In the Mix: Christian Self mixes Mai Tai worth $10,000
August 18, 2010 by Star-Advertiser Staff
Filed under Featured, Food and Drink, Latest News, More from TGIF, Picture Blogs
Photos by Jason Genegabus / jason@staradvertiser.com
Don the Beachcomber “World’s Best Mai Tai” winner Christian Self of thirtyninehotel, right, serves up the winning cocktail for judging by Maui entertainer Eric Gilliom, left. Self won $10,000 for his “Mai Thai” with an edible Mai Tai on the side.
By Jason Genegabus
jason@staradvertiser.com
Being a nocturnal type doesn’t really mesh well with early morning wake up calls.
But when I got the green light to head to the Big Island last weekend for the Second Annual Don the Beachcomber Mai Tai Festival, there I was at Honolulu International Airport just after eight in the morning. Not exactly bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, as the saying goes… but I was there.
After a quick jump to the Big Island, I made my way to the Royal Kona Resort for the second day of the festival, which included the “World’s Best BBQ” contest and a Mai Tai Marketplace for guests to interact — and patronize — local businesses and artisans from around the island.
VIDEO: ‘Beachbum’ Berry talks Don the Beachcomber
August 18, 2010 by Star-Advertiser Staff
Filed under Barfly, In the Mix, Latest News, More from TGIF, Video
Video by Jason Genegabus / jason@staradvertiser.com
By Jason Genegabus
jason@staradvertiser.com
Cocktail expert Jeff “Beachbum” Berry was on the Big Island last weekend to participate in the Second Annual Don the Beachcomber Mai Tai Festival at the Big Island’s Royal Kona Resort. Along with judging the “World’s Best Mai Tai” contest, he was also asked to speak to guests about the life and drinks of the legendary Don the Beachcomber.
The Berry-hosted seminar also featured three tastings of Don the Beachcomber cocktails; in the video above, he talks about Don’s influence and the drinks he selected for the seminar.
In the Mix: BBQ meets Mai Tais at Royal Kona Resort
August 17, 2010 by Star-Advertiser Staff
Filed under Featured, Food and Drink, For the Family, In the Mix, More from TGIF, Picture Blogs
Photos by Jason Genegabus / jason@staradvertiser.com
By Jason Genegabus
jason@staradvertiser.com
KAILUA-KONA » Before more than 20 bartenders lined up at the Royal Kona Resort to determine the “World’s Best Mai Tai” last weekend, a handful of Big Island restaurants squared off in a “Battle of the BBQ” competition during the Second Annual Don the Beachcomber Mai Tai Festival.
Just steps from the Pacific Ocean on the Kona coast, hotel guests and local residents mingled on a well-manicured lawn and sampled contest entries while also perusing a Mai Tai Marketplace set up in the same area. Maui’s Eric Gilliom was on hand to provide musical entertainment during the afternoon.
PICS: Don the Beachcomber Mai Tai Fest preview
August 16, 2010 by Star-Advertiser Staff
Filed under Food and Drink, In the Mix, More from TGIF, Picture Blogs
Photos by Jason Genegabus / jason@staradvertiser.com
Some of the entries in the second annual Don the Beachcomber’s “World’s Best Mai Tai” contest, held last Saturday at the Royal Kona Resort on the Big Island.
By Jason Genegabus
jason@staradvertiser.com
It was a whirlwind of a Saturday last weekend, getting dropped off at Honolulu International Airport just after
8 in the morning for a flight to the Big Island to cover the second annual Don the Beachcomber Mai Tai Festival.
Along with a “World’s Best Mai Tai” competition — worth $10,000 for the winning bartender’s recipe — the second day of the two-day event featured a “Battle of the BBQ” contest, live entertainment by local musicians Eric Gilliom and Henry Kapono, a lecture on Don the Beachcomber by Jeff “Beachbum” Berry and an intimate concert by mainland rockers Third Eye Blind.
We’ll have more pictures from the barbeque and Mai Tai contests tomorrow — until then, here are some images posted to the Twitter account for TGIF while everything was going down on Saturday.
(Click on the panoramic shots for larger versions of each image.)
You can see all the posts by searching for the Twitter hashtag #DonsMTF.
PICS: ‘Cocktail Development’ with Alan Wong
August 6, 2010 by Star-Advertiser Staff
Filed under Barfly, Featured, Food and Drink
Photos by Jason Genegabus / jason@staradvertiser.com
Chef Alan Wong, right, poses with Better Brands’ Joey Gottesman during “Cocktail Development” at the Pineapple Room last month.
By Jason Genegabus
jason@staradvertiser.com
It pretty much goes without saying that in social situations, food and drinks often go hand in hand.
A good cocktail shouldn’t just look and taste good. If made correctly, it should also serve as the proper amount of lubrication necessary for people to truly enjoy themselves.
The same goes with food, due to its ability to start conversations and bring tables of strangers closer together. Throw in an award-winning chef and a couple of local liquor specialists, and you’re looking at a pretty fun time.
That’s what Alan Wong had in mind when he invited a select group to the Pineapple Room on July 28 to participate in his inaugural “Cocktail Development” workshop hosted by the restaurant with assistance from liquor distributor Better Brands. Read more
$10,000 up for grabs at ‘Mai Tai Festival’
June 17, 2010 by Star-Advertiser Staff
Filed under Featured, Food and Drink
Jamm Aquino / 2008
Local master mixologist Joey Gottesman will host a Mai Tai recipe competition during the second annual Don the Beachcomber Mai Tai Festival in August.
By Gary Chun
gchun@staradvertiser.com
Celebrating the legacy of the man who invented the main tropical mixed drink, the 2nd Annual Don the Beachcomber Mai Tai Festival will be held on Saturday, Aug. 14, at the Royal Kona Resort on the Big Island.
Bartenders from across the globe will compete in a grand mix-off to win a $10,000 cash prize and earn the honor of creating the World’s Best Mai Tai. (Judges will be award-winning celebrity chef Sam Choy, Bacardi Brand Master William Ramos, publisher of Hawaii Beverage Guide Chris Teves, nationally published rum and mai-tai expert Jeff “Beachbum” Berry, and mixologist Joey Gottesman.)
Throughout the day, the fest’s marketplace will feature local vendors selling artwork, crafts, clothing and local produce. Patrons will also be able to taste and vote for their favorite creation in the World’s Best BBQ contest. Award-winning celebrity chef Sam Choy will also be doing culinary demonstrations, and the day will end with a special acoustic performance under the night skies by best-selling rock band Third Eye Blind.
Registration forms for both the mix-off and BBQ contest can be downloaded at www.donsmaitaifest.com. Mix-off forms must be submitted by July 14 and has to include a photo of the particular mai-tai concoction and a non-refundable $25 registration fee. Restaurants and chefs entering the BBQ contest must mail their forms before the July 15 deadline.
The festival is free and open to the public, but script will be sold for food and beverage purchases (certain food and drinks will be sold via cash and credit).
Admission to the Third Eye Blind concert is $35 general admission and $50 VIP seating, and tickets are available at www.groovetickets.com.
