Food & Culture

Golden Age of Bordeaux

Golden Age of Bordeaux

In 2016, the festival received a call from the wife of a late wine collector. Her husband had passed away recently and she had almost 300 bottles of wine that he had collected over 35 years. She wanted to donate them to the festival to support the non-profit’s mission to fund culinary training for aspiring chefs and edible education curriculum for elementary school students, programs in line with her late husband’s goals as an educator.

The Next Movement

The Next Movement

As the Hawaii Food & Wine Festival toasts its fifth anniversary, raise your glass to the state’s next agricultural and culinary movement.

Twenty-five years after 12 island chefs put the Aloha State on the foodie map with Hawaii Regional Cuisine (HRC), the Hawaii Food & Wine Festival (HFWF) has been declared “the next agricultural and culinary movement in the State of Hawaii.”

Mixing for Mocktails

Mixing for Mocktails

To continue educating the public on safe driving throughout the pandemic, DTRIC Insurance partnered with Hawaii Food and Wine Festival for a virtual Hawaii’s Best Mocktails event. Four cocktail artists, Teves-William Freitas (standing in for Kyle Reutner), Chandra Lucariello, Dave Newman and Gwen Whiting, joined chef Jon Matsubara of FEAST, to create a virtual mixing and cooking class for the guests, hosted by Jason Genegabus.

Sensei Ag: The Future of Farming

Sensei Ag: The Future of Farming

Founded by tech entrepreneur Larry Ellison and world-leading scientist and physician David Agus, Sensei Ag is where innovation meets food. “They wanted to use their capabilities, enormous scientific knowledge and extensive computing capabilities to transform human wellness,” explained Sensei Ag CEO Sonia Lo. The AgTech company uses data-driven farming methods to maximize the nutritional value of their produce. “We are master integrators. We are always scouting for the best and the brightest [talent in the technology industry], and we then integrate that [knowledge base] into our processes.” Sensei Ag takes advantage of available technology and innovation in the community to maximize nutrition for everyone.

COVID Conversations: Chris Kajioka

COVID Conversations: Chris Kajioka

Despite the various Covid related setbacks that has affected the state of Hawaii, Chef Chris Kajioka remains optimistic in the face of adversity. The week Kajioka was set to open his new restaurant, Miro Kaimuki, a state-wide order forced many businesses to close. Kajioka and his team quickly adapted to the state mandated take-out only regulations, and has, in many ways, been able to thrive.

Olive Oil: Explained

Olive Oil: Explained

As the healthiest fruit juice, olive oil is a high quality “flavor-enhancer,” which can be used on a variety of dishes. Brian Foster, co-owner of Island Olive Oil and certified olive oil sommelier, is an expert on oil from farm to table. Island Olive Oil gathers its oils from orchards in Chile, Italy, Spain, Greece, Turkey and other places with Mediterranean climates, where olive trees thrive. After the olive oil is pressed, it goes through two stages, sensory analysis and chemical analysis, to determine its quality.