Four Seasons Resort Hualalai Announces Line-Up and Schedule of Events for Chef Fest 2018

Signature annual #event showcases celebrity chefs and top mixologists from throughout the country from September 17-20, 2018 for a culinary celebration with one-of-a-kind dinners and cooking classes

June 14, 2018,  Hawaii, Hualalai, U.S.A.

Four Seasons      Resort Hualalai, the only AAA Five Diamond and Forbes Five Star hotel on Hawaii Island, announces Chef Fest 2018. From September 17 to 20, 2018, the Resort will host a multiday #food and wine #event featuring high-profile dinners, interactive cooking classes and culinary experiences.  The series of events showcases some of the country’s best culinary talent in an intimate, beachfront setting.

“Chef Fest is such a special week here at the Resort, where our guests are able to experience the flavours, talents and personalities of some very special guest chefs, amd wine and spirits experts,” says Colin Clark, General Manager of          Four Seasons     Resort Hualalai. “The energy and excitement is in the air, and these events are truly some of the most fun, intimate and indulgent experiences available anywhere – only matched by the setting and aloha of Hualalai.”

Executive #chef of Four Seasons     Resort Hualalai Thomas Bellec, 19-year          Four Seasons     veteran, welcomes an impressive lineup of award-winning celebrity guest chefs, including:

•       Hugh Acheson (Chef/Owner of 5&10, The National, Empire Sate South, Spiller Park Coffee, First & Third Hot Dog and Sausage Shack, Archie’s - Atlanta); two-time James Beard Award winner, Top #chef Masters participant, judge on Top #chef for five seasons, and author of A New Turn in the South, Pick a Pickle, The Broad Fork, and The #chef & The Slow Cooker.
•       Michael Cimarusti (Chef/Owner of Providence, Connie and Ted’s, Best Girl - Los Angeles); two-star Michelin star recipient, multiple James Beard Award nominations.
•       Craig Dryhurst (Executive #chef of            Four Seasons      Resort Maui); 16-year            Four Seasons      veteran, previously at the five-star kitchens in London, France, the East Coast, and Vancouver.
•       Chris Ford (Executive Pastry #chef of Beverly Wilshire, A            Four Seasons      Hotel); Star Chef’s“Rising Star,” Food & Wine’s“People’s Best New Pastry #chef 2012,” Zagat’s“30 Under 30,” creator of the blog Butter Love and Hard Work with recent celebrity collaborations with Madonna, John Legend, Jessica Alba, and more.
•       Kalani Garcia (Executive Pastry #chef of            Four Seasons      Resort Hualalai); 15-year            Four Seasons      veteran, winner of Big Island Chocolate Festival 2018 “Best Plated Dessert.”
•       Charles Phan (Chef/Owner of The Slanted Door, Out the Door, OTD, Hard Water - San Francisco, Rice & Bones – Oakland); two-time James Beard Award winner, Iron Chef participant, featured on How to Cook Everything, and author of IACP award winning cookbooks Vietnamese Home Cooking and The Slanted Door.
•       Jason McLeod (Chef/Partner of Born & Raised, Ironside Fish & Oyster, Soda & Swine, Craft & Commerce, Underbelly, Neighborhood, Polite Provisions, False Idol, Noble Experiment, El Dorado - San Diego); two-time Michelin star recipient, James Beard House featured #chef.
•       Andy Ricker (Chef/Owner of Pok Pok, Pok Pok NW, Pok Pok Noi, Pok Pok Wing, Whiskey  Soda Lounge - Portland, Pok Pok - New York); two-time James Beard Award winner, Michelin Star recipient, author of bestselling cookbook Pok Pok: #food and Stories from the Streets, Homes, and Roadside Restaurants of Thailand and Pok Pok: The Drinking #food of Thailand.
•       Brooke Williamson (Chef/Owner of Hudson House, The Tripel, Play Provisions, Da Kikokiko, Small Batch - Los Angeles); Top Chef winner, Knife Fight winner, appearances on Top #chef Duels, and House of #food, youngest female #chef to cook at the James Beard House.

The #cheffest2018 schedule of events (subject to change) is listed below.

Monday, September 17, 2018

•       9:00-10:30 am: Coffee and Talk Story with the Chefs, Hualalai Trading Company, complimentary
•       11:00 am - sunset: Patrón Lounge and Citronge Pineapple Launch, Palm Grove Pool
•       1:00-1:30 pm: Patrón Cocktail Demo, Beach Tree Stage
•       4:00-6:00 pm: Stocking & Tending Your Home Bar with Tony Abou-Ganim, Moana Terrace, USD 60
•       6:00-8:00 pm: #chef Fest Grand Tasting, Hoku Amphitheater, USD 105

Tuesday, September 18, 2018

•       11:00 am - 1:00 pm: Interactive Cooking Class with #brookewilliamson, #allclad Cooking Academy, USD 115
•       11:00 am - sunset: Patrón Lounge, Palm Grove Pool
•       1:00-1:30 pm: Patrón Cocktail Demo, Beach Tree Stage
•       2:00-4:00 pm: Interactive Cooking Class with #andyricker, #allclad Cooking Academy, USD 115
•       4:00-6:00 pm: COS d’ Estournel Bordeaux Tasting with Etienne de Nantes, Garden Lawn, USD 180
•       6:00-9:00 pm: Ohana #chef Fest Dinner (Chefs #thomasbellec, #michaelcimarusti, #craigdryhurst, #kalanigarcia, #jasonmcleod, Charles Phan), Beach Tree, USD 215

Wednesday, September 19, 2018

•       11:00 am - 1:00 pm: Interactive Cooking Class with #michaelcimarusti, #allclad Cooking Academy, USD 115
•       11:00 am - sunset: Patrón Lounge, Palm Grove Pool
•       1:00-1:30 pm: Patrón Cocktail Demo, Beach Tree Stage
•       2:00-4:00 pm: Interactive Cooking Class with #charlesphan, #allclad Cooking Academy, USD 115
•       4:00-6:00 pm: A Quest for Perfection: Champagne #louisroederer with Gregory Balogh, Garden Lawn, USD 180
•       6:00-9:00 pm: #chef Fest Reception & Beach Cookout (Chefs #hughacheson, #thomasbellec, #chrisford, #kalanigarcia, #andyricker, Brooke Williamson)  Kumukea Beach, USD 215 with wine and cocktails

Thursday, September 20, 2018

•       11:00 am - 1:00 pm:  Interactive Cooking Class with #hughacheson, #allclad Cooking Academy,  USD 115
•       11:00 am - sunset: Patrón Lounge, Palm Grove Pool
•       1:00-1:30 pm: Patrón Cocktail Demo, Beach Tree Stage
•       2:00-4:00 pm: Interactive Cooking Class with #jasonmcleod, #allclad Cooking Academy, USD 115
•       6:00-10:00 pm: #chef Fest Gala Dinner featuring all chefs and Etienne de Nantes, ‘ULU, USD 300 with wine

Guests are invited to book the Taste of #chef Fest package including three nights of luxurious accommodations (Ocean View to Ocean Front accommodations available) and a Resort Credit of USD 150 per night which guests may apply towards any #chef Fest event(s). The Taste of #chef Fest package is available between September 16 and 22, 2018 (6 nights).

This year’s sponsors include Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, Louis Roederer, Patrón, HILuxury, United, All-Clad, Bragard.  For reservations or tickets, call 808 325 8000.