Cooking competition winners announced
Cooking competition winners announced
Waikoloa King’s Shops Fourth of July events this year included a Cooking Competition for island chefs sponsored by Three Fat Pigs Restaurant and Gastropub. This year’s winner was Cary Peterson of Kohala Burger & Taco. Chef Peterson was assisted by his son, Connor Peterson in preparing a summertime meal from a mystery box of ingredients.
The team of Peterson and Son was awarded first place by a panel of volunteer judges Bob Matsuda, Darde Gamayo and Penny Verdenburg. Peterson’s mystery box of ingredients contained marlin, dried cranberries, Maui onion, and black garlic. Chef Cary had only 40 minutes to create an entree. The finished meal was poke-style marlin sliders with “Crazyn-Garlic Mayo,” Asian slaw and fresh warm corn relish. Second place was awarded to Keoyuki Corotan. All winners received prizes donated by merchants in the King’s Shops.
Three Fat Pigs owner Ippy Aiona and his father Max Aiona organized the contest in conjunction with the 22nd Annual Rubber Duckie Race, which raises funds for United Cerebral Palsy Association of Hawaii. Donna Fouts, executive director of UCPA of Hawaii, said that more than $31,000 was raised through donations at this year’s event.
Volunteer forest restoration project is Friday in Volcano
The Friends of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park hosts its next volunteer forest restoration project from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday.
The group will plant native trees in 1 to 3 gallon pots in the Kilauea section of the park and learn about the park’s native forest restoration program.
Volunteers should be at least 12 years old, and be able to walk up to 1/2 mile over uneven terrain with a moderate slope. Sturdy walking shoes and long pants are required, along with gear for variable weather conditions (be prepared for sun or rain with a hat, raincoat, sunscreen, etc.) plus drinking water and a snack.
In addition, volunteers should be preared to scrub the soles of their shoes prior to arrival on site in order to ensure outside dirt and invasive species are not transported to the planting site.
The group’s goal is a crew of 12 people, and pre-registration is required. All participants will need to sign a Friends release form and a park volunteer form. For those under 18, an adult will need to co-sign. If vog or high levels of SO2 are present in the area, or the national park is clsoed, the project will be canceled.
To volunteer, contact the Friends at forest@fhvnp.org or call the office at 985-7373 by Wednesday evening.
Event celebrates food self-sufficiency in North Kohala
North Kohala’s Farm to Wok Cook-off will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Hawi Jodo Mission on Akoni Pule Highway in Hawi.
Teams from Hawaiian Airlines, University of Hawaii at Hilo, Bromeliads Hawaii LLC, Sustainable Kohala, Kahua Paa Mua, Honsador Lumber and Kaiser Permanente will compete in an “Iron Chef-style” cooking competition featuring Kohala grown ingredients. A tasting featuring the results of the competition is included in the ticket price.
The community is asked to contribute fruits, vegetables and herbs, to be used as surprise ingredients in the cook-off. Community members who contribute food (must be received the night before) will receive free tickets.
Throughout the day, there will be informational booths on North Kohala’s food self-sufficiency efforts. The event is a fundraiser for the Palili O Kohala project, a ten family taro growing cooperative in North Kohala.
Tickets are limited and are $10 in advance, $12 at the door. For tickets and information or to donate fresh local food, call Carol at 889-5391 or go to FoodHubKohala.org.