October 15, 2011
Outrigger Keauhou Beach Resort Kona
-On the Big Island, Hawaii
78-6740 Alii Drive, Kailua-Kona, HI
(866) 326-6803
"There's more to life than chocolate, but not right now." - Anonymous
After a year hiatus, the Kona Chocolate Festival came roaring back with almost 500 in attendance at the October 15th event at the Keauhou Beach Resort. Through the outstanding participation of more than 18 chefs, chocolatiers and catering companies, who each presented 800 pieces of their delicious creations to festival-goers – event attendees consumed over 14,000 tasty tidbits of chocolate confections!
The Kona Chocolate Festival encourages the participants to place their entries into the Chef and People’s Choice Competition. A sequestered panel of judges sampled each entry and awarded points in the categories of appearance, flavor, degree of difficulty and creativity. The attendees also had a chance to weigh in by casting their vote for their favorite dessert or appetizer of the evening.
CHOCOLATE TASTE-OFF COMPETITION 2011:
The winners for the 2011 Kona Chocolate Festival Chocolate Taste-Off competion are:
People's Choice Award
Kealakehe High School – Rocky Road Cake Pops
Kealakehe High School student chef displays the People's Choice Award winning Rocky Road Cake Pops.
Amateur
1st Place: Konawaena High School
2nd Place: Kealakehe High School
Professional Sweet:
1st Place: Tommy Bahama
2nd Place: Captain Cook Baking Company/A la Scoop
3rd Place: Mahina Mele Farms
The finishing touches are placed upon the winning truffle entry from First Place Professional Sweet winner, Tommy Bahama.
Professional Savory:
Kimberly Hall-Food Fusion
1st Place Raw Chocolate:
Sky Kubby-Medicinal Foods Hawaii
Professional Special Mention:
Thirteen Palms
The mission of the Chocolate Festival is to entertain both visitors to and residents of the Big Island; showcase the creative talents of fine Big Island chefs, chocolatiers, ice cream and candy makers; and highlight cacao farming and support the chocolate industry in Hawai'i.
Teacher, Karen Scheff, celebrates the People's Choice win with her students.
Captain Cook Baking Company
Basik Acai
Cocao Outlet Corporation
Rainbow Cupcakes and Boutique
The Twisted Danish
The Strawberry Patch
Food Fusion Catering
Tommy Bahama Restaurant and Bar
Thirteen Palms
Kealakehe High School
Konawaena High School
Snack Shack Bakery Café
Hawaii Island Gourmet Products
Mahina Mele Farm
Palani French Bakers
Mama’s Kona Coffee
Terra Illuminara (Kitchen of Creation)
Medicinal Food Hawaii
Arlene Wakefield
See the slideshow.
Photographs throughout site courtesy of Tovi Daly, Bill Geinesen, KonaViews and Nita and Phaedra Pilago