Big Island Chocolate Festival 2013

The Big Island Chocolate Festival was a chocoholic fantasy dream come true at the Fairmont Orchid in Hawaii. This three day celebration of everything centering around chocolate included chocolate demonstrations, chocolate farm tours, chocolate competions and of course an ample opportunity to see and savor chocolate at its best.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Student participation from the culinary schools around Hawaii brought out the best in group collaborations and imaginative creations. The attention to detail and focused concentration of the students to make nothing but the best shows the anticipation and excitement to the culinary events.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ah, it was so hard to just pick one as a favorite dessert or savory presentation an the gala night presentation. Chocolate preparations were all on display from chocolate confectioners, bean to bar creators, chefs and chocolatiers were all putting on an amazing show.

 

 

 

 

Fortunately, a judging panel chose sweet and savory winners with the culinary team at the Fairmont Orchid receiving both sweet and savory award. They also won the people's choice award for the delicious sample below,cocoa dusted spicy ahi cone with truffle orange vinagrette and chocolate nibs.

Here's a sample of other sweet and savory dishes and chocolate inspirations from the gala evening event.

You get a delicous bite with this chocolate infused Kau pork belly from the Hilton Waikoloa, made with 72% Waialua chocolate from Oahu, pickled daikon and carrots and chile cilantro in a chocolate char siu sauce

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Executive chef Donald Wressel from Guittard chocolate was busy working on a floral chocolate fantasy masterpiece. It was amazing, but I'm wondering who got away with this forty pounder at the end of the event, wish I had a big enough bag to haul this puppy away!

The beautiful floral details to this chocolate sculpture.

 

A very odd and yet delicious mixture of sensations presented was the Big Island Hog Balls made with all local ingredients including nice big chunks of Hawaiian bacon, I think I polished off a good third of this platter alone!

The sold out event at the Fairmont Orchid was truly a chocolate connoisseur's tasting experience, and it also raised funding for equipment at a local Hawaiian culinary school and a community amphitheature at a charter school at Kaleakekua.





Its always great to support and sample locally made ingredients and finished products like Hawaiian grown chocolate and the Kona chocolate association and their supporters are making great efforts to promoting Hawaiian products and events so that more people can appreciate these products.


To see more images of the three day event, please visit my flickr page.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/12701042@N04/sets/72157633085707831/

 

The Hilo County Fair–Excitement of Twilight to Evening

 

 

 

There’s nothing like enjoying a few hours at our local county fair in Hilo to enjoy a few hours of pure pleasure. Its always fun to sample some food greasy fried food, play some of arcade games, view the cheesy displays and shows and of course go on the thrill rides. I love the fair in Hilo because our photo group puts on an amazing effort to showcase our members works, and it is a pretty talented group of artists with varied photo interests.

 

 

 

 

The best part of the fair for me is walking around the fair and taking photos of things that grab my attention like the rides, the people and quirky things that happen spontaneously. I especially love the timeframe from twilight to evening when the lights come up and everything becomes more alive and graphic, there’s a real sense of excitement in the air.

 

 

The magic twilight hour approaches, showing dramatic skies to this festive scene.

Even the food stands like this french fry booth becomes a visual delight with its colorful and graphic elements drawing you in, not to mention the smell of fried food.

 

 

At night all the colorful and flashing lights heighten the details and attracts your eye to see everything that pops up and draws your immediate attention.

 

 

 

 

The gaming arcade is brightly lit and filled with color and bold patterns with tacky stuffed animals, beckoning everyone to come and play for a few minutes or more.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I love the sweet smiles and squeals of laughter coming from the merry –go-round.  There’s always a photo opportunity with animated animals , kids and bright lights blurring details that give a sense of motion.

 

 

A little girl with a Hello Kitty fetish has acquired a whole collection of new dolls while dispensing all her save coins at this venue, I think she wants to win as many kitties as possible before she empties out her purse completely .

 

 

 

The games attendant sweetly smiles early in the evening before the crush of kids wipes out her energy and enthusiasm.

 

 

What is it about coming up to the the ferris wheel, I’m always attracted to come up closely and take a photo,  I guess this would be your standard photo that everyone associates with being at any fair.

 

 

It was a fun day at the fair in Hilo and I enjoyed myself and I think I got some decent pictures out of it also.

New Mexican Cuisine

Its always a treat to try something new to eat and our International Cooking group just love trying different cuisines to cook and then gather and eat, eat and then eat some more.




Doesn't this baked shrimp with fresh shucked corn look delicious - and it was!

Tonight's theme is New Mexican Cuisine which is very distinctive in combinations and spices.

Some members bring their dishes fully prepared and other's come and cook right at
the event so the food will be fresh  and oh so hot from the stove







An interesting appetizer with hot green chilies, cheddar cheese and lots of butter with the foccacia

I got to sample this yummy margarita in a bottle, pretty and quite good.

Nothing beats baked pork and spice mole sauce.

Or how about trying this savory cheesecake with different colored peppers?

Just waiting to start the eating frenzy, in a moment of calm.

The dessert was also unusual with this bread pudding made with raisins, 12 grain bread, maple syrup, white cheddar cheese and lots of butter and the a dollop of yogurt on top.

Hawaiian Lifestyles, Just a Slice of it.

Lifestyle Portfolio - Images by Noel Morata

A few favorite photos I’ve uploaded to my website, showing how we enjoy the outdoors, activities and the simple life here in Hawaii.

Vivid colors seem to predominate in all the photos. From the clothing, the colorful environments and tropical florals, to the various shades of blue in our ocean. Nothing seems to be out of place here.

The Farmers Market at Maku'u in East Hawaii

It’s farmers market day at our local market at Maku'u in East Hawaii….


   Aaaah, I smell something good cooking at the food stalls just around the corner.


                        What do you think, anyone for some fresh huli huli chicken?




No, that’s not the good stuff

                    - here’s the real deal below!

In Hawaii, we say ‘ Its Da Best ' !