Come to Mama’s

I’m always hesitant to recommend restaurants that have been around forever. And restaurants that have been reviewed by everyone and their, um, Mama. But, on Maui there lies an exception to my rule…Mama’s Fish House. Located on Maui’s North Shore, get ready to pay homage to Old Polynesia, as you savour what could be the best meal of your life, or at the very least, the freshest. Alan Cadiz should know—according to the menu, he caught the Mahimahi that landed on my plate right before it was stuffed with lobster and crab and baked in a macadamia nut crust.  And let’s face it…these days, you can never know too much about where your food comes from.

My husband and I had our first meal here five years ago while on our honeymoon. Only now I realize, as I tried desperately to relive that magical week, that you can never really relive an experience. Memories are romanticized, so we have to make new ones.  As we delved into the Ono ceviche, bathed in coconut milk and lime, served in a fresh Maui coconut, we held back tears knowing that the only time it would get better than this would be the next time we come to Mama’s. A rare feat, the meal was even better than we had remembered.

So while it may be impossible to recreate all the flavors we had that night, I couldn’t resist making my version of the ceviche. It was a huge success (if I do say so myself).  But if you find that mine is just as good as theirs, you know the rule—please don’t tell Mama.

Coconut Ceviche

1.5  lbs of very fresh Red Snapper *I recommend getting this from a fish market (like Santa Monica Seafood)

1 avocado

3/4 cup (approximate) coconut milk

juice from 4 limes

2 limes sliced for garnish

1/2 cup shredded unsweetened coconut

cilantro (use as little or as much as you like)

sea salt

Directions: Marinate the Red Snapper in the in the lime juice and coconut milk and refrigerate at least 4 hours. Remove from refrigerator and add the avocado, shredded coconut, cilantro and sea salt to taste. Serve either in a coconut or a martini glass with a wedge of lime. *Serves 6-8

Mama’s Fish House.  799 Poho Place.  Maui, Hawaii. 808-579-8594

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