After an outstanding morning drinking world-class wine with Colgin Cellars and Kermit Lynch and an afternoon partially sleeping off all that outstanding, world-class wine, I was super excited for the weekend’s main (sold out) event, the Hawaii Food & Wine Festival Corks & Forks party, this year presented by Hawaiian Airlines, my gracious host for the weekend. I could not wait to try dishes from some of my chef heroes!
The event was held on the rooftop of the Convention Center and you could not have asked for a prettier evening. Just look at that sky!
The Hawaiian Airlines team and I made our way through the food offerings, devouring every bite we discovered. After attending other food events with big named stars who have to prepare their food under extraordinary circumstances, often impacting the delivery and taste of the food, I can honestly say that I did not have one bite a food that wasn’t exceptional.
I don’t go to a lot of food festivals anymore, they are just too crowded, the people get rowdy and sometimes the food (understanding the constrained circumstances that they are prepared under) isn’t always top-notch. But, this event, it totally blew me away and I would come back again in a heartbeat! The event was sold out, but the numbers were very manageable. I never felt crowded our pushed. If I did wait in a line, it was a quick line. The flow of the crowds was well thought out, everything planned and organized to the greatest detail. Hawaii Food and Wine Festival team – you rock!
The Hawaiian Airlines team, from their pilots and flight attendants, to their social media team and ground staff are one big ohana family that pulls you in, gives you a hug and a kiss and fills a warm place in your heart. Every single person I met became my long lost friend and they are wonderful people – which obviously translates when you fly with them!
And the food! Let me share some highlights!
We started with ceviche of Kona and Spanner Crab with buckwheat & yuzu from Chef Tetsuya Wakuda of Tesuya restaurant in Sydney, Australia. The yuzu added a nice bright note and I loved the addition of buckwheat farro.
Next came Nobu-style ceviche from Chef Nobu Matsuhisa. I’ve had Nobu’s amazing sushi in San Diego, so I knew I was in for a treat. One of the Hawaiian Airlines representatives went to high school with the Executive Chef from Nobu’s Waikiki restaurant and when we had finished the ceviche, he added a shot of 100% organic (100% delicious) Leyenda tequila – that went down smooth!
I have not eaten too much taro, except in dumsum, but after having (and loving) Pa’ i ‘ai when I had lunch at Hawaiian Airlines, I couldn’t wait to try it in another form, the taro croquette from Chef Yuji Wakiya of Wakiya in Tokyo, was delicious! These look like meatballs and frankly, I think between the Pa’ i ‘ai and these croquettes, that taro makes an excellent meat substitute.
We stopped to speak with some Australian media I had met at a progressive dinner the evening before at The Modern Honolulu (my hotel host for the weekend, more on them in a separate post). Every person I have ever met from New Zealand and Australia have always been a lot of fun and Julia and Paul were no exception. I could have talked to them all night, but then the food called and we were off again.
Next up was air dried Kulana ribeye with Naked Cow Dairy Hawaii Tomme and pickled pohole from Chef Ed Kenney of TOWN Restaurant in Honolulu. Naked Cow Dairy appeared at several stops throughout the evening including in the cheese frosting on many cupcakes. I definitely want to check out this dairy on my next trip.
Inside the Hawaiian Airlines tent, their Executive Chef Chai, who I had the pleasure of interviewing was offering a baked stuffed cherry stone clams with Kona lobster, fresh Kuaui prawn, scallop and crab meat. A lot of times these type of stuffed seafood dishes can turn out greasy or you taste more of the filling than the seafood, but not this bite, the seafood shown through loud and clear!
How could someone resist bites of food that look like this? This was a Pulehu Drumstick with sweet gold pineapple relish and romesco sauce.
Hoping for some of Barbuto’s Jonathan Waxman’s famous chicken, but getting a magnificent Ono with bok choy, heirloom tomatoes, hearts of palm and sweet onions instead, I had no complaints. I love hearts of palm and rarely see it in restaurants so I was delighted.
Chef Jonathan Waxman was on hand serving his Ono, always a treat to see the chefs in action!
I have had a lot of seafood pancakes lately. Love the one at Berkeley’s Bowl’d and just had the Japanese verion at Michael Mina’s new Pabu. The mini Korean Shrimp Pancakes with cucumber kimchee and gochujang sauce, plus a shot of sake being offered by Chef Ming Tsai of Blue Ginger Bar & Restaurant in Wellesley, MA was my bite of the night.
Of course he was also the total character I have come to expect from watching Top Chef. Here he is posing for me!
If Ming is an over-the-top character, than Chef Hubert Keller is the epitome of cool. Laid back, conversational and downright friendly. He is such a pleasure to talk to. He even shared his DJ’ing hobby with one of the Sydney reporters. He picks out all the music for his restaurants and is one cool cat. Here he is modeling his Thai coconut soup with Kuaui shrimp, toasted orzo, snow peas, tomato and kaffir lime. It was tangy, bitter, sweet, spicy – delicious!
There were desserts too, many of which I didn’t try, but they all looked delicious, chefs like Christina Tosi of Momofuku Milk Bar and cupcakes from Hokulani Bakery are hard to pass up, but I was in a savory mood. One sweet bite treat I did have was an assortment of chocolates from Mark Freischmidt of Halekulani in Honolulu. Wow! I had a piece of malted chocolate heaven that was to die for!
As I said in my final tweet of the night:
I can’t thank Hawaiian Airlines enough for their generous sponsorship of my flight to Oahu this weekend to attend the festival. They hosted me along with The Modern Honolulu hotel and the Oahu Visitors Bureau.
How about you? Have you been to a food and wine festival? What was the best thing you ever ate? Do tell!
September 8, 2014
Unfortunately I’ve never been to any, but this sounds so nice! Every single dish you posted a pic about looks yumm and I really like the mood of the 2nd pic 🙂
September 9, 2014
@Orsi, yes the color of the sky was fantastic.
September 8, 2014
What a fun festival!! I generally feel the same way you do about food festivals, but I’m happy to hear this one was refreshingly different. I’d definitely love to attend it in the future. Love your article and the pics – what a delicious variety of foods! I’ve never flown Hawaiian Airlines before but based on your experience I will definitely be considering them for my upcoming trip to Hawaii. Thanks!
September 9, 2014
@Kimberly, I will definitely return to this one, it is a festival done right! I had not flown Hawaiian Air until this year and will never return to Hawaii on any other carrier, they are amazing tip to tail!
September 8, 2014
Lordy, this is awesome! Look at these yummy photos. I love the pink glowy lantern and I wish I’d thought of “Corks and Forks!”
September 9, 2014
@Jen, the sky was insanely beautiful, the perfect setting for the evening of deliciousness!
September 8, 2014
Amazing (and ohmygosh Ming Tsai)! I’m dying to go to Hawaii one day, and that festival looks like someplace I’d love to be. I will remember Hawaiian Airlines when I eventually do start planning my trip (I’m confident)!
p.s. – we have a local “foodie” group called Michiana Cork and Fork – I just love that phrase.
September 9, 2014
@Heather, Corks & Forks is such a cool name! Ming is such a comedian, and so easy to talk to!
September 8, 2014
I’ve never been to a food and wine festival but wow…not only was the view beautiful, the food looked amazing! So unique!
September 9, 2014
@Barry, yes, it was an amazing evening!
September 8, 2014
I loved seeing all the beautiful choices you had.
September 9, 2014
@Laurie, thanks, the choices were easy since everything was so good!
September 8, 2014
Wow, this looks so fun!! I can’t believe that of all the crazy places I’ve traveled I’ve never been to Hawaii. I’ve heard such great things about Hawaiian airlines – can’t wait to plan a trip!
September 9, 2014
@Anetta, you should definitely make a stop, every time I go I realize how much there is to do, see and eat!
September 8, 2014
What a terrific opportunity for you!!! Everything looks amazing. It’s about time my husband and I head back to Hawaii for some rest, relaxation and good FOOD!
September 9, 2014
@Lori, you must do that, you can do as little or as much as you want, with good food always available, hope you get to return there soon!
September 8, 2014
What a great reason to head over to Hawaii! The food scene there is so wonderful it would be fun to get to go to a festival like this to taste everything in one place! Did you happen to meet or see Chef Mavro – he’s a Hawaiian chef who I know there and really love his food too.
Will have to put this on my radar for next year!
September 9, 2014
@Sherry, I was really impressed and can’t wait to return. Chef Mavro was there and I had his dish (delish!) as the night got darker food photos were not possible, I just had to devour everything with my eyes!
September 8, 2014
How fun! I love Chef Ming. He’s so full of energy and yet very approachable in person.
Looks like it was a great party! Yummy-looking too.
September 9, 2014
@Rachelle, he was hilarious and so fun to talk to!
September 9, 2014
having a lot of fun ha????????
September 9, 2014
@Nuresha, yes! How about you?
September 9, 2014
Oh… Hawaii is pretty much my favorite place on earth. I am going to have to plan for this festival next year!
September 9, 2014
@Sommer, I am already making my plans for next year…it is fantastic!
September 9, 2014
Wow! I think that might just be the festival of all festivals. I want to fly on Hawaiian Air. I imagine that they must serve some of the best food on an airplane.
September 10, 2014
you go to the best parties!
love the picture of the top chef, and that chicken…. yummy
September 10, 2014
Look at all that delicious food. Looks like you had a great time at the festival 🙂
September 12, 2014
I think if you’re American or live in the USA then Hawaii is a given holiday destination. Not so for us Europeans, but I wonder, why not? I know it’s not next door but neither are many other places we visit. I hadn’t really thought much about Hawaii but seeing all this culinary lusciousness makes me think this is a wonderful foodie destination – and I will travel far for great food. I checked ticket prices and guess what? It costs the same to fly to Hawaii as it does to the US West Coast… worth considering!
September 16, 2014
I have never been to a food and wine festival, but it sounds like going to one in Hawaii makes it even better lol.
September 16, 2014
Oh. My. Goodness. This is event just ruined any lunch I could possibly get in my city! WOW. Everything looks incredible! That ceviche will be in my mind all day! What a great event to partake in. Thank you for sharing your drool-worthy photos!
September 16, 2014
This looks like a foodie’s paradise! I would love to find an event like this in my area.
September 16, 2014
Wow! This looks like such a fun event, all those foods look so delicious!
September 16, 2014
This is so cool! Looks like a great time 🙂
September 16, 2014
This looks like such a fun (and delicious) event!!
September 16, 2014
Great photos! Looks like a wonderful time!
xoxo
The Accidental Mama
http://theaccidentalmama.com
September 16, 2014
What a fun trip. The food looks so good!
September 16, 2014
I haven’t ever been to any event like this but I would love it. I would love try new foods in an atmosphere like that!
September 16, 2014
Okay as if your beautiful pictures weren’t enough, I looked at your just got back, and going to list. Total traveling envy going on over here!
September 16, 2014
What a great opportunity! I feel the same way at food festivals, it’s so hard to really enjoy them especially when they are so easy to come by. Yours looked like the exception! Hawaii is filed under one of the place I can’t wait to go to!
September 16, 2014
Love the photos! It looks like such a fun event!
September 17, 2014
uh… how the heck do I sign up to get this sponsored? lol!! This sounds right up my ally for professional and leisure reasons. I do attend a lot of food festivals and feel the same way. Everything looks amazing and I LOVE NOBU!!!!!!! One of California’s many amazing restaurants! If I had more of an Asian influence during my culinary training I would SO want to work for chef Nobu! 🙂
September 17, 2014
Looks like a fun and delicious event! <3
September 17, 2014
This looks like a really fun event and my does that food look delicious! So tasty! Amazing that you got to interview and meet the chef!
Katie <3
September 17, 2014
This looks like a wonderful time. I love the big ball decorations they had.
September 17, 2014
@Jessica, those balls were way cool, I wish I had gotten a photo of myself with one!
September 17, 2014
I’ve never been to a food festival before, but this looks so good!
September 17, 2014
Oh. my. goodness. Everything looks SO good! I’m drooling over here!
September 17, 2014
Oh my gosh that all looks so delicious! I’ve always wanted to go to Hawaii!
September 18, 2014
@Rebekah, where would you go? What would you like to do there?
September 17, 2014
Whoa! I’ve never been. Everything here looks awesome!
September 18, 2014
@Camesha, it was a great night!
September 17, 2014
How beautiful is that sky picture! I love it! I’m so glad you had a good time!!! Looks like so much fun and good food!
September 18, 2014
@Alyssa, it was an amazing setting for the evening, I have never seen bad light on any evening I have been in Hawaii, it is magical there!
September 17, 2014
Wow! This looks like so much fun! I have never been to a food and wine festival, but I have been dying to try one!
September 18, 2014
@JoAnn, I recommend a small one, the larger ones can be crowded and hard to navigate. This one was a lot of fun!
September 17, 2014
Ummmmmm that is an incredible sponsor to have. The food looked incredible and I was drooling over the seafood! Thank you for taking us on your journey!
September 18, 2014
@Lauren, it was a great night and I am very lucky to work with such a great brand, the people at Hawaiian Airlines are truly exceptional.
September 18, 2014
GAH! I envy you and all this travel you do! Bravo! This event looked marvelous!
September 18, 2014
@Kristen, thanks, I am really blessed. But don’t have to get on a plane to explore really cool stuff – it is all around us no matter where we live!
September 18, 2014
The dried ribeye and ono look pretty intriguing! I’d be happy to sample any of those though, and just to be in Hawaii. 😉 What a lovely, yummy experience! Thanks for sharing the tantalizing photos. :9
xo,
lauriel
EyeForElegance.com
September 18, 2014
@Lauriel, the dried ribeye was very interesting combined with the cheese and pickled vegetables, it was a great “delivery system” for all the ingredients. The ono was my second favorite thing of the night, it was moist and the combination with the hearts of palm was incredible!
October 3, 2014
Oh wow Hawaii is one of the top places in the world I’d love to go to! The food looks amazing! I am so jealous 🙂
October 3, 2014
@Alice, which island are you interested in going to?
March 18, 2019
[…] also visited with Chef Chai whom I had the pleasure of interviewing and meeting at the Food & Wine Festival last September. He is friendly, passionate and very […]