Maui Tastemakers Series Features Kona Brewing Co. and Simpli Fresh

Japengo at Hyatt Regency Maui is partnering with Kona Brewing Co. and Simpli Fresh Produce for its third Maui Tastemakers Series this Friday, Aug. 12 at 5:30 p.m.

The four-course menu will highlight Simpli Fresh Produce and be paired with craft beer from Kona Brewing Co.

Japengo and the Maui Tastemakers Series is teaming up with Kona Brewing Company and Simpli Fresh Produce for a four-course, five beer pairing dinner.

The dinner will feature cuisine made with Simpli-Fresh Farms produce by Chef de Cuisine Gevin Utrillo and sushi chef Jin Hosono. The dinner is $90 per person, exclusive of gratuity and tax.

The dinner will begin with a welcome reception featuring a Lychee Lager, with the following four courses and craft beer pairings:

· Simpli Fresh Produce Greens with honey glazed ulu and plantain chips, POG beer gastrique, and Hanalei POG IPA.

· Green Tea-Smoked Miso Toro and Beet with Bonito Broth Steamed Big Island Abalone with ikura, sansho pepper, miso vinaigrette, chili radish, green onions, abalone liver sauce, and Lemongrass Luau Ale.

· Beer Braised Bone-In-Short Rib with butternut squash risotto and Vele Red.

· Moringa Scone with lilikoi butter, calamansi macerated Kula strawberries, vanilla bean gelato, and Wailua Wheat.

Several popular Maui Tastemakers collaborations have been added to Japengo’s menu, including the Simpli-Japengo Harvest, a farm-to-plate dish featuring Lahaina farmer and Chef James Simpliciano’s Simpli Fresh Produce and Chef Gevin’s culinary aloha. $1 from each dish sold will be donated to Mauna Kahalawai, an organization teaching kids the importance of farming and sustainability.

With the success of the Maui Tastemakers Series, Japengo is making special dishes available to more diners. Following Friday’s Tastemakers dinner, one popular dish per month will be featured as a monthly special.

The Maui Tastemakers program celebrates the abundance and variety of quality foods and ingredients on Maui. It also features dinners, events, tastings, and special menus, presented in partnership with local, Maui-based purveyors.

To make your Maui Tastemakers dinner reservation, call Japengo at 808.667.4727. For more information, please visit here.