I Love Poke Festival in San Diego

Aloha to all our Hawaiian food lovers! If you are a true connoisseur of Hawaiian culture, then you know how difficult it can be to find delectable and authentic Hawaiian dishes out here on the mainland. While many chefs claim to serve up classic island fare, don’t you wonder which of them can truly say they are THE best?

Well, wonder no more, because that very thing will be decided this Wednesday, April 20 at the 2nd annual I Love Poke Festival! The flavor-packed festival will begin at 6 pm at the majestic Bali Hai restaurant in Shelter Island, as 15 San Diego chefs compete for the coveted “Best Poke” title.  

The chefs will get a chance to participate in two separate competitions. The first competition is simple: serve up the best Poke possible. For the second competition, things will get a bit zany as chefs use unusual ingredients to show creativity in the ‘Surprise Poke’ challenge. Reigning champions Chef Kari Rich (Revolver / Voyeur) and Chef Mike Malicdem (Raw Mana Sushi) will attempt to hold their titles as local celebrity judges make the final decisions.

While the chefs battle it out, guests will enjoy over 15 different Poke preparations from popular caterers and restaurants, as well as other island-themed Hawaiian hors d’oeuvres and cocktails. Island style entertainment will be provided by the Kahurangi Maori Dance Group, specializing in dynamic Maori song and dance brought to you all the way from New Zealand.

If you’ve always been curious about the Hawaiian lifestyle and the “ono kine grinds” that come along with it, here is your chance to have the full experience. This festival is made possible by Musubi Map, a company geared towards bringing those on the mainland the opportunity to indulge in the Hawaiian experience by providing events, recipes, clothing, blogs and more. Learn more at ilovemusubi.com.

Poke What? For those still wondering, according to Wikipedia, Poke is a raw fish salad served as an appetizer in Hawaiian cuisine. Pokē is the Hawaiian verb for "section" or "to slice or cut". Modern poke typically consists of cubed ʻahi (yellowfin tuna) sashimi marinated with sea salt, a small amount of soy sauce, inamona (roasted crushed candlenut), sesame oil, limu seaweed, and chopped chili pepper.

Get Your Poke On: Tickets to the I Love Poke’ Festival at Bali Hai in Shelter Island are $50 in advance through ilovemusubi.com or $65 at the door. A portion of each ticket sale will directly aid the Kona-California Scholarship Foundation, which provides Hawaiian youth a chance to gain education in California.

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