Taverna Restaurant in Kapalua will host Celebration of Chefs on Saturday, March 23, from 6 to 9 p.m.

KAPALUA – Taverna Restaurant in Kapalua will celebrate its third anniversary on Saturday, March 23, with Celebration of Chefs under the stars from 6 to 9 p.m.

The benefit for Maui Culinary Academy at the University of Hawaii Maui College will feature eight guest chef stations, music by the Gina Martinelli Trio and raffle drawings.

Taverna Managing Partner Chris Kaiwi explained, “Celebration of Chefs is to showcase the talented chefs from around our beautiful island of Maui. This is a benefit for the Maui Culinary Academy, with 1-2 students working with each chef to organize, prepare and operate events like this – a valuable experience for these young students to work side-by-side with these talented chefs.”

The guest chefs are Gary Johnson of Sea Salt Maui, Alvin Savella of Humuhumunukunukuapua’a at the Grand Wailea, MiJin Kang of Natto Kimchi Maui, Ces Jocson of Taverna, Chris D’Agostino of Cow Pig Bun, Courtney Galarita of Taverna, Matt Paul of Outrigger Pizza and David Abella (the former executive chef of Roy’s Kahana) of West Steak & Seafood in San Diego, CA.

The benefit will be a valuable learning experience for the students. Kaiwi said supporting the Maui Culinary Academy equates to “Paying it Forward these young culinary students are our future, and to have them see the preparation from the prep time, station set-up, time management and then operations for 225-250 guests is one that is so valuable for these young adults.”

Tickets are $125 per person (inclusive of tax and tips); call (808) 667-CIAO (2426).

It’s been a busy year for Taverna. Since Nov. 15, the Kapalua Bay Golf Course operations moved to the Kapalua Village Center – where Taverna is located at 2000 Village Road – and the Italian restaurant started lunch service Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and a weekend brunch/lunch menu from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Taverna’s daily Happy Hour drink and food menu is offered from 2:30 to 5 p.m., and Late Night Happy Hour is held from 9 p.m. to midnight with deejay lounge music on Saturday nights.

Wine Wednesday has been very popular at Taverna. There is a 40- to 45-bottle list of Italian-inspired wines and other favorites, all at half price during the lunch dinner service.

Kaiwi said Taverna’s popular lunch dishes include lasagna, the Seafood Cobb and “Home Run” – the House Burger from its sister restaurant, Cow Pig Bun.

He added that Taverna will be opening in the Kamaole Shopping Center in Kihei later this year.

For more information on Taverna, call 667-2426 or visit www.tavernamaui.com.