Winners of Maui County Ag Festival announced

There were plenty of winners in the culinary contests held last weekend at the Maui County Agricultural Festival at the Maui Tropical Plantation in Waikapu.

In the Judges Choice Award at the Taste Education Tent, taking first place were Farmer Bobby Pahia of Hoaloha Farms and his teammate Chef Sheldon Simeon of Star Noodle and Leoda’s Kitchen and Pie Shop.

Farmer David Fitch of Malama Farms with Chef Marc McDowell of Makena Beach and Golf Resort had a one point difference over third place winners of Farmer Ian Cole of the Breadfruit Institute in Hana with Private Chef Riko Bartolome of Kapalua.

Jennifer Nguyen of A Saigon Cafe and Farmer Jamie Shishido won Best Decorated Booth. “It was awesome — beautiful and a story board with health benefits,” says event publicist Charlene Ka‘uhane.

But it wasn’t only the judges who had their say. There was also the Fan Favorite Award presented to first, second and third place finishers.

The top crowd pleasers were the above-mentioned David Fitch of Malama Farms with Marc McDowell, Executive Chef Makena Beach and Golf Resort. Second place went to Alika Atay of Maui Sweet Potato Company and Jojo Vasquez, Chef de Cuisine, Banyan Tree Restaurant in The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua. Third place went to Ian Cole of the Breadfruit Institute in Hana with Riko Bartolome, Private Chef, Kapalua.