Celebrity Chef Gonzo Jimenez, who appears on the Netflix TV series “Bake Squad,” will be the signature dessert chef for the ninth annual Big Island Chocolate Festival (BICF) gala, according to a BICF news release.
The event will be held on May 13 and 14 at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott & Spa Resort.
The festival returns in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, with Jimenez appearing from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on May 14, the news release said. Jimenez will prepare Texturas de Maiz, or “Textures of Corn,” a specialty dessert that features a sweet cornbread treat paired with the flavors of chocolate, vanilla, and mango as a tip of the chef’s cap to the cuisine of his native South America.
“It’s a dessert offering the many textures emblematic of the iconic ingredients found in Latin gastronomy — corn and cacao,” Argentinian-born Jimenez said in the news release.
A highlight of the BICF will be a four-course, sit-down meal with a menu inspired by chocolate and featuring a seared ahi appetizer with white chocolate breadfruit mousse, according to the news release. After the appetizer, diners will enjoy a mixed-green salad with chocolate biscotti crouton and warm rolls. The main course will feature a grilled chicken breast with Hamakua mushroom dashi and mango relish, with a vegetarian option offered. Jimenez’s Texturas de Maiz dessert will be served with French macarons and bonbons as part of sweet offerings to conclude the dinner.
A cacao plantation tour will be offered for $25 on May 11 at the Original Hawaiian Chocolate Factory in Kona, the news release noted. Educational activities such as farm seminars and culinary demos will be offered for $59, or $79 with lunch included, on May 13 at the Waikoloa Marriott. Presenters include entomologist Joanna Bloese; ethnobotanist Nat Bletter, owner of Madre Chocolate; culinary artist Tiffanie Masutani; and Chef Stéphane Tréand from the Pastry School.
In addition to delicious treats, the BICF gala will also offer live music, dancing, a photo booth, a chocolate fountain, and a silent auction, according to the news release. Tickets are $200 in advance if purchased by noon on May 14. Tickets can be purchased at the door for $250. A one-night hotel package that includes two tickets to the gala is available for $750. For more information, including tickets, visit www.bigislandchocolatefestival.com.