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
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.
The Spice of Life: A Tribute to Floyd Cardoz
Known for mixing extreme flavors, chef Floyd Cardoz was an amazing chef and supporter of the Hawaii Food and Wine Festival since nearly the beginning. He was a fixture each fall, treating attendees to his modern interpretation of Indian cuisine — but of course, using local ingredients from the islands. It was always a match made in heaven.
COVID Conversations: Ha Coffee Bar
For this COVID Conversation, Hashi sat down with owner of Ha Coffee Bar to discuss the mission of the nonprofit coffeehouse and its experience during the pandemic. Since the interview, Ha Coffee was forced to close its physical location, but the mission lives on.
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
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.
A Day in Kailua
Filled with bike paths, ocean adventures and delicious food, Kailua is a perfect spot to explore, whether you are a Hawaii local or a visitor looking for an adventure. While these activities can be done socially-distant, our recommendations are mostly for post-COVID-19 experiences. Here’s how Hashi would spend A Day in Kailua.
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.
Foie the Win!
Before caviar. Before truffles. Before lobster. There was foie gras — a lustrous delicacy most commonly associated with French cuisine. Dating back to an incredible history in Ancient Egypt, foie gras was first appreciated and practiced by the pharaohs. Fast forward through a complicated history through Europe and Jewish cuisine to 1983, to when The New York Times announced the foie gras debut in the United States, where before only cooked foie gras was sold in cans due to import laws.
The Food that Binds Us
Papua New Guinea has over 800 unique languages, making it the most linguistically diverse place on the planet. Most of those languages have never been written down, leaving entire island-bound people groups isolated from the modern world. Isolated from language, isolated from religion, isolated from progress. To celebrate the completion of their language 27 years later, the islanders planned a feast unlike the island had ever seen.