Get to Hanalei, Chop-Chop!
Who better to rise to the challenge of putting together a unique farm- and ocean-to-table dinner at one of the world’s most picturesque venues than Chef Amanda Freitag, who comes to Kaua‘i in partnership with 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay. Chef Freitag brings her well-honed culinary chops when she travels far and wide, and they will certainly be called upon for this special engagement.
1 Hotel Hanalei Bay has been inviting guests from across the country to participate in its Chefs by Nature culinary series, where James Beard Awards winners, Food Network and Bravo TV stars have all collaborated with 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay chefs and sommeliers to create unique and for-that-moment-only dishes and dining experiences.
Preparing the menu for diners, Chef Freitag will undoubtedly draw upon her long-time judging experience from the Food Network TV show, Chopped, which challenges chefs to create a range of dishes from ingredients they have no prior knowledge of. In some cases, the ingredient pairings could be rather esoteric or not what one may expect. In collaboration with 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay’s Executive Chef Daniel Palumbo, Freitag will have access to the best of Kaua‘i’s freshest and in-season ingredients as she orchestrates the night’s meal.
“We are mindful of how the earth is changing and which ingredients to focus on at different times of the year” Chef Freitag explains as she shares her perspective on putting together the menu. “We don’t want to be flying in oysters from the East Coast to an island in Hawai‘i, for example, but the goal is to work with local producers and introduce their ingredients to diners in new and unexpected ways” she adds.
Her excitement to participate in the Chefs by Nature wine-pairing experience is only mirrored by her enthusiasm for the following day’s program where she will lead a culinary workshop for guests to observe, learn and be hands on with Chef Freitag dishing it with no judgement as she takes people on their own meal-prep journey. “I’m very excited to do the cooking class because it is a direct follow on from my weekly EasyAF online cooking series. Food should be Easy AF …” she adds, emphasizing the AF part of the name, but quickly jumps back in with “and those are my initials in case you were wondering, but yes, we keep it easy and approachable.”
Chefs by Nature with Amanda Freitag takes place April 26 - 27, 2025. This weekend event features a cooking class and wine-pairing reception in support of the Kaua‘i Community College Culinary Arts program and its mission to train future chefs.
To find out more, visit 1hotels.com/hanalei-bay or amandafreitag.com.