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Mid Rivers Newsmagazine is St. Charles County's
exclusive direct-mailed community newspaper. |
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Restaurant Spotlight Archive |
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Maui Wowi Hawaiian Offers Smooth, Relaxed AtmosphereBy Mary Ann O'Toole Holley
If you long for the leisure of it all or if you haven’t been to Maui, let O’Fallon’s newest coffee/smoothie shop provide your getaway. Maui Wowi Hawaiian will give you the feel of it all through one glance of their Hawaiian shirts, one bite of their macadamia nut popcorn and one sip of their fresh tropical-tasting all-natural, vitamin-packed, non-fat fruit smoothies and sumptuous Hawaiian coffees. “It’s odd, but some people see our sign and think we’re a tanning spa or a travel agency,” said owner Robert Hudspeth. “We kind of like to say we are a travel agency, providing a vacation in a cup.” Maui Wowi Hawaiian is one of the few retailers who sell 100 percent Kona coffee by the bag and by the cup, Hudspeth said. Other Hawaiian coffee brands from Molokai (mull * ah * ky), Kauai (kah * why * e) are sold to provide a more subtle flavor perfect for everyday and special occasions. Grown and hand-picked in the Kona district of the Big Island, Kona coffee has a rich and lively flavor grown along 25-mile stretches of the Hualalai volcano. Kona beans must be picked by hand, and the only beans picked are the best ones with a rich red color that indicates their ripeness. After the beans are soaked and the skin removed, they are left to dry in the sun, not in the commercial dryers that are widely used where coffee is mass-produced. Once you’ve tried the perfection of Kona coffee ($1.25-$1.85 per cup), you’ll surely agree that this is one of the richest, most flavorful cups of coffee you’ve ever had. Sip, sit back and savor the aroma and flavor, let the mild acidity and nutty sweetness envelop your senses and take you away to a virtual Hawaiian island paradise. The Maui Wowi Chillin’ Line of cold coffee mixes come in with four delicious flavors. The Kona Chill line is blended with Maui Wowi Kona Coffee and the Chai Chill is blended with milk. The Kona Chill line includes Mocha Chill, Cookies & Cream Chill and Chocolate Chunk Chill. The Chai Chill comes in Tahitian Vanilla Chai. Both lines will forever cure your hankering for a malt. Maui Wowi Hawaiian Kona espresso is one of a kind. This fantastic espresso utilizes coffee from the island of Kona. The 100-percent Arabica espresso blend has bold yet smooth characteristics, a great aroma and provides a very consistent product. Maui Wowi Hawaiian's espresso is one of the very few espressos to include Kona in its blend. But coffee isn’t the only drink Maui Wowi Hawaiian offers. To take the chill off, try their Gourmet hot koko, an indulgence of Aloha dipped in rich Ghirardelli chocolate ($2.29 - $3.99) On a hot summer’s day, Maui Wowi fruit smoothies ($3.45-$6.95) are gifts from heaven. Strawberry banana, black raspberry mango orange, and pina colada are favorites, but don’t overlook passion papaya, banana banana, kiwi lemon-lime, black raspberry or any variation in-between. For those with a taste for coffee, try the cappuccino smoothies ($3.45-$6.95). Maui Wowi Hawaiian is a fun place with a bright atmosphere where customers are always greeted with “Aloha.” “We like the laid back atmosphere,” Hudspeth said. “In the mornings it’s a great place to relax, read the paper and chill. Wireless Internet is provided. During the evening it’s a fun stop for the family who wants a healthy, all-natural fresh fruit smoothie for the kids while the parents try the coffees.” Oh, and Maui Wowi Hawaiian not only brings the magic of Maui. For a little extra one can “power up” their smoothies with exclusive botanical island smoothie boosters like the very interesting “fat burner” or “energy booster.” Now, that’s a deal! Snacks, muffins and delicious variations of macadamia nuts can be found at Maui Wowi Hawaiian as well. “We’ve had people come in from California, where smoothies have been hot for years, say that our smoothies are the best they’ve ever had,” Hudspeth said. “With 38 flavor combinations, there’s a lot to choose from. If you can’t find a flavor that suits you, it isn’t possible.” Maui Wowi Hawaiian is located at 1271 Bryan Road (near Mexico Road) in O’Fallon, inside the Hillmann Farms Plaza. Hours are Monday through Friday 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. For more information, unique Hawaiian gift baskets and sumptuous treats, stop on in or call 636-978-6274.
Maui Wowi Hawaiian 1271 Bryan Road (near Mexico Road) O’Fallon, inside the Hillmann Farms Plaza.
Hours: Monday through Friday 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Phone: 636-978-6274.
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If you’ve ever been to Maui, you know there’s nothing on this earth like those balmy breezes, the fragrance of fresh ginger growing along walkways or that first bite into a freshly grown pineapple.
