9th Annual
Kona Chocolate Festival & Symposium

Mahalo to all the Chefs and crew participating in the 2008 festival. The overall quality of the entries was extremely high - the entrants went all out! A special thanks to Barbara Gerrits for an outstanding job as Judge Facilitator this year.

1st place Savory

O's Bistro-tamales with mole Chef Amy Oda, long time owner and chef at O's Bistro. Also received a special accommodation for her raw chocolate macaroon, which the judges said was in a category all it's own.

1st Place Sweet

Melanie Boudar-Sweet Paradise Chocolatier Ltd.-World Flavors Bon-Bons Melanie is a former diamond buyer who fell in love with chocolates on her monthly trips to Antwerp, Belgium. She is a graduate of Ecole Chocolate of Vacouver Canada and The Culinary Institute of America (CIA).

2nd Place Sweet

Mauna Lani Resort-Flourless Chocolate Cake w/caramel Chef Jeff Walters and Joy Muranaka

3rd Place Sweet tie

Outrigger Keauhou Beach Resort-Double Chocolate Fudge Brownie with Jack Daniels, Executive Chef William Kaluakini Trask, Pastry Chef and Head Baker Becky Ford

Nottage Cottage-Sally Nottage Nottage Cottage Toffies Sally Nottage has been a participant and supporter of the Kona Chocolate Festival for many years, sending chocolate in her absence when necessary!

1st Place Peoples Choice and 1st Place Amateur

Freedom, Colee and Armando-Raw Cacoa Treats Colee and Armando run the East Side Yoga Shala in Pahoa, Freedom lives in Kona and loves to cook for parties, etc.

2nd Place in the People's Choice Category

Ziggy Naggo of the Four Seasons for his Hawaiian Chocolate Trilogy. Ziggy was the Judges Choice 2nd place winner in the sweet category at the 2006 Chocolate Festival.