This Sunday will be a special election day for patrons of this year’s Taste of Hawai‘i. Sunday will mark the first time in the annual event’s history that patrons get to vote for their favorite drinks and dishes. The event
This Sunday will be a special election day for patrons of this year’s Taste of Hawai‘i.
Sunday will mark the first time in the annual event’s history that patrons get to vote for their favorite drinks and dishes.
The event has been dubbed the “Ultimate Sunday Brunch” and has been voted “Best Community Event” by readers of The Garden Island.
Now patrons can vote for their “Ultimate Chef.”
Taste of Hawai‘i voters will be entered into a drawing for a free pair of tickets for next year’s event.
The voting station will be located under the pavilion. Ballots will be at the voting station and inside the program.
The day begins at 11:30 a.m. Voting will end at 2:30 p.m.
The categories to vote on include:
• People’s Choice: Overall Favorite
• Favorite New Discovery made at Taste of Hawai‘i
• Best Presentation
• Best “Aloha Spirit” Booth
• Favorite Dessert
• Favorite Seafood
• Favorite Meat or Poultry dish
• Favorite Vegetarian dish
• Favorite Asian Influence dish
• Favorite Beer
• Favorite Wine
• Favorite Nonalcoholic Beverage
More than 50 chefs, both local and from the Neighbor Islands, gather to showcase their special dishes.
O‘ahu’s Alan Wong’s Restaurant will make its eighth appearance at the Taste of Hawai‘i, showcasing an Herb-Crusted Shrimp with Spicy Curried Rice and Cucumber Raita.
Local bakers from Icing on the Cake will return for their second year with some of their special desserts.
There will also be approximately 15 beverage providers pouring water, beer and wine and making smoothies.
Local brewing companies Keoki Brewing and Waimea Brewing will be pouring their beers, while Jamba Juice will be making Strawberry Whirl All-Fruit Smoothies.
There will be a silent auction that will start when the doors open and will close at 3 p.m.
The food must not leave the area. So that means no making a plate for your cousin who couldn’t make it.
And show up early. Word on the street is that because of the popularity of the event, parking at the Smith’s Tropical Gardens will fill up quick. There will be shuttle service provided from the grass fields in between the Courtyard Marriott and the Kauai Coast Resort in Waipouli. Shuttle service will start at 10 a.m.
There will be only 1,800 tickets sold.
Voting at this year’s Taste of Hawai‘i is being sponsored by the visitor publication Kauai Magazine.
Taste of Hawai‘i is the Rotary Club of Kapa‘a’s major annual fund-raiser.
Proceeds from the event will go to the club and their service projects and scholarships.
For more information on the event or the club and its events, call 246-6983 or visit the club’s Web site at www.kapaa.rotary-site.org
• Lanaly Cabalo, lifestyle writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 237) or lcabalo@kauaipubco.com.
