Great Lent is the fasting season before Easter, and in the Greek Orthodox Church, it has many restrictions,one of which is that fish is only allowed in two days during lent: Annunciation of The Theotokos and Palm Sunday.
The Annunciation of the Theotokos falls on March 25th, which happens to also be the day Greeks celebrate their independence by the way. The Theotokos is Virgin Mary, and the feast celebrates the day Archangel Gabriel appeared to Virgin Mary to announce to her that she would conceive and bear Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit. And as the feast falls during Great Lent, we celebrate by looser fasting restrictions and eat fish.
Well, I did not go to church that day, but I did eat fish. Bill went all out and took us to Wailea, to watch the sunset and eat fish at Seawatch Restaurant at Wailea Golf Club. It was awesome!
We started out with a delicious appetizer of Ahi Sashimi, with daikon sprouts, pickled ginger & wasabi.
For the main course, I went with the special for that night, uku,a grey snapper, grilled and mango spiced, and the best sweet mashed potatoes I have ever tasted,with mango vanilla butter sauce. Yum!
Bill got the Huikau Eke;Opakapaka (Pink Snapper) , scallops,tiger prawns and vegetables grilled in parchment paper, and opened at the table side. Yum, very delicious!
Seawatch has a nice atmosphere, service is good, not great though, and food is delicious. Compared to similar Lahaina restaurants, I thought it was a little more pricey, but I guess so is everything in Wailea. Overall, I'd love to eat at Seawatch again, it was a pleasant experience.
Comments (14)
Hi Candi, I'm really enjoying learning about the Greek Orthodox Church in your posts.
I really love eating seafood and the dishes in your photos looks so delicious, especially the grilled and mango spiced snapper! yum. And the view from the restaurant is so beautfiul.
Thanks for sharing Candi!
Posted by Kathy (Trekcapri) | April 3, 2009 6:34 AM
Posted on April 3, 2009 06:34
Wow, these photos are making my mouth water! Mango vanilla butter sauce sounds just amazing!
I was raised Methodist and when I was a kid, we didn't "do" Lent. Not sure why. But the Methodist church where my brother and his family go now does celebrate Lent. My nephews are really into it. Mason (age 8) gave up pizza, and Davis (age 6) gave up pancakes. Mason is having a harder time but is very proud of himself (though he says he wants pizza for breakfast on Easter morning!).
Happy Friday!
Posted by Annie | April 3, 2009 6:58 AM
Posted on April 3, 2009 06:58
Just looking at the pictures and hearing "Wailea" brings back the feeling of balmy nights, lovely views and a longing to be there. Your dinner looks divine and romantic. Enjoy every moment. I'm sure you do.
Posted by Barb Cabot | April 3, 2009 8:33 AM
Posted on April 3, 2009 08:33
OMG, everything looks so yummy and exotic! The mango vanilla butter sauce sounds intriguing.
I find it very interesting that during Lent, fish is only eaten on two days. Do you fast during Lent and abstain from eating meat on Fridays? Roman Catholics practice fasting and abstinence on Fridays during Lent and on Ash Wednesday. I eat fish or seafood almost everyday during Lent.
Posted by María I. | April 3, 2009 11:59 AM
Posted on April 3, 2009 11:59
Kathy, thanks for your comments. The mango spiced snapper was yummy.
Annie, it is great that your nephews are giving up foods they like for lent. I often say that I do lent for me not for the church, I think it is a humbling experience, that bring you closer to other people and kids all over the world, who don't and can't have what you take for granted. They may not realize that as kids, but bravo to them. And tell Mason not to feel bad, I often overeat on Easter Sunday too, even foods I don't normally eat:)
Barb, you are welcome anytime:)
Maria, the mango vanilla butter sauce was so delicious, I made sure I got every last drop of it:)
Okay, so for Great Lent, there are many restrictions that there is actually a calender that says what's allowed and what's not for specific days. But overall, for the whole six weeks of Great Lent: no meat, no fish and no dairy(no animal products what so ever). Some days, no wine or olive oil. And only two days, one can have fish. Friday is no different than the rest of the days, as there is not much less than that one can go with.
I normally, give up meat for the whole six weeks, eat fish in the couple feast days, allow myself to indulge on couple shrimp days, allow cheese on weekends, and do very strict fast during the holy week.I love it.
Posted by candi | April 3, 2009 12:41 PM
Posted on April 3, 2009 12:41
What a beautiful restaurant!
Posted by Mozi Esme's Mommy | April 3, 2009 9:53 PM
Posted on April 3, 2009 21:53
Opakapaka and fresh sashimi are my favorites!! I am not sure if I have eaten uku before. It sure looks delicious! I am going to have to remember this place for a splurge if I ever get over to Maui.
Posted by girasoli | April 3, 2009 10:08 PM
Posted on April 3, 2009 22:08
Esme's Mommy, it was a beautiful restaurant. Thanks for stopping by.
girasoli, I don't believe I've had uku before this time either, it was very good.
Posted by candi | April 3, 2009 11:23 PM
Posted on April 3, 2009 23:23
Beautiful dishes! And thanks for telling us more about Great Lent in the Greek church, a lot more different than I thought.
Posted by Chiocciola | April 4, 2009 7:58 AM
Posted on April 4, 2009 07:58
I've had many wonderful meals on that terrace over the years! I also remember they served coffee in huge latte cups!
Posted by Palma | April 4, 2009 8:19 AM
Posted on April 4, 2009 08:19
The restaurants views and food looks wonderful. Less than a week and we're in Wailea!
Posted by Cindy Ruth | April 4, 2009 11:24 AM
Posted on April 4, 2009 11:24
Chiocciola, you are welcome, thanks for your comments:)
Palma, I haven't seen the coffee mugs, I don't drink coffee.
Cindy, how exciting! You will love it! The weather has been wonderful!
Posted by candi | April 4, 2009 1:06 PM
Posted on April 4, 2009 13:06
Looks delicious, Candi. And I love that depiction of the Annunciation!
Posted by sandrac | April 5, 2009 5:18 PM
Posted on April 5, 2009 17:18
I'll tell Mason. I like your explanation about connecting with people who have so much less than we do. And very interesting to read about the differences between Catholic Lent and Great Lent.
Posted by Annie | April 10, 2009 6:52 AM
Posted on April 10, 2009 06:52