Page 9 - MidWeek Kauai - Sep 29 2021

PHOTO COURTESY KRISTINE RODRIGUEZ
For fans of classic rock, it doesn’t get more classic than iconic bands Journey and KISS. Journey will per- form its six-show residency at Vir-
gin Hotels Las Vegas Dec. 1-11; and Henderson resident Gene Simmons and his band KISS have announced their residency at the Zappos The-
Here’s an entertainment update:
BMaui-based Chef Creates A ‘Hekka’ Of A Dish
SEPTEMBER 29, 2021 KAUA‘I MIDWEEK 9
Festival Salutes Hawai‘i’s Best
A fter a three-year hiatus, the 29th annual Pacific Island- er Festival and Ho‘olaule‘a returned to Vegas with a two-day celebration Sept. 10-11. This fam- ily-friendly event was the result of all the hard work and dedication of the Las Vegas Hawaiian Civic Club and the 450 volunteers who worked
followed by rainbows and humid temperatures — all common for Hawai‘i, but not so common here on the Ninth Island.
ater in Planet Hollywood nightly
to make the event a success. Hundreds of former Hawai‘i residents, along with Vegas lo- cals, came out to support the small businesses and enjoy the free en- tertainment. From hula to island music, local dishes to island-in- spired crafts, Water Street Plaza was transformed into what felt like a bit of home for many festival at- tendees. Even the weather got into the island spirit with a rainstorm
The free outdoor festival includ- ed food vendors like local favorites Pā‘ina Café and 2 Scoops of Aloha; retail vendors like Crunch of Aloha and Ninth Islander; as well as two stages for entertainment. In addition to the food and crafts, attendees en- joyed the seven Polynesian villages, representing Hawai‘i, Tahiti, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, New Zealand and the Cook Islands. Twelve different hula hālau performed, and attend- ees were also entertained with live music from ST1 Reggae with Baba B, Tropical Storm and Green Bottle Union, just to name a few.
The Pacific Islander Festival and Ho‘olaule‘a earlier this month featured hālau from Vegas and Hawai‘i.
Dec. 29-Jan. 1 and Jan. 19-Feb. 5. Comedian Jeff Dunham will be at Caesars Palace on Sept. 26, Oct. 17 and Nov. 14. Also, actor and comedian Rob Schneider has scheduled two shows at Brad Gar- rett’s Comedy Club on Dec. 30. Shaquille O’Neal is hosting The Event on Oct. 2 at MGM Grand Arena to benefit his foundation, which supports underserved youth. Expect performances by Justin Bie- ber, Kelly Clarkson, Imagine Drag-
ons and Snoop Dogg.
Catch Sebastian and Ninth Island Connection at 7 p.m. Wednesdays on K5 and 2 p.m. Sundays on KGMB.
orn in Hilo, chef and earning CHICKEN HEKKA Sheldon Simeon the “Fan
(pictured at right) Favorite” Ingredients:
info@ninthislandconnection.com
• 2 small baby bok choy, trimmed them and the soaking liquid to the pan. and cut into 2-inch pieces Bring all of this to a boil, then reduce
• 4 ounces aburage, sliced into the heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
acquired his love for cook- title on • 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar 1/2-inch-wide stripes Drain the cellophane noodles (they
ing from his parents.
His path led from Hilo
award-win-
ning series
Top Chef,
he opened
his casual eatery in Kahului — Tin Roof Maui.
• 3/4 cup shoyu
• 3/4 cup mirin
• 6 dried shiitake mushrooms • 6 ounces dried cellophane or
glass noodles
• 2 1/2 tablespoons toasted
sesame oil
• 2 pounds boneless, skin-on chicken thighs, sliced into 1-inch- wide strips
• 2 tablespoons fresh ginger, grated
• 2 tablespoons garlic, minced
• 1 cup carrots, diagonal-cut slices • 1 medium yellow onion, sliced
• 1 (14-ounce) can baby corn,
halved lengthwise on the diagonal
• 1 cup bamboo shoots, sliced
• 6 cups chicken broth
• 2 cups fresh watercress, cut into
3-inch pieces
• 8 ounces extra-firm tofu, cubed • 6 scallions, cut into 2-inch pieces
Directions:
In a small bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, shoyu and mirin, and
set aside. Place the dried shiitakes in
a bowl and cover with warm water to soften. Place the noodles in a bowl and cover with warm water to soften.
In a large wok or Dutch oven, heat the sesame oil over medium-high.
Add the chicken, increase the heat to high, and sauté until the meat is mostly cooked, 3-4 minutes. Add the ginger and garlic and sauté until fragrant. Add the carrots, onion, baby corn, bamboo shoots, shoyu mixture and chicken broth. Reserving the soaking liquid, drain the mushrooms, cut off and dis- card any stems, and slice the caps. Add
should be softened at this point) and cut into 3-inch lengths. Add them to the pan along with baby bok choy, aburage and tofu. Simmer until bok choy are blanched but firm, about 2-3 minutes. Finish by folding in watercress and scallions. Serve with cooked rice if desired. Serves 4-6.
You can watch episodes of “Cooking Hawaiian Style,” presented by Maui County Farm Bureau, on OC16 channels 10 and 1012, as well as nationwide via LifeStyle Network, FNX Network, Roku and Hawaiian Airlines in-flight entertainment. “Cooking Hawaiian Style” airs in over 43 million homes world- wide. Get this free recipe and thousands of others at cooking- hawaiianstyle.com.
High School to the Culinary Institute of the Pacific, and then to an internship at Walt Disney World.
LANAI
Upon returning to Hawai‘i
“The sound of rain on a tin roof is what reminds us of home,” he says of his namesake restaurant. “You know when the rain is com- ing; it’s soothing, calming and comforting.
RYAN SAKAMOTO AND RUBEN CARRILLO PHOTOS
He shares his recipe for Chicken Hekka from his newly finished cookbook Cook Real Hawai‘i.
“In this tin roof garage under that Hilo rain is where we built our definition of home.”