If you’ve picked up our October issue yet (you have, right?) you’ll notice that we spent some time last year checking out some of the great food festivals throughout North America. Exec Editor Stacey McLachlan went to the Caymans to rub shoulders with Eric Ripert, I did the same with Giada in Vegas. So it seemed apropos that with the acclaimed Hawaii Food & Wine Festival just around the corner to let you in on a little secret we discovered last year€”for the past few years the festival starts a weekend early in Ka’anapali. 

Listen. We have nothing against Oahu, and the new Four Seasons Ko Olina where a few of the HFWF events take place is killer. But there’s definitely some distance between the events€”try driving from Ko Olina to Waikiki to the Convention Centre and report back. Ka’anapali, on the other hand, is compact and self-contained€”even the celebrity chef golf tourney is on site€”so you can walk between venues if you want to burn off those calories you’re throwing back.

And you have much of the same talent€”this year's roster pairs mainlanders like Charles Phan from San Francisco's Slanted Door and Michael Chiarello (below) from Napa's Bottega with locals like Abby Ferrer from Star Noodle and Ed Morita from Leoda's€”in a much more intimate setting. And also, you know€¦ Maui.

So don’t tell our good friends on Oahu€”we love them. But for these few days we’re kind of feeling the Maui vibe. 

hawaiifoodandwinefestival.com

Neal McLennan

Neal McLennan