Ko Olina News and Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PRESS RELEASE

MEDIA CONTACT:
Chimaine Pouteau, 808.738.6245, chimaine@gmail.com


Honolulu, HI (Thursday, February 23, 2012) -- Hot on the heels of a super successful inaugural celebration, the 2012 Hawai`i Food & Wine Festival (HFWF) is set to be bigger and better this year, with more world-class chefs, more events, and of course, more food and wine! From September 6-9, the culinary scene in Hawai`i will reach gastronomic proportions as superstar chefs and prestigious vintners showcase their expertise in fine dining during our expanded four-day event being held at The MODERN Honolulu, Halekulani, Hilton Hawaiian Village Resort and Spa, and Ko Olina Resort with Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa, and JW Marriott Ihilani.

Featuring at least 50 internationally-acclaimed master chefs from the United States, Singapore, Japan, Korea, Philippines, and Australia, this destination festival will give food and wine enthusiasts a taste of paradise, as top chefs create innovative dishes inspired by the diverse culinary and cultural traditions of the Hawaiian Islands. Prepared with Hawai`i’s enviable bounty of locally-sourced produce, seafood, beef, poultry and other ingredients, the Festival will also promote the importance of food security and supporting local farmers, ranchers and fisherman to ensure Hawai`i’s sustainable future.

Epicures and novices are invited to “Taste our love for the Land,” which is inspired by the ancient Hawaiian tradition of ahupua`a – an interdependent system where everything necessary for survival is grown, gathered and exchanged locally. HFWF highlights the islandsʼ return to a sustainable eco-system of agriculture, environment and economy. Proceeds from HFWF will benefit the Hawai`i Agricultural Foundation, the Culinary Institute of the Pacific, Paepae O He`eia and Papahana O Kuaola.

Over four days, HFWF will be serving up exciting cooking demos, wine tastings with top sommeliers, culinary workshops, industry seminars and field excursions during our daytime events, plus signature dining experiences over four nights, which include:

Thursday, September 6, 2012 – Hawaiian Airlines presents “Enter the MODERN Dragon: Morimoto and Friends” at the MODERN Honolulu

Building on Hawai`i’s unique location where East meets West, and once again led by “Iron Chef” Masaharu Morimoto of Morimoto Waikiki, guests will savor provocative dishes prepared by thirteen of the most esteemed international chefs from Asia and the Pacific. Other participating chefs include Edward Kwon, LAB XXIV, Seoul; Sam Leong, Forest Cooking School, Singapore; Charles Phan, The Slanted Door, San Francisco; Roy Choi, Kogi BBQ, Los Angeles; Ming Tsai, Blue Ginger, Wellesley, MA; Chai Chaowasaree, Chai’s Island Bistro, Honolulu; Joanne Chang, Flour Bakery + Cafe, Myers + Chang, Boston; Sang Yoon, Lukshon, Culver City; Marco Anzani, Anzani, Cebu City, Philippines; Peter Doyle, est. restaurant, Sydney; Christina Tosi, Momofuku Milk Bar, New York; and Scott Toner, The MODERN Honolulu. The “Enter the MODERN Dragon” event runs from 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. at The MODERN Honolulu. Tickets start at $200 per person.

Friday, September 7, 2012 – “Second Annual Halekulani Masters Chef Gala Series: Chefs Who Have Cooked for Presidents and Royalty” at the Halekulani

Master chefs and top sommeliers will “wow” food lovers during an evening of elegant fine dining, with a lavish seven-course meal and extraordinary wine pairings. The chefs featured include Vikram Garg, Halekulani, Honolulu; Alan Wong, Alan Wong’s, Hawai`i; Nobu Matsuhisa, Nobu, Waikiki; Michel Richard, Michel Richard Citronelle, Central Michel Richard, Washington D.C.; Hubert Keller, Fleur de Lys, San Francisco; Tetsuya Wakuda, Tetsuya, Sydney; and François Payard, Payard, New York. The event runs from 6:00 - 9:00 p.m., and tickets start at $1,000 per person with reserved seating in the Ballroom.

Saturday, September 8, 2012 – “From Farm to Table: A Makahiki Festival” at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Resort & Spa

Paying tribute to the Hawaiian “Makahiki” festival, or harvest season, the third evening event will showcase Hawai`i’s sustainable future with twenty celebrity chefs, many of whom are notable for promoting “farm to table” sustainable sourcing and cooking practices. The world-renowned chefs include Ken Oringer, Clio, Boston; Michael Ginor, Hudson Valley Fois Gras & Lola, New York; Jonathan Waxman, Barbuto, New York; Hiroshi Fukui; Hiroshi Eurasian Tapas, Honolulu; Jeffrey Vigilla, Hilton Hawaiian Village, Honolulu; Josiah Citrin, Melisse, Santa Monica; Ron Siegel, Parallel 37, San Francisco; Mark Noguchi, He`eia Kea General Store & Deli, Honolulu; Todd English, Todd English Enterprises, New York; David Burke, Townhouse, New York; Lee Anne Wong, Cooking Channel’s “Unique Eats,” New York; Susan Feniger, Border Grill, Los Angeles; Justin Quek, Sky on 57, Singapore, Justin’s Signatures, Just In Bistro & Wine Bar, Taipei; Yasuhiro Sasajima, Il Ghiottone, Kyoto; Josef Centeno, Baco Mercat, Los Angeles; Sally Camacho, WP24 by Wolfgang Puck, Los Angeles; Toshi Yoroizuka, Toshi Yoroizuka, Tokyo; Nancy Silverton, Mozza, Los Angeles; Josh Feathers, Blackberry Farm, Tennessee , and Alessandro Stratta, Las Vegas. The event runs from 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. on the Great Lawn of the Hilton Hawaiian Village. Tickets start at $200 per person.

Sunday, September 9, 2012 – “Cuisines of the Stars: A Magical Journey of Food & Culture” at Ko Olina Resort featuring Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa and JW Marriott Ihilani 

Our finale will be hosted on the Westside of O`ahu. Thirteen world-renowned chefs will create a culinary tour of ethnic foods from around the world using local produce and products at the lagoons under the stars. Participating chefs include Andrew Sutton, Napa Rose, Anaheim; Mourad Lahlou, Aziza, San Francisco; Dean Fearing, Fearing’s, Dallas; Ed Kenney, Town, Honolulu; Raphael Lunetta, JiRaffe, Santa Monica; Celestino Drago, Drago Restaurant Group, Los Angeles; Marcel Vigneron, Marcelʼs Quantum Kitchen, Modern Global Tasting, Los Angeles; Seamus Mullen, Tertulia, New York; Susan Spicer, Bayona, Mondo, New Orleans; Patrick Fahy, Cafe des Architectes, Chicago; Michelle Ueoka, Alan Wong’s, Hawai`i; Jacqueline Lau, Roy’s Restaurant’s, Hawai`i; and George Mavrothalassitis, Chef Mavro, Honolulu.

Two of Hawai`iʼs own James Beard Award-winning chefs, Roy Yamaguchi and Alan Wong serve as event co-chairs for the Festival. For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit www.hawaiifoodandwinefestival.com. For information about VIP and Table packages, please contact Chimaine Pouteau at 808-738-6254 or e-mail: chimaine@gmail.com.

Hotel Sponsors: 
Special room rates available for foodie travelers flying in to attend at Hilton Hawaiian Village, Halekulani, The MODERN Honolulu and Ko Olina Resort featuring Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa, and JW Marriott Ihilani

Hilton Hawaiian Village Resort & Spa is located on 22 acres of pure paradise along Waikikiʼs widest stretch of beach, with 90 shops, 16 restaurants, a world-class Mandara Spa and six swimming pools including Waikikiʼs largest pool – the 10,000 square-foot Super Pool. For more information please visit www.hiltonhawaiianvillage.com.

The MODERN Honolulu combines great design and true innovation with friendly, modern service and one-of-a-kind food, beverage and entertainment options including a restaurant by world-renowned chef Masaharu Morimoto, the exclusive Addiction nightclub, a unique sunrise pool with bar and lushly landscaped gardens by Deborah Nevins, an exclusive private sunset beach with bar, an intimate lobby bar and an outdoor movie theater. Guests may also join the hotelʼs Surf and Bikini Boot Camp or indulge at The Spa at Waikiki. For more information please visit www.themodernhonolulu.com.

Halekulani is an icon of luxury having welcomed the world’s affluent to Waikiki Beach for more than a century. The resort offers a legacy of gracious, personalized service and globally acclaimed cuisine. The exclusive Premier Suites at Halekulani are considered the elite collection of luxurious accommodations and the award-winning Spa Halekulani is celebrated for its healing cultural practices of Polynesia. For more information please visit www.halekulani.com.

Ko Olina Resort, featuring Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa, and JW Marriott Ihilani, is Hawai`i’s world-class luxury oasis and oceanfront resort on the Westside of O`ahu. With a string of jewel-like lagoons and white sand beaches, this paradise just 17 miles from Honolulu is home to Aulani, A Disney Resort and Spa, JW Marriot Ihilani Resort and Spa, and Ko Olina Beach Villas Resort. For more information please visit www.koolina.com.

Other major HFWF sponsors include the Hawai`i Tourism Authority, American Express, Food & Wine Magazine, Hawaiian Airlines, Southern Wine & Spirits, Ruth Edelman Integrated Marketing, aio Group, Kamehameha Schools, Star Advertiser and the State of Hawai`i, Department of Agriculture.

About the Hawai`i Food & Wine Festival
For more information, please visit www.hawaiifoodandwinefestival.com. Find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter @HIFoodWineFest.