The Kahala Wine & Food Festival Goes French For Julia

HONOLULU, HI – Cue the Paris accordion street music, The Kahala Hotel & Resort is going to France for its summer Wine & Food Festival August 18, 2012. The Kahala Wine & Food Festival: A Celebration Of France is part of Bon Appétit! A Tribute to Julia Child – a month-long series of culinary events in honor of the 100th birthday anniversary of American chef Julia Child. Be transported to the French Riviera on The Kahala’s oceanfront lawn and dip your toes in the ocean while sipping French champagne. Guests will also enjoy sampling a variety of French wines from several vintners paired with The Kahala’s tribute to Julia Child’s gourmet dishes of France.

The Kahala’s executive chef Wayne Hirabayashi is designing a specialty menu that focuses on the diversity of cuisine from the French provinces. His culinary team at The Kahala will be joined by an Avengers-like roster of guest chefs from Hawaii hotels and restaurants including Chai Chaowasaree of Chai’s Island Bistro; a representative of DK’s, Sansei, and Hiroshi’s restaurants; Goran Streng of Tango Contemporary Café; William Chen of Beachhouse at Moana; Jon Matsubara of Azure; Kanani Lincoln of Hale Aina Catering; Kevin Hanney from 12th Avenue Grill and SALT; Russell Siu from 3660 On The Rise; and Ronnie Nasuti of Tiki’s Bar & Grill. This team of super chefs will create an evening of gastronomic perfection and will personally ensure that the plates pair with the wine (wink, wink).

Menu sneak preview courtesy of project coordinator, Hoku’s Dante Camara: Pan Seared Fresh Kauai Prawn with Roasted Beet Risotto and Lobster Reduction (Chef Chaowasaree); Beef Bourguignon (Chef Matsubara); Duck Confit Tart with Red Onion, Goat Cheese and Mango Salsa (Chef Steng); Honey Soy Duck Breast with Celeriac Puree, Li-Hing Cherry Demi Glace and Shinsato Pork Papardelle with Turned Vegetables and Fine Herbs (Chef Lincoln); and Julia Child’s Favorite Dessert – Ile Flottante (Chef Nasuti) among many other specialties.

The Kahala has also partnered with Young’s Market Company of Hawaii, distributor of fine wines and spirits, who will coordinate participating vintners. Hawaii’s youngest Master Sommelier, Patrick Okubo, the Fine Wine Educator for Young’s Market Company, has personally selected a group of award-winning wineries from France and California to be showcased with a special emphasis on celebrating the French art of winemaking. Among the French vintners represented will be Maison Louis Jadot, E. Guigal, Armand de Brignac, and Domaine Laroche. The California vintners include Freemark Abby Winery, Schramsberg and J. Davies, Hartford Court, Foley, and Vine Cliff Winery.

The festival starts at 6 pm for Epitome Members & VIP Preview guests, and is open to all guests from 7-10 pm. Adult tickets are $100 in advance, $125 at the door, $150 for VIP Preview entry. To reserve a ticket for The Kahala Wine & Food Festival: A Celebration of France, call (808) 739-8760; or E-mail restaurants@kahalaresort.com.
BON APPETIT! A TRIBUTE TO JULIA CHILD @ THE KAHALA HOTEL & RESORT
Bon Appétit! A Tribute to Julia Child and Mastering the Art of French Cooking is a series of culinary events at The Kahala Hotel & Resort in honor of the 100th birthday anniversary of American chef Julia Child. A James Beard Foundation Dinner, right before her August 15th birthday, is one of several special gatherings for this month-long tribute. Also planned are; French cooking classes and demonstrations at The Kahala’s Université Patisserie; Julia Child’s famous recipes featured on the menu in Hoku’s; a Chef’s Table Grand Experience 5 to 6-course dinner on Sundays and Thursdays; Parisian Pleasures specialty menu in Veranda for late night delights; regional French cuisine featured at the Plumeria Beach House’s Bounty of the Seven Seas buffet; The Kahala Wine & Food Festival: A Celebration of France;Better with Butter; High Tea in the Veranda; and a Better with Butter breakfast brunch buffet. A la carte menu items made from the recipes in Julia Child’s famous book, Mastering the Art of French Cooking, will be featured in The Kahala’s restaurants throughout the month. The complete schedule of culinary events is available online at www.kahalaresort.com.

– About The Kahala –
With 338 guestrooms, The Kahala Hotel & Resort is an oceanfront destination resort known for its impeccable service and hospitality. Just minutes from Waikiki, yet offering the peace and serenity of a neighbor island experience, The Kahala has been Honolulu’s social address for weddings and gatherings since its opening in 1964. Captains of industry and celebrity guests continue to call The Kahala their home-away-from-home in Hawai’i. Travel + Leisure ranks The Kahala among the Top 3 Hawaii hotels and among the World’s Best 100 Hotels in its 2010 World’s Best Awards. U.S. News and World Report named The Kahala Hotel & Resort the number one hotel in Honolulu.

For more information, please contact The Kahala Hotel & Resort at (808) 739-8888 or toll-free at (800) 367-2525; or visit their website at www.kahalaresort.com.

###
Media Contact:
Sheila Donnelly & Associates
Sweetie Nelson, 808-949-4131
sweetie@sheiladonnelly.com