Special Announcement, 10/05/2011

The first Ho`oulu ka `Ulu (revitalizing breadfruit) Festival took place on September 24 on Hawai`i Island, sponsored by the Hawai'i Homegrown Food Network, the Breadfruit Institute of the National Tropical Botanical Garden, and the Amy B.H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden.

The Cooking Contest, one of the first events of the day, garnered entries in the appetizers, soups/salads/side dishes, main dishes, and desserts categories. The rules of the contest called for original recipes featuring breadfruit as the main ingredient.

The panel of five judges included celebrity chefs Mark Tsuchiyama of Hualalai Resort, Olelo paa Ogawa of Glow Hawai`i and Jacqueline Lau of Roy’s Restaurants, food writer and cookbook author Sonia Martinez and KITV weekend anchor Pamela Young, who scored entries for best use of breadfruit, taste, presentation, originality, and the best use of healthy ingredients.

Some of the winners were:
Best of Show: Ann Sutherland of Kailua, Kona with her `Ulu Tart
Healthiest Choice: Kua o ka la New Century Public Charter School and their culinary kumu Mariposa Blanco of Pāhoa, Puna with their `Ulu Tamales with Coleslaw and Salsa
First Place Appetizer: Ann Sutherland of Kailua, Kona with her `Ulu Summer Rolls
First Place Soup/Salad/Side Dish: Nader Nanoa Parsia of Kailua, Kona with his `Ulu Salad

For more information about breadfruit, visit Breadfruit Institute of the National Tropical Botanical Garden