COURTESY PHOTO
Masaharu Morimoto
Masaharu Morimoto, the silver-clad rebel of the Japanese cult cooking show "Iron Chef," will join the lineup of chefs at Hawaii's Big Island Festival next month, organizers announced yesterday. ‘Iron Chef’
coming to townStar-Bulletin staff
Among Morimoto's duties will be to host an "Iron Chef"-style cooking duel pitting Hawaii chefs against Food & Wine magazine's Best New Chefs in America 2002.
Morimoto's fame ballooned when "Iron Chef" began airing in the United States on the Food Network in 1999, but his credentials reach far beyond the campy gladiator-style show. He was head chef at the famed Nobu in New York for six years, leaving to open his own restaurant, Morimoto, in Philadelphia in 2001.
The five-day Big Island Festival, Oct. 30 to Nov. 3, is billed as an "ultimate lifestyle festival," showcasing the golf courses, luxury spas, farms, music and cultural offerings of the resorts of the Kona-Kohala Coast. But food will play a major part, in the form of cooking demonstrations and gourmet dinners.
André Soltner of New York's acclaimed Lutece Restaurant will present signature dinners at the Hilton Waikoloa Village Nov. 1 and 2. The eight Food & Wine chefs, drawn from restaurants across the country, will host cooking demonstrations daily at the participating resorts.
Morimoto's appearances will consist of a cooking demonstration at 10 a.m. Nov. 3 at the Hilton, followed at 11 a.m. by the "Hawaii Culinary Stars vs. Food & Wine Magazine's Best New Chefs, 2002" cook-off.
Three 20-minute "battles" will center on bags of secret ingredients to be turned into meals. The audience will do the judging. Morimoto's job will be to chat up the chefs as they work.
The Food Network is expected to film the cook-off and other events.
Kamaaina passes for the festival are $200, which includes admission to all tastings and culinary seminars. Separate admission to the Morimoto events will not be available. Evening events such as Soltner's dinners are separate purchases. The schedule is online at www.bigislandfestival.com, or call 866-424-FEST.
Click for online
calendars and events.
