Chef and Owner Mark Ellman & his wife Judy Ellman have lived on Maui for 22 years where we have raised a family of three daughters, Tina, Ariana and Michelle. Also they have raised a family of restaurants on three islands in Hawaii, Maui Tacos, Penne Pasta Café and Mala Ocean Tavern. Mark and Judy met over 30 years ago in a small western town in Los Angeles where Judy was the bartender and Mark was a cook in the kitchen at a Mexican Restaurant in Calabasas. They fell in love and opened their first restaurant in Sherman Oaks California called Cuisine Cuisine, a small Italian Eatery.
Where they made homemade pasta and great friends. Long Story short they moved to Colorado for new surroundings, too cold.
Maui it was to be in 1985 Mark and Judy landed on Maui and knew they were home.
In 1987 they opened their highly acclaimed Avalon Restaurant and Bar in downtown Lahaina where Mark forged a path of Pacific Rim Cuisine and eventually along with eleven other Hawaii Chefs formed the Hawaii Regional Cuisine Movement.
Roy Yamaguchi
Sam Choy
Peter Merriman
Alan Wong
Roger Dikon
Amy Ferguson Ota
Gary Strehl
Pierre Padovanni
George Mavro
Jean Marie Josselin
Beverly Gannon
Mark Ellman
Together they published a compilation of recipes, giving each chef their own chapter.
Mark and Judy sold Avalon in 1998 to concentrate on their small taco stands called Maui Tacos, which they started in 1993, because they missed their beloved Mexican food of Los Angeles. Well today they have nine Maui Tacos in Hawaii on three islands serving authentic Maui-Mex with nothing over $8.95. In 2001 they also opened a small Italian Café called Penne Pasta Café where Mark enjoys his Italian heritage from foods from the south of the boot.
It is a small family eatery serving paper-thin pizzas, pastas and salads, Lamb Osso Bucco, Roast Chicken and Fresh Island Fish.
Penne Pasta Café is now in its 6th year.
And in 2005 Mark and Judy opened Mala Ocean Tavern, a small Oceanside tavern serving Mediterranean and Pacific Rim and even some Latino flavored dishes. Mark and Judy have always hired good people around them, at Maui tacos, Penne Pasta and Mala has been no different.
Mala is successful because of the team, Pepe and Sergio, partners who also run Maui Tacos and Penne Pasta Café.
Then there are specifically two rock stars
General Manager Lisa Chappel and Executive Chef Gregory Denton that are paramount in the success of Mala. Lisa is one of the savviest, nicest and Queen of our castle, who runs a tight ship, and there is not anyone that is not charmed by Miss Lisa. Then there is Chef. A serious guy with a heart of Gold and a Master at the stove. He is a crown genius when it comes to Soups, sauces and new ideas. He is young and has the eye of the Tiger, I know he is too good to stay with us forever; I will have to build him his own place one day where he can soar.
Now we are all very happy making Great food
Organic healthy fresh and delicious.
We sit in a spot called Mala Wharf, once a great pier that sailors in world war two came ashore to enjoy the Whaling town of Lahaina. Mala means Garden in Hawaiian and it truly is a beautiful spot where you sit at waters edge and gaze upon the islands of Lanai and Molokai and watch the turtles surf while they graze on ogo.
This is the spot of all spots on the Westside of Maui and we could not think of a better name our little restaurant, than to honor where we are, in Mala our little bit of heaven on earth.
Please enjoy our stories and recipes for life, drink and foods on our island of Maui.
Mahalo and Aloha,
Mark and Judy Ellman
