Brandon LaClair

Ulu Kitchen by Merriman - Lahaina, HI

Brandon LaClair is the Executive Chef at Ulu Kitchen by Merriman, the newest addition to Handcrafted Restaurants. Originally from the East Coast, Brandon LaClair was raised on fresh local seafood and is a firm believer in using traditional techniques paired with the highest quality ingredients. After graduating from Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island, in 2002, he moved to Chicago and trained at some of the city’s top steakhouses.

Brandon LaClair has spent the past 10 years working under Chef Peter Merriman at Monkeypod Kitchen. Starting as a Sous Chef in Wailea, he demonstrated a true passion for using local ingredients in innovative ways. In 2017, as Executive Chef at Monkeypod Kitchen Ka’anapali, LaClair showcased high-quality ingredients in a high-production setting. In January 2024, he played a key role in opening Ulu Kitchen, the sixth addition to the Handcrafted Restaurants Ohana.