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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted on: Wednesday, January 2, 2002

Quick Bites
'Ulupalakua Thing 2002' features Maui-made goods

By Wanda A. Adams
Advertiser Food Editor

Mark your calendars for a Maui trip: That "Ulupalakua Thing 2002" is set for April 27 on the grounds of Ulupalakua Ranch and Tedeschi Vineyards. Officially labeled the 2002 Maui Agricultural Trade Show & Sampling, the event celebrates a decade of launching Hawai'i-grown and -made food products (many of which have come and gone, alas!).

The "Thing," so-called because nobody knew quite what to make of it for the first few years, was founded by visionary rancher Pardee Erdman, his entrepreneur son, Sumner, and Dick Tuell of Maui Jelly Factory 10 years ago, to introduce local chefs to Maui agricultural products.

It's turned into a madhouse of a sampling picnic attended by local folks, restaurateurs, foodies, chefs, manufacturers and visitors alike. Hours will be from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on April 27. Advance tickets are $8 (they'll be $10 at the gate) and the event benefits a scholarship program for agricultural and scholarship students.

Call Tedeschi Vineyards (808) 878-6058 for information, or check the Web site, mauiag.org. For booth information, call (808) 875-0457.

Ruth's Chris halts lunch service

Ruth's Chris Steak House has discontinued its weekday lunches in favor of focusing on dinner business (from 5 p.m. nightly) and renovating one of the dining areas to better accommodate special events, fund-raisers, meetings and other doings.

Owner Randy Schoch said the restaurant has many requests for such events and had no room to readily accommodate them (the private Ali'i Room can only accommodate 12). They have also hired Alex Kutscherenko to manage the group sales operation.

BIA home show features chefs

It's called the 2002 BIA Home Building and Remodeling Show, but even if you're not building or remodeling, you might want to take in the event Jan. 31-Feb. 3 at Neal Blaisdell Exhibition Hall just for the cooking demonstrations, which will take place daily and feature such chefs as Sean Kinoshita (Mid-Pacific Country Club), Troy Teruya (Catch of the Day Sushi), Bill Bruhl (Ryan's Grill) and Hideaki Miyoshi (Tokkuri-tei). Also, the Sam Choy BBQ Cook-off will take place from 3-5 p.m. Feb. 2 in the Exhibition Hall's Galleria.

Tickets will be $4 at the door; children under 12 free; $6 for 4-day pass; $1 off for seniors 55 and over Feb. 3. Information: 847-4666.

Cookbook born of Hilo TV class

A cookbook based on the Fall 2001 TV cooking class at the University of Hawai'i-Hilo is on sale now.

The no-frills "Ag194W Focus on Agriculture Cookbook" is composed of recipes by chefs and others in the food industry who served as guest lecturers and demonstrators in the course taught by Jack Fujii.

Students contributed recipes as well, and it's an ethnically diverse mixture. The class, and the book, celebrated island-grown, -harvested and -raised foods.

Cost of the book, with shipping, is $15. Make checks payable to UH Hilo and write Jack Fujii, UH-Hilo CAFNRM, 200 W. Kawili St., Hilo HI 96720-4091. Information: (808) 974-7393.

Saveur celebrates Kona coffee

Real, 100-percent Kona coffee made Saveur magazine's list of 100 comfort foods in the January-February issue. The Advertiser's own Kaui Philpotts penned the short item, which labels Kona coffee "Most Exotic Excuse to Cradle our Caffeine Addiction." The list, which begins with a Sunday roast for dinner, lists what the magazine terms as "reassuring pleasures" in recognition of the renewed need for unity and community after the events of Sept. 11.