L’ulu Leeward Culinary Arts Gala

May 6, 2023 6-9 pm, last night. For the price of entry $175 per ticket, you support Leeward Culinary Arts program.I noticed that if you enjoy imbibing--from what I observed there were four stations that provided alcoholic beverages--1. a wine station, 2. a whiskey/Scotch, vodka station (here you could get a Moscow mule in a brass cup to keep), 3. a gin station and 4. a beer station. And for non-alcohol preferences there was a soda/water station and a coffee (canned) station. Make sure you have a designated driver, or uber to the Gala--because if you like to drink--you will be tempted to try various samples, of different labels. Follow the signage--that indicated that guests park at Gate 3. Check in at the upstairs area--and then stand in second line to get wrist bands and a program, tray with a wine glass--keepsake. At 6 regular guests may go downstairs to the grassy courtyard. And let the eating and drinking begin!!There were generous small plates provided by the various chefs/restaurants. My favorite dishes were -Basalts, Chef Malani Iokepa's Lebanese Spiced Braised Lamb -Feast, Chef Jon Matsubara's Salt Beef Sumida Watercress Consomme-Roy's Ko Olina, Roy Yamaguchi & Darryl Shinogi's Seared Bristol Bay Scallops,-Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar, Adrian Solorzano's Truffled Crab Arancini-Mariposa, Lance Kosaka's Lemon Pepper Grilled Kauai Shrimp and Sweet Corn, Bacon, Dashi Butter Sauce (loved the corn/bacon/butter)-The Pearl, Chris Garnier's, Hawaiian Kanpachi Crudo-The Pig and the Lady Andrew Le, Kristene MoonVietnamese Shave Ice with Pandasan syrup and fruit on the bottom (like Halo Halo)There was a large canopy table for the purchasers of tables. For our tickets we got the standing tables. There were reserved low tables for guests that needed that arrangement.My friend and I joined a couple at a stand up table, with a mother couple joining later. We all took turns saving the table while we brought back food for each other. Great people and fun times. We heard that the event used to be held upstairs indoors. But the other guests said they liked the courtyard, open air setting much better--the strung lights, cool light wind and out door atmosphere made for a lovely venue. At the end of the evening, my friend and I discussed it and we would definitely return. More pics to post soon