Maui Restaurant: Cilantro
Unfortunately Cilantro has closed in 2013
A Fresh Take on Old Mexico
I had the pleasure meeting Chef Paris Nabavi at this year's Maui County Agricultural Festival. As some of you know, I'm quite the connoisseur of Mexican food, having grown up in Los Angeles. All of the years I've come to Maui, I would roll my eyes when I would hear them say that I needed to try the new Mexican restaurant.
So, you could imagine my thoughts when my food expert friends told me about Cliantro in Lahaina. Cilantro is what I would think a taqueria (taco shack) on Maui would be like; casual, great food, an excellent salsa bar, the kind of place with the Aloha spirit AND it was just that...
See What Jay Eats...
Mother Clucker Flautas
Two fried flour tortillas filled with chicken and spices,
served with crema fresco and spicy - sweet roasted jalapeño sauce.
Winner at the 2005 "Taste of Lahaina"
It was packed with chicken
and very tasty.
A must order item...
Cheese Chile Relleno
Yellow corn-crusted Anaheim chiles stuffed with
white cheese and served with queso poblano sauce,
crema fresca, and served with tortillas.
Chef Paris has created a dish
with great texture and lots of flavor
Grilled Fish Taco
Grilled seasoned whitefish, topped with jicama slaw
and tamarind garlic sauce.
Fish was cooked just right,
very nice with the jicama slaw
Pork Al Pastor Taco
Slow-cooked adobo roasted pork topped
with a grilled pineapple salsa and fresh cilantro
Adobo roasted pork and grilled pineapple salsa
worked well together, I'm sure the burrito is excellent!
Rotisserie Chicken
Award-winning chipotle citrus chicken is marinated,
rotisserie slow-roasted to juicy perfection
If Mexican food isn't your thing,
go for the chicken, it's excellent!
Meeting Chef Paris Nabavi
Chef Paris is a veteran in the food business
and has developed the award winning Cilantro in Lahaina.
He's passionate about healthy eating, sustainable growing practices,
and has partnered with Maui School Garden Network to
sponsor organic seeds for school gardens.
Chef Paris was teaching keiki classes
at the Maui County Agricultural Festival 2012
His "Guacamole" class was the
busiest booth at the Ag Fest.
He also teaches healthy cooking classes
and I hope to participate in one on
my next visit to Maui.
Old Lahaina Shopping Center
170 Paplaua Street
Lahaina, Maui, HI 96761
(808) 667-5444
www.cilantrogrill.com
Having to agree with my Maui food expert friends,
Cilantro is worth a trip and got me past my
Mexican food cravings while on the island.
Forgot to mention that they make all of
their sauces and dressings AND
the sauces are all vegan!
Read My 8 Restaurant Day!
Mahalo!
Chef Paris Navavi
Cilantro Lahaina Staff
NOTE: I was a guest of the Maui Visitors Bureau and their partners.
All comments and opinions are strictly my own.
Photos by Jay Terauchi
©Jay Terauchi
Jay Eats
Jay Eats
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