The newly formed Kona Cacao Association invites the public to enjoy “a magical day of everything chocolate” at its inaugural Big Island Chocolate Festival on Friday, June 8, at the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai.
The newly formed Kona Cacao Association invites the public to enjoy “a magical day of everything chocolate” at its inaugural Big Island Chocolate Festival on Friday, June 8, at the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai.
The festival theme is: “Experience chocolate in a place where it is grown, produced, celebrated and enjoyed — the Big Island of Hawaii!”
Executive chef James Babian and pastry chef Linda Rodriguez of Four Seasons will head a select crew of hand-picked pastry chefs, confectioners and chocolatiers to offer an evening of chocolate decadence and savory bites at an evening gala from 6 to 10 p.m.
Enjoy a silent auction, gourmet savory and sweet appetizers, craft beer, wine, music by Cyril Pahinui and Salsa Latinos, plus dancing. Gala tickets are $75, available online at www.bigislandchocolatefestival.com. Tickets also can be purchased at the Kona Wine Market, Kailua Candy Co. and the Kona Pacific Public Charter School.
The festival also will offer other chocolate-related events, including Bean to Bar tours. For details, visit the Original Hawaiian Chocolate Factory website at www.ohcf.us.
And for those wanting to enjoy even more gourmet chocolate, tickets are being sold for a chocolate-themed dinner prior to the gala. Chef Jim Babian will create the meal at Pahu i‘a. More information about reservations for this specialty dinner can be found on the event website.
The Big Island Chocolate Festival and the educational outreach it provides are supported by grants from the county Department of Research and Development and the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Other supporters include Dolphin Journeys, Guittard and Qzina.
The Kona Cacao Association was established to promote the Big Isle cacao industry by presenting the festival as an educational and outreach opportunity for local cacao farmers, the hospitality industry and cacao enthusiasts. For more information about the event, please email Info@BigIslandChocolateFestival.com.
“Hawaii is the only state in the U.S. where cacao grows, and the industry is growing rapidly as the demand grows. Cacao farming can become one of Hawaii’s biggest crops, according to a recent report prepared for the Legislature by the state Department of Agriculture,” said Farsheed Bonakdar, president of the cacao group. “These days, one can find Hawaiian chocolate in most stores and farmers markets in all forms and shapes. There is also a rapidly growing interest from the mainland artisan chocolatiers in Hawaiian beans.”
The Big Island Chocolate Festival also will feature a chocolate taste-off competition, with awards in sweet and savory categories. Entries will be judged by professional chefs, as well as by attendees. Coordinators are preparing an educational Chocolate Symposium for chefs, chocolate buffs, cacao farmers and other chocolate connoisseurs. There will be daytime educational and informative seminars about cacao cultivation and processing, along with a celebrity chef offering demonstrations on creating a signature chocolate entrée, dessert and cocktail creation. For details, visit the festival website.
Proceeds from the festival will support the Palamanui Community College Culinary Program by helping to purchase equipment for the program. Funds will also go to the Kona Pacific PCS — creator of the Kona Chocolate Festival — to help build a community amphitheater on the school campus.
For more information, visit www.bigislandchocolatefestival.com, call, 937-4736, or email farsheed@bigislandchocolatefestival.com or farsheed@cocoa
outlet.com.