Roots Run Deep - An Evening on the Farm with Vivian Howard and Ed Kenney

Last night's Les Dames d'Escoffier's Roots Run Deep event at the 18-acre Mari's Gardens, featured special guest chefs Vivian Howard and Ed Kenney.  Proceeds from the event went to the Dames who Donate Scholarship Fund, which awards scholarships for education and continuing education grants for mentorships to kama`aina female applicants pursuing careers in the food, fine beverage and hospitality industries.

Vivian Howard of PBS Series A Chef's Life, is the James Beard Award-winning chef of Chef & The Farmer in North Carolina.  Her book, Deep Run Roots, was awarded Cookbook of the Year; Julia Child First Book Award; Chefs and Restaurant Award; and General Award in the 2016 International Association of Cookbook Professionals.  She cooked up a Grits with Poi, Greens & Sausage dish.  

Grits with Poi, Greens, Sausage

Chef Ed Kenney, host of the Emmy-winning PBS show Family Ingredients, has four restaurants on Oahu - Town, Mud Hen Water, Kaimuki Superette, Mahina & Sun's, and has been a James Beard semifinalist for Best Chef, West, every year for the past 5 years.  The Town Tribe offered up a DIY Grits Bowl Station with GoFarm Waimanalo Orange "Grits," Two Lady Farmers Slow Roast Park, and a bunch of toppings.

DIY Grits Bowl

The evening's menu also included:

Jackie Lau/HFM (all islands)
Smokey Chili Pepper Tomato Shot with Pipikaula

Beth Fuller/Lava Lava Beach Club (Waikoloa, Hawaii Island; Kapaa, Kauai)
Squash-Onion Smother; Squash Pickle Salad

Lee Anne Wong/Koko Head Cafe (Kaimuki, Oahu)
Ulu-Kalo Luau Stew with Coconut & Sweet Onions

Kathy Masunaga/Sweet Revenge (Oahu)

Purple Sweet Potato Maui Onion Bread with Lilikoi Butter; Ahi Poke Pie

Aletha Thomas/Monkeypod Jam (Lawai, Kauai)
Creamed Collards with Pickled Collard Stems; Lillie’s Fried Cornbread and Monkeypod Tomato Jam

Jocelyn McCann& David Passanisi/EAT Honolulu (Honolulu)
Cumin-Crusted Tilapia w/Sweet and Sour Beet Bottoms and Tops

Amy Ferguson/Ferguson Catering (Hawaii Island)
Spoonbread with Sausage Ragout

Maria Short/Short n Sweet Bakery (Hilo, Hawaii Island)
Pecan Chewy Bars

Abigail Langlas/Cake Works (Honolulu, Oahu)
Peanut, Pepsi & Bourbon Float

Michelle Karr-Ueoka/MW Restaurant (Honolulu, Oahu)
Coconut Cake

It was a lovely evening with great chefs for a great cause!

Thank you to the sponsor for the invitation.