Annual Fundraiser Benefiting Culinary Education Set for Saturday, October 17th at Fairmont Kea Lani Maui, Celebrity Chefs Announced
KAHULUI, Maui, HI, Sept 1, 2015 – The Maui Culinary Academy (MCA) at the University of Hawai‘i Maui College (UHMC), in partnership with the Fairmont Kea Lani Maui and Maui No Ka ‘Oi Magazine, will present the 19th annual Noble Chef benefit on Saturday, October 17, 2015, organizers announced today.
The 19th annual Noble Chef benefit begins with a festive courtyard reception at 5:30pm with a celebrity-chef designed menu, followed by an elegant gourmet dinner with entertainment and auction at 7:00pm. Returning this year due to popular demand is the “Buena Vista Lounge” industry after party at 8:30pm in the Fairmont Kea Lani’s Lobby Mezzanine, featuring Cuban tastings from MCA Alumni Chef Travis Morrin of Three’s Bar & Grill.
The Noble Chef is MCA’s largest annual fundraiser, and features a mentorship program that pairs together many of Maui’s most celebrated chefs and MCA students. This year’s event theme is “The World on a Plate – Latin America” represented by a celebrity chef-designed reception menu spanning the flavors, traditions, and the spice of Latin culture.
”The annual Noble Chef event is our most anticipated function for our culinary art students and faculty They benefit from spending valuable time with our local Maui celebrity chefs through kitchen preparation that begins a few days out from the event date. This creates real–world environments for students to cultivate working relationships with industry partners and the hands-on training they receive is an invaluable and memorable experience,” states Chef Dean Louie, MCA Program Coordinator.
This year’s celebrity “Noble Chefs” are:
- Craig Dryhurst, Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea
- Mark Ellman, Frida’s Beach House
- Lyndon Honda, Laulima Catering & Events
- Matteo Mistura, Matteo’s Osteria
- Travis Morrin, Three’s Bar & Grill
- Paris Nabavi, Sangrita Grill + Cantina
- Geno Sarmiento, Nick’s Fish Market
- Sheldon Simeon, Migrant
- Ryan Urig, Grand Wailea
After the reception, guests will enjoy a multi-course gourmet dinner and dessert in celebration of the exciting and popular Nuevo Latino cuisine movement prepared by MCA’s faculty chefs. Participating MCA faculty chefs include Jake Belmonte, Tom Lelli, Craig Omori, Theresa Shurilla and Mike Umetsu.
In addition to reception and dinner presentations, the evening will also include live entertainment and hosting by emcee Dean Wong, as well as presentation of the highly coveted Tylun Pang Aspiring Chef Scholarship. Tylun Pang, Executive Chef at the Fairmont Kea Lani, launched an annual scholarship to provide one outstanding culinary student the opportunity to complete an 8-week summer internship at the Maui luxury resort, Fairmont Kea Lani. Students earn an hourly wage and receive a financial scholarship upon completion of the program.
“The training MCA students receive for a summer at the Fairmont Kea Lani will transport them far beyond the college lecture room and practical kitchen labs. First-hand industry experience will provide priceless learning lessons and skill sets required for life-long careers,” explains Chef Louie. “They develop close personal connections with the kitchen staff, including Chef Pang, gain treasured kitchen experience at the resort’s signature restaurant Ko, and have a chance to develop a featured dish on the menu.”
Noble Chef Table Sponsorships directly benefit the Maui Culinary Academy, and are available for a limited time. Table Sponsors currently include: Maui No Ka Oi Magazine, Maui Oil Company, Bank of Hawai‘i, VIP Foodservice, Maui Wine/Ulupalakua Ranch, Hawai‘i Gas, The Bendon Family Foundation, Hermine Harman, and UHMC Chancellor Lui Hokoana. Food and Beverage sponsors include Guittard Chocolate Company, Maple Leaf Farms, Hawaii Sea Spirits, Maui Brewing Company, Maui Winery, Young’s Market & Company of Hawaii, Paradise Beverages, Johnson Brothers, and Chambers & Chambers.
Tickets are $250 for preferred seating and $195 for general seating. Table sponsorships begin at $3,500. Tickets and tables can be purchased by calling Marilyn Fornwall, UH Foundation at (808) 984-3261. Tickets and tables are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
To view sponsor packages, interested parties can visit: http://bit.ly/NC15-Sponsor. To learn more about The Noble Chef event and the Maui Culinary Academy, visit http://noblechef.maui.hawaii.edu
Tickets and tables can be purchased by calling Marilyn Fornwall, UH Foundation at (808) 984-3261. Tickets and tables are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
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About Maui Culinary Academy
From fine dining, to catered events and even the growing popularity of mobile food trucks, UH Maui College’s Culinary Arts Program prepares students for the stimulating culinary field. Our graduates have attained positions at 5-star resorts and restaurants, opened independent businesses, and starred in top cooking shows.
About University of Hawai‘i Maui College (UHMC)
Situated on one of the most beautiful islands in the world, the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College is an accredited college that offers three bachelor of applied science degrees, a wide variety of associate degrees and certificates, as well as distance learning degrees through its UH Center on campus. UHMC is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Schools & College. With small class sizes, a high student to faculty ratio, math labs and career counseling, UHMC students enjoy personalized, individual attention and the support they need to be successful in school and their future careers.
The University of Hawai‘i Maui College inspires students to develop knowledge and skills in pursuit of academic, career, and personal goals in a supportive educational environment that emphasizes community engagement, life long learning, sustainable living, Native Hawaiian culture, and global understanding.
About Fairmont Kea Lani Maui
Located on the pristine white sands of Wailea, Fairmont Kea Lani, Maui is Hawaii’s only all-suite and villa luxury oceanfront resort. This distinctive resort is located on idyllic Polo Beach amongst 22 acres of oceanfront tropical landscape and offers authentic Hawaiian cultural experiences and genuine personal service which embodies the spirit of aloha. In 2015 Fairmont Kea Lani Maui completed a $70 million renovation which included $9 million build of the Willow Stream Spa and $5 million re-build of the signature restaurant Kō. For reservations or more information, call 866-540-4456 or visit fairmont.com/kealani.