Maui’s triumphant reign over the best damn onion in the world is celebrated at the 23rd Annual Maui Onion Festival in Kaanapali this Saturday, May 5. Of course, we began celebrating our revered sweet white globe way before agri-tourism turned into big business. Now the festival, in its 23rd year, boasts an elite chef competition for best onion recipe, a Kaanapali chef cook-off, a keiki and adult onion eating contest and food booths. You can bet the most ono onion rings will be there, too. There’s also live music by the Air Force Band of the Pacific, Benoit JazzWorks and the Barefoot Minded. Festivities begin with an early-morning Polynesian Hula Dance at 10am. Kaanapali bartenders will also compete at the Cinco de Mayo Mix Drink Contest at 2:30pm. Free. 10am. Whalers Village (Ka‘anapali)
Friday May 4, Hula Grill Kāʻanapali hosts the annual Maui Onion Pairing Dinner with a splendid three-course meal. Of course, Maui Kula Onions are key. Dishes are paired with handcrafted beer of Maui Brewing Co. Tickets available at Hula Grill.
Chef demonstration schedule:
10 a.m. Russell Siu, 3660 on the Rise
Demo: Braised Kurobuta pork belly, caramelized Maui Onions, natural jus
Recipe Contest: Maui onion horseradish crusted Kurobuta pork belly, carmelized
10:45 a.m. James McDonald, Pacific’O and iʻO Restaurants
Demo: Smoked pork and Maui onion jam panini
Recipe Contest: Maui onion tart tatin with Irish whiskey onion anglaise
11:30 a.m. Kevin Hanney, 12th Ave Grill, Salt
Demo: Pan roasted Maui Cattle Co. mock tenderloin with caramelized onion soubise and smoked onion jam
Recipe Contest: Savory Maui onion French toast with a warm Waimanalo Crimini mushroom and frisee salad, local fried egg and a Maui onion – housemade pancetta syrup
12:15 p.m. Dave (DK) Kodama, Cane & Taro, Sansei
Demo Dish: Pan roasted Opakapaka
House made fresh linguine, Hamakua mushrooms, Kahuku corn, red radish, pickled red chili, with a Maui onion demi
Recipe Contest: Forthcoming
1 p.m. David Paul Johnson, David Paul’s Island Grill
Demo: Sweet Maui onion fritters with caramelized Maui onion aioli
Recipe Contest: Grilled island beef and Maui onion sliders
1:45 p.m. Jojo Vasquez, Banyan Tree Restaurant
Demo: Oyakodon, Maui onion, pea shoots
Recipe Contest: Forthcoming
The well-established, educationally mesmerizing Maui Onion Recipe Contest asks celebrity chefs from around Maui and O‘ahu to demonstrate their creative culinary skills step by step. Judges subsequently rate each dish. But with the winners of the past three years returning to reclaim their spot, the bar has been raised. Welcome back to Dave (DK) Kodama, who in 2011 came up with a Maui Onion, Kekaha shrimp and lobster cake, James McDonald, celebrated for his upcountry ravioli in 2010, and David Paul Johnson, our winner for 2009. (Winner announcement at 4:30 p.m. Center Stage.)
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