Graze culinary stations, local product booths

Mealani’s Taste of the Hawaiian Range heralds Hawaii Island’s agriculture and the people behind locally produced food. Activities include a Cooking Pasture-Raised Beef 101 demonstration and sampling, plus the evening Taste gala that sprawls both inside and out.

Savor delectable dishes using pasture-raised beef, pork, lamb, goat, mutton and wild boar—plus a cornucopia of fresh island fruit, veggies, honey, spices and beverages. Culinary adventure seekers can taste all the cuts of pasture-raised beef—everything from tongue to tail—prepared expertly by over 30 Hawaii chefs. Enjoy familiar cuts like sirloin tip and ribs, plus beef cheek and the infamous “rocky mountain oysters” or bull testicles. Each chef is challenged to deliciously prepare a whopping 100 pounds of a certain cut while demonstrating that all forage-fed meat can be cooked to “taste good.”

While grazing among culinary stations, meet island food producers at decorated booths and talk story with ranchers and farmers. Browse exhibits presenting topics related to local agriculture and food sustainability, including the University of Hawai’i’s Mealani Research Station—where Taste began!

In its 21st year, Taste of the Hawaiian Range offers free parking and shuttle service from Anaehoomalu Bay; follow signs on Waikoloa Beach Drive. Come hungry!

Cooking Demo: 3-4 p.m.; Gala: 6-8 p.m.
Cooking Demo: $10; Gala: $45 presale, $60 door, keiki under 6 free

Photo: Fern Gavelek Communications