Travel Agent breaks down the hottest upcoming culinary events on Hawaii Island worth pitching to Hawaii-bound foodies.
Following the recent completion of $400,000 in renovations, Rays on the Bay at Sheraton Kona Resort & Spa at Keauhou Bay is now open for guests to taste its menu of island-inspired, coast-procured cuisine.
Diners can enjoy refreshments and sunset views at the restaurant's new cocktail lounge and take in other Rays on the Bay enhancements, including a brand-new floor and decor. The new menu concept from Executive Chef George Gomes and Senior Executive Sous Chef Michelle Gomez spotlights use of local ingredients, from Kona-raised kanpachi sashimi to fresh grilled fish. For more information, call 808-930-4949.
Join James Beard Foundation Award-nominated guest chef Andrew Le, owner-executive chef of Oahu restaurants, The Pig and The Lady and Piggy Smalls, at Merriman's Waimea for an evening of food and libation in support of the nonprofit Hawaiian Islands Land Trust (HILT). The night will feature a three-course farm-to-table dining experience created by Le, paired with live island-style music. One-hundred percent of all ticket sales will be donated to HILT to support its land conservation efforts in Hawaii.
The dinner is set for November 17, from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $125 per person.
Visit www.merrimanshawaii.com/giving-back.
Volcano House hotel and its signature restaurant, The Rim, will host its annual Thanksgiving buffet on November 23, from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m.
The buffet will include a Himalayan salt block with cured meat and cheese selections, as well as pasta stations, dry-rubbed pork racks, prime rib, and bottomless wine and beer. The buffet is $69 per person and reservations are highly recommended. To make reservations, call the restaurant at 808-930-6910.
Visit www.hawaiivolcanohouse.com
The Island of Hawaii holiday dining event, Christmas with the Chefs at Kamakahonu Bay, is set for December 2, from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m., on the oceanfront luau grounds of the Courtyard King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel. The 29th annual culinary scholarship benefit and gala will feature food, wines, craft ales, live jazz music and a silent auction. Event attendance is limited to 500 people. The hotel is offering a special discounted festival room rate starting at $149 per night.
For more information on the benefit, or to make a room reservation, call 808-329-2911.
Hilton Waikoloa Village is hosting its first annual Club Christmas Party on December 2, from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m. Hosted at the Water's Edge Ballroom, guests can enjoy food and beverages while listening and dancing to Top 40 hits, hosted by award-winning DJ Tiger. The event will also include a raffle, and guests will have the chance to win prizes such as stays at Hilton Waikoloa Village, Legends of Hawaii Luau tickets and dinners at Kamuela Provision Company.
Visit http://bit.ly/hwvevents
Rays on the Bay at the Sheraton Kona Resort and Spa now offers an island-inspired breakfast buffet to greet the sun's morning rise over neighboring Hualalai volcano.
Diners can enjoy fresh Kona coffee alongside breakfast favorites from omelet and waffle stations, as wells as fresh tropical fruit, cappuccino on demand, fresh eggs and potatoes, seasonal juices and more. Breakfast is served in Rays on the Bay's new, custom-built koa-clad buffet table alongside the restaurant's oceanfront seating. For more information, call 808-930-4949.
Visit www.gohawaii.com
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