Maui students win college culinary competition

The Maui News

During the 10th Big Island Chocolate Festival, which drew a crowd of 400 attendees to the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa over the weekend, two University of Hawaii-Maui College students placed first in the culinary competition.

The chocolate creations by UH Maui College's Kau'ilani Kekamahilina'i Okealoha Garso-Steward and teammate Briana Jade Valentin were critiqued on taste, texture, appearance and creativity by a team of professional chef judges during two days of competitions.

Among the six, two-person teams from Oahu and Maui, Derin Pascual and Alec Parker of Leeward Community College earned second and Ciera Lynn Shugart and Angeline Stone of Kapiolani Community College took third.

"This year's event was especially rewarding as we could return to our pre-COVID format with multiple culinary booths and more participants using and enjoying chocolate," said Farsheed Bonakdar, president of the Kona Cacao Association, which puts on the BICF.

Earning two awards was event newcomer Kona Village Resort with Chef Helen Hong, winning "Best Bonbon," and Chef Victor Palma and Chef Daniel Sampson of Fairmont Orchid, Hawaii, were both awarded "Best Savory."

Four Seasons Resort Hualalai earned two awards with Chef Alyssa Tokumura taking "Best Plated Dessert" and Chef Kalani Garcia earning "Best Decorated Booth."

Earning People's Choice Awards included Sampson, who took "Best Savory," while Hong earned "Best Sweet." Waialua Chocolate Factory was tapped "Best Bean to Bar" and new competitor Mapele Fields of Oahu was named "Best Cacao Bean" from a field of 11 entries.

In addition to the gala, the festival offered chocolate-industry educational activities ranging from fermenting cacao beans to tempering chocolate and tasting the flavor profiles of chocolate couvertures.

Visit www.bigislandchocolatefestival.com for updates on next year's event.