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CoastWeeks 2014 to highlight Seafood Festival Competition tomorrow

One of the highlights of any celebratory gathering is, of course, the food offered, and this week’s CoastWeeks celebration will be no different.

 

In addition to all the fun filled activities for Coast Weeks this year — which include a Family Beach Day tomorrow — September 27 — with canoe and kayak races, water slides, fautasi rowing lessons, snorkeling, game and activity booths, live music and entertainment, there will be, best of all, a Seafood Festival, complete with a Seafood Cooking Competition.

 

The Department of Commerce has partnered with the Western Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Council to host the cooking competition, which will take place tomorrow from 12pm (noon) to 4pm.

 

The public is invited to come down and showcase their cooking talents for the community. There is a nominal fee of $5 to enter. Dishes must contain fresh local seafood, and competitors must be set up at Utulei Beach Park by 11a.m.

 

The Seafood Cooking Contest will be divided into four categories:

 

Raw (uncooked), Traditional, Open Flame and Baked

 

A panel of judges will choose a winner from each of these categories, and scores will be based on appearance and presentation, quality of ingredients, and of course — taste.

 

Each category will be judged separately, and chefs will have 10 minutes to present their dish to the judges, and will receive a critique of the dish at that time.

 

Chefs and their assistants who are handling and preparing food must ensure that health cards are valid and that sanitary precautions are taken. Cooking areas must be properly sanitized as well.

 

RAW CATEGORY

 

Dishes such as oka and sashimi may be prepared and chilled ahead of time and presented during the competition. Chefs may also showcase their knife skills on-site and provide a live demo of how to prepare their dishes.

 

TRADITIONAL CATEGORY

 

Dishes made in the umu may be prepared ahead of time and presented during the one hour competition.  Please provide a list of ingredients for the judges.

 

COOKED CATEGORY

 

Dish ingredients may be prepared ahead of time, but must be cooked on-site during the competition.  Chef will need to provide gas stove and/or grill for open flame/ deep frying or stir frying. Please provide judges with a list of ingredients.

 

BAKED CATEGORY

 

Dishes such as casseroles may be prepared and cooked ahead of time and presented during the competition.

 

The competition ends at 2pm, and at 3pm, the Seafood Festival Champions will be announced.

 

SET UP REQUIREMENTS

 

1 Tent/ 2 Tables/ 2 Chairs will be provided by organizers.

 

No electrical outlets will be available.

 

Chefs will need to provide their own cooking equipment, utensils, coolers and cleaning materials. Properly disposed of food waste may be placed into containers to donate to local piggeries.

 

Dept. of Commerce and WestPac Fisheries are excited to host this event for the community, which will showcase the talents of local chefs while promoting the benefits of a diet of locally caught seafood.

 

The actual judging will begin about 1pm, according to organizers.

 

Prizes will be as follows:

 

1st Place from each category:   $100 ACE Gift Certificate

 

2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th Place from each category:  $ 50 ACE Gift Certificate

 

Please contact Reinette Thompson-Niko at 254-2594 or Nate Ilaoa of the Fisheries Council (252-3175) for further information on the Seafood Contest.