Who’s going to get the baby?
The baby, accompanied by a special premium, is baked into the King’s Cake, and whomever gets the slice with the baby, earns the premium, said Edie Ignacio Neumiller of the Zonta Club of Kauai.
“I just confirmed this with Wendy Oyama of Mark’s Place and Contemporary Flavors Catering,” Neumiller said. “They’re doing a King’s Cake for Eat Dessert First.”
The signature Zonta Club of Kauai event will be celebrating its 25th anniversary when the event unfolds, Feb. 13 at the Kauai Marriott Resort and Beach Club. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the event runs through 7:30 p.m. as a benefit for the Zonta Club Foundation scholarships.
“Last year, the Zonta Club presented scholarships to Ava Wagner, Bronwyn Kay, Mandy Sugihara, Gracie Yatsko, Railae Layosa, and Sharae Cua totalling $13,000,” said Jeanette Bonilla, the Zonta Club of Kauai president. “Since we started giving out scholarships, the club has provided more than $250,000 to Kauai students.”
Advance tickets to Eat Dessert First are available through any of the Zonta Club of Kauai members, ticket outlets, including Vicky’s Fabrics in Kapaa, The Wine Shop in Koloa, and Deja Vu Surf Hawaii at the Kukui Grove Center. Advance tickets sold prior to noon on Feb. 13 offer a discounted rate over tickets which will also be available at the door. Tickets are also available online at www.zonta-kauai.org/eat-dessert-first.
Mark’s Place is one of more than a dozen providers of Show Case Desserts, including the Hukilau Lanai, Haole Girl Island Sweets, and Dizzy Lizzy whom the Zonta Club said have been supporting the effort for many years.
“I’ll be doing savory petite croissants,” said Chef Judy Capertina of Haole Girl Island Sweets. “We did it last year when the Zonta Club adopted the Mardi Gras theme, and customers liked it. Everyone else seem to lean toward sweet. We’ll be doing savory, including our popular Purple Sweet Potato and Coconut croissant. We’ll also be doing a cake for the silent auction.”
Michael Sterioff of Passion Bakery Cafe said he’ll be doing several hundred Chocolate Chip Fast Freddy cookies.
“This is our most popular cookie,” Sterioff said. “We’ll be doing several hundred sample-sized versions.”
Other vendors include Kayas Cakes, VIP Sweet Treats, Ono Pops, The Spot Kauai, Gaylord’s Kilohana, Sweet Treats, Kauai Coffe, and Sustainable Boost Teas.
Malama Auctiions will be assisting with both the silent and live auctions which feature a grand prize that includes an overnight stay at the Kauai Marriott’s Presidential Suite, an Outfitters Kauai safari tour for two, and a $100 gift certificate to Duke’s Canoe Club at Kalapaki.
“Mardi Gras is known here as Malasada Tuesday, and the theme was well-received when we started it last year,” Neumiller said. “This year, we’re building on it by adding a dance floor (people were dancing on the carpet, last year), and a Dixieland band featuring a washboard player and Eric Dyrenfroth on banjo. We’re also adding more space by opening up the Kauai Marriott ballroom.”
Additionally, for people planning on eating dessert first, sales from the Mardi Gras section at Malia Kai, a boutique located on Rice Street, will have a portion being set aside for the Zonta Foundation.
