It is so true that you just never know when you may discover a “Real Food Find”. We did that when we came upon the Monkeypod Kitchen in Wailea on the Island of Maui. We flew into Maui late on Thanksgiving evening and were looking for something quick to eat near the condo where we were staying. Not many restaurants were open on the holiday, but the Monkeypod was and it was quite crowded. We were told there would be a long wait for a table. The hostess offered us two seats at the bar which we jumped at, hoping we would be eating soon.
I was looking for something light and
saw this dish on the menu with Fresh Gnocchi, Chard, Mushrooms, and Goat Cheese served with a Tomato Coulis. It sounded very interesting and flavorful. The bartender took our order right away and, surprisingly, the food came out very quickly. This dish was the food find of the entire trip. The gnocchi was boiled and then pan fried which gave it a nice crust, and the chard and mushrooms were lightly sautéed giving them a great texture. When combined with the tomato coulis and goat cheese it produce a surprisingly light dish. It was a perfect meal for eating so late in the evening. I have recreated this dish at home and you can see the results for yourself “Fresh Gnocchi with Chard & Mushrooms“.
We have been back a couple of times and tried some other items on their menu. One item that really stood out for me was the special for the day, Chicken and Macadamia Nut Pesto Pizza on the restaurant’s own hand-tossed crust. We also tried their Fish Tacos with Roasted Salsa, a Turkey Burger with Asian Pears, 
Gruyere Cheese and House Cured Bacon served on their own baked bun and the Waipoli Farm Organic Mixed Green Salad with Beets, Bacon, Chèvre and Maui Onions. Everything we had was incredibly flavorful and beautifully presented. The chef obviously believes in using the finest and freshest ingredients possible.
If you’re in Maui and you have a chance to try out the Monkeypod Kitchen, you won’t be disappointed. They also have another location in the Ko Olina Resort on Oahu.
How ironic, we were in Wailea on Thanksgiving last year too (we could be found, that particular evening, barbecuing fish using our new portable grill on the beach). We probably crossed paths at some point without knowing. Have not tried MonkeyPod yet because we usually cook at the beach; next time we will give it a try though. If you go back, we can recommend Sarento’s which is walkable along the beach. Our favorite pizza place, Matteo’s, moved farther north but a new one opened in it’s place owned by the same people who have Sarento’s (I don’t remember the name but it is located near the tennis club).
I will definitely have to try that pizza place. You know how I love pizza.