I Love Poke Festival - Huntington Beach 2014


Spending summers in Hawaii, I grew up on poke...good poke.  It was mostly ahi poke at our family parties and you had to get to it early, cause they go fast!  I'm constantly asked where to go for good poke in Southern California?  I haven't found a place that I really like, that's why I make my own (but that's another story).  

For those who've asked, this is a great event to sample poke!


3rd Annual
"I Love Poke Festival"
June 30, 2014

Hilton Waterfront Beach Resort
Huntington Beach, California 


With 500 attendees,
this year's event is
SOLD OUT!

Photo Courtesy of Kristie Hang
I'm Happy Now!


I've had a lot of great food the last few days.
I was at Tacolandia 2014 on Saturday
and now poke today!


It's been a few years since I competed in the
Sam Choy Poke Festival on the Big Island.

I'm glad to see that the creativity is
continuing and the poke interest is still growing.


See What Jay Eats...

I apologize if I didn't give proper credit to the 
poke creators or have the wrong names with pictures.

Chef Andy Tanaka
from Roy's Anaheim


 Hapa J's
Chef James Harris

Sesame Ahi Poke
with spicy aioli



 Shades Restaurant & Bar
Hilton Beachfront Resort


Chili Maple Poke
from Shades Restaurant & Bar

Fresh Sustainable Ahi, Korean Chili Paste, Soy Sauce,
Maple Syurp and Sesame Oil.


 Fijian Albacore
with Toasted Macadamia Nuts, Ocean Salad,
Poke Sauce, Coconut, and Cucumber.


Poke and Taro
from 370 Common / Primo Beer 
Chef James Harris


 Lines of people and lots of poke to try.


 Spicy Teriyaki Poke

Spicy Mayo, House Teriyaki, House Hot, and Masago


 Love seeing New poke places opening...


 A creamy poke,
with a dash of hot sauce



Chef Alvanette Pacheco
of Specialty Produce

A Watermelon "Poke"
with coconut cream, sweet & spicy Szechuan 
candied walnuts, smoked serrano sea salt, and arugula.



After we tasted the various poke samples,
we headed outside to sample the other food
and catch some of the entertainment.


 When I'm in Hawaii, Hawaiian Springs is
my favorite.  Picked up a few coupons too.


What's a Hawaii event without shave ice?


 As we entered the festival, this caught my eye...

Malasadas!

It's not Leonard's, but they were good.

A malasada is a fried Portuguese donut.


My cinnamon sugar malasada
from Dough Dough's Hawaiian Cafe
in Huntington Beach.


Great entertainment and hula,
made me feel like I was in Hawaii.

But with the June gloom skies,
I knew I was in Southern California...
Can't complain tho, it was a really nice evening.


LA food reporter Kristie Hang
is spotted next to the judges table



Cubed, not stirred.


This is a beautiful plate, not sure if I can eat it...

On second thought , I would eat it!


For me, this is the most "local style"

Poke in the plastic "take home" container,
I just need chopsticks and I'm good! 


Another beautiful poke display


Don't you just want to grab a fork and go for it? 


Loved the musubi reference
at a "I Love Musubi" event! 


Photo Courtesy of Kristie Hang
Regardless of who won today's
competition, we were all winners
with some great poke!

I went home happy with memories of good poke
and Hawaiian Springs Water.

Aloha!


For more information on 
"I Love Poke Festival"


Mahalo!
Fiona Leung



NOTE:  I was a guest of the event, I thank them for the invitation
and their hospitality.  All comments and opinions are strictly my own.  




Photos by Jay Terauchi
unless otherwise noted
Jay Eats Worldwide
©Jay Terauchi

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Sticking to What You Do Best...

Coco Bread Sandwich with Jerk Chicken

Hidden Little Tokyo: Cheap Eats