A Taste of Maui: 5 Signature Dishes from My Private Chef Table

Jason raffin
Jul 7
3 min read

Updated: Aug 6

By Chef Jason Raffin | Maui Private Chef | Lahaina, HI

Maui is more than a destination — it’s a flavor. It’s fresh ahi pulled from the water that morning. It’s Kona lobster kissed by fire and topped with cured yolk. It’s bitter melon from an upcountry farm, or a whole hen roasted to lacquered perfection just steps from the ocean.

As a private chef on Maui, I create personalized, fine-dining experiences in villas across Wailea, Kaanapali, Kapalua, and beyond. Every menu is customized, every ingredient hand-selected, and every plate inspired by the moment, the setting, and the people gathered around the table.

Here are 5 recent dishes that tell the story of what I do — and what’s possible when you bring the restaurant home.

🌺 1. Ahi Poke Crudo – Wailea

📍 Private chef dinner in Wailea

This opener set the tone for a sunset dinner in Wailea. Ahi poke, gently cured, plated with heirloom tomatoes, basil oil, housemade taro chips, and Hawaiian chili oil.

The goal: let the ingredients sing. This dish reflects the heart of in-home fine dining in Maui — fresh, vibrant, local, and full of personality.

🥬 2. Farm Harvest – Kula

📍 Farm-to-table sourcing for luxury catering

I harvest produce directly from Kula farms for many of my menus. Whether I’m cooking for a family in Kapalua or an anniversary in Kihei, the backbone of the meal is grown just up the hill.

This connection to the land is what defines me as a farm-to-table private chef in Maui. It’s not a trend — it’s how we do things here.

🍗 3. Lacquered Game Hen – Kaanapali

📍 Private tasting menu in Kaanapali

This whole-roasted hen was glazed in my signature lacquer and plated with herbed couscous, chickpea and green pea purée, and crispy mac & cheese medallions.

It was the main course for a special anniversary dinner, and a great example of how I bring restaurant-level precision to in-home catering across Maui.

🎨 4. Seared Ahi + Art Plate – Kapalua

📍 Luxury dining experience in Kapalua

Sesame-crusted ahi, pickled bitter melon, Okinawan potato fish, and squash blossoms. I served this as a whimsical amuse-bouche for a multi-course chef’s dinner overlooking the cliffs of Kapalua.

It’s playful, thoughtful, and technically clean — everything you expect from a Michelin-trained private chef in Maui.

🍣 5. Kona Lobster Nigiri – Launiupoko

📍 Omakase-style in-home sushi dinner

This nigiri featured Kona lobster with shaved cured egg yolk and amaebi with umeboshi furikake — served as part of a private omakase dinner in Launiupoko.

As a private sushi chef, I bring the experience of an intimate omakase bar directly to your home, rental, or lanai. No waiting. No crowd. Just flavor, attention, and flow.

🌴 The Difference Is in the Details

Being a personal chef on Maui isn’t just about food — it’s about trust, pacing, energy, and artistry. I treat every dinner like a performance: from the prep to the last cleaned plate, it’s designed to be seamless, intentional, and unforgettable.

Whether you’re hosting a: