Hawaii Food & Wine Festival Announces Cooking Demos, Wine Tastings and Cultural Excursions

Hawai’i Food & Wine Festival

Aloha!

We are pleased to announce the daytime events schedule for the 3rd Annual Hawaii Food & Wine Festival, taking place Sept. 1-9, 2013 on Oahu and Maui. For up close and personal experiences with chefs, farmers, winemakers, and Hawaii cultural practitioners, attendees can participate in various cooking demonstrations, wine tastings and cultural excursions that distinguish this Festival from any other. Tickets are now on sale at www.hawaiifoodandwinefestival.com. Please see the release below and attached for more information. High resolution images are available upon request.

Media Contacts:

McNeil Wilson Communications
Erin Kinoshita, (808) 539-3428
Erin.Kinoshita@AnthologyGroup.com

Rebecca Pang, (808) 539-3424
Rebecca.Pang@AnthologyGroup.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 11, 2013

HAWAII FOOD & WINE FESTIVAL PRESENTS A STAR-STUDDED ARRAY OF COOKING DEMOS, WINE TASTINGS AND CULTURAL EXCURSIONS

HONOLULU – Delve into the daytime events of the 3rd Annual Hawaii Food & Wine Festival (HFWF) for up close and personal experiences with chefs, farmers, winemakers, and cultural practitioners. The festival, held from September 1-9, will showcase the Aloha State’s enviable bounty of locally sourced produce, seafood, beef and poultry, and offer one-of-a-kind cooking demonstrations, wine tastings, and cultural excursions.

One of the festival’s daytime highlights will be Girls Got Game +1, featuring Harumi Kurihara of Yutori No Kukan (Tokyo) and Emma Hearst of Sorella (New York). This delectable event brings together more than a dozen superstar chefs and Hawaii farmers, all female except one, for an unforgettable Sunday Brunch collaboration.

Fish and Poi: Lunch at the Loi is a uniquely Hawaii opportunity to visit a historic fishpond and loi (taro field) on the windward coastline of Oahu. Participants will learn how Hawaiian cultural practitioners are keeping the sustainable culinary practices of ancient Hawaii alive today in the best classroom – outdoors and in the field.

The festival will also feature an impressive lineup of wine seminars featuring some of the top producers from California, including Harlan Estate, Rivers-Marie & Aston, Brewer-Clifton, and Au Bon Climat. Pinot Noir Study will highlight the best pinot noirs from Thomas Brown (Rivers-Marie & Aston), Steve Clifton (Brewer-Clifton), Jim Clendenen (Au Bon Climat), and Paul Lato (Paul Lato Wines); a once-in-a-lifetime vertical tasting with Harlan Estate; and My Favorite Wine Producers in the World, a journey into the minds and palettes of master sommeliers Richard Betts (Sombra Mezcal of Mexico), Joseph Spellman (JUSTIN Vineyards and Winery) and Roberto Viernes (American Wine and Spirits).

The festival is also pleased to announce fun cooking demos that highlight celebrity chefs, their cooking styles, and favorite ingredients. Rice Plus will feature different incarnations of rice as presented by Chris Cosentino (Incanto) and Sang Yoon (Lukshon). Sweet Endings, Sweet Wine brings pastry chefs Michelle Karr-Ueoka (Alan Wong’s) and Christina Tosi (Momofuku Milk Bar) together to create desserts with Hawaii-grown chocolate and exotic fruits. My Italian Way will feature two of the nation’s top Italian chefs, Celestino Drago (Drago Restaurant Group) and Jonathan Waxman (Barbuto). Fire It Up with Chilis will be a sizzling collaboration from three distinctly different chefs: Dean Fearing (Fearing’s), Charles Phan (The Slanted Door), and Ming Tsai (Blue Ginger).

All daytime events accompany the previously announced signature evening events of HFWF, featuring more than 70 internationally acclaimed master chefs and winemakers from the Hawaiian Islands, the mainland U.S., Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Philippines, and Australia.

Tickets are on sale now at hawaiifoodandwinefestival.com, and are discounted through August 23.

DAYTIME EVENT SCHEDULE:

Thursday, September 5, 2013

Kamehameha Schools Presents: Fish and Poi: Lunch at the Loi
Heeia
8 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Tickets: $125 early bird discount; $150 after August 23

Hawaiian cultural practitioners from Papahana Kuaola and Paepae o Heeia welcome you to Heeia – an 800-year-old ahupuaa (ancient land division extending from the mountains to the sea) on the windward side of Oahu. Take your pick: walk the walls of an ancient fishpond or get down and dirty in the loi (taro field) to experience how traditional concepts of stewardship are thriving in Hawaii’s modern society, all with the majestic Koolau Mountains as the backdrop. Learn how to make pai ai (pounded food) and enjoy other culinary treats sourced from produce grown on Kamehameha Schools’ agricultural lands across the state. Transportation and lunch provided.

Friday, September 6, 2013

Sub-Zero Wolf Presents: Rice Plus with Chris Cosentino and Sang Yoon
Hawaii Convention Center, Kauai Room 311
10 a.m.-Noon
Tickets: $95 early bird discount; $115 after August 23

Hawaii loves rice and so do Chris Cosentino of Incanto (San Francisco) and Sang Yoon of Lukshon (Los Angeles). During this lively cooking demonstration, Cosentino will draw from his Italian heritage and Yoon from his Korean-Russian background to present rice in exciting and surprising ways.

Sub-Zero Wolf Presents: Sweet Endings, Sweet Wine with Michelle Karr-Ueoka and Christina Tosi
Hawaii Convention Center, Kauai Room 311
1-3 p.m.
Tickets: $95 early bird discount; $115 after August 23

Delight your sweet tooth with this cooking demonstration designed with dessert lovers in mind. Known for their inventive creations, pastry chefs Michelle Karr-Ueoka of Alan Wong’s (Honolulu) and Christina Tosi of Momofuku Milk Bar (New York) will feature Hawaii grown chocolate and tropical fruits in unexpected and delicious combinations, with the perfect wine pairings to accompany them.

Saturday, September 7, 2013

Pinot Noir Study: as Taught by Four of California’s Most Celebrated Producers
Halekulani
9:30-10:30 a.m.
Tickets: $200 early bird discount; $225 after August 23

Walk through the vineyards and delve into the minds of Thomas Brown of Rivers-Marie & Aston, Steve Clifton of Brewer-Clifton, Jim Clendenen of Au Bon Climat, and Paul Lato of Paul Lato Wines as you sip on some of the most awe-inspiring Pinot Noirs on the planet.

Join master sommeliers Richard Betts (Sombra Mezcal of Mexico), Joseph Spellman (JUSTIN Vineyards and Winery) and Roberto Viernes (American Wine and Spirits) as they lead a panel discussion with these winemakers on their approach to this noble grape. Seating limited to 50 guests.

Sub-Zero Presents: My Italian Way with Celestino Drago and Jonathan Waxman
Hawaii Convention Center, Kauai Room 311
10 a.m.-Noon
Tickets: $95 early bird discount; $115 after August 23

It’s not just about tomato sauces for these two Italians – their Italian way has earned each of them prestigious awards and accolades. Celestino Drago of Drago Restaurant Group (Los Angeles) hails from Sicily and moved west, while Jonathan Waxman of Barbuto (New York) is from California and headed east. These two star chefs focus on fresh, quality ingredients and respectful treatment of food helps make their Italian cuisine among the nation’s best. You’ll make their Italian way your Italian way after this cooking demonstration.

Harlan Estate: California’s “First Growth,” from the Hills of Oakville
Halekulani
11 a.m.-Noon
Tickets: $300 early bird discount; $325 after August 23

Founded in 1984 by H. William Harlan, Harlan Estate is a winegrowing estate in the western hills of Oakville, in the heart of the Napa Valley. The estate’s red wine is regarded as one of the most profound in not only California, but the world.

Join Harlan Estate director Don Weaver and master sommeliers Richard Betts (Sombra Mezcal of Mexico), Joseph Spellman (JUSTIN Vineyards and Winery) and Roberto Viernes (American Wine and Spirits) and as they walk guests through once-in-a-lifetime vertical tasting of one of the world’s most coveted treasures. Seating limited to 50 guests.

My Favorite Wine Producers in the World
Halekulani
12:30-1:30 p.m.
Tickets: $150 early bird discount; $175 after August 23

What wines do master sommeliers cherish? Find out as Richard Betts (Sombra Mezcal of Mexico), Joseph Spellman (JUSTIN Vineyards and Winery) and Roberto Viernes (American Wine and Spirits) share a selection of their personal favorite wines from some of the world’s top producers. Seating limited to 50 guests.

Sub-Zero Presents: Fire It Up with Chilis with Dean Fearing, Charles Phan and Ming Tsai
Hawaii Convention Center, Kauai Room 311
10 a.m.-Noon
Tickets: $95 early bird discount; $115 after August 23

Three chefs with very different ethnic cuisines – Texan, Vietnamese and Chinese – fire it up for a hot and spicy cooking class featuring fresh, dried, powdered, chopped, pureed and whole chilis. Thirst-quenching pairings of Anheuser Busch beers by brewmaster George Reisch round out this sizzling extravaganza of flavors from Dean Fearing of Fearing’s (Dallas), Charles Phan of The Slanted Door (San Francisco) and Ming Tsai of Blue Ginger (Wellesley, Mass.).

Sunday, September 8, 2013

Girls Got Game +1
SHOR at Hyatt Regency Waikiki
11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Tickets: $125 early bird discount; $150 after August 23

Get your game on for this delectable Sunday Brunch prepared by an all-female superstar cast of chefs and farmers, plus Sven Ullrich of Hyatt Regency Waikiki. Girls Got Game +1 will showcase dishes prepared by inspiring chefs from around the world and highlight women farmers in the Hawaiian Islands. Morning cocktails from Chandra Lucariello (Southern Wine & Spirits) will complement each dish.

Participating chefs include:

Dominique Crenn, Atelier Crenn – San Francisco
Emma Hearst, Sorella – New York
Harumi Kurihara, Yutori No Kukan – Tokyo, Japan
Jacqueline Lau, Roy’s Restaurant – Honolulu, Oahu
Amber Lin, Foodie Amber – Taipei, Taiwan
Anita Lo, Annisa – New York
Sven Ullrich, Hyatt Regency Waikiki – Waikïkï, Oahu
Sherry Yard, Helms Bakery – Los Angeles
Participating farmers include:

Lesley Hill, Wailea Agricultural Group – Honomu, Hawaii Island
Shin Ho, Ho Farms – Kahuku, Oahu
Kylie Matsuda, Kahuku Farms – Kahuku, Oahu
Amy Shinsato, Shinsato Farms – Kahaluu, Oahu
Sabrina St. Martin and Monique van der Stroom, Naked Cow Dairy – Waianae, Oahu
Janice Stanga, Hamakua Heritgage Farm – Laupähoehoe, Hawaii Island
Candy Suiso, Makaha Mangoes – Makaha, Oahu
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit HawaiiFoodandWineFestival.com or follow the festival on Twitter/Instagram (@HIFoodWineFest) and Facebook (facebook.com/hawaiifoodandwinefestival) for updates.

Travel packages are available by calling Classic Vacations at (800) 635-1333.

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About Hawaii Food & Wine Festival
The Hawaii Food & Wine Festival is the premier epicurean destination event in the Pacific. The Festival features a roster of more than 70 internationally renowned master chefs, culinary personalities, and wine and spirit producers. Co-founded by two of Hawaii’s own James Beard Award-winning chefs, Roy Yamaguchi and Alan Wong, the Festival will showcase wine tastings, cooking demonstrations, one-of-a-kind excursions, and exclusive dining opportunities with dishes highlighting the state’s bounty of local produce, seafood, beef and poultry. Proceeds support the sustainability, cultural, and educational efforts of the Hawaii Agricultural Foundation, the Culinary Institute of the Pacific, Leeward Community College Culinary Program, Paepae o Heeia, Papahana Kuaola, Hawaii Culinary Education Foundation, Maui Culinary Academy, and Maui County Farm Bureau.

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