NEWS:

Taste of Hawaii

Martini at Oasis on the Beach. Daniel Lane photo.

The Rotary Club of Kapaa has just released the People’s Choice Winners for their Taste of Hawaii event held on June 2. Here’s what they have to say:

BEST SEAFOOD: Chef Leanne Kamekona of the Sheraton Kauai Resort  RumFire/Lavas on Poipu Beach won for her crab-crusted Hawaiian opah, sautéed tot soi, Chardonnay cream sauce and lomi lomi tomatoes.  A pure native Hawaiian, award-winning Executive Chef Kamekona has a passion for Hawaiian sustainability — utilizing traditional staples to create her twist within her Hawaiian-rooted cuisine.

BEST MEAT & POULTRY: For the second year in a row, the winner is Chef Randall Yates of Casa di Amici in Poipu for his Nero Risotto made with Casa di Amici Sausage and sautéed with Grana Padano Parmesan Cheese. At Casa di Amici since 1990, Chef Yates specializes in Mediterranean and many cross-cultural cuisines. He uses his classical training in conjunction with many locally produced products.

Listening to music at the Taste of Hawaii. Daniel Lane photo.

BEST VEGETARIAN: Also for the second year in a row, the winner is Chef Jintana Roberts of Sukhothai Café for her Papaya Salad.  Owner of Sukhothai Café in Kapaa for the past 16 years, Chef Roberts is a native of Bangkok, Thailand. As a young chef, Chef Roberts travelled throughout the Orient preparing and sampling some of the region’s unique delicacies.

BEST DESSERTS & SWEETS: Chef de Cuisine Casey Halpern of Café Pesto—Hilo for his Ohana Banana Farms Candy Apple Bananas with Lappert’s Vanilla Ice Cream and Dream Beans Big Island Vanilla. Born on Oahu and raised on the Big Island, Chef Halpern’s 16-year culinary career began and continues at Café Pesto Hilo Bay.

Stephanie Krieger of Nani Moon Mead at Taste of Hawaii. Daniel Lane photo.

BEST WINE — Nani Moon Mead serving Winter Sun Sangria. Stephanie Krieger, owner of Nani Moon Meadery, handcrafts chemical – and sulfate-free mead exclusively from Hawaiian honey, fruit, and spices.

NON-ALCOHOLIC — Java Kai, serving Go Green Smoothies.  East Kauai’s oldest coffee-house and café located in Old Kapa‘a Town offers a full-service espresso bar, fresh roasted drip coffee, fresh-baked goods, sandwiches and salads, plus a full selection of hot and cold drinks.

BEST NEW DISCOVERY: The Feral Pig for its Feral Burger Sliders.  Owners Scott Kessinger and Dave Power use locally sourced ingredients whenever possible. The Nawiliwili based pub and diner features Kauai grown vegetables, 100-percent Kauai ground beef and locally caught fish.

Party Sushi Chef Ed “Scooby” Coloma. Daniel Lane photo.

BEST ALOHA SPIRIT: Party Sushi serving Seafood Balls — Crab, Salmon and Cream Cheese Tempura.  A Taste of Hawaii “regular,” Sushi Chef Ed “Scooby” Coloma operates a catering business for all occasions.

BEST PRESENTATION: Aston Aloha Beach / The Palms Restaurant serving Poisson Cru — Polynesian Raw Fish Salad. Born and raised in Micronesia, Chef Greg Stoll has worked as an executive pastry chef at numerous hotels throughout the Hawaiian islands as well as two cruise-ship lines. He has been lead chef at the Aston since 2007.

Kauai County Farm Bureau Annual Meeting and Dinner

This Saturday farmers and community leaders who support agriculture will dine together at Kauai Fresh Farms in Kilauea. The event features the annual Scholarship presentation, Board elections, and legislative updates as well as an introduction of the Kauai County Farm Bureau’s 2012 member survey and Strategic Planning process.

This year’s Kauai Grown meal will be a multi-course, plated-dinner format provided by Collin Darrell of Grow Culture, and Chef Justin Smith of Kauai Ono. Local farmers and food artisans include Midnight Bear Breads, Olana Organic Farm, Kauai Fresh Farms, Strong Organics, Moloa`a Organica`a, locally caught ahi, and A`akukui Ranch grass-fed beef.

If you’d like to become a member of the farm bureau, contact Joan at joan@hfbf.org.

Plantation Gardens

Plantation Gardens will be closed this Sunday, June 24 for a private event.

Monkeypod Jam

Summer officially arrived and with it, Monkeypod Jam‘s summer flavors. Be on the lookout for Lilikoi Curd, Pineapple Banana and Pineapple Ginger Jam at this weekend’s markets. There might even be a very small batch of acid-free, white pineapple jam, grown by farmer, Jude Huber of Hole in the Mountain Farm in Moloa`a.

Hula Baby Biscotti

Hula Baby has added another flavor to their line. Look for Kauai Coffee Crunch with whole coffee beans inside. Dunk that in your morning coffee and you’re sure to have an energetic start to your day! That makes a total of eight flavors infused with Kauai’s best produce. The others include Chococomacs, Cococanana, Pineapple Lime Lavender, Island Lemon Macadamia, Island Butter Mint, Nuts For Rosemary, and White Ginger.

EVENTS:

Friday, June 22

Motion Music Festival Kauai

10 p.m., Richie’s Bar and Grill

Featuring DJs G-Spot, Kana, and Truesdale, two OOSpot Gogo dancers and an exclusive OOSpot laser. Expect a visual experience like you’ve never seen on Kauai.

This is also the launch for the new production company, Snapdragon Entertainment. Featuring everything exclusive that can only be offered when OOSpot and Snapdragon team up; including the best Dance Music DJ’s on Kauai, special lighting from OOSpot, giveaways, and discounted Lovefest tickets.

Doors open at 10 p.m. The first 100 through the door get discounted tickets to Lovefest! Consider this your “Lovefest Warmup”. If you’re not satisfied with waiting until July for Lovefest, come to Motion Music Festival and get a little teaser.

Pre sale tickets are available at Deli & Bread Connection, Poipu Surf, Tamba, Hanalei Surf Co. Visit Motion Music Festival‘s website for more information.

June 27 – 30

Red Clay Jazz Festival

National and local jazz and blues artists play at the 5th Annual Red Clay Jazz Festival, in an ocean-view outdoor setting at Kauai Lagoons, featuring Miss E.C. Scott and the Venissa Santi Sextet. The four-day event offers local evening jam sessions on Wednesday and Thursday, an invitational “Meet the Artists” party at Common Ground in Kilauea on Friday and the main concert late afternoon and evening on Saturday. Taste locally grown foods and wine. Enjoy a full line up of top blues and jazz artists. Santi or Scott’s latest CD is offered when two tickets are purchased by June 23.

Saturday, June 30

Intro to Beekeeping

Kauai Community College, $49

Daniel Lane photo

This course is an introduction to beekeeping for people interested in developing an apiary and maintaining hives for honey and hive-related products, and/or for increased agricultural production via enhanced pollination of flowering trees and vegetables.

The course will provide participants with the basic understanding of bee biology, colony management and the use of hive boxes, tools and equipment for apiary development and management.

Saturday, June 30, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Saturday, July 7, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Saturday, August 4, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Saturday, August 11, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

To register call the Office of Continuing Education (OCET) 808-245-8318

Tuesday, July 3

Stars & Stripes Freedom Celebration

Pacific Missile Range Facility Barking Sands, Free, 5 to 11 p.m.

All friends and supporters of PMRF are invited. The event will be held on the grounds of Shenanigans restaurant. Popular Kauai band Greenstone Project will open the show, followed by Revival and Na Hoku Hanohano award winner Anuhea.

There will be a heart-pounding fireworks display, and The Quake Kauai will fuel the “after party”. Food, games and craft booths will be available throughout the event.

PMRF’s Commanding Officer, Captain Nicholas Mongillo will be on hand to welcome everyone and speak to the importance of Independence Day.

For more information call 808-335-4346.

Wednesday, July 4

Kekaha Fourth of July Celebration

H.P. Faye Park, Free, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

E Ola mau Na Leo O Kekaha (Forever-Live on the Voices of Kekaha) community members celebrate the 4th of July with a day of ohana games and activities, cultural demonstrations, talent show, food booths, game booths crafts and rides plus a spectacular fireworks show. A Pule and Anthems will start the day. From 7 to 9 a.m. is the Fun Run and Zumba fest. Event begins at 10 a.m. at H.P. Faye Park, across the Kekaha Neighborhood Center.

23rd Annual Concert in the Sky

Vidinha Stadium Soccer Field, 4 to 9:30 p.m.
$10, Adults; $5 children 6-12, free for kids 5 and under

This is the annual fundraiser for Kauai Hospice. Entertainment includes Na Leo, Greenstone Project, The Wheels, Ivo Monroe Miller, Rakudo Taiko and Ori Uvita Tahitian Dance Troupe. Expect ono grinds, fun zone with inflatables, face painting, massages, silent auction, fireworks, and a chance to win a trip for two to Las Vegas. At door tickets cost $15 adults, and $7 children 6-12.

Sunday, July 8

JoAnn Yukimura Fundraiser

Smith’s Tropical Paradise, 4 to 7 p.m., $15 (suggested donation)

JoAnn Yukimura’s family has been on Kauai for four generations. She has been deeply involved in Kauai’s politics since 1974, and is running for reelection to the County Council. If reelected, some of Yukimura’s goals are to get off oil, achieve zero waste, provide permanently affordable housing, protect ag land and water, and improve county parks. The fundraiser promises good food, fun, music and dancing. For more information, visit JoAnn Yukimura’s website.