Taste Awards: Battle Of The Chefs

I was lucky enough to score tickets to the 2^nd Annual TASTE Awards that also featured a Battle of the Chefs. I wasn’t quire sure what to expect since I hadn’t heard of these awards before, but it turned out to be an awards ceremony hosted by the Hawaii Food Manufacturers Association (HFMA).
Cocktail Hour & Battle of the Chefs:
The first 60 – 90 minutes was the time when we got to tastes dishes made by 3 great Hawaii chefs and vote for «Best Display,» «Best Presentation» & «Best Taste.» MAC 24/7’s Chef James Aptakin made a Kuala Shrimp & Kona Lobster Coconut Trio (Tom Yum Soup, Popcorn Mousse & Coconut Tea Smoked Savory Flan); MW Restaurant’s Chef Wade Ueoka made a Shinsato Pork w/​Kau Coffee rub, Hawaiian Macadamia Nut pesto & foie gras sauce; and Moana Surfrider’s Chef Benjie Cabutaje made a Mushroom-​Kona Coffee rubbed New York Steak w/​soy bean polenta, porcini mushrooms & Maui Wine red wine truffle sauce. Needless to say they were all delicious.
They also had Ulupalakua Red & Maui Blanc from Maui Wine and two cocktails made from other local beverage products. Yay cocktail hour!
Silent Auction:
There were TONS of baskets full of great local products! Locally made liquors, locally made snacks, gift certificates for restaurants, trips to the outer island, and more. It was a great assortment of local items. I know Brian M. bid on and won something, but I’m a bit of a pansy when it comes to those kinds of things lol.
Awards & Dinner:
Gregg Hammer & his wife emcee’d for the night & kept us entertained along side the musical stylings of Kaiao while we ate. The Pomaika’i Ballrooms served a 4 course meal! I was so surprised! Oysters 2 ways, a Tofu Wrap Salad, their «Hoku Plate» (mahimahi, ‘awapuhi chicken, okinawan sweet potato mash & baby bok choy) and a Lilikoi Panna Cotta for dessert!
Somewhere right around dessert, they started handing out awards in 9 categories that ranged from Start-​Up Manufacturer of the Year to Community Service Award. Congrats to all the local companies that won and to the all the finalists that were mentioned as well!
In the end, it was a good night with good food, and lots of interesting people. We even got to walk away with little take home boxes of Honolulu Cookie Company cookies! Nom!

For the Top Award I like to give it to Unilocal Hawaii for giving me the opportunity to attend this special event. My +1 and I was seated with local business owners and people who make a difference in Hawaii’s food economy, so awesome!
As for Battle of the Chefs, Chef James Aptakin took two awards for Display and Presentation with his Kualoa Shrimp and Lobster Tom Yom Soup, while Chef Wade Ueoka took the taste award with his Shinsato Pork dish. I thought the voting was fair and well deserved, delicious, I want more than one, I better not because Dinner is coming soon bites.
This event was so well organized, awarding local businesses with their contributions to the local economy supplying good food and desserts which everyone enjoys, while supporting local!
Great Great evening with Good Hawaiian Music and wonderful service from the Pomaika’i Ballroom staff made the event a memorial night.
Thanks to Unilocal Hawaii and Emi H. for a giving me a opportunity to attend this Awesome Event!

We were so thrilled to be selected to attend this event! Thank you Unilocal Hawaii and Hawaii Food Manufacturers Association for giving us this opportunity. I give a shout out for the great attention to detail and service that was provided by Dole Cannery’s Pomaika’i Ballrooms staff. This event was well-​organized and was truly a pleasure to attend.
The 2^nd Annual TASTE Awards: Battle of the Chefs featured 3 local chefs who have distinguished themselves or have been innovative in the food manufacturing industry. Tonight, Chefs Wade Ueoka (Owner/​Chef, MW Restaurant), James Aptakin (Executive Chef, Hilton Waikiki Beach) and Benjie Cabutaje (Sous Chef, Moana Surfrider, Westin Resort & Spa) showcased their signature dishes. Several other locally manufactured alcoholic and non-​alcoholic refreshments were served such as MauiWines, Koloa Rum, PacifiKool, Pau Maui Vodka and The Tea Chest’s Tropical Teas. Each chef vied for attendee votes for Best Presentation, Best Taste or Best Display. In the end, when the votes were tallied, Chef Aptakin won BOTH awards for Best Display and Best Presentation for his Kualoa shrimp & Kona lobster coconut trio. Chef Ueoka won the Best Taste award for his Shinsato Pork with Ka’u coffee & Hawaiian macadamias.
Did the battle be like Iron Chef America’s kitchen stadium? Sort of… It turned out that the battle was an interactive cocktail hour and later, we were treated to a TASTE awards dinner. It was a good thing that we looked at the program as we wove our way through the crowds sampling the goodies. Emcees from Hawaii Krater 96.3 (Gregg & Shawnee Hammer) kept the program rolling along with local humor and provided background information about each of the nominated contestants. In addition, during the awards banquet, we were serenaded by Hawaiian group, Kaiao.
We were fortunate to be seated with Award Finalists for Innovate Hawaii’s Manufacturer of the Year, HC&S and Maui Brand Sugar brand and Hawaii Popcorn Company and members of a technology human resources company (Aon?). The room was filled with contributors and supporters to the local food scene.
Everyone came out as winners… local food industry businesses were honored just to be nominated even if they didn’t get the coveted wood poi pounder (pohaku ku’i ‘ai). Ah, but, there’s always NEXT year!
Allez cuisine!
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