooking the famous Plantation Golf Course and the Pacific Ocean.  As everyone scanned the menu, the server informed our table that the chef would happily prepare any of the fish dishes with a tofu substitute.  Mmm!

I know that many omnivores think “tofu” is a four-letter word, but really it’s all about the preparation, and my tofu dinner was prepared just like the artistic fish dishes my pals got to eat.  For once, I wasn’t halfheartedly picking at a plate of mush or leaves while my omnivore buddies enjoyed the meal of their lives.

Tofu on the left, catch of the day on the right. Images courtesy of Johnny at JohnnyJet.com

Look at that!  Doesn’t it make your mouth water?  This dish was called A Taste of Maui — pistachio-crusted, on Maui onions, local tomatoes, upcountry spinach, with couscous & olive oil.  I really appreciated that even with a diet that excludes the main part of a Hawaiian meal, Chef Alex at the Plantation House made it possible for me to experience a truly Hawaiian meal, and it was phenomenal.

Kapalua Farms Beet Salad -- this was my salad course, for which I would gladly fly back to Maui for one more bite. Image courtesy of Julie Wolfson.

Throughout my stay in Kapalua, I dined at several of the restaurants at the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua and Kapalua Resort property, and I always had choices and always ate very well.  All the restaurants utilize fresh local ingredients for an authentic Hawaiian dining experience.  Every restaurant on the property has several delicious and unique vegetarian options — more choices than I’ve ever had!  I want to extend extra kudos to the Plantation House Restaurant for majorly exceeding this lifelong vegetarian’s expectations.  Home run.