Four Seasons Chef Fest on the Big Island of Hawaii

One of the most luxe Hawaiian culinary events of the year is the annual Chef Fest Food and Wine Festival on the Big Island Hawaii. Hosted by the esteemed Executive Chef Thomas Bellec at the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, this unique Hawaiian experience is from November 13 through November 16, 2019.

This year the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai has partnered with The Private Suite at Los Angeles International Airport to ensure Chef Fest guests begin their luxury moment as soon as they arrive at the airport. The Private Suite provides guests with a personalized lounge including snacks, blankets and outdoor lounge seating. There is a private TSA screening, and BMW 7-series tarmac service.

During Chef Fest, guests who book one of the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai ten Specialty Suites will receive complimentary access to The Private Suite.  All other Chef Fest guests will receive a special rate for the door-to-door service at LAX. Once guests arrive on the Big Island of Hawaii, Executive Chef of Four Seasons Resort Hualalai Thomas Bellec (a 20-year Four Seasons veteran and member of Les Maitres Cuisiniers de France/ Master Chefs of France), has planned an impressive culinary experience for guests to participate in cooking classes, interactive dinners, mixology showcases, and rare wine tastings. The list of this year’s award-winning participating celebrity guest chefs includes:

Gabrielle Hamilton (Chef Owner of Prune, New York City) Four time James Beard Foundation Award winner including “Outstanding Chef,” Iron Chef winner, Daytime Emmy Award winner for Mind of a Chef, author of New York Times bestseller Blood, Bones & Butter: The Inadvertent Education of a Reluctant Chef.

Kris Yenbamroong (Chef Owner of Night + Market restaurants, Los Angeles) James Beard Foundation Award finalist, “Best New Chef” by Food + Wine, “Best Restaurants in Los Angeles” by Los Angeles Times, and author of Night + Market cookbook.

Claude Le Tohic (Chef Partner of ONE65, San Francisco) Three-Michelin star recipient, James Beard Award winner, and member of Les Maitres Cuisiniers de France (Master Chefs of France).

Mashama Bailey (Executive Chef and Partner of The Grey, Savannah) James Beard Award finalist, featured on Chef’s Table, and “Restaurant of the Year” by Eater.

Jeremiah Stone and Fabian von Hauske Valtierra (Chefs and Owners of Contra, Wildair and Una Pizza Napoletana, New York City) “Chefs of the Year’ by GQ, World’s 50 Best Restaurants, Michelin star recipients, James Beard Award Foundation finalist, “Best New Chefs” by Food + Wine, “30 Under 30” by Forbes.

Cyrille Pannier (Executive Chef of Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco) 15-year Four Seasons veteran at eight hotels and resorts around the world, and Chef’s Cycle participant.

Luca Moriconi (Chef de Cuisine at CULINA and Vinoteca at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills) Born and raised in Tuscany, Chef Luca is a 11-year Four Seasons veteran and speaks four languages.

Kalani Garcia (Executive Pastry Chef of Four Seasons Resort Hualalai) Hawaii native, 16-year Four Seasons veteran, and multi-year winner at Big Island Chocolate Festival.

Charles Phan (Chef/Owner of The Slanted Door, Out the Door, OTD, and Hard Water, San Francisco; Rice & Bones, Oakland) Two-time James Beard Award winner, Iron Chef participant, featured on How to Cook Everything, and author of IACP award winning cookbooks Vietnamese Home Cooking and The Slanted Door.

The Chef Fest kickoff begins with brunch with the chefs at 9 am on Wednesday, Nov. 13 at the Hualalai Trading Company -Bocce Patio. Later in the day is a Cocktail Demonstration with Julie Reiner at the Beach Tree Stage. Also in the afternoon is a wine blending class featuring Domaine Anderson at the Hualalai Grille, before the Chef Fest Grand Tasting at the Hoku Amphitheater.

The following day Thursday, Nov.14 includes a Cocktail Class with Kyle Reutner at the Beach Tree Stage, Cooking Class with Chef Kris Yenbamroong at the Cooking Academy at the Herb Garden, and later an Interactive Cooking Class with Chef Gabrielle Hamilton at the same location. A Mixology Class with Tony Abou-Ganim is before sunset on the Moana Terrace, and then the Ohana Chef Fest Dinner at the Beach Tree Restaurant.

On Friday, Nov. 15 there is a Cocktail Demonstration with Chandra Lucariello at Beach Tree Stage. Afterwards an Interactive Cooking Class with Chef Claude Le Tohic, and a Haku Lei Class with Meleana Estes on the Beach Tree Lawn. From 2 to 4 pm guests can attend an Interactive Cooking Class with Chef Mashama Bailey, followed by a Rare Wine Tasting from 4 to 6 pm. Dinner is an Aloha Friday Beach Cookout on Kumukea Beach.

On the last day Saturday, Nov. 16 Tony Abou Ganim leads a cocktail demonstration and Chef Jeremiah Stone and Chef Fabian von Hauske Valtierra lead an interactive cooking class lunch. Chef Charles Phan leads a cooking class from 2 to 4 pm, before guests get ready for the Gala Dinner at ‘Ulu Ocean Grill + Sushi Lounge.

Founder and owner of Au Bon Climat Winery Jim Clendene will attend and pour at this year’s Chef Fest. His Santa Maria winery produces over 30,000 cases of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris varietals annually.

Those seeking the most of a vacation can request the Four Seasons Resort’s Experience More package including a nightly credit of up to $200, which can be used towards dining, activities, spa, and more.  For reservations call (808) 325-8000 or book online.