What is the most wonderful thing that can happen to a self-confesed chocoholic? ... No contest...being invited to attend a chocolate festival that lasts for days, that's what!
The 3 day event started May 1st, with a tour of the Kokoleka Lani Farms a cacao farm and home of the Kona Natural Soap Company. The tour was led by Greg Colden. Unfortunately, I was not able to attend the tour, but met Greg when he did a presentation on Saturday. Luckily, I will be visiting the farm and tour later this month.
More on Greg and his company tomorrow.
We arrived at the Fairmont Orchid Hotel, our hosts for the event, in time to settle in, eat lunch seaside at the Hale Kai Restaurant, then attend the first of the two presentations we were scheduled to cover that afternoon.
Photos: Ed Seguine by SRM. The photo of the audience provided by Big Island Chocolate Festival. Anthony's head in forefront and I am sitting next to him.
The first session of the afternoon was presented by Ed Seguine from Hanover, Pennsylvania, owner of Seguine Cacao, Cocoa & Chocolate Advisors. Ed is a much sought international authority with more than 30 years experience in the field. His topic was "Selecting Cacao Cultivar for Flavor". A fascinating look at the history and genetics of cacao; also how to select varieties for the location and how to increase yield without affecting quality and flavor.
Did you know that tasting chocolate is an art with a ritual? When tasting wine we're told to swirl, smell, sip, hold and then swallow...but when tasting chocolate we're to hold the chocolate as close to our nose as possible and then, as we breathe in the aroma, we also take tiny little 'gasping guppy breaths' through our slightly opened mouth to take in the aroma and flavor through both senses at one time...all of this in a fairly quick time unless you want to end up with melted chocolate all over your nose and fingers.
Ed also did a presentation on Saturday morning on the origins and processing of cacao and chocolate, production practices, ingredient quality, technical expertise of the chocolatier, artistry and presentation and the most important part... how to taste chocolate to detect the nuances and flavors of different varieties...from dark and grainy to smooth and satiny and everything in between.
During Friday morning, there was a Culinary Student Competition where community college students from O'ahu, Maui and Hawai'i Island vied in creating chocolate treats which were judged by a most distinguished panel of chefs and chocolatiers. This event was not open to the public.
The students were judged on:
Presentation: Theme/Appearance/Temperature/Portion Size/Estability (ease at which to eat with provided utensils).
Menu Ingredients: Complimentary/Compatability & Balance/Flavor & Taste/Texture/Sweetness & Richness/Techniques/Creativity & Originality/Menu Presentation.
Other Criteria: Time Management/Mise en Place/Professional Appearance/Professional Conduct/Station Work Habits (cleanliness, etc)
Photo provided by the Big Island Chocolate Festival: Students and judges
Hawai‘i Community College-Hilo won Friday’s student competition, besting Maui Community College by a point. Hawai’i Community College-West Hawai’i Team 1 was close behind in third place.
Commenting on the college culinary competition, Chef Teresa (Cheech) Shurilla of Maui Community College shared, “Presenting in front of such an esteemed panel of judges is priceless. The students will keep their critiques with them throughout their culinary careers.”
Judging the competition were celebrity chefs “Mr. Chocolate” Jacques Torres of New York City and Valrhona Chocolate’s Vincent Bourdin of Singapore. Other team judges included chocolatier Ken Goto and pastry chefs Rhonda Ashton-Chavez of Four Seasons Resort Maui, Elizabeth McDonald of Mala Restaurant, Ricky DeBoer of The Fairmont Kea Lani, Maui; Heather Campbell of Kaua‘i’s St. Regis Resort Princeville and Daniel Sampson of The Fairmont Orchid.
Since there is so much to cover, I am making several blog posts, including chocolate making demos by world-reknown chef-chocolatiers...so keep an eye out...
Big Island Chocolate Festival on Facebook
