Recipes

Participating Celebrities & Chefs

Minna Sugimoto Minna Sugimoto (Hawaii News Now)
Minna Sugimoto was born and raised in Honolulu, where she graduated from Kaiser High School and the University of Hawaii at Manoa with a BA degree in Broadcast Journalism. After a stint as an anchor/reporter at CNN Radio in Honolulu, she moved on to local news reporting at KHNL Hawaii News 8 in 1998, and is now the crime beat reporter for Hawaii News Now. In her spare time, Minna spends her time hanging out with her daughter, teeing it up on the golf course, or coaching basketball and softball for Special Olympics Hawaii.
Minna is paired up with Chef Kent Thompson for the
1st Celebrity/Chef Cooking Demo at 11am

 
Catherine Toth Catherine Toth (Freelance Writer/Blogger)
Born and raised on Oahu, Catherine E. Toth has been chronicling her adventures in her blog, The Daily Dish (www.thecatdish.com), for six years. She worked as a newspaper reporter in Hawaii for 10 years and continues to freelance - in between teaching journalism full time at Kapiolani Community College, hitting the surf and eating everything in sight - for national and local print and online publications. She earned her master's degree in journalism from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University in 1999, focusing on magazine writing and publishing. She obtained her bachelor's degree in English from the University of Hawaii-Manoa, graduating with distinction in 1996.
Catherine is paired up with Chef Mavro for the
2nd Celebrity/Chef Cooking Demo at 2pm

 
Justin Cruz Justin Cruz (KHON)
Justin Cruz grew up in the western Pacific island of Guam where and worked for the family business before moving to Honolulu. His childhood included numerous leadership and rank awards in the Boy Scouts, recognition as one of the youngest PADI-certified, open-water divers in America at the age of twelve, and the youngest on-air radio personality at seventeen. In 1996, he attended the University of Hawaii and was offered a slot on a weekend radio show shortly after, which led to a decade-long career with KQMQ as program director and morning show radio host. In 2006, Justin joined KHON2 News to anchor weather reports on the 5, 6 and 10 p.m. newscasts. During his spare time, Justin enjoys traveling, eating at the many delicious restaurants in Hawaii and consuming TV documentaries. He volunteers as a board member of Lupus Hawaii and Prevent Child Abuse Hawaii, is a recurring cast member of the local Gridiron Show, and is a recipient of Pacific Business News' "Forty Under 40" Award. Justin is also a professional Master of Ceremonies and a small business owner.
Justin is paired up with Chef Craig Erickson for the
3rd Celebrity/Chef Cooking Demo at 4pm

 
Chef Kent Thompson Chef Kent Thompson
Kent Thompson likes to describe himself as old school just trying to keep up with the new class. Years before the Food Network, he used to watch Julia Child and his favorite, Graham Kerr, the Galloping Gourmet. Besides his father, they were his early idols that inspired him to become a foodie. For the past twenty years or so, he worked in half a dozen places. He got his start at "The Great Wok of China" where he learned the fundamentals of being a "Wok Master." Since then he has worked as a fry cook, fast food line cook and the latest as a saucier at "Sam Choy BLC". He has won several recipe contests including eggs, chili, mangoes and a musubi contest. He is known for thinking outside of the norm, often politely called unique. He's a stay at home dad now but still loves entering competitions, and will always be a foodie at heart and in the gut.
Chef Kent Thompson is paired up with Minna Sugimoto for the
1st Celebrity/Chef Cooking Demo at 11am

 
Chef George Mavrothalassitis (Chef Mavro) Chef George Mavrothalassitis (Chef Mavro)
George Mavrothalassitis, chef/proprietor of Chef Mavro restaurant is a founding member of Hawaii Regional Cuisine (HRC) and a James Beard award-winner. Born in the sunny Mediterranean city of Marseilles in Provence, Mavro has set deep roots in Hawaii over the last 23 years embracing the people and taking inspiration from their diverse culinary traditions. He has consistently partnered with local farmers and fishermen to offer menus dedicated to regional products from baby greens and tomatoes to vanilla and lavender. Chef Mavro is the only independently owned restaurant in Hawaii to earn the American Automobile Association (AAA) Five Diamond status (2009, 2010 and 2011), as well as the only Hawaii restaurant with Three Toques (an 18/20 rating) and on the 2011 Gayot "Top 40 Restaurants in the U.S." Mavro won "Chef's Choice" based on a vote of his peers in the most recent Hale `Aina Awards.
Chef Mavro is paired up with Catherine Toth for the
2nd Celebrity/Chef Cooking Demo at 2pm

 
Chef Craig Erickson (Sea House Restaurant) Chef Craig Erickson (Sea House Restaurant)
Born and raised just outside of Chicago, Craig Erickson, at the age of 13, worked at a local Italian restaurant that his brother helped to manage, and by 16, worked his way up to lead line cook. Looking to expand his experiences, he moved to Newport Beach and took a position as a Cook III at the Marriott at Fashion Island, while earning his CWC (Certified Working Chef). After 2 years in California, he moved back to Chicago where he took a job as Chef de Cuisine at Chicago Stadium while earning the next level of accreditation - CEC (Certified Executive Chef). After an 8 year stint in Las Vegas, he moved to Maui and became the Executive Chef at Napili Kai Beach Resort's Sea House Restaurant. Since then, the Sea House has been recognized with 3 Ai' Pono awards from Maui No Ka Oi magazine: Best Waterfront Dining, Best Kept Secret and Best Breakfast, and has also been recognized for Best Pupus from the Maui Time Weekly and Best Appetizer at the Taste of Lahaina.
Chef Craig Erickson is paired up with Justin Cruz for the
3rd Celebrity/Chef Cooking Demo at 4pm