QUICK BITES
Mauna Kea hotel to fire up its grill
By Wanda A. Adams
Advertiser Food Editor
The Mauna Kea Beach Hotel is presenting a Great American BBQ Buffet Friday on the hotel's North Pointe Lawn beginning at 7 p.m., with fireworks at 8:45 p.m. Tickets are $80 for adults, $40 for children. Reservations: (808) 882-5810.
Formaggio, the wine bar at Fujioka's Wine Merchants, is bringing in Merry Edwards of Merry Edwards Wines, known for its Russian River Valley pinot noirs. A Southern Californian and food scientist by trade, Edwards has been in winemaking for 28 years. She made her first, award-winning wines for Matanzas Creek Winery and was a pioneer in the cloning of pinot noir grapes. She founded her first winery, Merry Vintners, in 1990, and Meredith Vineyard Estate in 1997. The event will be a tasting of her current releases, including a sauvignon blanc and five single-vineyard pinot noirs, 6 to 8 p.m. July 8. Fee: $25. Reservations recommended: 739-9463.
The Ala Moana Hotel has set the date for its 33rd annual Oktoberfest: Oct. 7 to 12 with music, sing-alongs, polka dancing, beer and Bavarian dishes.
The Bishop Museum's next exhibit opening has a food theme, and it's a favorite food of many: Chocolate, a traveling exhibit, explores the history and production of this amazing food. It opens Oct. 11 and will be on display through Jan 4 in Castle Hall at the museum.
A publicity bit with real bite
Chef-instructor and cookbook author Kusuma Cooray was gratified to hear that the Washington Post excerpted one of the recipes from her book, "Burst of Flavor: The Fine Art of Cooking with Spices," for a "Meals Under 25 Minutes" column last month. "One little mention like that is worth so much," she said.
Recipes offer more than mere meals
News that a Maui woman has won the National Chicken Cooking Contest may have gotten your competitive juices flowing. Here are a couple of competitions that seem like naturals for Hawai'i entrants.
- Though oysters aren't among our abundant local products, Hawai'i cooks tend to be good with all forms of seafood. The National Oyster Cook-Off sponsored by the Maryland Department of Agriculture Seafood Marketing Program (www.mda.state.md.us) offers a first prize of $1,000. Twelve finalists will be selected to compete at the cook-off Oct. 18 in Leonardtown, Md. (You get hotel accommodations and invitations to Cook-Off events, but you have to get there on your own.) Cash prizes of $300, $150 and $100 will be awarded to the top three finalists in each of four categories: hors d'oeuvres, soups and stews, main dish and outdoor cookery or salads. The grand prize winner, selected from among the first-place winners, then receives an additional $700. To receive a flier with official rules and cookbook ordering information, e-mail goinsam@mda.state.md.us.
- Hawai'i folk are among those eligible to enter the Cook Like a Californian Chicken Recipe Contest sponsored by the California Poultry Federation, with entries being accepted through Aug. 15. Two $2,500 grand prizes will be awarded, with a second place in each category of $500 and a third place of $250. Bonus cash prizes will be awarded to winning recipes that additionally include California avocados, peaches, plums or nectarines, table grapes, tomatoes and pears or canned cling peaches. Categories include Chicken Traditions with Flair (more traditional dishes) and Chicken with an Ethnic Twist (dishes influenced by various ethnic cuisines). Complete rules: www.cpif.org, or send a request to monica@cpif.org or send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to Chicken Recipe Contest, 3117-A McHenry Ave., Modesto, CA 95350.
Quick Bites is published on Wednesdays. Send tidbits of food news to food editor Wanda A. Adams, The Advertiser, P.O. Box 3110, Honolulu, HI 96802; 525-8069 or to wadams@honoluluadvertiser.com.
