The onions growing on the slopes of Haleakala are so coveted they have a trademark to protect them from imposters. There are only a handful of places on the earth that grow a sweet onion, and Maui is one of them.
We celebrate our world famous produce with a celebration at Whaler’s Village once a year. This year’s blow out Onion party is kicked off with a five course dinner paired with Maui Brewing Co.’s beers and Hula Grill’s Barefoot Brew. I love the drama infused into Hula Grill Chef Scott McGill’s menu, the entree course will be featuring Lucifer’s Angel Ale served with beer braised lamb osso bucco, and grilled mahi with dungeness crab. The Winner of last year’s recipe contest, David Paul is also designing this menu. Even your dessert course features a beer, this time with ice cream floating in it.
Maui Onion & Beer Dinner featuring Maui Brewing Company beers
April 30, 2010, 6:30-9:00pm, $69.95 per person
Tray Passed Pupus
Paired with Bikini Blonde: Grilled Kurabuta Pork Belly, Kobe Beef Pastrami “Ruben”, Maui Onion Rings with guava ketchup
Pupu
Paired with Mana Wheat draft: Trio of Farm-Raised Hiramasa, Cured with edamame puree, Sashimi with soy-sesame, Seared with Cilantro crème fresh
Salad
Paired with Hula Honey Golden Ale: “Bacon & Eggs,” Anuhea Farms asparagus, Macadamia nut honey bacon, golden beets, 64 degree Launiupoko egg
Entrée
Paired with Lucifer’s Angel Ale: Beer Braised Lamb “Oso Bucco” on Celeriac puree, Peppered & Grilled Mahi with Dungeness crab and avocado
Dessert
Paired with Black Pearl: Maui Brewing Co. Root Beer Float with Tahitian vanilla ice cream, Kona Coffee Crème Brûlée, Maui-made Gelato
Celebrity Chef’s and Music on Ka’anapali Beach at the Onion Festival
Come back to Whaler’s Village the next day for the party, its an all day event starting at 9:30 am. Local chefs Roy Yamaguchi (@roysroy), D.K. Kodama, and David Paul and James McDonald will be doing demonstrations, and TV celeb chef Cutty Cutler (@cookingwithcutty) will be teaching kids and parents how to make fruit smoothies. Then watch folks compete in the raw Maui onion eating contest. I don’t know whether to cry or cheer for the winner. Music on the beach starts at 1pm with the Air Force Band of the Pacific, then Benoit Jazz Works, and Versatile.
Press Release Below:
Hawaiʻiʻs Top Chefs Gather at Whalers Village Fine Shops & Restaurants for the 21st Annual Maui Onion Festival
KĀ’ANAPALI, Maui – Celebrating its 21st year, Whalers Village Fine Shops & Restaurants hosts their signature event, the Maui Onion Festival in honor of Mauiʻs most famous agricultural export, the Maui Kula Onion. Starting at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 1, this fun, family event is open to the general public featuring a full day of celebrity chefs demonstrating cooking techniques followed by food sampling for the audience, best onion recipe contest, keiki and adult raw Maui onion eating contest, food and products booths, island music and entertainment, and FREE parking. The Maui Onion Festival ends at 9 pm. Special shopping promotions start April 26 at the more than 90 shops & restaurants at Whalers Village.
Visiting emcees are reporters Tannya Joaquin and Lisa Kubota from KGMB 9.
The 2010 celebrity chefs include Roy Yamaguchi of Royʻs Restaurants, D.K. Kodama of Sansei Restaurants and Cane & Taro (Maui), James McDonald of PacificʻO and iʻO Restaurants, Russell Siu of 3660 on the Rise in Honolulu, and the 2009 Maui Onion Festival Chefs Recipe Contest winner – David Paul of David Paulʻs Island Grill in Lāhainā.
Chef Russell Siu takes Center Stage at 10 am for the first of five cooking demonstrations planned throughout the day. Siu is followed by Chef DK Kodama at 11 am, Chef David Paul at 1 pm, Chef James McDonald at 5 pm and Chef Roy Yamaguchi at 6 pm.
In addition, the Maui Onion Festival presents their much-anticipated schedule of events on two stages: Center Stage and the Beach Front Lawn. Kicking off the fun at the Beach Front Lawn is Cooking with TV celebrity Cutty Cutler at 11 am. This is the time for keiki and their parents to learn how to make fresh Hawaiian smoothies. Following Cutty is The Air Force Band of the Pacific at 1 pm, Jazz by the Beach with Benoit Jazz Works at 3 pm and Versatile performs at 5:30 pm. Center Stage at noon draws the young and adventurous for the Raw Onion Eating Contest, Keiki Division, and at 2 pm the Polynesian Hula Show. At 3 pm the Recipe Contest brings the participating chefs together for the Best Maui Onion Recipe competition at Center Stage. This year’s Recipe Contest judges include Chris Speere, coordinator, Maui Culinary Academy, Carla Tracy, dining/food editor, Maui News, Shannon Wianecki, assistant editor & dining/food writer, Maui No Ka Oi magazine, and Dave Eckert, host/producer, Culinary Travels with Dave Eckert. At 4 pm, Center Stage hosts the Raw Maui Onion Eating Contest, Adult Division. The 21st Annual Maui Onion Festival concludes with a Polynesian Hula Show, The Air Force Band of the Pacific and a Tahitian Dance Show at Center Stage.
On Friday, April 30, Hula Grill at Kā’anapali hosts the annual Maui Onion Pairing Dinner featuring a three-courses centered around the Maui Kula Onion paired with beer. Executive Chef Scott McGill prepares the menu with a featured dish by last yearʻs Maui Onion recipe contest winner, Chef David Paul. For tickets call 667- 6636.
About the Maui Kula Onion: A golden-pale globe with mild, crunchy flesh, the Maui Kula Onion embodies premium quality, belongs to the sweetest onions in the world, and is grown on about 150 acres in cool, fertile Kula. Its name is trademarked to safeguard authenticity.
About Whalers Village Fine Shops & Restaurants: Recognized as Maui’s premier oceanfront shopping destination, Whalers Village Fine Shops & Restaurants is part of the master-planned, award-winning Kā‘anapali Beach Resort and hugs the famed three-mile long strip of Kā‘anapali Beach. Set on 8.5 tropical acres, diverse, carefree, and sophisticated at once, the three-level open-air village comprises 111,857 square feet of retail space with a vibrant variety of shops and restaurants and offers a world- renowned whaling museum, cultural crafts and entertainment, and dynamic annual celebrations. Open daily from 9:30 a.m. until 10 p.m., it’s the place to shop, dine, and play. Visit www.whalersvillage.com for more information.
Comments
comments