Christian Jorgensen, known as “CJ,” celebrates the tenth birthday of his Comfort Zone restaurant this month.

KAANAPALI – CJ’s Comfort Zone Deli and Diner will celebrate its tenth birthday this month at the Fairway Shops in Kaanapali by giving a free breakfast, lunch or dinner entree to the first ten people who stop by and wish the staff happy birthday.

Christian Jorgensen, former executive chef for the Hyatt Corporation and more recently The Westin Maui Resort, opened what he calls an upscale fast food restaurant to provide an alternative to higher-priced meals at resorts and area restaurants in 2003.

Danish-born Jorgensen, known as “CJ,” brought his expertise in Asian and other cuisines to Maui in order to provide a better life for his children after working in China.

CJ picked the name Comfort Zone because he wanted to offer comfort foods – like what grandma used to make – with an international flair that would be comfort for the stomach and wallet.

Despite inflation, the restaurateur said he has managed to keep the average price of an entree close to $10 by maintaining a small staff and not using servers or busboys. Customers pick up the gourmet food at the cash register.

The menu features more than 60 items, including top sellers eggs benedict, coconut prawns, mochiko chicken and mahi mahi, with entrees accompanied by roasted or mashed potatoes or homemade potato salad.

Expanding over the years, CJs also operates a successful catering business that has provided thousands of meals the last eight years for the Hyundai PGA golf tournament in Kapalua and the Maui Invitational Basketball Tournament.

He caters special events, including graduation parties, and can provide a free chocolate dessert fountain station as part of the menu.

He also runs a wedding planning business that caters weddings, rehearsal dinners and wedding brunches the day after the wedding.

CJ’s also offers a Hana lunch box for $12 for people making the long journey to Hana. Many people also take this lunch on the airplane and stop by the restaurant on their way to the airport.

Located at the midpoint of the Fairway Shops (next to the Maui Eldorado), the restaurant is open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Call 667-0968 or visit www.cjsmaui.com.