Showing our Thanks at Three’s!

With the theme being “thanks” this week, we’re in the spirit of appreciation ourselves, and wanted to share some of the ways that Three’s expresses gratitude here on Maui.

1. Thanks to our Customers!

First and foremost, we wouldn’t be in existence without YOU. We hope you feel the love with our two happy hours a day (3-6 and 9-10 p.m.!); a spacious, newly revamped Surf Lounge, cool in-house events such as live music, comedy shows and salsa dancing; a diverse kids’ menu, consistent deals like our 20% kama‘āina discount and Sunday football season specials; and an epic traditional Thanksgiving meal on Thursday, Nov. 23, complete with turkey, sausage stuffing, wild mushroom green bean casserole, honey miso-glazed ham, purple sweet potatoes, housemade cranberry sauce, giblet gravy and pumpkin-haupia pie. The dinner is $32.95, kids 12 and younger receive half-off, and our full menu remains available. Call us at (808) 879-3133 to reserve your spot. We’ll also offer a special Thanksgiving menu on our Pacific Whale Foundation boat trips that day, in case you feel like taking to the water!

2. Thanks to our Community!

We do our best to show how grateful we are for our island home by giving back any chance we get. Three’s and our sister restaurant Fork & Salad have taken part in ongoing promotions like Dine Out for Hospice Maui and RSVP, which benefits multiple nonprofit groups. Through our catering operations, we support fundraisers that include Maui Arts & Cultural Center’s Maui Calls, the Hui No‘eau Visual Arts Center Wailea Wine & Food event, Grow Some Good’s Taste of School Gardens, Maui Agricultural Festival’s Grand Taste, and University of Hawai‘i Maui College Culinary Program’s Noble Chef. We bring on many culinary students and Job Corps students to join our catering teams and gain valuable on-the-job training. We’re also big believers in supporting local farmers, fishermen, producers and other suppliers whenever possible.  Plus, Three’s has had the Kama‘āina Giveback Program in place for many years, which supports a different local nonprofit each month.

3. Thanks to our Team!

We back-up our staff however we can, taking a hands-on approach with catering crew, and our restaurants in both the front and back of the house. We believe in our capable, experienced managers, celebrate our staff every year with a holiday party, and love giving our chefs the creative freedom to craft dinner and raw bar specials on the regular. We’re also excited to add to our team soon enough with the opening of another Fork & Salad on Maui, which will also support our island economy!

Rolling with the Raw Bar at Three’s Bar & Grill!

Our raw bar is right there to greet you when you first walk in the doors at Three’s, and our talented sushi chefs will welcome you, as they craft around 100 sushi rolls and shuck up to 100 oysters every single day!  Those oysters are flown in fresh from the Pacific Northwest on a daily basis, and we are fortunate to get plenty of fresh fish on the regular from around Hawai‘i and Japan.

Stellar sushi all starts with the rice, which is mixed with rice wine vinegar, sugar and salt.  Our chefs craft three big batches of sushi rice each day, as you’ll see in our video with Chef Travis, featuring raw bar chefs Brady and Al.  We store our rice with kombu (Japanese kelp), then serve the rice at room or body temperature, which is the ideal way to go.

“You want really cold fish, you want the warmth and texture of the rice, and the contrast of that is what makes a real good bite of sushi,” explains Travis.  “So these guys keep their rice in a cooler up on their station, which retains the heat.”

Our sushi menu has a fun mix of custom and traditional offerings.  We feature more than 15 specialty sushi rolls, along with 15 hand rolls and 10 options for nigiri.  We also have fresh uni (sea urchin) brought in daily, and go through about a tray of it a day; that’s how popular this delicacy is!

And it doesn’t end there.  Our sushi chefs craft a special of their own design from the raw bar each night, combining their creativity with what’s been brought in fresh!  Look for the delicious photos on our Instagram and Facebook pages!

Craving sushi for lunch??  Our chefs are there for you!  Three’s raw bar opens every day of the week at 11:30, plus we offer some great sushi deals during our happy hours, from 3 to 6 p.m. and 9 to 10 p.m.!  So roll up to the raw bar and see what all the buzz is about!

 

 

 

Get to Know Chef/Co-Owner Cody Christopher

There are people we work for…and then there are people who inspire us.  Three’s Chef/Co-owner Cody Christopher takes a look back at one such mentor who remains important in his life to this day.  They worked together for six years at a place called River Oaks Country Club in Houston, Texas.

“Working at a country club or resort is a very unique thing.  You have everything under one roof:  fine dining, fast casual dining; from small upscale 20-person wine dinners to banquets that feed 700 to 1,000 people.  Poolside, restaurants, room service, bake shop, the list just goes on,” he explains.  “I got lucky working at a place like this, River Oaks Country Club, under Chef Carroll.  I had the chance to work every one of these positions and not just for a couple of days. I worked and mastered them before moving on.”

Cody feels fortunate to have learned from such a leader and has great respect for Chef Charles Carroll, who’s been a chef for more than 30 years, travelled to at least 20 countries and received countless honors, including Culinary Olympic Gold Medalist.  Cody says he admires Chef Carroll for so many reasons, he could practically write his own book about it!

“He takes the time not only show you how to do and operate, but why you should do and operate,” he recalls.  “Meaning, if you have a certain goal:  open a five-star restaurant, be on the culinary Olympic team, be a master chef or have a taco stand on the beach, whatever it may be, you must position and surround yourself with the things that will help you achieve your goal.  And the awesome thing about Chef Carroll is when your apprenticeship is done and it’s time to move on, he is so well-connected all over the country, he can help find you a job!”

Cody’s mentor is continuing to influence him AND the culinary world at large.  First of all, Chef Carroll has written three books.

Leadership Lessons from a Chef: Finding Time to Be Great
Tasting Success: Your Guide to Becoming a Professional Chef
The Recipe: A Story of Loss, Love and the Ingredients of Greatness

Secondly, Chef Carroll recently launched a podcast, called The Recipe Podcast, Secrets to a Successful Life.  He’s included Chef Cody in the third podcast, titled “The Chef’s Apprentice.”  Chef Carroll interviews Chef Cody starting around 27-minute mark of the podcast about the story of his success here on Maui.  He tout Cody as a shining example of someone willing to “jump off the cliff” with risking some big business and life decisions, praises him for his persistence along the way, and asks what advice he’d have for other young entrepreneurs.   Listen to the “The Chef’s Apprentice” featuring Cody here, and enjoy the rest of The Recipe Podcast episodes here.

“Focus on your goal; if it’s not helping you achieve your goal, you don’t need it in your life,” Cody advises, as he describes traits that define successful entrepreneurs.  “Persistence; you’re not just going to wake up one day and be the best.  It takes time, winning small battles one day at time with crazy amounts of hard work.  Don’t take yourself too seriously; you have to be able to laugh at yourself. Admit when you’re wrong, ask for help. You’d be surprised how comfortable you can make people with just a smile, giggle or joke.”

Cody says the greatest lesson he’s had as an entrepreneur is learning to evolve, be willing to change and try different things.  Whether you’re a young entrepreneur like he was or a seasoned businessperson, such a large responsibility comes with its share of big benefits to enjoy and daunting obstacles to overcome.

“Best parts would be working for yourself and getting to take on challenges that are passionate to you,” Cody says.  “The biggest challenge is that you are solely responsible for everything. You need to be able to oversee everything.  Now this is a challenge; however, it is also an awesome opportunity every day to bring your staff and company to heights that you know they are capable of.  It’s not always about strengthening your weaknesses, but elevating your strengths.  I’ve learned this from simply working with my two business partners. What I am weak at, they are strong at and what they are weak at, I am strong at.”

Cody says all he learned from Chef Carroll prepped him to team up with his best friends and business partners Chefs Jaron Blosser and Travis Morrin to launch Three’s Catering and Three’s Bar & Grill seven years ago.

“When we started Three’s, I think this is where my background helped:  I knew a little about a lot — at the time though, I thought I knew it all,” he laughs.  “However, my background got me to where I met my two partners. Truth be told, these two guys are some of the most talented and sophisticated Chefs and business operators I’ve ever had the honor to work with. We have all three come from different backgrounds and have grown together to become what we need to be for our businesses.  Lots of blood, sweat and tears but at the end of the day, I wouldn’t want to do anything without these two boneheads by my side!”

As Cody gives props to his business partners and praises his mentor, he’s become a mentor in his own right after so many years, and helps lead the charge forward as Three’s and Fork & Salad continue to grow to epic new heights!

The “Best” Thing about Three’s Catering!

We’ve had the privilege of catering around 800 of events over the past seven years or so!  And we always feel honored to receive such great feedback on Three’s Catering services, with comments like these…

“From the first meeting to the day of the event, we knew that you were professional, knowledgeable, and capable in every aspect. Three’s Catering did a fantastic job. From the food to the service, you guys rocked! “

“What really impressed us, aside from the delicious food, was the incredible staff. All of the staff were beyond great, always there to help our day in any way. Our friends and family continued to talk about the nice bartender and all the staff we had at our wedding.”

“The team was amazing on the day of the wedding – amazing service, making sure everything was perfect for the us, that all our guests were happy with the food and drink service and made the most amazing buffet meal – our guests said it was the best wedding food they have had!”

So, we’re always happy to know what our clients think. But you might wonder what runs through the minds of our co-owners, who are often working alongside their staff on the front lines of the catering operations!

With so many years under their belts, here’s what each one said is the BEST thing about being in the catering business.

Chef Travis: “It’s how we started, the three of us. It helped shape our identity as a company.”

Chef Jaron: “You get to travel across the island and have a new office every event, usually near the ocean. That, and you get to be a part of someone’s special day.”

Chef Cody: “I get to work with my best friends!! And cook!!”

One such event that will bring the team together in a big way is the Garden Party benefiting Maui Academy of Performing Arts (MAPA) on Sunday, October 1.

We’ll be joining dozens of other restaurants for the Chefs Festival between 1 and 5 p.m. that day, giving guests a taste of some of our finest fare. And it’s not just Three’s taking part; Fork & Salad’s catering crew will be on-scene as well!

Achieving excellence in catering takes some serious skill and organization. But here are three other critical catering traits, according to our chefs/owners:

1.  Diversity, to meet the guests’ needs and customize menus.
2.  Adaptability, to face and overcome challenges in every scenario possible.
3.  Consistency, to maintain top-notch food and service all the time.

We’re proud to cater each and every event we’re involved with, and hope you’ll check out our food booths at the MAPA Garden Party! We thank our guests who allow us to do what we do best as part of their special day, so everyone can enjoy the moments that matter.

Score Great Deals at Three’s During Football Season!

Your birthday?  Christmas?  Halloween?  Nope.  If your favorite time of the year is NOT marked by an occasion, but by a team of huge dudes dominating the football field, then we hear you at Three’s!  FOOTBALL SEASON is starting, and we’re offering really quite amazing deals on food and drinks, each Sunday starting September 10th, when the long-awaited action begins.

Come get comfortable in our spacious and shiny Surf Lounge and see football on one of Maui’s biggest T.V. screens while enjoying all kinds of killer $6 brunch items, which Chef Travis explains in our video.  We’re also featuring deeply-discounted mimosas and Bloody Marys, along with specials on select beer, shots and well drinks.  And while you’re hanging out, our talented bartenders can also mix you up any other creative cocktail from our bar menu while you watch the game from any number of screens around our beautiful new wooden bar.

These brunch specials start at 8 a.m.  They last all the way until 2 p.m., and are available in our Surf Lounge only, every Sunday during football season.  Then, why not make a day of it and stay for our award-winning happy hours and pūpūs?!  Join us anytime, and just know, if you have football fever and want to feed the need, we are HERE to help!!

 

 

Five Things You’ll See When Three’s Caters an Event

Our catering operation began as the backbone of our business!  It helps to not only support, but also strengthen our success to this day.  So we wanted to share five things you’re likely to notice when Three’s Catering is on the scene!

1)  Fresh Food & Quality Ingredients

Like you’ll find on our breakfast, lunch, dinner and happy hour menus at Three’s Bar & Grill, our diverse catering options are packed full of top-notch ingredients!  We go local whenever possible with our proteins and produce, and take pride in all we have to offer our catering clients, from freshly-picked Kumu Farms field greens to locally-caught Ahi tuna to grass-fed Hawaiian beef!

2)  Smiles!

Our well-trained team knows how to work together with precision, positivity and professionalism.  We’re a full-service catering company, meaning we have event-planning expertise that can innovate and coordinate, from the seed of an idea to day-of festivities in full bloom.  Customer service is a priority, and we know how to connect and collaborate with other vendors and partners to make every event a success!

3)  A Menu with YOU in Mind

In the mood for sushi? Want to feature a whole roasted pig station?  Need to feed hundreds on a budget?  Three’s Catering can customize our services to meet your needs, no matter if you’re hosting an intimate family gathering, casual business luncheon or lavish wedding.  We can even arrange for our food truck to roll up on your event!

3)  Whales?!  

Well, not all the time…but you may get a glimpse when you climb aboard a Pacific Whale Foundation boat!  Snorkel fun, Island Rhythms reggae cruise, sunset dinner trip, you name it.  All the food you enjoy comes from us, and we have a team dedicated to crafting those delicious eats on a daily basis!  If it’s not humpback whale season, you’ll at least savor a high-seas adventure, epic food and maybe a stunning sunset!

5)  Familiar Faces

We build long-lasting relationships with our clients and strive for success, so oftentimes we cater events more than once, or even on a regular basis.  For instance, the Maui Arts and Cultural Center was our very first client, and we continue to partner with the MACC at ongoing shows and concerts where you’re likely to see Three’s food truck; the health and wellness session with Oprah Winfrey in June; and Maui Calls dining and wine event, which celebrates plantation days on Friday, August 18 this year.

There are oh-so-many other reasons we’re stoked on Three’s Catering, but this list gives you a glimpse of why we’re so proud of our team, and grateful for our clients, vendor partners and community support!

 

A Happier Happy Hour at Three’s Bar & Grill!

Joyful.  Contented.  Ecstatic.  Whatever level of “happy” you’re going for, we’re serving it up at Three’s!  Our happy hour specials run TWO times a day, from 3 to 6 p.m. and 9 to 10 p.m., EVERY day of the week.  The drink deals are among the best you’ll find on Maui, with draft beer, well drinks, margaritas and Mai Tais for  just $3.50.  (Step up those two cocktails to top-shelf for $6.50!)  Select wines and 20-ounce beers are $5.75 during happy hour.  And WE’RE happy to have the title of Best Happy Hour on Maui in 2018 AND 2019, thanks to the readers of MauiTime.

Our appetizers also won us the honor of Best Pūpūs on Maui, and you’ll find many on Three’s happy hour menu, from the bacon-wrapped hot dog to coconut-crusted shrimp to kalua pork nachos!  Chef Jaron outlines a whole bunch of other great food and drink options in our video.

Three’s award-winning happy hour is known for its welcoming, laid-back vibe with stellar service, killer food and great drinks.  Hang out at our raw bar (open at 11:30 a.m. daily!), listen to live music on the outdoor patio, or chill in our spacious Surf Lounge, which we recently expanded to accommodate more customers and T.V. screens!  Join us at Three’s and get HAPPY!

Three’s Pūpūs are Named “The Best” on Maui. Here’s Why!

It’s been a great few weeks here at Three’s.  We’ve been delivering on some epic catering events, enjoyed an amazing Food Network debut and now, we’re stoked to be voted Best Pūpūs from MauiTime.  Doesn’t good news come in “Three’s?”

Three’s Bar & Grill wins Best Pūpūs for 2017 from MauiTime! Photo courtesy of MauiTime.


Going out for pūpūs, Hawai‘i’s word for appetizers or tapas, is a longstanding tradition in our state.  We’ve crafted our diverse pūpū menu to appeal to everyone.  It’s value-driven, fun and chef-inspired; with everything from wings and quesadillas to fresh-shucked oysters and sushi! We offer great deals on them during Three’s double happy hours, between 3 and 6 p.m. and again from 9 to 10 p.m., seven days a week!!

So here are a few of the favorites:

Kalua Pork Quesadilla

Kalua Pork Quesadilla, a longtime favorite on Three’s pūpūs menu.


It’s an original — our very first menu item, in fact!  The BBQ Kalua Pork Quesadilla features spiced Maui Gold pineapple and mango chutney, cilantro aioli and peanut ginger slaw. We rolled out this item at a wedding expo back in 2008, when we had just started our catering company. It’s near and dear to our hearts and is a real crowd pleaser. It’s sweet, smoky, and of course, CHEESY!!

Bacon-fried Brussel Sprouts

Bacon-fried Brussel Sprouts, available at Three’s and featured on Food Network’s Diners, Drive-ins and Dives!

Another must-try appetizer is our Bacon-fried Brussel Sprouts.  Seriously, give ’em a shot! Brussel sprouts are a hot item on the trendy foodie scene, so we wanted to reinvent our own version.  These brussels are wok-fried with bacon, garlic, ginger and carrots, then glazed with kimchee-balsamic and garnished with shaved Parmesan.  They’re SO addicting, you may even catch a glimpse of them on our Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives episode this Friday, July 21 at 6 p.m.!!

Panko-crusted Ahi Roll

Panko-crusted Ahi Roll, among the top appetizers at Three’s Bar & Grill.


We’re known for our epic sushi at happy hour, but one item that definitely defines us is our Panko-crusted Ahi Roll.  It’s a fresh sushi roll with local tuna, avocado and cucumber,  panko-breaded and flash-fried, served over a Thai curry butter sauce and drizzled with unagi glaze.  It’s crazy yummy!!

The list of deliciousness goes on to include items like Sweet & Spicy Lettuce Wraps, Hurricane Fries, Coconut-crusted Shrimp, Fish Tacos and Three’s Wings.

And what better place to enjoy those pūpūs than in our newly-renovated Surf Lounge?!  Our bar was recently extended and the whole space was revamped with 15 additional seats and more T.V. screens to give you more room to enjoy your food and drinks.

Some of Three’s favorite pūpūs and beer, displayed on the new mango wood table in our Surf Lounge.


The MauiTime awards are voted on by our community.  We’re honored to feel the love, because it tells us people are stoked on our food.  By the way, it’s worth mentioning our sister eatery in Kīhei, Fork & Salad, just won Best New Restaurant, getting the news on its one-year birthday!  At Three’s, we’ve worked really hard to create a very special happy hour, which won Best on Maui two years in a row, along with many runner-up mentions.  It’s nice to know our pūpū menu gets that sort of recognition.

Our staff deserves a huge shout-out.  Every one of our employees, from our kitchen to front-of-the-house to bar staff, has helped build Three’s into what it is today. They all contribute in their own ways, whether sharing ideas for the day’s next special, getting delicious food to your table efficiently, or crafting hundreds of cocktails at the bar during happy hour, our team is straight-up amazing!!  Thanks to them, and thanks to YOU, our loyal customers, for your continued support!

“Three Cheers” to our New Bar Space!

Cruise on in to our Surf Lounge at Three’s, and you’ll notice a big difference these days.  We’ve transformed our charming little bar nook into a sizable drinking destination!

In less than two months’ time, we’ve expanded the usable space in our lounge, replacing the old black granite counter top with sustainable Hawaiian mango and mimosa wood, adding 15 additional seats, building mahogany wood back bar shelving with LED lighting, and featuring crown molding finishes. We’ve even installed two more flat-screen T.V.s, and moved our big screen against the wall to accommodate more viewing.

The new bar is absolutely stunning, and creates a beautiful focal point in our surf lounge that all patrons can enjoy. You can grab a drink while waiting for a table, or get comfy and chill a while to enjoy our award-winning happy hour, cheer on your favorites sports teams or check out the latest surf contest on T.V.!

We’re proud to be recognized for our great happy hours, 3 to 6 p.m. and 9 to 10 p.m. daily, and aimed to incorporate a “trendy bar vibe” along with all our food and drink specials.  We wanted our guests to sit at our bar and feel relaxed enough to drink and dine right there if they feel like it!  So we designed it to be gorgeous, welcoming, functional and accommodating.

The entire process took one-and-a-half months from inception to final installation.  Chef Jaron led up the project management, which included design concepts, pulling required county permits, orchestrating trade teams (lighting, stainless steel, electrical work and additional carpentry needs), equipment selection and graphic art design.

Chef Cody, who gives you the tour in our video, was the “master builder” of it all, from framing wood to fabricating sheet metal to epoxying bar tops.  He crafted the bar off-site in three separate pieces, so it could be moved in on a moment’s notice, without disrupting business.

This was no easy task, but as usual Cody and Jaron managed to pull it all off, using their math skills to fit the new pieces in place, and Three’s didn’t even have to close during the process!

We couldn’t have done this without our amazing team’s support.  Three’s front-of-the-house manager Lauren helped us design the operational functionality of the bar, as well as the artistic aesthetics of it. From color scheme to drink-making efficiency, her years as a Three’s bartender came in handy when making final calls or tough decisions.  Tom, our go-to commercial carpenter, built the beautiful custom backbar shelving, and Wiki Wiki Electrical wired it all up!

Join us at Three’s and see our remodel in person!  Our old bar had only eight seats; this new space seats 23!!  It was important for us to create a comfortable area for guests waiting for tables or just joining friends for a pau Hana.  This space is made for YOU!

The added seats are also a significant feature with our upcoming Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives episode set to air Friday July 21st (at 3 p.m. Hawai‘i time!); we are anticipating a bump in business and want to accommodate all of our customers. Come have a seat in our surf lounge and check it out!

Traditional and Not-so-Typical Choices on Three’s Kids Menu

Our menu at Three’s is designed to be diverse; to satisfy your appetite, whatever you’re in the mood for!  But that also applies to kids, who get a special activity menu all to themselves!  Taking keiki into consideration is an important part of any dining outing or experience, and we felt it was important to offer a great kids menu that not only pleases the parents, but gets the young ones craving Three’s too!  With happy keiki munching away, parents get to take a breath and relax.  Everyone can appreciate that.

It’s nice to give children a choice when it comes to what they want to eat.  From traditional kids items like chicken strips with fries and mac ‘n cheese to unique offerings like a BBQ kalua pork quesadilla, keiki caesar salad, and ramen, our menu aims to please.  Other favorites include the keiki cheese burger made with Maui Cattle Company beef, pasta with parmesan, and our fresh berry bowl for some added vitamins and antioxidants!

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We also offer an array of beverages on the keiki menu, like POG (passion-orange-guava juice), milk (and the chocolate variety!), soft drinks, tropical smoothies, and a fun, kid-friendly twist on a mojito, known as a tropical mock-jito!

We take pride in being a restaurant that welcomes keiki with open arms. Our owners have kids and families too, and we want children to enjoy themselves just as much as the grown-ups do.  As many parents know, it’s typically not the adults who decide on the restaurant, but the kids who make the choice!!  So come on in and savor some quality family time plus great food in our surf lounge, dining room or outdoor patio with live music.  See us anytime from 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday, and our doors open at 8 a.m. on weekends for breakfast!