Chefs of the Future Benefit from “Christmas at the Fairmont”

— Dining with the Chefs: 22 Years of Delicious!

…By Devany Vickery-Davidson…

It’s the Big Island’s largest Christmas party and it’s all for a good-tasting, good cause. Each Christmas since 1989, The American Culinary Federation (ACF) of Kona Kohala Chefs have worked to raise funds for culinary education while delighting the public with outstanding food and beverages from nearly every major resort and restaurant on the island. What began as “Christmas at Hulihe‘e” [Palace] in 1995 became “Christmas at Kona Village.” With the devastating tsunami there, this year’s venue is the Fairmont Orchid on the Kohala Coast. It’s always an opportunity to dress up, celebrate the holiday season, and
taste some of the best food on the island at an incredible oceanfront location while raising funds for culinary scholarships and programs.

The event has benefited many culinary and public school students on the island, and has evolved over the 22 years since its inception. Jean Hull, chef and former cooking instructor at West Hawai‘i Community College created “Christmas at Hulihe‘e,” which took place at Hulihe`e Palace in downtown Kailua Kona. Ms. Hull’s relationship with many chefs through ACF made the event a major success from the beginning, and the professional organization has continued to excel in recruiting the island’s top chefs, who not only donate their time, but also the food and décor for their stations.

These chefs are happy to do this event not only because they love to serve the community but also because they know what it is like for the culinary students coming up through the ranks. Many of them mentor and support the culinary programs at both Hawai‘i Community Colleges and by teaching elementary and high school students nutrition and cooking. The ACF-supported programs help to inspire the chefs of the future, as well as fight childhood obesity and other dietary health issues.

During the event’s most recent tenure at Kona Village Resort, it gained huge popularity as the premium event of the season. Except for a brief break for the year of 2007 (when it was held at the Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort) it was held at Kona Village Resort until 2010.

Sadly, Kona Village was critically damaged during the tsunami related to Japan’s major earthquake in March of 2011. It is not known if the resort will ever be able to be rebuilt. It was necessary for the ACF to seek out a new home for “Christmas at…?” After considering several resorts, the ACF board of directors and Event Chairman Stephen Marquard eventually chose the Fairmont Orchid and the official name is now “Christmas at the Fairmont Orchid, Dining with the Chefs.” One key bonus to the new venue is that, at Kona Village, the event was limited to 500 people and was sold out. This year, at the Fairmont, they are limiting tickets to 600, but it is conceivable in the future for the event to grow much larger in this location.

Over the years, “Christmas at Kona Village” raised more than $300,000 for culinary education in Hawai‘i. The funds go to provide culinary scholarships to students in the Culinary Program at West Hawai‘i Community College and continuing education for local ACF Chefs and member. They will also help furnish the kitchens and classrooms for the Culinary Program at the new Palamanui Campus in North Kona (http://www.konakohalachefs.org/fundraising.php). The ACF has made a $1 million commitment to provide all new culinary equipment for the Palamanui Campus, which is scheduled to break ground in 2012. This is a huge commitment for a group of less than 100 members to make. The public’s support will be crucial in reaching this goal. In addition to ticket sales for the event, a silent auction and a live auction will also take place at the savory Christmas party. Many of the most popular live auction items are custom dinner parties prepared by ACF Chefs.

The students from the East Hawai‘i Community College Culinary Program are quite active in the event. They act as sous chefs for the culinary teams from each resort/restaurant. This gives them a chance to work in some of the state-of-the-art kitchens on the island next to esteemed executive chefs and staff. It also teaches them some of the challenges of catering and off-site food service. In advance of the event, the students create incredible Hawaiian-themed gingerbread structures, which are then auctioned off. The students receive 100 percent of that auction funding directly.

Last year they created lifelike replicas of the hale (unique, Polynesian-style cottages) at Kona Village and they were a huge success. This year they are doing iconic Hawaiian landmarks in gingerbread. They also bake cookies and distribute them amongst the patrons during the evening. It is a great experience for both the students and the public to see these budding chefs doing service and preparing themselves for their futures in the hospitality industry.

Some of the participating properties that will be sharing their most special food this year are The Fairmont Orchid, Mauna Lani Bay Hotel and Bungalows, Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel, Monette’s at Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Daniel’s (Waimea), Kona Brewery, Hilton Waikoloa Village, Waikoloa Beach Marriot, Royal Kona Resort, Hualalai Resort, Keauhou Beach Resort, Café Pesto Hilo and Kawaihae, Huggo’s, Merriman’s Restaurant, Eddie Aikau’s Restaurant and Surf Museum, Cocoa Outlet: The Chocolate Guy, Kailua Candy Company and Tropical Dreams Ice Cream. Several others are awaiting confirmation as this goes to press. ϖ

Contact writer Devany Vickery-Davidson at pineappleprincess@hawaii.rr.com.

To make reservations: “Christmas at the Fairmont Orchid 2011” takes place on December 3, 2011, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. The event is usually sold out, so it is best to purchase tickets in advance. Call 808.329.2522 or purchase tickets at the following locations: Café Pesto in Hilo, Clark Realty in Kona, The Fairmont Orchid, Kailua Candy Company in Kona and Kona Wine Market. Tickets are $75 each and include all-you-can-eat-and-drink, a souvenir tasting glass and free self-parking. Special reserved premium seating tables of 10 are $1,000 and tables of six are $600. The Fairmont Orchid also has room specials for the night. These rooms may be booked by calling 808.885.2000 or by going online to www.fairmont.com/orc/ChristmasAtTheFairmont