We have so much to celebrate. Beautiful dinners and wine pairings, treasured time with Chaîne friends. Do we pause to think about who makes our privileged lifestyle possible? Where did their professional journeys begin? The Jeunes Chefs Rôtisseurs and the Jeunes Sommelier Competitions remind us of the Chaîne’s important mission of helping aspiring food and wine individuals realise their dreams.

Hawaii/Pacific members celebrated the next generation with an awards dinner at Kapa Hale, prepared by Chef/Owner Keaka Lee.

At dawn competitors began a tough programme orchestrated by Conseiller Culinaire Provincial Eric Leterc at Leeward Community College (LCC). A “mystery basket” of ingredients, 30 minutes to devise a three-course menu, three and a half hours in the kitchen to cook and present their creations was the challenge.

Each competitor received valuable feedback from the four tasting judges and the kitchen judge: Chef Nico Chaize, Chef Ronald Simon, Chef Goran Streng, Chef Ala Sutton, and Chef Salvator Coppola. The final scores? The wait was nail-biting! An innovative dinner incorporating tasty cultural touches was next.

Stars of the evening? The talented competitors were reminded that the feedback was as important as winning. Choosing to compete, learn, and be challenged was something of which to be proud. Kenneth Wong was announced as the young Chef to represent Hawaii/Pacific at the National Final of the Jeunes Chefs Rôtisseurs Competition.

The celebrations continued!

We honoured the Chaîne’s educational wine mission. We paid tribute to Kain Kotouchek, our representative at the National Final of the Jeunes Sommeliers Competition. The Chaîne regularly thanks the hosting culinary institution with a generous $5,000 cheque which is used for scholarships. LCC Site Coordinator Matthew Egami graciously received this donation.

Honouring the impressive generosity of Hawaii’s wine community, Bailli Provincial Honoraire Bruce Liebert, Treasurer of the Chaîne Foundation, presented Échanson Provincial Honoraire Patrick Okubo MS with a cheque for $5,000 for his Aloha Wine Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to the education of young sommeliers. Patrick encouraged students to follow their passion so in the future they could give back to the next generation too.

What better illustration of the Chaîne’s impact than Patrick Okubo, a Jeunes Sommelier regional winner, and Chef Keaka Lee, a Jeunes Chefs Rôtisseurs competitor.

An undisputed legacy to see distinguished professionals, nurtured and supported by the Chaîne, teaching and inspiring the next generation! Appreciation was expressed for how the Chaîne helped transform their professional lives which continues for the talented young professionals that we celebrated on this evening.

Judith Kellogg
Chambellan

Photographer: Bruce Liebert, Bailli Provincial Honoraire