WAILUA — Crowds flocked to the grounds of the Smith’s Tropical Paradise early in the morning yesterday to be the first ones in line for this year’s Taste of Hawai‘i. April Deguchi was standing right in front of the yellow
WAILUA — Crowds flocked to the grounds of the Smith’s Tropical Paradise early in the morning yesterday to be the first ones in line for this year’s Taste of Hawai‘i.
April Deguchi was standing right in front of the yellow tape blocking the entrance.
“I got here at 9:30,” Deguchi said.
This was her second time going to the Taste of Hawai‘i.
“I skip over anything that isn’t seafood or a dessert,” she said. “I’m interested in trying Aroma’s. I heard they’re doing fish tacos.”
First-timer Debra Brede stood to the left of Deguchi.
“I just heard that every year it gets better,” she said. “I want to visit Cafe Aina. I heard she does great local food and on top of that, she’s a local chef. I like to support local chefs.”
While everyone was waiting, they were handed biodegradable trays, cups and utensils to use throughout the day. An overcast morning threatened to damper the day, but the clouds rolled by and the sun came out just in time to start the event and let everybody in. Within half an hour, nearly everyone had their trays stacked with plates of food. Many were ducking for shade.
Dean Weiner and his wife from Los Angeles, who made a special trip to Kaua‘i just to attend Taste of Hawai‘i, were soaking it all up.
“We actually plan our trips around this event,” Weiner said.
This is his third time, and he went to every booth taking pictures of the chefs’ presentations.
“My wife knew I would like this because I’m an amateur chef,” he said. “I’m checking out all the presentations. It’s really hard to serve all these people and have these great presentations. They’re all just great.”
There were more than 50 booths with chefs from Kaua‘i and the Neighbor Islands, 15 drink booths and stages of entertainment scattered throughout the gardens.
Kaua‘i Community College culinary students spread out, helping chefs at various booths throughout the afternoon.
Chef Matt De La Cruz from Roy’s Poipu Bar & Grill brought his crew in to showcase their scallop and shrimp gyoza with tempura shimeji mushrooms dish.
“We’re just trying to survive the duration of the day,” he said while prepping the food.
John Borales Jr. of Wahoo’s Seafood Grill & Bar came out with a crew of about eight to serve up one of the restaurant’s most popular dishes, the volcano-spiced walu with pesto garlic.
“We’re just going to enjoy ourselves,” he said.
Chef Shannon Jones of the new business Hurricane Cheesecakes saw the Taste of Hawai‘i as an opportunity to do a little prospecting. He relocated to Kaua‘i from New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina and started his dessert business here.
“I’m hoping to sell to other vendors here,” he said. “I’m hoping to meet other chefs and food and beverage managers so I can start selling my cakes in their restaurants.”
Dubbed the “Ultimate Sunday Brunch,” the annual Taste of Hawai‘i is the Rotary Club of Kapa‘a’s biggest fundraiser. Proceeds raised from the event fund service projects and scholarships. Beneficiary organizations, like the Mokihana Aquatic Club and Kapa‘a’s Interact Club, helped out with tasks throughout the day.
This year’s festival also marked the first time patrons voted for their favorite dishes. Categories ranged from Favorite New Discovery and Best “Aloha” Spirit booth.
Noah Gordines said he was keeping tabs on his favorite booths in his head. This was his fifth visit to Taste of Hawai‘i but his first as a patron.
“I’m going to vote,“ he said. “I used to work the event. This is the first time I just get to come eat.”
Amy Winters hung out at the Grand Hyatt Regency corner, indulging in the chocolate bomb with lilikoi.
“This is the best,” she said before another bite.
Though Winters kept her ballot tucked away in her program, she already knew where her vote was going.
“eb’s Eats had the best sandwich,” she said. “And that asparagus was perfect.”
Final ticket sale numbers and voting results were not calculated by the end of the day.
First-timer Catherine Gillen left Taste of Hawai‘i satisfied.
“I was unsure of how the event would go,” Gillen said. “I knew it was a big event. I saw the parking lot and knew there were a lot of people here. I saw a lot of people I knew.”
She tried all the pastas and her husband John, of the Hanalei Rotary Club, tried all the desserts.
As the crowds died down, Gillen and her husband made their way to their car.
“I filled out my ballot and turned it in. I’m very pleased with the event,” she said.
• Lanaly Cabalo, lifestyle writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 237) or lcabalo@kauaipubco.com.
