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The Honolulu Advertiser

Updated at 3:12 p.m., Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Maui restaurateur plans pair of Kauai eateries

Wanda A. Adams
Advertiser Food Editor

Merriman's Kauai and The Cafe, new ventures for award-winning restaurateur Peter Merriman of Maui, will open in 2009 at Kukui'ula, a resort development now in development in Koloa, Po'ipu Beach.

Located on the second floor of Kukui'ula Village, the 120-seat Merriman's Kauai will be a fine dining restaurant like its flagship sister in Waimea on the Big Island. The Cafe, on the first floor, will be more casual.

Merriman, 51, moved to the Islands 24 years ago and is widely regarded as a pioneer in forging strong bonds with local food producers. He is a founder of the Hawai'i Regional Cuisine movement.

"We've been doing locally grown, sustainably raised, organic when possible all along, and now the country's excited about it," he said. "If we're ever going to expand, now's the time."