KUKUIULA — Roy Yamaguchi of Eating House 1849 said what we do in Poipu is not for Poipu, but for the world. Yamaguchi, speaking Sunday at “Let’s Do Brunch,” said he agrees with Mayor Bernard Carvalho, Jr. on getting together
KUKUIULA — Roy Yamaguchi of Eating House 1849 said what we do in Poipu is not for Poipu, but for the world.
Yamaguchi, speaking Sunday at “Let’s Do Brunch,” said he agrees with Mayor Bernard Carvalho, Jr. on getting together as a team to collaborate and partner in bringing the Poipu Food and Wine Festival to life.
The festival celebrated the island’s diverse culinary resources and talents, and Yamaguchi hinted that it should become a part of the Hawaii Food Festival which celebrated its sixth year on the islands of Oahu, Maui and the Big Island, attracting an audience of more than 6,000 people.
“We need to get to the Outer Islands,” Yamaguchi said. “People come, learn the different cultures, and become ambassadors through the culinary experiences.”
The Sunday brunch, which pulled in about a hundred people, wrapped up the first Poipu Food and Wine Festival which was a collaboration with the Kukuiula Development Co., The Shops at Kukuiula, the Poipu Beach Resort Association, the Kauai Community College culinary arts program, and the county.
“This is about the kids,” Yamaguchi said. “On Oahu, the great thing about the food festival is the opportunity for students to rub shoulders with some of the great chefs that come for the festival.”
The festival kicked off Wednesday with a demonstration and sale by Kauai Community College culinary arts students. Duane Miyasato, an instructor with the culinary arts program, said it was an honor to partner with the event.
“We have all of our students here,” Miyasato said. “I told them, ‘You cannot put a value on a program until you showcase it.’ One of the things that happened with the demonstration and sale Wednesday is it generated scholarship funds — scholarships that is a vital part of the students’ success.”
Angela-Rheya Ventura was one of those students. Sunday she was tending to a table containing Assorted Petite Fours Macaroons, Truffles and Mini Opera Cakes from The Club at Kukuiula.
“I want to finish school here,” Ventura said. “Once I’m done at Kauai Community College, I want to go on to a four-year college to further my studies in culinary arts.”
Ken and Kathy Kokron of Kalaheo were early arrivals to the brunch, which earned them a collection of recipes from participating chefs.
“We try to attend all of the Kauai Community College activities,” Ken said. “It’s always a good event and has good food. We always have fun. We took in the sake tasting, and the sake and food was good and everyone had fun.”
