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.
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.
$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.
